My Father is Death

Chapter 16

It's been a full month. Dick greeted Lady Shiva every morning after breakfast on his way to meet up with Ben. Ben taught him weapons combat until lunch, and led him over to Merlyn afterwards. The elder assassins had gotten use to having a child walking among them every morning, weaving in and out. There was one thing that Dick noticed, the children were not aloud in certain buildings. Buildings Dick was going in and out of on daily bases.

Three young students noticed more than others how a boy half their age was wandering around like he owned the place. So the three watched and planned. Waiting for the moment the boy was alone. But he rarely was alone outside of the building they weren't aloud in.

Dick sighed walking out of the building like normal only to come out in a place he didn't know. He peeked around to see if there was anyone in the courtyard. No one. Turning back to go inside he rammed right into a larger body sending him sprawling.

"Ha ha ha, look at this thing. Thinks he can go back into the Great One's Temple. He probably doesn't even know who that is."

Dick looked up at the three teens wearily. They were bigger than him. Meaner looking. They also looked angry.

"What? Do you not speak English? Instead of trailing the masters like a wannabe puppy, you should work on that."

"I understand English." Dick mustered out getting to his feet.

The leader of the group clapped slowly, "So you do. Bravo. You want a sticker or something?"

Dick furrowed his brow. The teens weren't throwing any punches, but his gut feeling said the words were suppose to hurt. It made him shake with furry at himself. He should understand what the teens were trying to do.

"Is the puppy angry?" One of the others mocked, "What you going to do? Go run to tell the Masters? They'd laugh you out of the gates!"

Dick took a deep breath stepping aside and around the three teens. The three moved to block his way.

"Are you Deaf or something?" The leader snarled once more, "Only Masters and Assassins are allowed in. You're nothing. Not even a recruit. Not allowed in."

Dick snorted turned and made his way to the archway to another courtyard. The leader reached out blatantly pulling Dick back. Causing him to stumble to his ass. The three laughed.

"What are you three doing?!"

All three boys jumped turning around. Dick turned enough to see Grant standing in the doorway red faced and curled fists. The three teens stumbled over each other to explain.

"He was trying to enter the Master's temple! Recruits aren't allowed in!" The shortest of the three stammered out.

Grant bared grinding teeth, "First of all, he's a guest of the Grand Master not a recruit. Second, you should all learn to mind your own business. What are your ranks and who is your teacher?"

The three audibly gulped stammering out, "We're Disciples, under Lady Shiva, Sir."

"Well let's hope the Lady Shiva is in a good mood." Grant shoved the boy's forward into the forbidden temple. The three stumbled in blabbering out apologies but Grant ignored them. Dick trailed behind curious as to what his big brother was doing.

They entered the kitchen with the attached dinning room and everyone silenced turning too the interlopers. Grant shoved the three until they faced a stone faced Lady Shiva, "Are you thee going to tell her what you did or do I?"

The three shuffled their feet any confidence they had completely gone.

"Fine than. I found these three tormenting a child half their age. And when the boy tried to walk away they shove him back. They lacked the boy entrance back into the Temple."

Lady Shiva's eyes sparked with understanding before they took a dangers gleam, "You boy's not only shoved your weight around by tormenting a child, but did it to Ra's Al' Goul's honored guest?"

The boy's trembled in their boots.

"This is a disgrace of both Ra's Al' Goul and me. I want you both at the stables at one in the morning tomorrow and if you're late we can fix that. You're housing arrangements will also be moved to the vex bunks. Is this clear?"

Both boys nodded eagerly.

"Than Jackal will escort you out and make sure all three of you make yourself at home with your new accommodations." Lady Shiva looked behind all of them to Dick, "Dick, come here."

Dick trotted forward, "Yes ma'am?"

"Have you ever ridden a horse?"

"No, ma'am."

"Well than we must teach you. Jackal, you may take the Recruits away now. I don't want to hear a peep out of them for the rest of today."

Grant gave a slight bow of his head before taking the three teens away. Once they were out of sight Lady Shiva rolled Dick's sleeves up to look at his skinned elbows and turned over his hands to seek more scraps.

"Do they hurt?"

Dick shook his head, "No ma'am."

Shiva nodded, standing up with Dick in her arms, "I'll be back Taila."

"Make is quick, Slade will be here soon." Taila warned, "He'll be looking for his youngest."

"I make is fast. Let's go Dick, we're going to patch you up."

"I'm fiiiiiinnneeee." Dick whined, "Not even a drop of blood."

Shiva laughed softly, "Yes, but you my boy do the woodenness and rare thing of making Slade a worried parent. Not even Joey could manage that often."

"The big boys made comments I do not understand."

"You will one day but for now just forget them. They were bullies. They'll learn their lesson or they'll never make it here. No one here will train bullies." Shiva set the boy down on the counter in the medical by, "Show me your hands."

Dick sighed holding out his hands, "I'm not weak. I can take care of myself."

Shiva gave him a small smile, "I know Dick. We all do. You're just young in our eyes. You never should have gone through what you did. So let us care for you while we can. It makes us happy."

Dick giggled, "Only if I get ice cream."

"All the ice cream you want."

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