A Young Adult Adventure Sequel to Staff Master by Daniel Paul Sandoval
Seventeen-year-old Connor Coleman has just survived his first stick fighting tournament by knocking out and inadvertently ending the life of a veteran fighting master. His victory came with a price as he is now exiled from the fighting circuit and the girl he loves. With his only true friend by his side, Connor embarks on a journey to reunite with his lost love.
Connor’s journey takes a strange twist as one of his former enemies pleads for his help in taking down a major stick fighting tournament hosted in Kyiv, Ukraine. The plea ignites Connor to take action, which leaves a wake of tragedy and uncertainty for his future life and the love and peace he longs for.
You can download the first Staff Master Book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or purchase it from Muse It Up Publishing.
Staff Master 2
By Daniel Paul Sandoval
Copyright 2013 Daniel Paul Sandoval
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@sandovalsuccess
I would like to dedicate this book to my two little monsters, Esaias and Oslin. One day they will conquer nobility, tyranny, and strife through love and patience.
Chapter 1:
Moonlight reflected off the soft rippling Mediterranean water near the dock. Connor strolled around the deck of the yacht thinking about the lesson on cleaning solar panels and checking charging connections. He had enjoyed the regimented and predictable pace of his days at sea. Only a few days were left before his new friends Omar and Jabir returned to Tunisia. He had found an appreciation for security and solar technology over the last couple of weeks and was now fulfilling his security duty by patrolling the yacht. Connor felt like this was the worst part of having the guards around, but he was happy to comply with their requests since so many raiders had been reported around Greece. Despite the reports over the transmitters it seemed that Connor and his friends were far away from the hot spots.
He thought about sitting on one of the loungers on the deck, but knew he would fall asleep if he didn’t keep moving. He slapped his cheeks a couple of times and rubbed his eyes. As he opened his eyes wide to stretch them out he heard a splash in the water. He recalled the lesson from the guards about approaching each situation with caution and preparedness. He picked up his staff which was leaning against a doorway close to the yachts helm. Soon there was another splash. Connor waited on the deck to see what would happen. He clutched his staff in both hands. He heard quiet deep voices speaking in a language he did not comprehend. Instinctively he hid himself in the shadow of the door. A man dressed in black with a rifle in his hands crawled onto the deck from the water. Another was already approaching Connor from the starboard side of the yacht. Omar and Jabir had taught him to strike quickly and then call for help if the yacht was attacked.
The man with the rifle was coming closer to Connor and would soon be in plain view. Connor flew out from the doorway and struck the man directly on the hands and knocked his rifle to the floor. The rifle inadvertently fired and Connor quickly knocked the man off the yacht and into the water. He turned around to see three more men in black pointing their rifles at his head. They walked closer towards Connor speaking in a language foreign to Connor. He needed his friends to come help him, but knew it might be too late. Letting go of the hawthorn staff with his left hand he watched as the raiders approached him more quickly. Knowing he only had a second to make a decision he quickly swung the staff high above his head and spun out of the way of a fired shot. The staff connected with two of the rifles and Connor was out of range of the remaining gun. He grasped the staff with both hands and quickly knocked out two of the men before the third had raised his rifle. Connor pushed the rifle toward the sky with his staff when another shot was fired. The raider dropped the rifle and reached for a pistol. Connor heaved his staff at the raider and watched it hit the raider directly in the face.
More footsteps approached Connor as he stood without his staff. Connor rolled prostrate along the deck and retrieved his staff. He sprang into an attack position. This time the three men in front of him were the Tunisian guards and his friend Andre.
“Didn’t you hear the gun shots?” Connor roared.
“You friend like snore too loud.” Omar laughed.
Andre sneered. “Vut is funny bout dat…vee almost get attack by raiders.”
Jabir laughed. “Connor keep us safe.”
“I am not here to keep you ruddy dogs safe.” Connor laughed.
Andre finally let out a little smile. “Vee better call policia to tell vee catch raiders.”
“You come back to Tunisia and help guard Sami…" Omar smiled. "He like you.”
“I am going to Kyiv and if you two care to join us…you are most welcome.” Connor poked his staff at Omar's leg.
“You already offer…is very kind." Jabir gently kicked the staff away from his friends leg. "But, we return to our duty.”
“And I will miss you both…Now can you make sure this loot don’t wake up and decide to shoot us?” Connor asked.
Omar and Jabir lazily confiscated the rifles while Andre called the police in the nearby village. It only took a few minutes before a patrol boat had come and manacled the raiders. Andre translated for Connor as they questioned him as to what happened. Connor relayed the story and most of the officers couldn’t help staring at Connor in amazement. They finally asked him to demonstrate his skill with the staff and Connor reluctantly obliged. Connor showed them a basic quarter staff flourish and two different fighting stances. The police smiled while Connor walked through the motions of quarter staff fighting. After the demonstration the police went about their work and had everything wrapped up in about an hour.
“I don’t know…I think we could have been attacked at any time…" Connor pondered Omar's question. "...this yacht is by far the nicest we’ve seen in the last week.”
“Is true Connor, but you vunder vhy raiders in dis small village?” Andre asked.
“They have been raiding all around the country…It was only a matter of time before they hit our yacht." Connor said. "It is much nicer than most ships around and it would fetch them a hefty price if they found out it was reported stolen.”
“Even if not stolen…yacht is worth good deal money.” Jabir said.
“So now vhut Connor?” Andre asked.
Connor stretched his arms towards the night sky. “Well if I could go to sleep I would, but since I can’t we might as well start having these guards teach us everything about the yacht.”
Jabir and Omar looked at one another and nodded in agreement. As much as they wanted to get back to Tunisia they both were thoroughly enjoying their time on the yacht. Omar had Connor follow him to the helm of the yacht while Jabir took Andre below to start reviewing the engine and mechanics of the yacht. It would be another ten days of instruction before all the intricacies of the ship would be reviewed enough for them to feel confident leaving the yacht with Andre and Connor.