With a reasonably ferocious roar, Alex launched forward, vaulting a cabinet. The black-clad man looked around, confused to find another combatant. In the same instant, Alex’s grandfather swung his left leg up in a blunt, arcing swipe that caught the man’s head and put him on the floor.

Alex’s grandfather got up. The woman launched a kick that sent him sailing back out the door they had all come in through. Pirouetting on the same momentum, she dealt Alex a slap that knocked him just to the edge of unconsciousness. His head hit the floor with a jarring thud. Blackness fell for a second, then, panicking, he jumped to groggily face her, body fizzing with fear, shock, and adrenaline. The faint gray light flickered as his eyes fought for focus. There was a hissing on the air.

The woman was helping her companion up, drawing his arm over her shoulder. Alex searched around in desperation. A broom stood propped against the wall. He grabbed it, then went at them, swinging crazily.

The woman’s eyes rounded. She thrust her sword in Alex’s general direction but missed by a foot. When he raised the broom again, she swiped madly at the air by his side. He leapt back as she pulled a dagger from a sheath on her leg. She waved it warily as the pair backed out through the door Alex had entered, the man leaning heavily on her and clutching at his thigh. The woman’s staring eyes never left the broom Alex held before him.

As soon as they disappeared, Alex made a woozy run through the door after his grandfather, then halted. The space beyond lay in complete darkness. Crouching, he felt cautiously along the floor until he touched a warm hand.

“Grandad?” He explored the arm, a shoulder, a jaw. There was a groan. “They’ve gone,” Alex panted. “Are you all right?”

“I’m okay, Alex. Give us a hand up, though, eh?”

Alex helped him back through into the dim, wavering light of Harry’s showroom. The hissing, static sound still popped in his ears.

“They do seem to have it in for Harry’s place.” Alex’s grandfather gestured sadly around. “He’s still not had a chance to finish clearing up after—” He broke off, squinted, and stood frowning at something in the gloom beyond Alex’s head. “Ah, Alex?”

Alex turned to look. The room was a mess, but he could see nothing out of the ordinary. “What is it?”

His grandfather’s eyes widened. He furrowed his brow, stood rubbing his chin, then held out a hand. “Ah. Take my arm again, would you?”

Alex did. “Are you okay?”