Mapmakers Union + Skeleton Key Guild = Trouble

 

                “Why do you trust him?” I watched as Nightshade stormed out of the Cape Beanery then turned to Edgar.

He sat across from me sipping his coffee. He sat it down and smirked. “Come on, Chloe. I’ve known him a long time.” Eddie shrugged and glanced out the window at Nightshade fading in the distance. “He’s helped me out plenty of times.”

            “And I bet he always got something out of it too.” I laughed and tossed a sugar packet at Eddie who dodged it.

            “Maybe, but most times you can count on him, he’s loyal.”

            “Please give me one example?” I rolled my eyes and pointed at Eddie challenging him.

            “Okay.” Edgar leaned forward and I hunched closer and listened.

o0o

“This is our table.”

Owen Copperton stood in front of me. He looked about a foot taller than me, which I guess isn’t too hard since I’m only five foot in my bare feet. Though I didn’t think it was natural that his neck was as thick as a tree trunk. Mapmakers aren’t known for their athletic builds. My most distinguishing feature I’ve been told is my crazy hair which for the life of me I have no control over.

“Sorry, I’ll move.” I tried to look around the three Impossible Engineers that had surrounded me. It’s times like this I hate that all Engineers are built like footballers. I could only see between them a bit and from what I could see the cafeteria ofPaladinAcademywas nearly empty. I’d come here when school ended for a quiet place to study. I didn’t expect to run into Owen and his friends. He’d always disliked mapmakers and had been a thorn in my side since we were little.

“You mapmakers think you’re better than the rest of us. Why just because you scribble directions on paper?” He snatched the map I’d been working on from the table and held it up staring at it. “Looks like a bad schematic to me.” He chuckled and his Engineer friends joined in laughing.

“You’re holding it upside down.” His friends laughed even harder and oohed and aahed at my comment.

“You little ink stain!” He tossed the map aside and grabbed my shirt hefting me up off the chair. My collar tightened around my throat like a noose and I kicked my legs struggling to breath.

“Put him down.”

The voice was calm and if I hadn’t been gagging it might have surprised me. My attacker dropped me and turned.

“What business is it of yours Guilder?”

I looked up to see James Nightshade standing across from us. He was wearing his trademark leather jacket and his head was cocked to one side, his eyes targeted on Owen.

“I’m making it my business gear-head, leave him alone.”

I’ve known James since grade school and even though he’s in Skeleton Key Guild we’ve always been friendly. With his reputation around school I’m surprised the Engineers are still willing to confront him.

“Looks to me like your all alone Nightshade. What’re you going to do about it?”

“First,” —James raised his hand and casually counted with a flick of his fingers as he spoke —“I’m going to knock you on your ass, second I’m going to take out your friends one by one and then third ,for fun, I might get really pissed off, which means you don’t want to go to four.”

“Tough talk, Guilder but you can’t use your powers in here.” He slammed his fist into his open palm with a thud for emphasis.

“True,” —James grabbed the front of his leather jacket and pulled it off— “who says I need them?”

He threw the jacket at Owen who instinctively caught it and never saw the fist Nightshade threw right behind it. He connected with his jaw, a cracking sound echoed around the room and Owen fell to the ground moaning.

The man on his right tackled James in the midsection knocking him to the floor. They struggled, arms and legs punching and kicking. Nightshade shifted his weight and spun on top and brought his elbow down across the cheek of his opponent. He looked like he was going to make quick work of them when the third Engineer punched him in the back of the head and dropped him to the ground.

“Get him!” Owen got up, rubbing his jaw and pointing at James.

They dragged Nightshade to his feet. He was groggy but it was obvious he was in trouble since he fought against the men holding him. I gave an anxious glance around looking for any help but the room was empty except for us. I could run right now and go for help or just get away. But I knew that wasn’t an option.

“Let’s see how you like it, Nightshade,” Owen sneered and stepped in punching James in the gut, lifting him off the ground with the blow. “Not so tough now.”

“That’s all you got?” James laughed between coughs.

Owen’s face burned a deep shade of red and he swung his fist again and again into Nightshade’s midsection.

“You’re going…”

Owen never finished the sentence, his eyes rolled up and into the back of his head and he fell forward crashing to the ground. His friends stared at me in amazement.

 I stood in utter shock not believing that hitting him in the back of the head with a lunch tray had actually knocked him out. I was too stunned to notice when one of them let go of Nightshade and rushed at me hitting me square across the chin. My world went black and all I remember was how inviting the ground looked.

“You all right?” James tapped my cheek as he helped me to stand.

 I glanced around to see the three Engineers sprawled on the ground around us.

“I’m good.” I shook my head amazed that it was still attached to my neck.

“What’s going on in here?” Michael Slade of the Impossible Engineers walked into the cafeteria. He looked from the Engineers on the floor straight to Nightshade. “What’d you do?”

“Nothing, they tripped,” James sneered and pulled me along as we walked out of the room.

“This isn’t over.” Slade called out after us.

James looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Anytime, Slade, anytime.”

o0o

“And let me guess he wanted something in return for helping you out?” I ran my fingers through my hair and leaned back in my seat. I just couldn’t get my head around the idea that James Nightshade would do anything for anyone but himself.

“No, James is loyal to his friends.”

“That story tells me that you’re the one who’s loyal. You could have taken off instead you stayed and helped him.”

“It’s not like I had a choice.” Eddie sipped his coffee.

 I smiled to myself. That’s why I love Edgar he really didn’t think there was a choice between helping or running. “Is that why he and Slade hate each other?”

“No, that’s a much longer story.” Eddie laughed and I leaned in to listen.