Chapter Five

Tyre’s Tour

The rest of August passed without incident. There were a few more introductory classes, but for the most part, James had a lot of free time. Often he would wander the never-ending halls of the Orphanage, or, as he was presently doing, explore the grounds. Today was the last day before full classes officially started. James was walking along the tree line of the forest surrounding the verdant, green, grounds and the Orphanage when he heard a small cry for help echoing out from the forest. He dashed into the dense wooded area, trying to follow the sound of the plea. A few meters in, he found a small, greasy-haired Stone-Hound stuck in a hollow wooden log, a small wolf snapping at the helpless creature. James drew his wand in one motion, pointing it at the wolf.

‘Bitan!’ he cried. A silver streak of light whipped out from his wand, bursting against the wolf’s hindquarter, sending it scurrying away, yipping. James returned his wand to his pocket and crouched down to see what, or rather whom, he had saved.

‘Eye thank yem fur’ ta’, bu eye cud ha’ gut, hem’ mi sealf!’ A voice echoed from the rotting log. Tyre lay immobilised; his fat stomach just too big to allow his escape.

‘Right then,’ James said, smirking. ‘I guess you can take it from here?’ He stood up to leave.

‘Wai,’ the strange voice cried. ‘Eye suppees eye cud use seem help,’ he said, opening his palms in a welcoming gesture. James smiled and bent back down, carefully ripping at the soft, rotted, wood. It took only moments and Tyre was free, climbing to his feet as he brushed himself off.

‘Ye’re all ri’ yem no ta?’ Tyre exclaimed smiling brightly, flicking his whiskers.

‘Well… thanks. My name is James Newt.’

‘Eye kno hew yem es. An eye suppose ye kno mi name tew?’ asked Tyre, grinning, showing his little white, pointed, teeth.

James nodded at the Stone-Hound. ‘Fletcher told me your name after we met the first time.’

He couldn’t believe how long ago it seemed.

Tyre grinned. ‘Hes a gud Wuzierd, an yem no ta!’ 

James smiled at the little Stone-Hound. ‘Right, well I better bolt. I’m not supposed to be in the forest.’ 

Tyre shrugged and climbed up James’ leg, then his arm, and onto his shoulder; where the small creature sat down.

‘Aye. Me nay spus ter bi en here ethir, but eye em,’ he shrugged.

James looked at Tyre incredulously, who was sitting up straight, holding onto James’ shoulder with tiny hands.

‘Are you going to come with me, then?’ James asked the creature, who in return shrugged.

‘Eye canne leave yem, can eye?’ he said, scratching his dog-like snout.

‘You could if you wanted,’ James reasoned, but Tyre just chuckled and shook his head.

‘Eye nae can lev ye, yem seved me lyfe! Eye em bound to ye nuw!’

‘Bound to me? What do you mean?’ James asked, astonished, as he started to make his way out of the woods.

‘Every majikel creture arund Shudow Mountin agreed hundres’o’ years aga te bynd thumselves ter any who saves tems lyfe.’ 

‘So, you mean, they become like a… a familiar?’ James asked, unsure of whether or not he liked the idea of having a Stone-Hound around him all the time.

‘Lyke am familiar… but am ney dowun yer humwerk!’ he said, slapping a fist in his hand like a gavel. James laughed, as they exited the overhanging canopy of trees and made their way back to the main Orphanage complex, Tyre riding on James’ shoulder the whole way.

After much persuasion, Tyre convinced James to stop in the Main Hall to grab some food. As they entered, the smell of freshly baked pies filled James’ nose. A large assortment of food was set along the main table, and plates full of goodies were soaring around the room, which then came to land in front of people. James spotted Elizabeth at one of the round tables and made his way over to sit with her. He heard Tyre make a whimper as they steered away from the food table.

‘Where’d you find him?’ Elizabeth asked, smiling at Tyre.

‘I just saved his life,’ James said, taking his wand from his pocket and tapping it on the empty place setting in front of him.

‘Oh, saving lives and binding yourself a familiar,’ Elizabeth said in a broadcasting tone, ‘and all before dinner!’ she added. A large plate of food floated its way over to James and settled in front of him.

‘Can eye haf sem cheken?’ Tyre asked, licking his lips and rubbing his hands together as he gazed greedily at the food-filled plate.

‘Sure,’ James said, picking up a large piece and handing it to the Stone-Hound. James expected Tyre to devour the leg in one bite, or eat it like a mad man, but the small creature took tiny dignified bites, eating much more politely than a large number of the students in the hall. 

Elizabeth smiled warmly at Tyre; then turned to James.

‘Bloodstone has brought in more people,’ she stated, looking concerned. ‘Sam Bartworth – good bloke by the way,’ she continued, ‘he said there’s never been people like him here before.’ 

‘Isn’t he just magic police or something?’ James asked; his reservations for the scarred man had not vanished since the trip to the mountain; but without any more suspicious activity, his interest had waned considerably. 

‘I’m not sure what his job is,’ Elizabeth admitted, ‘but the point is, he needs more people to help him do whatever it is he’s doing. It’s… interesting.’

James recognised all to well the mischievous glint in Elizabeth’s eyes. 

Tyre chuckled softly. ‘Yer dunt no Bludstone, ney whut he daes?’ he asked astonished, wiping his furry face. He took a large drink of James’ water; then continued, ‘Eye’ll tell ye whut he is,’ Tyre bargained, ‘uf ye’ll gemi sum o’ ta pye.’ He pointed at a large piece of pumpkin pie that was sitting on the side of James’ plate. The exchange was made, and, after taking a large bite, Tyre turned to James and Elizabeth.

‘He’s am Dark Wizard, a Fealu Hleo, top o’ te Majikal Peepol’s Defence Force… er at lest hem was.’ 

‘What do you mean was?’ James asked, cautiously.

‘Yeah… Why would Fletcher let a Dark Wizard protect us?’ Elizabeth added.

‘Ye nae guna listen?’ Tyre asked, taking on a defensive tone.

‘Sorry,’ was the unanimous reply.

‘Rie. Noe, wha’ he es, es aen Flealu Hleo; wun who noes te darkness too well, so he can noe hes enemy, an fite hes enemy. He, Bloodstone, es te bes ter ever was!’ Tyre explained.

‘Well that clears everything up doesn’t it?’ Elizabeth said, dipping a chip in ketchup and eating it. He had no idea what she saw in the red sauce, but she’d always used it.

‘No it doesn’t,’ he argued, ‘and I thought you were the more mischievous one,’ James complained. ‘Don’t you want to see what he’s up to?’ he asked.

‘First,’ Elizabeth said, holding up a finger, ‘being mischievous and being untrusting are two different things.’ She took another chip from her plate, pointed this out, then went on, ‘And, no I don’t want to find out. Besides, we’ll hear if anything happens,’ she reasoned with a casual shrug.

‘I’m very trusting,’ James countered, looking to Tyre for support.

‘Dent lok a me,’ Tyre said, wiping his dog-like snout with his hands, ‘Eye jus met yer tuday,’ he finished taking a bite of his pie. Noting James’ betrayed expression, the Stone-Hound quickly offered, ‘But yer seem like a gud enuf persun!’