The Revenge of Botan the Bone Crusher: The Charlie Braithwaite Stories

By R.M. McLeod

The long-awaited sequel to 'The Theft of the Crown of Bodran'. Enraged by the loss of the stolen crown, the seriously unpleasant giant – Botan, who was so cleverly duped by Charlie and his friends when they retrieved King Bodran's treasured crown, is back, and this time, meaner than ever, he wants revenge!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Red Panda Press
• Release date: Jun 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386506065

R.M. McLeod

From being a small boy, R.M. McLeod has always been interested in ‘a good read’ and promised himself, from being a young boy, that one day he would also write one. He has had two books published in paperback – The Witches of Lewthan Mountain and The Escape of Athelwan. The Ghosts of Badger Wood has also been serialised in the North West Evening Mail. He lives in a fairly remote area of Cumbria and, he advises, it is the incredibly beautiful scenery surrounding his home that inspires the fantasies he so loves to write.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Wizard’s Warning

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Eleven-year-old Charlie Braithwaite was in the lounge of his Dimthwaite home, watching a football match, when it happened. First of all the television picture became snowy. Then, as the room filled with dense, white smoke, the commentary disappeared, only to be replaced by an annoying crackle that sounded like bacon sizzling in a frying pan. But as Charlie began walking across to the television, to discover what had happened, he suddenly squealed with delight. For, out of the slowly clearing, white smoke, an old man was beginning to emerge. A man so old in fact that he had learned the secrets of his ancient, mystical craft, from none other than Merlin, the greatest of all British wizards and still world famous for his exploits at the legendary court of King Arthur, some fifteen centuries earlier.

‘Argetlám!’ cried Charlie.

‘Hi, Charlie,’ said the white-bearded wizard, as he sat next to him on the sofa.

‘You have a new cloak,’ replied Charlie admiringly.

Argetlám looked down at the brand new, ankle-length, black cloak, liberally decorated with shiny gold quarter moons, stars, broomsticks and bolts of lightning. ‘And a new hat,’ he added, removing his wide-brimmed, pointed headgear. ‘I thought that as my other clothes are at least fifteen hundred years old it was time to treat myself to some new ones.’

‘Very impressive,’ replied Charlie, grinning broadly as he pretended to feel the quality of the wizard’s new clothes.

‘And you have a new haircut I see,’ returned Argetlám, as he studied Charlie’s short-cropped, red hair.

Charlie passed a hand across his head, then grinned. ‘My mother’s bought some new clippers, to cut mine and dad’s hair; I think she slipped when she did mine.’

Argetlám also grinned before glancing at the television. ‘Ah – good, the TV’s working again.’

‘It must have gone wrong when you materialised,’ observed Charlie.

Argetlám nodded. ‘Probably,’ then, through worried eyes, he looked at his young friend. ‘I’ve come to tell you something very important, Charlie,’ he began, gravely.

‘Great,’ replied Charlie, ‘what is it?’

‘Do you remember Botan the Bone Crusher?’ as he calls himself now, asked the wizard.

‘Do I?’ said Charlie. ‘Can I ever forget him?’

In truth, although he had never actually seen him, it was extremely unlikely that Charlie would ever forget Botan. He was an enormous and very evil giant who had once lived in a huge castle, deep in the heart of The Darklands. The Darklands, a mystical land of perpetual winter was a dimension not normally visited by humankind. It was a gloomy, hostile place, inhabited by, amongst others, evil witches, goblins, dragons, dwarves and giants. A place, where the light of the sun was never properly seen, where evil could be lurking behind every tree and where danger could be found around every single bend in the road.

During his last adventure with the wizard, Charlie had helped Argetlám trace the whereabouts of the crown of King Bodran, the ruler of a tribe of peace-loving elfin folk. The crown, which could make its wearer invisible, had been stolen from the king by a black-hearted witch called Marigold. She had taken the crown deep into The Darklands, to Botan’s massive castle where, knowing the giant’s desire for wealth and power, she had hoped to sell it to him. However, both she and the giant had been foiled by the persistence and courage of the Band of Brothers; the name given to the followers of Argetlám by an extremely grateful King Bodran. This after the Brothers had raided the giant’s castle, retrieved the crown and returned it safely to the king. However, such had been Botan’s rage, upon discovering that the crown had been taken from his castle, that he had vowed terrible revenge upon those who had dared to ‘steal’ it from him.

As Charlie remembered his last adventure with Argetlám, his thoughts also turned, affectionately, to the Brothers. Apart from Argetlám and Charlie, there were three other members of the Band. They were Bregon, a portly, five hundred-year-old, rather clumsy apprentice, who always dressed very much like his master. However, instead of a beard, the Welshman sported an old-fashioned, handlebar moustache. Then there was Darawan, a seventy centimetres high, elf. Darawan had shoulder-length, black hair, swept back at the sides and tied in a pony tail and as with all elves, his extremely sensitive ears were large and pointed. Being proud of his appearance the warrior elf always dressed in brown, gold-buckled shoes, green tights, hooded brown shirt, leathern jacket and, decorated with long, red feathers, a bicorn hat. Although he carried a small sword, Darawan also carried a very powerful bow, a weapon he could handle with the deadliest accuracy.

The final member of the team, and its newest recruit, was a green-eyed, red-haired, goblin. Bucket, for that was his name, was only a metre tall and his legs, arms and face were fat and wrinkled. Bucket always wore a yellow shirt and old-fashioned baggy trousers, held up by a thick leather belt into which were stuffed a wicked looking cudgel and a short, pointed sword. Bucket, although once a servant of Nemetona, the evil Witch Queen of The Darklands, had joined Argetlám after meeting up with the comrades during the quest they had made into that most evil and inhospitable of places whilst trying to rescue Charlie’s cousin, Joanne. In recognition of Bucket’s contribution to the success of that mission, the old wizard had rewarded him with companionship for life. The small, forever moaning and always hungry goblin, had been a close follower and faithful disciple of Argetlám’s ever since.

For a moment Charlie smiled as he thought of his companions, then he looked at the wizard. ‘But what does Botan intend to do?’ he asked.

The wizard shook his head. ‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘I think it’s unlikely that he’ll personally attempt to enter the Overland, the dimension you live in, but you need to be on your guard nevertheless.’

‘What should I look out for?’ asked Charlie.

Once again, Argetlám seemed vague. ‘Just keep your eyes open and ears pricked,’ he replied. ‘As you know, Botan employed a lot of dwarves to serve him in his castle. Most of them are so dim and dopey they can’t even remember their own name, but a select few are quite clever and I have information which makes me think that some of these may have learned how to change form. To give the appearance of, and pretend to be, something that they’re not.’

‘How do you mean?’ asked Charlie, the wizard’s words making the hair on the back of his head begin to stand on end.

‘I mean that some of them may have acquired the ancient powers of the changeling. That is to say – actually change their shape, from dwarf to...well goodness knows what. Perhaps that of a cat, dog, bird or even a human, just like you, Charlie.’

‘Oh dear,’ said Charlie, looking worried, ‘but what could Botan possibly want with me?’

‘Revenge,’ said Argetlám, quietly. ‘Quite simply, Charlie, the giant is still so mad, so completely boiled up with rage at the loss of the crown, that he desperately wants revenge.’

‘What might he do then?’ asked Charlie, wondering whether, after the wizard’s warning, he would ever sleep again.

‘Well, one thing he could do is to have you, or somebody close to you, kidnapped. He could then hold whoever he kidnaps for ransom, in return for the crown he covets so much.’

The wizard’s words made Charlie think. ‘Do you think I should tell my parents about this?’ he asked. ‘I mean, is it possible that they could also be in danger?’

Argetlám smiled. ‘Anything is possible, Charlie,’ he replied. ‘Although how you’d explain to your mum and dad that an evil giant from The Darklands may be about to kidnap either yourself – or them – well – I really don’t know.’

‘What about Joanne? She’s coming to stay with us for a few days with her sister and one of our cousins. If you remember, Joanna was kidnapped on her last visit and very nearly cooked and eaten by witches. I don’t think she’d be too happy if it happened again. Do you think I should tell her?’

‘Not yet,’ he replied. ‘At this stage I don’t think there’s any point in worrying her. I have the rest of the Brothers searching high and low for the whereabouts of Botan and when they find him, I intend to deal with him personally and permanently. I called tonight to warn you of the danger, to ensure that you’re aware of the possible threat from the giant. In the meantime, as I said, be on your guard. Beware of anyone or anything you’ve not seen before. Be especially wary of any strange animals, or people, who come around to the house. And, Charlie, if you do notice anyone, or anything unusual, call out my name immediately.’

‘Did you say that the rest of the Brothers are trying to find Botan?’ said Charlie.

Argetlám nodded. ‘Yes, even as we speak, they’re combing The Darklands for Botan and his ungodly retinue of followers.’

‘Is he not in his castle?’ asked Charlie.

‘No,’ said the wizard, shaking his head. ‘That’s the first place we checked. The whole castle, which is now a virtual ruin, is completely deserted.’

‘Which is why you think he may be looking for the Brothers?’ said Charlie.

‘I’m certain of it,’ replied the wizard.

‘Is there any way of telling if one of his dwarves comes here? Perhaps disguised as an animal or human?’

Argetlám nodded. ‘Yes, as you know, creatures of The Darklands are used to living in perpetual gloom, as such, they normally hate the bright light of the Overland. Therefore, if you suspect anyone, or anything, of being one of Botan’s spies, try to get them into sunlight or somewhere else very bright. You’ll be surprised how they react. If after testing them you feel certain they’re definitely a threat, call out my name immediately.

‘But what should I do if they try to attack me?’ asked Charlie.

‘If you feel threatened in any way you can recite the following words, if they are changelings then this spell will make them take on their normal form. Argetlám commandum, reversum!’ Argetlám looked at him gravely. ‘But you must only use that invocation as a very last resort.’

‘Okay,’ said Charlie. ‘But I’d much prefer to join you and the rest of the Brothers, in your quest for Botan.’

‘Believe me, you already have,’ said Argetlám. ‘All the Brothers have split up. Darawan the elf and Bucket the goblin are searching the Great Forest of the North. Bregon, the apprentice wizard, is on his own in the high mountains of The Darklands and I’m constantly flitting between them and some of my other spies, collecting progress reports; that and visiting