……..lets call this one the calm before the……well…storm 😐
CHAPTER TEN: NIBBICK BUNGE
Artham inhaled sharply. He had been participating in his guild for about a month now, starting in eleventh month, and, though he thought he did okay, he was always somewhat nervous. Those Hollish kids sure were big. Even Rudric, the Keeper’s son, his relative, who was three years younger than him, was twice his width. So was Clout. And Nibbick. Though Artham was the tallest one in his class.
“Mostly a disadvantage,” he muttered.
However, if you would have asked his Guild Master, Bronnin Stub, he would have said Artham was the best student he had ever had. Artham was somewhat lanky, but he was flexible and strong.
Most of the boys in his class had great respect for him. In fact, all but one did. And that was Nibbick Bunge.
Bunge was extremely jealous of Artham. His strength and agility on the course was not Nibbick’s only issue. Most of the Hollish girls had their eye on Artham, though Artham desperately tried to ignore it.
Bunge did not like Artham. At. All.
Artham did have one friend he had made, however he was not in the Durgan Guild, he was in the Houndry Guild, and his name was Biggin O’Sally. He was a rather skinny boy too, so perhaps that’s why they spent time together.
Esben was having a jolly time participating in Sailery. He had a group of three friends his age, and they all got into scrapes together, which made Artham nearly yank his hair out. But Esben loved the Sailery because it reminded him of his father. His father had loved sailing, and instilled a measure of the love sailing in both of his boys, but mostly Esben. Esben dreamed of sailing on the open seas. In fact, when he turned twelve that next year, he was wishing and wishing that he might be able to go sailing all by himself. Maybe…
Emerald was also having a nice time. She did very well in her Needlery, and Nia helped her with her homework. In fact, her and Nia made a good friendship together, and Nia often sat with all three siblings and their friends at lunch hall.
One day, they were all enjoying a pleasant lunch, when Nibbick Bunge’s jealousy of Artham took action.
“So, how did your training go Esben?” Nia asked,
Esben looked at her somewhat curiously. “Um, it’s been fine. I like it….how about you, Nia?” Esben was now flushed and wide eyed.
“It’s great,” Nia said.
‘Give me strength,’ Artham thought to himself. Then he took a drink of his water…or tried to…but Nibbick “accidentally” bumped his elbow, making Artham spill it all over himself, and then everyone laughed at him, except his friends, and his cheeks reddened.
“Are you okay, Arthie?” Emerald asked, forgetting that nickname was not okay out of the house, and that made all the girls say “aww” and all the boys laugh harder, making Artham wish he could disappear.
“Yes, Em, I’m fine. I just need a towel.”
He got up, and awkwardly walked off to find a towel.
Nia watched him with a sober face, but when he was gone, everyone noticed a lightness come over, as if his presence had been suffocating to her.
The next few weeks, Artham found many bruises over his body….more bumping from Nibbick. He tried to hide that he was actually injured. But he couldn’t hide his black eye from Danniby.
“Ey, lad, what ‘appened to your eye?”
Artham flushed, and his finger quickly flitted to his eye. “Nothing….much.”
Danniby raised his brow. “Then you ought to be more careful when doin’ nuttin.”
Artham blushed again. “You don’t need ta tell me…..I’ll find out in other ways,” Danniby said, watching him with a slightly disapproving eye.
Artham bowed his head, then dashed upstairs and began tending to his hurt eye. Thankfully he didn’t have to tell anyone how Nibbick had shoved a door shut in his face, or how much it really hurt, or…or anything.
“It’s better this way,” he muttered, even as he winced to take care of his eye.
Meanwhile, Danniby paced back and forth downstairs. “I promised you, Illia, that I would take care of these kids, and now he’s comin’ ‘ome with bruises!”
He sat down, frustrated and saddened. “Oh, Illia, how am I gonna get on without ya?”
So, this is setting up the rivalry between Artham and Nibbick! And some more strange behavior from Nia. And a little bit of Esnia 😍
I hope you like!
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