Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy what you find here. Whilst you may not agree with everything I post, if you respect my right to my opinion I'll respect your right to disagree with it and we should get along just fine. :)

Disclaimer: the views expressed by the characters in these works may not necessarily represent the views of the author. Got that? Good.

Right then, on with the blog...

Thursday 29 July 2010

#FridayFlash: UCF Stories #16: The Tome of Levelling (Part 1)


The Tome of Levelling (Part 1) is the sixteenth installment in my on-going flash fiction serial, The UCF Stories. If you'd like to read the story from the beginning, please go here.
____________________________________

Back in Botchett's quarters at Goddess Rising, Swazzle and Pogmorton are just settling down for a nice cup of tea. Mistress Botchett is baking while her husband is making sure the Wyrm in its travelling box is securely stowed away.

Swazzle and Pogmorton sat at Mistress Botchett's kitchen table in the basement-below-the-basement of Goddess Rising. Botchett was busy securing the travelling box in the cupboard under the stairs.

'Look at the state of my hat.' Swazzle poked his finger through the neat hole left by the Banshee rifle bullet and wiggled it. 'And it's my best one. Where am I going to get a new one from now?'

'Give it here, hinny, I'll get my needle and thread.' Mistress Botchett bustled past with a huge steaming leek pudding. 'You'll never know there was a hole when I'm done with it.'

Swazzle wasn't convinced and glanced over at Pogmorton for reassurance. Pogmorton sat in Botchett's rocking chair, his back to the fireplace, cuddling a pint mug of tea and staring vacantly into space.

'What do you think, should I let Mistress Botchett have a go at fixing my hat?'

Pogmorton didn't seem to have heard him.

'I said,' began Swazzle again, nudging his friend, 'Shall I let...'

'Yes, I heard you,' snapped Pogmorton. 'The fairies have Rushalka in one of their prisons and you're sitting here, banging on about your bloody hat!'

Swazzle threw his hands up in a placatory gesture. 'And as soon as it's fixed we'll get working on a plan to get her out.' He handed the hat to Mistress Botchett as she passed.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.' Pogmorton shook his head sadly, 'It's just that...'

He was interrupted as Jamieson the house spirit dashing through the wall next to the fireplace, worry writ large upon his face. 'You'd better come at once,' he wheezed, dabbing his sweaty face with a large floury hankerchief, 'The Reverend has the witch upstairs. He's showing her The Book.'

Jamieson's emphasis on the last two words snapped Swazzle's mind back to the task at hand from where it had been wandering, idly contemplating how house spirits could get out of breath when they didn't actually need to run anywhere. Even Pogmorton was taking an interest.

'Lead on Master Jamieson,' Pogmorton instructed, jumping to his feet, 'We're right behind you.' The three of them bolted for the stairs, nearly sending Botchett flying as he emerged from the cupboard under the stairs.

'Gan canny, bonny lad!' Botchett grabbed the end of the kitchen table to steady himself. 'What's going on, like?' Jamieson repeated his message as he took the stairs two at a time.

'I'll be right with you,' called Botchett, diving back into the cupboard.

* * *

Aveena shuddered. She could sense the contents of the museum cabinets lining the walls of Rev. Beresford's study. She also sensed a certain amount of unease emanating from the Rev himself, as though he knew that she knew what they held.

'Welcome. Welcome,' Rev Beresford beamed. 'Come in, Miss Murphy. I have something to show you.' He glanced over Aveena's shoulder into the doorway. 'Simeon, would you mind putting the kettle on, there's a good chap.'

Simeon trudged down the landing to the small kitchen at the rear of Rev Beresford's rooms and, after shaking the kettle to check it was full, flicked the wall switch and waited. As the kettle burbled away in the background, Simeon busied himself setting out the tea cups, sugar and milk jug on a tray and trying not to wonder about whatever it was Rev Beresford wanted to show Aveena.

* * *

Rev Beresford was just reaching over to hand the book to Aveena when Simeon appeared in the doorway, the tea things rattling and chinking on the tray. At precisely the same moment, Swazzle, Pogmorton and Botchett burst through a small door in the wall next to the fireplace that apparently no-one had noticed was there, almost tumbling over each other as they skidded to a halt on the polished oak floorboards. Master Jamieson, it appeared, had decided discretion was the better part of valour and had vanished the second the door began to open.

Simeon let out a small squeak of surprise and dropped the tea tray. Rev Beresford jumped and put his back out, collapsing back into his armchair, grimacing. Aveena neatly snatched the book from mid-air as Rev Beresford dropped it, and in the aftermath of the tea things hitting the floor, no-one said anything for a moment or two.

Rev Beresford was the first to recover his composure, squinting over the top of his bi-focals at the intruders. Swazzle and Pogmorton stood stock still in front of the fireplace trying to look innocent, with Botchett a pace behind them.

'Good God above!' Rev Beresford stared excitedly at Botchett, 'Can it really be?' He wiped his glasses. 'A Gnomus vulgaris, right here in my front room? I had thought you extinct. What is your name, my fine fellow?'

'Now see here,' Botchett replied indignantly, shouldering his way forward. 'Who're you calling vulgaris? Gnomus Officinalis Mackemii, if you don't mind, bonny lad.' Botchett put his hands on his hips and puffed his chest out.

Rev Beresford just stared, his mouth hanging open in amazement.

'Aye,' chuckled Botchett, 'We still exist, like. Not the myth you thought I was, eh, bonny lad?'

Rev Beresford opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the front window to his rooms disintegrating in a blossoming cloud of glittering fragments of glass, which rained down over the assembled party. Instinctively, they covered their eyes with their hands.

Once the glass had settled and they dared to look again, there on the windowsill, framed by the remains of the broken window, stood six fairies, five of them levelling Banshee rifles at the assembled company while their leader strode into the room.

Pulling off her helmet, Twinkle advanced on Aveena, her eyes riveted to the book in Aveena's hands.

'I'll take that,' said Twinkle, holding out her hand, a grim look on her face.



Share/Bookmark

18 comments:

Aislinn O'Connor said...

Vulgaris? Never!!

Great episode, as always, & Twinkle's appearance makes a great cliff-hanger.

Can't wait to see what happens next... :D

Laura Eno said...

Let the convergence begin! At least the Wyrm's locked up...I think. :) Great cliff-hanger!

Mari said...

Yes, more action please! And no myths here, no sir, heh.

Unknown said...

I was wondering when the two worlds would smack up against each other. And a splendid smack it is.

Love it. Can't wait for next week!

Cat Russell said...

Oh, that was awesome. Best installment yet!

mazzz in Leeds said...

"Gnomus Officinalis Mackemii" - hahahahah, brilliant! Mackemii - LOL!

It's all getting rather exciting here, Sam!

And - you can get *pint* mugs? Want!

Deanna Schrayer said...

Fantastic action, and quite a bit of character revealing in such a small space Sam. I LOVE this series! You simply ROCK!

J. Dane Tyler said...

I especially liked the scene with the reverend throwing out his back. A great installment to a brilliant story. And how 'bout those faery thugs? Fuggedabouddit! :) Great job!

Danielle La Paglia said...

Excellent job, Sam! We've been waiting for them all to meet. I can't wait for next week's!

Icy Sedgwick said...

"Gnomus Officinalis Mackemii"

I read that and got the giggles!

Can Botchett have his own spin-off? I love him.

Monica Marier said...

What can I say? Sam does it again! Good on you! Can't wait to see what else the Rev will find out isn't extinct.

Valerie said...

The fairies return at last, and with a vengeance. Very well done and quite the standoff you've set up.

Jason Coggins said...

There always so much energy in this series. Even this episode which could have been a simple bridging episode explodes and bristles with hi-jinks. Botchett raises a chuckle each week.

Sam said...

Thanks to everyone for reading and for the great comments.

Aislinn - Thanks, Aislinn. Yes, I thought it was about time Twinkle stuck her oar in again.

Laura - Convergence! Yes, that would have made an awesome title for this episode. Ah yes, the Wyrm...that would be telling. ;)

Mari - Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the action, there's more of the same to come.

Gracie - Thanks so much. Of course there are always repercussions when two such worlds smack up against eachother, please saty tuned...

ganymeder - Very kind of you to say so. I'm not sure it was entirely intentional on my part, once I got this episode rolling it developed a momentum all of its own.

mazzz - Hehe, I thought you might like that bit! Ah yes, pint mugs - the pitman's standard. ;)

Deanna - Why thank you, is very kind of you to say so *blushes.* :D

J. Dane - Thanks, I'm pleased you enjoyed it, especially the little details.

Danni - Thank you! Now they've all met, don't you just get the feeling mayhem will ensue?

Icy - Heehee! I quite liked the idea of a regional species of gnome, so pleased you enjoyed it too. Funny you should mention a Botchett spin-off, I'm considering it as part of my WeSeWriMo efforts; will keep you posted.

Monica - Thanks so much, very kind of you. :D Oh, the Rev is in for a few surprises yet, I reckon.

Valerie - Thanks. Yes, the standoff - if only I could work out how they're all going to get out og this predicament, it would make writing next week's installment so much easier!

Jason - Thanks for those kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed the episode. I'm starting to think Botchett may need hsi own fan club! :)

Walt said...

Like Icy, I'd love to see a Botchett spin-off. He is a lot of fun to read and has some excellent lines.

Well done

Eric J. Krause said...

Another good one! Can't wait to see what happens next.

India Drummond said...

I haven't read the previous chapters, but I really should! I love the style and pace of it. If I could make one teensy suggestion, it would be to use fewer passive verbs. :) It'll feel much meatier that way.

Very well written!

Tomara Armstrong said...

I love your characters and the scenes you create. It's like they are right in front of me and I can reach out and touch them.

or grab them in those fairies case. I would much like to stuff one in my pocket ;-)

Great work as always
~2

Related Posts with Thumbnails