Fighting Pax, Part 3 of 4 by Robin Jarvis

Author:Robin Jarvis [Robin Jarvis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2014-05-16T04:00:00+00:00

Haxxentrot had bred the crowflies to be swift aerial steeds for her Bogey Boys, but it also amused her to send them to the castle to peck the noses off the unwary.

The Bogey Boys were racing, each trying to be the first to reach the North Tower. Bouncing up and down on their winged mounts, they impelled them with their heels and smacked the tops of those bristly heads.

The Jill of Spades only managed to dodge aside in time. They rushed through the window and whizzed round and round the bedchamber, knocking into furniture, pulling open cupboards, skimming their feet through the water basin and setting the jug reeling so it smashed on the floor. Flying over the fruit bowl, they snatched up apples and scooped hazelnuts from a golden dish and pelted one another with them. Diving between the bedposts and swinging on its curtains, the witch’s small, rascally servants chased each other. One made a grab for the fine linen night smock that was laid out on the coverlet and held it daintily between his fingers as he paraded it about the room like a headless ghost.

All was chaos and uproar and Jill whirled about as they circled her causing mayhem. A painting was yanked from its hook, the mirror was bumped into and the silver-backed glass fractured in the frame. Then they seized hold of the iron chandelier and spun it round and round like a carousel, splashing hot wax everywhere.

“Stop! Stop!” Jill shouted, reaching up to catch them.

The Bogey Boys stuck their pointy pink tongues out at her. They tugged on the bristles to go higher, forcing Jill to stand on a chair and jump at them. It was most undignified.

Then, one after another, they steered their ugly steeds downward and zigzagged about the chamber until the mischievous Bogey Boys hopped clear and landed on the feather bed. The crowflies cawed and darted up to the vaulted ceiling, to crawl across the painted plaster and sharpen their beaks on the stonework.

Jub, Crik, Hak and Rott tumbled about like acrobats, flipping and somersaulting from one end to the other. Then they rolled in formation across the bed and, with a flourish, sat cross-legged on the edge – beaming up at the infuriated girl.

Stepping down from the chair, Jill swept a stray lock of hair from her face, incensed that she should be made to look so foolish.

“I did not send for you!” she said crossly and out of breath. “Where is Haxxentrot? Where is your mistress?”

The Bogey Boys smiled even wider, revealing their baby teeth, and they fluttered their ginger-lashed eyes in insolent innocence.

“Answer me!” Jill demanded. “Or I shall have your sickly white heads on spikes and feed the rest of you to Mauger – if he is not repulsed by them.”

The Bogey Boys shook their hands in mock terror and rolled their eyes wildly, before falling about, squeaking with laughter.

Jill advanced towards them, reaching into both her sleeves. Then a harsh, cracked voice behind said, “Do not draw thy daggers, my dark little maid.

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