Twenty-One

The hand that had grabbed my wrist belonged to Brigg. He snarled up at me and I could see his lackeys around the room were itching to spring into action.

“You’ve made a powerful enemy, Vince. Whenever you’re in Fantasy Park, you better watch over your shoulder.” He grimaced and flashed his yellowed teeth. I socked him in the face.

“Why? All of this is from your own doing and misunderstanding. If you left me alone and did some research, you would’ve realised I can’t help you the way you want.” I was beyond frustrated now; I was angry.

This dwarf, someone who was meant to be a revolutionary leader, was entirely incompetent. And now that his ego was bruised, he was taking it out on me. This whole thing could have been avoided.

“You’re threatening me in my own hideout?” I could see now that Brigg was a stubborn jackass and there was no reasoning with him. I looked around the room and hoped his followers were smarter than he was. Hopefully they could listen to me and not try and join the fight.

“Again, not what I’m doing Brigg. You brought me here, got annoyed I can’t help you, and now you’re taking it out on me.” I readied myself as he flew into a blind rage and tried to hit me. I gave a quick jab on the left side of his face and brought my elbow down on his head as he staggered past.

“Help me.” Brigg called out to his followers.

“Don’t you dare. This is between me and him. Surely, you’re all smart enough to realise how dumb he is. You’ve seen and heard everything; he’s brought this upon himself.” A few of his followers that had started to creep over slowly walked back to their seats.

“Bah, hopeless, all of you.” Brigg charged at me and brought his shoulder into my gut. He continued to push against me, his arms wrapped around my waist. Like all dwarves, he was stronger than his size let on.

I tried to break free, but he had lifted me up off the floor and then launched me through the air. I landed on a table, which thankfully held under my weight. Though it groaned as though it were in pain.

I pulled myself up enough to see Brigg had launched himself through the air to land on top of me. I rolled off the table and landed on the ground. I rolled away just as Brigg landed on the table. Two of its legs came off and it crashed to the floor, sending Brigg rolling.

“Brigg, stop. I mean it.”

“No!” He pulled himself up, but was unsteady on his feet. He stumbled forward and face-planted on the floor. I’m sure I heard a faint chuckle from one of his followers.

Brigg pulled himself along, running on all fours for a brief moment. Then he was up again and running at me.

I stepped to the side and put out my foot. It worked, he tripped over and crashed into a set of chairs.

“You sure you wanna follow this man? Sure, a lot of things suck between us humans and you fairyfolk. But we’re all working on it. Following some cause that’s sole purpose is to upset that, won’t help anyone.” Brigg launched himself at me again.

I readied myself and the crazy bastard did something I didn’t expect. He flew through the air, both legs stretched out. He flew at me like a torpedo. I grabbed his legs and used his momentum to throw him into another table.

I looked to the crowd and watched us some got up and walk out of the hideout. Some stayed, some looked almost too embarrassed to watch.

I felt pain surge through my back as Brigg rammed into me from behind. We crashed forward, with Brigg on my back. He lifted my head and slammed it into the floor.

Black stars danced across my vision. My forehead hurt and I was sure my nose was broken. This had gone on too far. Brigg cracked my face into the floor again and I could feel myself fighting to stay conscious.

Suddenly, Brigg was off me. I slowly pulled myself around and watched as another dwarf had him in a chokehold. The second dwarf then bent Brigg’s arm back around behind him and handcuffed him.

It was Zasi Tontop. I rested on my back, using my elbows to keep me propped up.

“Are you alright?” Zasi asked me. I could feel the blood down my face. It had streamed over my mouth and down my chin. My head felt as though it were being mashed by a hammer.

“Barely. Thanks.” Zasi then cuffed one of Brigg’s wrists to an ankle and came over to check on me.

“You look like shit,” she chuckled.

“I feel like shit. How’d you find me?” Zasi pulled me up and she checked over my injuries.

“I watched you as you were being tracked by those two in cloaks. It didn’t sit right with me and so I followed you all the way here. I kept my distance though. Got a little lost trying to find this place. Here, eat this.” Zasi held a small berry, it was plump and purple in colour.

I popped the berry in my mouth and let the sweet juice burst through my mouth. It was the sweetest thing I’d ever tasted, it made me feel a little sick. Within moments however, the pain in my face faded almost completely away and I didn’t feel dizzy as I stood.

“Let’s get out of here,” said Zasi. She undid the cuff to Brigg’s ankle and led him out of the tunnels.

I explained to Zasi the little bit of info that Brigg had let me know. I told her what he had expected of me and how he had reacted.

“He’s not the smartest one around,” said Zasi. “So you’re going after Jackson now?”

“I’m gonna have to. Though, I feel I should rest. Any idea what I can do about hypnotising gems?” I asked.

“Not really my thing. Maybe if you go to the guy that sold him the gem? I’ll come with you, so you don’t get given the run around. Tomorrow?”

“Yeah, tomorrow. I’m going back to the Jade Palace to sleep this off.” As I said that, I could feel the pain coming back, my whole body ached.

I made my way back to the Jade Palace. I used the back entrance and when I knocked on her door, Kipp immediately opened up. There was a look of shock and then sadness when she saw the state I was in.

She helped me to the couch and rushed over to prepare a cold, wet cloth. I had passed out before she returned.