The rooftop level of the Bandit King’s castle had been constructed as a convenient spot from which the robbers could spill boiling oil down onto anyone who tried to break into their headquarters, but it also served as a nice place to have duels and, occasionally, to sunbathe. It was up there, with his loyal followers cheering from the sidelines, that Deeb Rauber prepared to slice and dice Prince Duncan.
Guards led the four princes, still chained to one another, from a lookout tower onto the stony rooftop. The army of bandits hissed and booed until the king raised his hand to hush them. He danced out into the center of the courtyard, waving around the most fabulous sword anybody there had ever seen. From handle to tip, the blade was encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. The weapon sparkled and shimmered like a sky full of fireworks. This was the legendary Sword of Erinthia. Liam gritted his teeth when he saw it and made a silent vow that he would get the sword back to his family someday. But my first priority is to make sure that fool Duncan doesn’t get himself killed, he thought. It’s just one thing after another, isn’t it? Being a hero can be so frustrating sometimes.
Duncan’s head was buzzing with adrenaline as he watched the Bandit King strut around, showing off for his followers. Duncan knew that the ten-year-old boy was soon going to stop playing around and start attacking him with that beautiful, deadly sword, and he wondered exactly how his magical luck was going to save him. One of the guards unlocked Duncan’s chains, separated him from the other princes, and pushed him out into the sunny, open center of the courtyard to face the Bandit King.
“How’s the song coming along?” Rauber asked.
“I’m thinking it can start with something like this,” Duncan answered, and sang, “The Bandit King took Prince Duncan up to his roof. He planned to chop-chop him, and that is the troof!”
“That’s terrible,” Rauber said.
“Sorry. First-timer,” Duncan said. “Maybe it would be better if I work on it after the duel. That way, I’ll know how it ends.”
“Oh, we all know how it’s going to end,” Rauber said with a grin. He tossed the Sword of Erinthia back and forth from hand to hand. “Ready to get hurt?”
“Would it matter if I said no?” Duncan asked.
“Nuh-uh,” Rauber smirked, shaking his head. He giggled as he sliced zigzags in the air.
“Don’t I get a sword, too?” Duncan asked. “I mean, you did say this was going to be a duel, not just a butchering.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” the Bandit King said. “Never let it be said that the Bandit King is anything but fair. Horace, let the prince borrow your weapon.”
Horace stepped out of the crowd, lugging a huge two-handed sword. The blade was six feet long and weighed more than Duncan did.
Duncan let out a nervous laugh. “You know, a smaller one would be just fine.” His luck was taking its sweet time to show itself. He honestly thought it would have gotten him out of this situation already, and he hoped the magic hadn’t gone on vacation or something.
The next few seconds seemed to occur in slow motion. Horace tossed the enormous sword in Duncan’s direction. The mocking laughter of a hundred bandits echoed in Duncan’s ears as the blade flew toward him. He reached out and—surprising even himself—caught the hilt of the sword in his hands. However, Duncan was not a terribly strong man. To him, catching the sword was like being hit with a cannonball. Unable to stop the momentum of the heavy weapon, Duncan staggered backward uncontrollably—and tumbled off the edge of the roof.
That was when Liam sprang into action. He dove to save his falling companion and managed to grab hold of his ankles. But Duncan kept falling, taking Liam with him. Gustav and Frederic, still chained to Liam, yelped as they were whipped off their feet and went sailing over the castle wall with the others.
The bandits’ laughter came to an abrupt stop.
“My princes!” the Bandit King screamed. He turned on Horace and Neville. “You imbeciles cost me my royal ransoms! Forget your rewards—you’re about to be punished worse than I’ve ever punished anyone before!”
“But I didn’t do anything!” protested Neville. Horace unsuccessfully tried to hide his massive frame behind his skinny partner.
Meanwhile, many yards below, the four princes thrashed wildly as they dangled in the air. The pointed tip of Horace’s sword had gotten stuck—wedged between two stones in the castle wall—and Duncan was clinging ferociously to its handle. Below him hung Liam (still gripping Duncan’s ankles), Gustav, and Frederic—all connected at the waist by their prison chains.
“I can’t hold on,” Duncan said through gritted teeth. “I wasn’t exaggerating about my lack of exercise.”
“Just let go,” Liam said.
“What?” Frederic yelled up to him. “Let go? Are you mad?”
“Frederic, look down,” Liam said.
Frederic glanced down. His toes were a mere six inches from the ground. “Oh.”
So Duncan released his grip, and the four men fell to the swampy, rain-soaked lawn below. They landed in a heap on top of one another. Duncan, aside from sore fingers, was completely unharmed. He climbed off the pile of princes, feeling pretty good about himself, and said, “Well, that was lucky.”
“I don’t want to hear the L word, Dr. Delusional,” Gustav warned. He then pulled Frederic out of the thick, gooey mud. “You okay?” he asked.
“I’ll survive,” Frederic replied. “Thanks for asking.”
“Hey, I just want to make sure you’re not going to slow me down,” Gustav said.
“Quick, let’s get out of here before one of them is smart enough to look over the edge and see that we’re not dead,” said Liam.
“Where did those fiends put our horses?” Gustav grumbled, looking around.
“There’s no time. We’ve got to make a run for it,” said Liam. “It’s not like we could ride in these chains, anyway.” The four men started off down the hill, away from the Bandit King’s castle, as fast as their feet would carry them.
“So … where are we … heading next?” Duncan panted.
Gustav, who was chained between Liam and Frederic, caused the others to stumble as he sprinted forward to the head of the pack. “Follow me,” he yelled.
“No offense, Gustav,” Frederic said, “but you’ve gotten us lost before. Do you know where you’re going?”
Gustav smirked. “Yes, Captain Tassels, I know where we’re going. Mount Batwing.”
“Might we ask why?” Liam queried.
“I spotted our friend, the giant, there.”