The Heroes of Armagh

4: Arran and Benji’s story

Arran was watching the city of Bray awaken from a rooftop. He had been up early as always. Benji was still asleep in the tent, he probably wouldn't get up before Arran woke him.

The first ones out was always the bakers and the fishermen. Then came the other shopkeepers and then the servants to get fresh bread for their masters breakfast.

He could smell the city, right know it smelled of hot bread and fresh fish but also of manure, dirty people and human waste. The city had a lot of poor people and you could smell that.

Arran slid down the roof, jumped down to a lower roof and from there to the ground, landing with cat like grace.

He walked over to one of the bakers, pointing to a loaf of bread. Then he threw he coins on the small counter, keeping the hood of his cloak over his head at all times.

Then he walked back to the tent. It was a large round tent with red and yellow stripes and it was sitting on the outskirts of a big open plaza in the middle of the city.

Twice a day Benji would do a magic show. It was all tricks and make believe. No one wanted to see real magic, but Benji often spiced up his shows with at dash of magic to make it more spectacular.

Arran warned him again and again, if he overdid it, if someone found out, they could be in some serious trouble, but Benji just couldn't help it.

"Get your lazy ass out of bed". Arran had pulled of the cloak and he was nudging Benji with his boot.

Benji grunted and rolled away. "Leave me be Arran, we can't all be early birds like you. I for one like my sleep".

"You have slept for 10 hours, so get up I brought fresh bread. You need to be ready for your first performance". Arran shook his head, his friend would sleep his life away if it wasn't for him.

Benji slowly rose and stretched, yawning like someone who hadn't slept enough. "Another boring display of tricks, nothing but make believe. Why can't we put on a real magic show ?"

"Because you would get yourself killed, and probably me to, if you did". Arran answers.

He holds out a kettle filled with cold water. Benji sighs and touches the kettle with a look of utter boredom on his face. The water boils within seconds and Arran proceeds to make tea.

They ate in silence and then Arran cleared out the ring while Benji put on his costume. It was a dark blue kimono adorne with sparkling silver stars. Arran often told him he needed a matching pointed hat.

Arran put on his cloak and pulled the hood over his head, before walking outside, opening the tent.

Af few minutes later Benji came out, looking everything the part of a fake magician. He started walking around the plaza talking about the wonders about to happen in the tent.

Once in a while he stopped and did some small illusional trick and people started gathering, as much as real magic scared people, most of them loved a good magic show.

Arran is standing by the entrance to the tent, and every time someone comes over to enter, he held out his hand and they placed a coin in it, he nods and they walk inside.

After some time Benji walks over, he looks bored out of his mind. A look Arran fears, this means he might do something stupid just to entertain himself.

"Are we ready to begin ? I can't take much more of this". Benji theatrical spread out his arms, like he meant the entire city.

Arran nods, better to get this over and done with a few empty seats, than risk an outburst from Benji. "Yeah we are nearly full".

The show starts. Arran is standing by the exit, keeping an eye on Benji, trying to make sure he is not overdoing it.

The audience is gaping and ooh-ing at Benji's illusions. Arran can easily spot when it is all a slide of hand and when it is the real thing, but he knows that the audience can't.

They believe it all to be fake but he knows that they like to play with the idea of it all being for real, even though it scares them, most humans are weird that way.

"And now for something very spectacular". Benji said, making Arran look up. He knew that tone in his friends voice. Benji was about to do something utterly stupid.

He tried to get his attention, but it was to late. Benji was in his own world. When Arran saw the shimmering golden ring in the air he was about to panic. Why on earth would Benji open a portal ?

Arran knew the audience would be in a panic if they could see the portal. Not to mention some of the things on the other side, but he knew they couldn't see it. Even Benji can't see it, he can only feel it.

Benji pulled something from the portal. It is a beautiful bird and it sored around the tent. The audience gasped, believing it to be an illusion. Then it disappeared back into the portal.

A throng of silver butterflies emerged instead, flying over peoples heads, making them gape in wonder before going back through the portal.

And then it happened, something dark was coming, something dangerous. Arran could feel it even before it emerged. It was big and wolf like, but with fangs and spikes protruding from its back and it had a bronze hue to the fur.

"A wolf, a wolf is loose in the tent". Someone yelled and people started screaming. It's a good thing humans are so credulous, Arran thought and ripped open the exit.

Benji was trying to get the wolf like creature back through the portal, but it was to strong. Arran tried to clear everyone out as fast as possible.

A small girl tried to run through the ring to escape, but she fell and the wolf thing was instantly on top of her. Arran reacted on instinct, in a flash he was kicking the monsters snout pulling the girl into his arms.

He put her down next to the exit, she looked shocked and Arran said. "Now run along little one, as far away as you can".

The audience had cleared the tent, and Arran turned to see that Benji was in trouble. The monster was closing in on him. He needed to do something fast.

He threw of his cape. His longbow ready in his hand, firing three arrows fast after one another, all hitting the monster, but they just fell of without doing damage and Arran coursed.

At least the thing turned to Arran, giving Benji more time and place to try and push it mentally back through the portal.

Arran knew he needed to do something fast, and his mind made up a plan. He just had to hope it will work. "Benji when I say now, then give it everything you got".

Benji nodded, and Arran moved, keeping the monsters attention on him, making it turn to face the portal. It was now or never he thought.

The monster looked confused as he ran toward it. It opened its maw, but in the last moment he threw himself down and the monster bite into nothing.

"Now". Arran yelled, as he slid under the monster, and used his leg and bow as a lever to push the monster up in the air, making it flip over.

As he got up, he saw it fall back through the portal which closed. Benji fell to his knees moaning in pain.

"Are you okay Benji ?" Arran was by his side in an instant. He saw a thin line of blood running from his friends nose.

Benji cradled his head, looking like he is in alot of pain. "Yeah Arran, thanks. I just need to lie down for a moment".

"You are a bloody i***t. I hope you know that". Arran said. Benji was just giving him a faint smile, as he helped him over to his bed to lie down.

When Benji was asleep, Arran put on his cloak and hood, and slipped out the tent. Everyone was talking about the incident, but luckily it seemed people were really convinced it was a wolf.