Chapter 8: A Quick Fight at Home

Jack rounded the familiar bend that led to his family home on Quarry Street, now coated in a pleasantly cool morning shade.

Walking past the neighbouring houses, he absent-mindedly remarked how his family’s modest two story house was like all the others, of the usual beam and joist design common in Lazaras.

Lacking a backyard of any kind (or a garden for that matter, as Lazaras was the Stone City after all) Jack’s family home always appeared to be in tip-top shape. Never an old-looking beam or worn edge marring the consistently brand-new appearance of the place – a feature owing to Jack’s father’s professional talents.

He strode up the double stone steps, opened and walked in through the front door, stepping onto the fresh wooden floor boards of the small front hall that he had known all his life. Walking through the alcove that led into the main hall, Jack was greeted by a familiar scene, full of comfortable sights and smells.

His father and his younger brother were seated at the long table that dominated the primary space of the hall, talking animatedly across from one another while his mother was cleaning up the remains of their breakfast. Upon his entry Jack was greeted enthusiastically by his family.

“Jack!” exclaimed Pik, who extended his right hand which Jack immediately clasped with a grin.

“Ho Pik” said Jack, “Your grip’s even stronger than the other day, Pa must be workin’ you pretty hard over at the site.”

“No harder than the rest of the crew,” chortled Jack’s father Aldous, with his characteristic hint of seriousness. “Good morning son,” he continued. “Your mother tells me you were late for work yesterday, I trust that won’t be happening again anytime soon, this family has a reputation to uphold.”

“It won’t Da, I wouldn’t want to do anything to tarnish the good name of a Chief Builder of Lazaras,” responded Jack, only slightly offended at how quickly his father criticized something that had happened the day before (never mind something his employer had already forgiven).

“You jest boy, but we owe everything to our fair city, and we should treat the way we go about living here with as much respect as we give the King, you get my meaning?” intimated Aldous.

“Yes Da, of course Da, it won’t happen again I promise.”

“That’s a good lad” finished Aldous with an awkward pat of his eldest son’s shoulder, and then he sat back down in his seat and resumed his conversation with Pik.

At 14 years Pik, Jack’s younger brother, was showing a remarkable aptitude for building and construction, all things considered. As a much younger boy Pik had suffered from an illness that left him weak and fragile, it very nearly claimed his life. During the worst of it Pik had been bed ridden for senturns, and during those times Jack was by his side tending to him as often as he could.

But now that he appeared to have grown out of it Pik was proving to be a remarkably adept worker, already he had long ropey arms and the beginnings of fierce muscle definition in his chest and back. Jack was often overjoyed to see his younger brother doing so well in his continuing good health. In fact, in shape and appearance young Pik was starting to resemble that of their father. They both had the same short, curly brown hair, thick neck and solid build.

In fact ever since Aldous took Pik out to the various job sites around the city to teach him his craft, Pik became more and more like his father in appearance each day. Although Pik still had a lot of growing to do if he was going to catch up to Aldous, who stood a good two heads above his youngest boy.

“So I noticed you didn’t come home last night Jack,” said Pik, “Spend another night with your *girlfriend*?”

“As a matter of fact I did, not that it’s anything you need to concern yourself with. Think of it as nothing special, at least until you’re old enough to cope with such ideas,” retorted Jack.

Pik sauntered off looking slightly embarrassed muttering something that sounded an awful lot like “*It sounds pretty effing special to me*.”

“Pik, you watch your language!” chastised Adel, “Now go up to your room and make your bed, prove to me those hands of yours are good for more than swinging hammers, laying stone and hauling lumber.”

“Yes Ma,” said Pik, and he made his way upstairs.

“So, what has my brilliant son got planned for today?” Adel asked genuinely. “I don’t suppose you could help your mum out with a few chores?”

“I’d love to Mum, but Nolan and I are going into the Lower Quarter today, a Grubber in Jade Square nicked his purse yesterday, we’re going to see if we can get it back. If you set aside what you need done I can get to it tonight though,” replied Jack.

“Jack, that sounds dangerous.” Adel with fright. “You know how risky the Lower Quarter can be for us well-to-do folk, you’ll get roughed up by some ne’er-do-wells, I’m certain of it!”

“Mother, there's no need to worry, Nolan will be with me. Between the two of us there’s no threat the LQ can throw at us that we can’t deal with,” Jack said confidently.

“Besides, that’s half the reason I stopped off here first, I’m going to grab some of my older and rattier clothes so I fit in better…and I’m going to insist that Nolan does the same.”

So far remaining silent, Aldous chimed in at this point.

“Your mother’s right, boy.”

*Jack hated it when he called him ‘boy’*.

“The Lower Quarter is dangerous to folk like us.” Aldous continued. “Your Mid Quarter demeanor will give you away and you’ll wind up on the end of a blade. Finding stolen goods is a job better left to the Law Brigade.”

“I think you two might be looking past the fact that Nolan is a trained fighter. ” said Jack. “Besides which, you two always seem to forget all the times we’ve assisted Sir Barrow on cases he couldn’t solve himself.”

“Oh, you were just kids dear,” said Adel in an offhand way.

“They gave us the key to the city!” Jack said incredulously. “The King’s seal is on the official document naming us both honorary constables. I mean come on! That’s a bit impressive.”

“Ehh,” Aldous shrugged. “It was a fun little game you and your friend played when you were young. Besides it’s not like it ever put any money in your pocket.”

“Well, in any case I’m not a child, or a boy. The Lower Quarter only exists because it’s inhabited by the people of this city, living, breathing human beings like the rest of us.” Jack fumed, suddenly angry and not really sure why.

“And what’s more,” he continued. “The Law Brigade has their hands full with all the recent killings, most of which have been taking place in every other Quarter except the Lower, and I know this because I spent the better part of yesterday de-fleshing the skull of a poor murdered fellow,” he finished with an inward cringe, suddenly recalling the putrid smell of the thing.

At this Aldous threw his hands up in defeat, uncommonly so, as oftentimes his father was as stubborn as he was.

“Look son, we know you’ll do your best to be safe, but you know that the Lower Quarter can be dangerous,” Aldous lectured before releasing a sigh.

“It’s just hard sometimes, to think of you as a capable adult. We know that you are, more so than we ever could have hoped. It’s just, you try to instill a sense of independence in your kids, yet it’s never easy for a parent when they take to it so well,” said his father with emotion.

“Do be safe dear,” his mother added, “I imagine Nolan’s family really needs the money in that purse. I don’t like it at all, but I know you’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do, and like you said, it’s unlikely the Law Brigade has the manpower to spare for it.”

“Thank you both,” Jack said warmly, feeling there wasn’t much else to say on the matter (and feeling that anything else he could say would only hurt his chances and he already had the go-ahead).

“I’m going to go collect the things I need, then go see Nolan, he’ll be anxious to get results I’m sure.” Then he bounded up the stairs to his room two at a time. As he got to the room he and Pik shared, his little brother came out with a look of concern.

“You will be careful though won’t you Jack? I heard about your plan to go into the Lower Quarter. I know Nolan will be with you, so I’m not too worried. I think Ma and Da would feel better about the whole thing if they’d ever seen Nolan fight like I have.”

“I’ll be fine, Pik,” Jack reassured his younger brother, “And I promise I won’t let anything bad happen to Nolan, or to me.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” said Pik, “After all, I’d hate to be an only child,” he joked. “Someone’s got to be the favorite around here and that’s way too much attention for me.”

Jack laughed out loud.

“If anyone’s the favorite around here it’s you Pik.”

“Alright, let’s just agree that we’re both effing brilliant,” added Pik.

From downstairs they heard their parents shout simultaneously.

“*Language!*”

The two brothers fell into a fit of laughter, after which Jack sighed quietly.

“Damn, the walls are thin in this house.” Which thankfully their parents didn’t hear.

“Good luck today, big brother, I’ll see you tonight?” asked Pik.

“Count on it.”

After putting on a dirty unkempt tunic, patchy hose, some worn shoes, a dilapidated looking beret to hide his face and a travel worn dun-colored cloak he left his house and started making his way down the other end of Quarry Street.