The Weir family manned the watch tower closest to the ball park. There were two people visible at the top level two hundred feet up, who would’ve had a vantage point outside of the wall.

Trevor’s keen eyesight allowed him to discern the identities of those standing watch at the top.

“It’s Munk, and Wera,” the giant said. “The twins.”

“You can tell that from here?” I said.

He shrugged. “I am closer by height,” he said. “Silly though to say.”

A male voice called down from the tower.

“Six riders,” Trevor said. “Wearing Murphy Mountain’s colors.”

I threw a concerned look at Proctor. “What do you suppose they want?” I said.

He was at a loss, same as me.

“Can we ask them what they want?” I said to Trevor.

He repeated my request to the Weir siblings at the tower’s top. His baritone holler carried upward on the frigid wind.

“They wish to speak with the village leader,” Trevor said.

Everyone’s eyes turned to me.

“I’m not the mayor,” I said.

“Effectively, you are,” Proctor said.

“Aye,” said Gak. “You’ve brought the magic brew, haven’t you? Look around. All of this. It’s you.”

“So, what? I climb up to the top of the tower?” I said.

“Maybe better to meet them at the gate,” Proctor said. “If they’re seeking a proper conversation. Or, perhaps, a negotiation.”

“Exit through the gate to face them?” I said, doing my best to keep fear out of my tone. “Negotiate for what?”

“You’d have to talk to them to know.”

I closed my eyes, and accepted my role through silent self talk.

“Fine,” I said. “Trevor, please have the people at the top-”

“Munk and Wera,” Trevor said.

“Right, Munk and Wera. Have them meet me at the village gate. Point them in the right direction,” I said.

“You really gonna do it?” Dillard said. “Meet them Murphy Mountains face up?”

“Like I have a choice?” I said.

“I’ll go with you,” Trevor said. Relief washed over me as soon as he said it.

“As will I,” Gak said. “Torag, what say you? You joining?”

Torag, young and musclebound, would’ve been a nice addition to our little squad. But, he sleepily shook his head.

“No,” Torag said. “I will stay here.”

Thanks for nothing. I shouldn’t have been surprised.

“We will join you,” Proctor said. “Won’t we, Dillard?”

Dillard offered a bemused smirk in response.

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “The three of us should be fine. I feel safe with these two watching my back.”

“Still, we should come,” Proctor said. “You may want some added input. We wouldn’t necessarily all have to go out through the gate to face these people from Murphy Mountain.”

“I’m in agreement with him,” Dillard said.

The reality of Moonlight’s geography meant traveling from the ball park to the village’s gate was not a hop, skip, and a jump. It took us more than an hour to walk there.

We filled the time with nervous chatter, mostly, and fair number of awkward silences. Trevor and Gak seemed more eager to face these riders than I was. I suppose I understood why, given their physical stature in comparison to the rest of us.

By the time our small posse arrived at the massive gate, a large crowd had gathered. The people parted ways with our approach.

Kestrel emerged from the sea of faces, and walked up to me.

“We pulled it shut as soon as we heard the bells,” Kestrel said. “What are your orders?”

My orders? People were granting me a lot of authority. Increasingly so, I’d noticed.

“No orders, really,” I said. “I would like the gate opened, however, so I may speak with the riders on the other side.”

Kestrel’s eyes grew two sizes. “Are you mad?” He said. “They’ll be armed, assured.”

“Two have swords,” Trevor said.

He said it loud enough some of the villagers overhearing us began murmuring to others. “Two swords, two swords,” I could hear it whispered and echoed throughout the crowd.

“He will be fine,” Gak said. “I shall not allow a mark on him.”

A strange euphoria gripped me just then. People willing to defend me from physical harm… it had an intoxicating effect. I had to remind myself not to get carried away with that, and allow it to dictate my mindset or behavior. I’d always been hyper self conscious in this way. Never wanting anyone to perceive me as entitled, conceited, or in any way a bully.

“We will do as you ask,” Kestrel said. But, I could see him shaking his head as he walked to a carved out chamber at the archway’s left wall.

Stolen novel; please report.

Moments later, the titanic chains clanged in an orchestra of iron. Slowly the portcullis rose. Villagers gasped, and scattered like bugs exposed to light.

Proctor, Dillard, Denton, and Kestrel watched from one side of the gate. Myself, Trevor, and Gak stood in the center of the path watching the wooden wall raise several feet above our heads. We could see the feet of horses appear on the bridge, sixty feet out. Then we saw the riders in their blue and green surcoats. Four horses in front, and two behind.

The two riders at the center of the front four had visible sword sheaths strapped at their sides.

Trevor was right, there appeared to be no other weapons on them.

When the gate came to a stop, and the chains locked in place, we stepped forward, and I tried to swallow, even though my throat had gone completely dry. We walked out through the grand arch, and stepped onto the bridge.

Immediately, I could see on the faces of the riders near the bridge’s end, they were frightened by the presence of a giant. Gak, the seven foot barbarian wasn’t exactly the friendliest looking either. It wasn’t even until this moment that I’d noticed Gak had armed himself.

I didn’t remember Gak having a sword at his side at the ball park, nor did I remember him strapping one on during our lengthy walk. Maybe a villager had given him theirs? Regardless, the large man kept one hand on the hilt as we stepped closer to the riders.

One of the men with a sword of his own raised his hand once we’d come within thirty feet. He had a salt and pepper beard, and appeared a bit older than the others with him. He rose from his saddle, and then dismounted.

Gak held out his arm, and went into a slight crouch, and he signaled for us to stop. His hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword.

“Please,” said the man stood down from his horse. “I only wish to speak with you.”

“You are the leader?” Gak said.

“Are you?”

I stepped forward. “It’s me you’re looking for,” I said. “My name is Adam.”

The man walked from his team of riders in our direction holding out his right arm for a shake.

Gak half drew his sword.

“That’s far enough,” Gak said.

The man stopped. One of the riders behind him appeared ready to draw his sword. The man put both of his hands above his head.

“Fine,” the man said. “I am Nevil.”

“Nevil,” I repeated. “From Murphy Mountain.”

He nodded.

“Are you the mayor?” I said.

“Deputy mayor,” Nevil said. “I speak on the authority of my people. On behalf of her ladyship, our mayor, on behalf of all of Murphy Mountain.”

“What do you want?” Gak said.

I spun and held out my hands to the reformed barbarian. “Gak,” I said, “just… let me do the talking.”

“Aye,” he grumbled, and sunk the sword firmly back into its sheath.

“You’ve come for a reason,” I said to the man twenty five feet or so from me. “What is it?”

“You’re standing on it,” Nevil said. “And look around you. Look at this… creation you have conjured.”

I glanced around behind me, and I noticed Kestrel, Proctor, Dillard, and Denton had edged their way to the start of the bridge, attempting to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“You’re talking about our wall,” I said to the man. “What about it?”

“It’s not legal!” Shouted one of the riders behind the deputy mayor.

This caused the older man to curse his man in a whispered scold. The younger man sheepishly bowed his head.

“You have a fortification here,” said the deputy mayor. “It cannot stand.”

I frowned at his bluntness.

“But, it does stand, doesn’t it?” I said. “I mean, look at it.”

“How can one not?” Nevil said. “‘Tis all one can see for miles.”

“Thank you?”

“No,” Nevil said. “You must bring it down. It is an illegal fortification as per county rules.”

I squinted while looking backward trying to catch Proctor’s eye. I wasn’t sure he could see my look of concern given his distance from me.

“Illegal?” I said. “According to the county? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“He lies,” Gak grumbled.

“There is indeed a county,” Trevor said, under his breath. “But, I don’t know of their authority.”

“You expect us to knock this down?” I said, motioning toward the monstrous wall. “It encompasses the entire village limits.”

“Come down it must,” Nevil said. “This is not a request. You either tear down this wall, or we will be forced to tear it down for you.”

My jaw fell open. Gak couldn’t contain a barrel chested guffaw. Was this guy for real?

In that moment, I was feeling aggressive. The arrogance of this man.

“And, how would you propose doing that?” I said. “Do you even know what this wall is made of?”

“It matters not,” Nevil said. “We at Murphy Mountain are prepared to go to war.”

“War?”

“Yes,” Nevil said. “We cannot allow Moonlight to erect such a fortress. You may have fewer citizens, but your construction poses us a threat. We cannot allow this. We have always had dominion over the villagers here. We have an army several times your size. Simply our cavalry alone-”

“Listen here, old man,” Gak interrupted. “You want a war, you’ll-”

I cut him off.

“Let’s just take a minute here,” I said. “Alright? No one’s seeking a war. Well, at least, I’m not.”

“We have no choice,” Nevil said. “You’ve left us no choice. We will do battle.”

I took a few moments, and all I could think was how ridiculous this entire situation was given the wall was mainly meant as a means of protection from the giant creatures roaming the wild surrounding lands.

“How about this?” I said. “How about we go to war, so to speak, but we do so on the ball field.”

“Huh? What are you on about?” Nevil said. “What are you referring to?”

“Baseball,” I said. “You’re putting a team together, are you not?”

“Aye,” Nevil said. “We have been given no choice. The gods demand we play this devil game.”

“Right,” I said. “Same as us. So, how about we let baseball decide our disputes?”

The man pursed his lips like I’d just suggested dinner at his least favorite restaurant. He glanced back at the riders behind him, and then I could see his breath as he exhaled slow.

“A game of baseball,” Nevil said.

“Instead of a war,” I said.

“And, if we win, you remove your wall? Your towers?” Nevil said.

It was a ludicrous request, but I nodded anyway.

“Yes,” I said. “And, if we win, you never bother us again. Deal?”

“Rather large stakes for a game, no?” Whispered Gak.

“Are you sure about this?” Trevor said.

“You would rather hundreds if not thousands fight a literal war?” I said.

“Aye,” Gak said.

After a moment of hemming and hawing, Nevil held out his right arm, but he thought better of stepping toward me.

“Deal,” he said. “May we shake on it, mayor Adam?”

“Yes,” I said, and I walked toward the man with Gak and Trevor sticking close behind me. “But, I’m not the mayor.”

We met at the center of the bridge. I shook the man’s beefy forearm, and noted he smelled of bacon and cheese. He also had an ugly mole next to his nose.

“What shall I call you then, when I report back to Her Excellency?” Nevil said.

“Just call me Adam,” I said. “No formal title.”

“Adam it is,” Nevil said, and he smiled. Two of his bottom teeth were purple.

We parted from one another, and myself, Trevor, and Gak watched the old man walk back to his crew, and he mounted his horse.

The very moment the Murphy Mountain riders clutched the reins of their horses in attempt to walk off the end of the bridge, an ear piercing scream descended from the sky.

Then dozens of screeches emanated from inside the village walls. They were reacting to the black silhouette gliding beneath the clouds.

I stood there, like an idiot, mesmerized watching this thing that looked to be the size of a commercial jet, hovering hundreds of feet up, circling, then swooping lower and lower.

“DRAGON!”