Burgomaster Storming Norman Twenty-four names Darktop judged, “The Klarjes are either gone or were never here. Whatever the case we are fresh out of sorcerers. We will have to get Longbeard and Dibbit to Thynna to have the spells removed from them. Promotions are in order. Donovan, you are now Donovan twelve-names, with wagon-driver and dragon-wrestler now added. Longbeard is Longbeard twenty-names with ‘stone-face’ as his new moniker.”
Dry Creek, reinforced by a thousand Gnome soldiers, remained on high alert.
*****
The Man in Black felt a pinch to his left leg and jumped up in alarm. He was lying in the dirt in the woods in front of the porch of his hidden cabin in the woods. A young Copper Dragon had a firm grip on his left leg. The highwayman took a deep breath and readied for the worst when the small dragon released his leg and abruptly flew away. Two griffons and another dragon were depositing the still sleeping Red-headed Stranger, Waymore, and Straight Arrow on the ground nearby. These beasts also simply snorted and flew away. The last thing the highwaymen’s leader remembered was melodious sound filling the air. The Man in Black went to his colleagues and awakened them with difficulty. He used Storming Norman’s technique of repeated face slaps. The Fearsome Foursome suffered headaches and disorientation, but the quartet managed to make their way into the cabin. The man in Black collapsed in his chair and rubbed his sore leg. Straight Arrow peered out the window. None of their underling rogues had returned. and notably Jack Taylor was no longer tied to the tree. Straight Arrow gripped his rapier and watched intently. However, the winged beasts did not return. The Kobolds and Bailiwick were nowhere to be seen.
The Man in Black unleashed a chain of expletives and growled, “Cursed Old Ones! Cost me my chance to even things with that ****** Mayard Klarje!
benjamintowe 