Page 13 - Mad Shadows II

Blood squirted. He fell into the street. Then I kicked Pahg in the
backside and sent him sprawling. I picked him up, gave him a
head-butt and let him drop. But Ludius cold-cocked me with a
right cross that knocked me down against the bench.

“Stay out of this! Say, don’t I know you?” he growled.
“You’re Dorgo —”

I lashed out with one foot, caught him solidly on the ankle
and leapt to my feet as he hit the cobblestones. I wasted no time
in venting my anger. Grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, I
bounced his head off the bench two or five times. I forget.

“Didn’t your mother teach you boys the meaning of
respect?” I banged his forehead against the bench one last time.

Two brawny arms suddenly grabbed me from behind and
pulled me off Ludius, who slumped to the ground, out cold. His
head was bruised and bleeding, but he was still breathing.
Guess I didn’t do a good enough job on him.

“Thought I told you to stay out of trouble?” Sergeant Thims
said as he spun me around.

Four other men of the constabulary were with the good
sergeant. Three of them helped the Khodo brothers to their feet.
The fourth assisted the elderly satyr.

I brushed dirt from my blue linen shirt and black leather
breeks. “My apologies.”

Thims gave me a look and turned to the satyr, who leaned
on his crutch and stood next to the constable who had helped
him to his hooves. “What happened, Doctor?”

“The Khodo boys, that’s what happened,” the satyr replied.
“This man here —”

“Dorgo Mikawber, at your service,” said I.
Thims sighed and shook his head. “Dorgo, this is Doctor
Kindarus Gamahl.”
“Honored to meet you, Doctor.” I shook hands with the
physician. “What about the Khodo brothers, Sergeant?”
Thims frowned. “You know them, eh?”
“I’ve seen them around. They live in Valdar.”

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