Read Online Jack Shian and the King's Chalice by Andrew Symon - Free Book Online

a few coins into Jack’s pocket, and they were dealt in on the following hand. Jack played cautiously, trying to copy what the others did, but he quickly lost his money. Petros was faring better, and over the next hour he accumulated a small mound of coins.
    Suddenly Tom stood and slammed his cards down.
    “Cheat!” He punched Radge on the side of the head.
    Radge spun off his chair, clutching his ear and howling.
    “Grab the money!” hissed Rana to Petros, who appeared stunned. Jack stepped forward, scooped up Petros’s winnings and retreated.
    Tom and Radge began flailing at each other, uttering threats and curses in equal measure. To Jack’s surprise, Oobit and Gandie just looked on and made no attempt to intervene.
    “Shouldn’t we stop them?” he asked.
    “Why?” replied Oobit. “Radge is always cheating. It’s time he was taught a lesson.”
    A tall fair-haired muscular man came over. He watched as Radge and Tom tried unsuccessfully to pin the other’s arms to his side.
    “Time for real wrestling, I think.” The man had an air of authority, and Jack saw that Oobit simply nodded his agreement.
    “Who’s that?” Jack asked Gandie.
    “Oh, that’s Cosmo. He keeps things going here. Smart too – knows loads of stuff about stuff.”
    The man called Cosmo bent down, and with his powerful arms picked up the scuffling Radge and Tom. Both stopped struggling, but continued to glower at each other. Cosmo sat them both down and turned to face the centre of the large room. He swept his left arm slowly in front of him, and the upturned chairs and tables slid away to the side of the room. With a flick of his left hand, Cosmo pointed to the side walls. The number of blazing torches doubled.
    This place is amazing , thought Jack.
    The music and chatter died away quickly. Cosmo gestured to two young men of about sixteen, and each moved to the centre of the room. Rana and Lizzie had to squirm forward so that they could see. Jack remained at the back of the crowd and stood on a chair.
    “What’s happening?” said Petros to Oobit.
    “Wrestling. We usually have a few contests before we go off to France.”

12
Mascot Jack
    The contest was quickly a one-sided affair. Flung onto his back once more, the smaller of the two young men snarled angrily. His opponent Davie, confident of victory, took time to look around and acknowledge his friends’ cheers. Reaching into his shirt, the smaller man withdrew two shiny stones, and uttering a sharp cry he threw them to the floor. There was a flash of purple smoke, and his opponent sank to his knees, howling with pain.
    In an instant Cosmo had stepped forward, holding out his left palm.
    “ Eeshogel! ”
    It was as if the smaller man had been frozen. He stood motionless, a startled look on his face. Several young men ran forward and helped Davie to the side of the room. He was holding his face and shouting that he couldn’t see.
    “What’s happening?” asked Rana.
    “You’re not allowed to use hex stones,” explained Oobit. “Rob could have blinded Davie.”
    The atmosphere had changed abruptly. From a raucous crowd shouting encouragement, it was now subdued. Rob, transfixed, could only move his eyes. From the chair on which he stood, Jack read Rob’s face: terror.
    Cosmo faced Rob, his expression one of complete contempt. Grabbing Rob’s collar, he dragged him backwards, and threw him disdainfully into a corner.
    “There will be no use of hexes in our contests,” he announced emphatically. “I am sorry that our young guests have witnessed this breach of our rules. But let us continue. We cannot let this spoil our preparations.”
    Two more young men dutifully moved forward to the centre of the room and began to wrestle.
    Over the next half hour Jack witnessed three further contests, all more evenly matched than the first. Cheers and applause greeted the end of each challenge, with the winner returning triumphantly to his friends and the loser retreating quietly to