CHUTZPA LEANED OVER Fire Dancer’s neck, pushing the stallion to run faster. Branches of the bare trees slapped his face and arms as they pushed through the scrubby trees. Tesha clung to his back, her arms snaked around his middle as they raced down the dark trail with Deshi keeping pace on Marsai’s mare as they rode for their lives. They had barely escaped the erupting mine. It swarmed like a kicked anthill, slaves and guards battling on every level. At every turn, they were confronted by blood, swords, and magic. The hallways were slick with blood and filled with the screams of the dying, captor and captive alike.
The only thing he had paused to collect was the box he had stashed under the boardwalk. It was now strapped around Deshi’s waist, bouncing on the back of the saddle as they fled the coast. For some reason he couldn’t identify, he knew the box was important. But the theft had not gone unnoticed. There was a whole squad of guards pursuing them, chasing them through the dangerous, dark woods.
He had wanted to search for Marsai, to confirm for his own peace of mind that she was really gone. His heart didn’t want to believe it, but his head knew the truth. Nothing could have pried Shikoba’s staff from her grip other than death. The shrunken staff bounced at his hip, where he had tied it, mocking him with its innocence. He had seen the damage it could wrought and knew that it was an object of magic. He shivered, feeling its menace even as he fled from the battle raging behind him.
They had to keep going, keep pushing.
He headed for the only place he knew where they could hide in safety. The rough path sloped down. With a sudden shiver, they passed through the protective enchantment left in place for their return. The air shimmered around them, swallowing rider and horse as they faded from view. They were headed for the swamp. Marsai’s swamp. They plunged through the mucky muck at the bottom of the hill, then Chutzpa turned Fire Dancer in the direction of the house. Fire Dancer needed no urging. He could smell the lush grass of the lawn of the small castle and was eager to return.
They rode up to the building. It was no less impressive than the first time he had been there. But this time, it stared back at him, multiple walls with empty windows. The place had lost its soul in more ways than one. Chutzpa pulled reins and brought Fire Dancer to a halt. He eagerly dropped his head to crop the lush grass, as soon as the reins slackened. Chutzpa held out his arm, and Tesha swung off his back, using the crook of his elbow to dismount. Deshi met her on the ground, and Tesha ran to him and flung her arms around Deshi. They hugged for a moment and then both turned back to Chutzpa.
“What are we going to do?” Deshi watched the older man over the top of Tesha’s head. “You are planning something. I can feel it.” He let go of Tesha and loosened the belt that held the box, handing it over to Chutzpa.
Chutzpa stared at the box. His mind was reeling with all that had happened.
“I do not know,” he said softly. His gaze lifted in the direction of the mines. “But I think our friends need us. We might have lost Marsai today, but I can’t believe,” his voice caught, “I will not believe that Shikoba is gone. I am going to go back for her, but not right now. I will need help, help I cannot get here.” His head turned toward the Citadel. “But we know who the enemy is.”
“We will help you. We are with you, Chutzpa. You are all right, for a Tunisian.” Tesha gave him a hug, which he accepted, gratefully. Chutzpa sighed, then grabbed their arms, steering them toward the castle. “Come. Marsai would be pleased that we have taken shelter here. Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow is soon enough to plan.”
As they crossed the moat, a dark shape crossed in front of the sun high up in the sky. The massive dragon blocked the sun for a moment, casting the swamp beneath its shivering shadow and then was gone.
***** THE END *****