“So what’s the plan?”, Ave asked dryly.

“Get out of town. Defeat the Demon Lord. Keep Luke out of the dungeon.” Ash listed.

“So now you have a plan?” Ave stared at him.

“Are you still upset about that?” Ash replied.

“Furious. And you think we can beat the Demon Lord?”

“Isn’t that why you came out here?”

Ave avoided making eye contact. “More specifically, what are we going to do right now? You told your mother that we would try to get Luke away from the city?”

“I did. Do you… think that will work?” Ash glanced sideways.

The three of them were crunching through the underbrush of the woods outside of Star Town. Dusk was falling. Long shadows stretched like claws from the trees around them.

“Maybe. The guards back at your house sent out a messenger squirrel. If they called for reinforcements they might try to search the whole forest. Luckily that was a ground squirrel and not a tree squirrel. So we might have some time before any other Royal Guards arrive.” Ave speculated out loud.

“Then we have to go somewhere else, and fast…” Ash was quiet for a moment. “Follow me. I think I have an idea. We’re heading back to town.”

“Back to town?” Luke asked. “Are you sure?”

“That’s right. We need to visit someone in the city real quick.” said Ash.

“Sneaking back to town to sneak out of town. It’s so stupid they’ll never expect it.” Luke smiled.

#

*Knock*Knock*

“Yes? Who is it?” The old man called across the room.

A maid entered the study of the Mayor’s Mansion.

“Excuse me Master Letterman. But there is someone here to see you.” The maid curtsied.

“At this hour? Tell them I’m not taking any more visitors today.” said Craftsman Letterman.

“I understand that sir but they asked me to bring you something. They said it was urgent and that you would understand.” The maid pushed open the door of the study. A low wooden cart was wheeled into the room. A sheet was draped over the top of the cart.

Mr Letterman leaned over his desk. “What is this?”

The maid removed the sheet from the cart. Several rows of clocks shaped like birds were lined up on top of the cart.

The craftsman jumped up. “What? Where did these come from?”

“The visitor said that these were a gift for you sir.” The maid replied.

“Who could have done this? Bring this visitor to me at once.” Mr Letterman shouted.

“As you wish sir.” The maid tipped her cowboy hat at the craftsman and left the room.

*Tick*Tock*

The door opened again. Ash strolled into the room. Luke and Ave peeked in from around the corner.

“Young Mr Sifter. I should have known.” Mr Letterman collapsed back into his chair.

“Master Letterman. I see you got my present.” Ash gave a sardonic smile.

The older man rubbed his temples. “Is that what you call this mockery?”

“I was just imitating your style sir. I saw your demonstration earlier. I was impressed by your ‘creativity’.” Ash replied.

“I see that you still haven’t learned how to hold on to your forked tongue yet.”

“No sir. I was denied admission to your workshop and there was nowhere else in the city to learn that skill.” Ash gave a broad smile.

“I hear that you’ve been quarreling with my grandson again. Maybe if you spent half as much time studying as you did fighting you could have become an apprentice.” The old man threw the cloth back over the cart of clocks.

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“I don’t know if I would want to be a part of any workshop that would have me as a member.” Ask leaned against the desk.

“It would certainly increase insurance premiums.” Mr Letterman pretended to read his business papers.

Ash looked absently around the room. “By the way… where is Jack?”

The older man looked down his nose at Ash. “My ‘grandson’ is with his father. He is learning about the role he will play once he becomes Mayor.”

“I thought the mayor of Star Town was elected.”

“I’m sure you have many misconceptions about politics with that being one of them.”

“Well maybe I’ll go and say hello.” Ash ambled towards the door.

“Be my guest. By the way Mr Sifter…” Mr Letterman raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah?” Ash looked back.

“Try not to make too much racket when you’re thrown out the front door this time. Hmmm?” The old man went back to his paper.

#

*Creak*

Ash peeked his head into a well appointed office. A large carved mahogany desk covered with papers and ledgers was in the middle of the room.

“Do you see him?” Luke whispered from the hallway.

“No. Let’s look around.” Ash said as he opened the door.

Ash, Luke, and Ave tiptoed quietly into the room.

“Do you really think Jack will help us?” Luke asked.

“No. But I still want to talk to him before we leave.” Ash moved to a door on the far side of the room. He cracked the door open and peeked inside.

“It’s too bad that I had to come back like this. It’s been years since I’ve seen Jack. It would have been nice to talk to him. Catch up on old times.” Luke fingered the spine of a book on a shelf.

“I don’t know if that’s going to work right now.” Ash whispered to him.

“Why not?” Luke said quietly.

“Because of them.” Ash pointed into the adjoining room.

#

Jack was standing with his father in the middle of the smoking room. Several Capital Guards in gleaming metal armor were seated around them in the room. A roaring fire had been set in the fireplace. A menacing figure was standing in front of the fireplace. He held a goblet of wine in one hand and a cigar in the other. Despite the heat in the room he was wearing a helmet that covered his entire head and had the visor pulled down.

The Mayor of Star Town stood next to him. Like his son, Mayor Letterman was naturally broad, tall, and handsome. His graying hair had a streak of silver running through it. He was dressed in his most official jacket with the most ruffled sleeves. He stood at strict attention with his hands clasped firmly in front of him. Beads of sweat were running down the sides of his face.

“I do not enjoy being here, Mayor Letterman.” The Helmeted Guard spoke. Everyone pretended not to notice the echo of his voice from inside his helmet.

“That’s a shame sir. We are so… honored to have you. Isn’t that right Jack?” The Mayor passed his too wide smile over to his son.

Jack stood just behind his father, half hidden in his shadow. Jack stopped itching his neck. “Huh? Ah yes. It’s, it is great to have you here. Noble, sirs.” He tried to mimic his father’s platitudes.

“It is an honor squandered on your small town I suspect.” The Helmeted Guard growled.

“Not at all my lord.” The Mayor repeated.

The Helmeted Guard hurled his goblet into the fireplace.

*Crash*Roar*

“Then why is it taking so long to conduct a simple search of your petty town?” He yelled. He brought his cigar up to the faceplate of his helmet.

*Long inhale*

Smoke curled out from between the gaps of his helmet.

“My guards have been hampered during their search of your city all day. There have been constant distractions, lies, and misdirections. Even your own son can’t walk the streets without being harassed it seems.” The Helmeted Guard let out a final puff of angry smoke.

“That’s just the local humor sir. Pranks amongst children. You understand.” Mayor Letterman continued to sweat.

“I do not understand. I do not want to understand. I want you to find the criminal so that I can be done with this backwater town and return to the Capital!” The guard shouted.

*Another long inhale*

“Once I’ve captured him I’ll personally lock him in the deepest, darkest cell in the dungeon myself.” The Helmeted Guard said out loud to himself.

“Perhaps if you told me more about what the, uh, criminal did then…” Mayor Letterman offered.

“That information is confidential! All you need to know is that the White Council has determined that he is a danger to the entire Kingdom. Do you understand?”

“I assure you sir as soon as the criminal is discovered he’ll be brought here as fast as possible.” The Mayor tried to keep his hands from shaking.

*Pst*

Jack looked around.

*Pssst*

There was that whistling sound again. He casually looked over at the door to his father’s office. Ash was sticking his head around the edge of the door. As they made eye contact Ash waved at him.

Jack stood in stunned silence.

*Hey… come here* Ash mouthed the words at him. He waved again.

Jack looked back. No one else had seen Ash yet. Jack tried to avoid causing a disturbance.

*What are you doing?* Jack silently mouthed back to Ash.

*Come over here.* Ash gestured to the door.

Jack grumbled to himself. “Excuse me father I’m going to…”

The grim faceplate of the Helmeted Guard turned to him.

“… piss myself, take a piss, going to, piss, to the bathroom. Yes…” Jack stammered out. He spun in place and then marched to the office door at the side of the room.

Jack shoved Ash behind the door before anyone else could see him.

Jack entered the office and quietly closed the door behind him.