The King's Crown by Gavin Johnson (best classic books to read txt) 📕

would’ve come in handy now!” Jack complained. John groaned. “Come on Jack, quit complaining, we all are hungry,” John said. Then Claire remembered. “Don’t we have left over fish?” she exclaimed. John got excited also, he dashed for the pouch he had strapped onto Magik. Yet, John’s expression turned the exact opposite of excitement. He showed all of the kids the empty pouch. This made Jack’s stomach clench and rumble. “Dammit!” he muttered. “Hi Ho Dum Dee Dum, Hi Ho Dum Dee Dum, a pirates’ life for me!” a tuneful voice echoed, as squeaky wheels. A merchant!

The merchant came rolling down the road. John flagged him down. “Ay sonny, you looking for something? Well I gots ‘em right here,” The merchant said, there was a metal hook that held a knob on the side of the cart, to keep it from falling down. The merchant unlatched the knob, and the side door fell, revealing the continents inside. There were diamonds, and water, candy and exotic artifacts, like carved masks and stones, with pictures or wise words carved inside. Isabella browsed through the selection, nothing they could really use besides the water, maybe even the candy.

“Hey, how much is that cart?” Jack asked, pointing to a large, wooden stage coach attached to the cart. “On sale young lad, only fifteen gold pieces,” The merchant responded. “John, how much money do we have?” Jack said. John looked in the pouch. “Only fourteen, just one short,” John said. “Listen, can we get you to lower the cost by just one tiny gold piece?” Isabella asked hopefully. “Well, I have been eyeing this young man’s sword, you can trade it to me, and I will give you the stage coach for free,” The merchant offered. He reached out, but John stepped back and shook his head. “Alright then, the cost is still fifteen gold pieces,” The merchant said. “Please, isn’t there anything else that we can trade you?” Isabella said. The merchant rubbed his chin, “Well, that pouch you have there looks like a genuine product, where’d you get this pretty little thing?” “Um, at a market?” Isabella answered. “I’ll trade you the stage coach, for the fourteen gold pieces, and that lovely pouch, heck, I’ll even hook it up to your horse thing,” The merchant offered.

“It’s a deal!” Jack said, they shook on it. So the merchant hooked the stage coach to Magik, and in return, the kids gave the merchant the pouch and fourteen gold pieces. The merchant finally went on his way, singing his silly tune as he went. The boys made a deal that they would take turns driving the stage coach. It was currently Jack’s turn. John sat in the coach fast asleep. Snoring loudly, ruining any chance that the girls may get a wink of rest. Not that Claire would get any if John hadn’t been snoring, she could only imagine what horrible things she had done when she was Jasper’s slave. Isabella tried to convince her she did nothing terribly evil, but the look in her eyes, told her somewhere there was a lie. Minutes later Isabella noticed a nice, but gigantic village coming near them. “Jack, we should stop at the village for a few days, get supplies, we all are really tired,” Isabella said. “Yeah but...” Jack started. Isabella cut him off. “Listen Jack, we need money, and a place to relax. Besides the place is right up here, okay?” Jack sighed and cracked the reins that bound Magik and the stage coach in agreement.

Magik trotted down the path. Isabella dozed off a bit. Suddenly, Jack screeched Misty to a stop. Isabella jerked forward, sending Misty into John, waking him instantly. Jack rode the stage coach into town. Finding the closest, and thankfully cheapest, hotel in the whole village. The man at the counter was very stubborn, but the kids were able to push him over. The four were given a crummy little room, with four simple beds. Jack decided for the kids to get “Immediate shut-eye.” After after two hours of lying wide awake in complete darkness, Isabella wondered about what was going on in Ken-yang, and even wondered what Og was up to...
Interlude

Across town, Og pulled on the reins of his enormous horse. It shrieked and stopped abruptly. Og jumped off. He made his way to the bar in front of him. The guard who guarded the doors stepped in front of Og. He grunted and said, “Get lost, if you ain’t on the list, then leave.” “I’m on the list,” Og lied. “Don’t think so wimp, this is a private bar, and I haven’t see ya here before, so leave, before I make you,” the guard threatened. Og was silent. Before the guard could react, Og’s hand shot up and grabbed the guard’s neck. Og pressed his middle finger, index finger, and thumb into the guard’s soft neck, snapping it instantly. The guard’s body went limp, and Og released. The body crumbled. Og simply walked past. The bar was simple as can be. Booths and a bar with chairs. Drunk men asleep with stale beer dripping from there chins. Og took the booth with the least dirt and old puke under the table. Soon a waitress came to Og’s booth. He gave his order. “Two large beers, in a mug please,” Og said.

“Sure,” the waitress replied. Minutes later, the waitress came back with two large beers. She set them on the table then left. Og pulled up some of his mask, and sipped a bit of the ale. He looked around the mucky bar. He was expecting someone. Suddenly, the twin doors flew open, and in came a shadowy figure. He walked slowly towards Og. Then looked down at him. Og gestured to the seat across from him. “So, you’ve found the kids that have been riding up my ass lately?” Og began. “Yes, I saw them recently, I wanted to kill them, but figured you would want to do the honors,” The figure said. “Well, you can try, but when you fail, then I’ll kill them,” Og joked. “Har dee har har,” The shadowy figure laughed sarcastically, he gulped down some rum. “Eh, listen pal, I got two people who’d be more than happy to complete your assignment,” the silhouette said, looking at his empty cup, searching for any last droplets.

The wooden doors swung open. Two small figures, almost child sized, came up to the booth and stared at the two men. Og examined these small beings, there was something about them, that they seemed they could get any job done. Og didn’t know, it was just a feeling. “These, look like they can work!” Og said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. The man signaled the two people away. “They’ll start tomorrow,” Og’s mysterious client said. “I bid you good night.” With that, the man got up and left. Og gulped the last of his rum. Then got up to leave, but a waiter stood in his way. “Hey, hope you have the money for those drinks pal,” the waiter said, holding out his hand and rubbing his fingers together. Og just stared. His hand flashed to his belt, wielding one of his swords. He thrusted his sword into the waiter’s stomach. The water let out a gurgling sound, and went limp.

Og pulled the sword out. He put the bloody blade back in the holder. “Sorry for the mess,” Og said casually. With that, he pushed through the doors, clambered on his horse, and rode away, into dark mouth if the sleeping, silent village.

Chapter 13

John awoke, and sat up. He broke into a cold sweat. John looked outside, the city lamps were still on, but the city was already alive and busy. He sighed. The children decided to sell the wagon to get money, but that might take a while, so John volunteered to get a temporary job. Down he went in the world, the bustling city was crowded with villagers, sellers, people buying tonights dinner. John continued down the road, until he came towards a bar. CRACK! a loud smashing of furniture erupted in the bar. John rushed in to see what all the ruckus was about. Two burley guys were going at it, small villagers, compared to the two men, made a circle around the two men. One, who was a bit smaller than the other, started throwing chairs and tables at the other, while the other was using cover with a table.

John searched the room for the owner, whom was cheering on the fighters. John was puzzled. He walked over to the man. “Are you the owner of this place?” John asked. “Sure am,” the man answered. “And you’re not stopping this?” Jon cried. “What? And miss this? No way, this is some high quality entertainment!” The man said. John just nodded, and returned his attention to the fight, which had just ended with the bigger man knocking out the other with an uppercut. Blood seeped out of the burley man’s mouth, as the other checking his badly bruised knuckles. A new battle trophy. The burley man raised both arms, as the crowed cheered relentlessly. “Woo Hoo!” The man howled. He pumped his fist in the air. “Oh, by the way, the name’s Nick,” The man said, holding out his hand. “John,” John said, shaking Nick’s hand.

“So, Nick, are you looking for any new employment?” John asked. “Why yes sir, actually I am!” Nick said. “Would you like a job here son?” “Yes