The double glazing salesman 10/12

Dave didn’t bother to struggle or explain himself. Firstly the man felt far stronger than he was, while surely the squire, whoever he might be, must be a reasonable man to hold a position of authority.

He could vaguely remember Jennifer Jane making a passing comment about the squire, when she was trying to get the dragons to eat coal instead of people. None of the villagers could afford coal, except for the blacksmith and the squire himself.

He was marched round to the back of the house where his captor banged loudly on the door, before going in.

“Wipe your boots, stand with your hands behind your back and call him sir when you see him.”

“Now then what’s all noise this about Bob? You know better than come inside without a very good reason and who’s this strange looking fellow you’ve got with you?”

“Caught him red handed trespassing in a suspicious manner just on the edge of the woods Mr. Saunders. I brung him here so’s you could take him in to the squire to deal with.”

Bob turned and left, while Mr. Saunders looked Dave up and down.

“You don’t look like a rough type to me, but you must be a stranger round here, I can’t remember seeing you in the village, or up here before.”

“Actually I came over this way on an experimental flight from the Witches’ Home. I had to land to get out of yesterday’s storm, got attacked by wolves and this was the safest looking place I could see to land after I’d escaped. If I could get back to Lurbridge, it shouldn’t take me too long to get back to the Home.”

“You don’t look much like a wizard either,” said Mr. Saunders, “come to that you haven’t even got a broom! I think you’d better come along with me and have a word with the squire. He should have finished his breakfast by now, so shouldn’t mind being disturbed too much.”

Dave followed Mr.Saunders along several corridors, then up a flight of stairs and finally arrived in the dining room where the squire had just finished eating.

“I’m sorry to bother you sir so early in the day, but this person was caught trespassing by one of the estate workmen this morning. Normally I wouldn’t bother you with the matter, but he claims to be a wizard from the Gate.”

A smartly dressed gentleman, rather older than Dave, got out of his chair and looked him up and down.

“He looks harmless enough to me Saunders, even if he is a bit dishevelled. You may go and continue with your duties. Now then young man, my name is George Manners and as you probably realise, I’m the local squire. Perhaps you’d like to sit there by the fire and tell me what this is all about.”