Sprinting down the well-worn path, Duster feared that he was already too late. If only he could propel his short legs to move faster, he might be able to save his master. This thought is what kept his exhausted tiny body moving and his labored lungs gasping for air.

      Arriving at the familiar stone dwelling, Duster already knew where to find him. He would be found behind the door of his study in front of the window, probably scribbling away at his latest research. Duster reached the door. Pausing to catch his breath, he grasped the handle and flung the door open.

      “Master! Master!” Duster exclaimed.

      Crying out he said “Quick you have to run! They are coming!”

      A young man with dark hair and clear eyes turned in his seat to face Duster. Seeing the small Brownie covered in sweat and dust, the young man smiled at the pitiable creature.

      “Slow down Duster” he spoke with tenderness, “who is coming?”

      Exasperated Duster grabbed the young man’s arm and said, “There is no time, they mean to kill you!”

      The young man began shuffling the papers on his desk, “Let me collect my things and we will be on our way.”

      Duster looked at him incredulously before responding “No! I left just before them! They could already be here!” The brownie’s shoulders slumped, and his expression became distressed  “Please Master, listen, I’ll tell you everything at the Gorge.”

      Seeing the desperation in Duster’s eyes, the young man agreed “Ok Duster, Let us go now.”

      With relief flooding Duster’s face and his black eyes brimming with tears of relief, they hurried towards the door. The young man pulled on the creaking wood, opening it wide. Blocking the light of the door was a hulking metal knight that filled most of the frame. What was not covered by the knight was covered by a cloaked man playing with his sword.  

      “Where do you think you’re going Declan?” whispered the cloaked man.

      Declan’s eyes grew wide and he abruptly slammed the door in the men’s faces and quickly fastened the lock. Spinning around, Declan’s eyes fell on the other door in the study which led into the dining room. On either side of the door were racks filled with old swords. Declan ran full speed at the rack. Grasping the sword handles, he attempted to pull them out but they would not budge.

      “Blast! They’re stuck!” he exclaimed.

      BOOM!

      From behind Declan the men were trying to break through the door. Briefly turning he could see Duster holding a broom with a fierce look in his eyes.

      BOOM! Crackle!

      A wood splitting crack erupted, and the door finally gave way. The two men hurried through the door. A broom handle dropped to their ankle level. In one sweeping motion from Duster, the men were toppled onto the ground.

      Turning towards Declan, Duster screamed “RUN!”

      Stunned by Duster’s quick thinking, Declan turned and sprinted through the door into the dining room. He heard one of the men shuffling to his feet, following quickly behind him. Declan ran with everything that he had in him but it was not enough. A hard tug on the cloak at his neck pulled him back and he landed flat on his back.

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      The cloaked man stood over him with an eerie smile saying, “Gotcha.”

      “What do you want from me?” Declan asked through labored breathing.

      “It’s nothing personal,” the cloaked man responded in his raspy voice.

      Declan felt as though his lungs were about to burst. He moved his hand upwards to hold his chest and felt something smooth and cold. He had nearly forgotten about the small dagger that he always kept at his belt. If he could distract this man long enough, he might be able to escape.

       “Who hired you?” Declan asked hoping to delay the man.

      Raising his sword into the air the cloaked man with his crooked smile replied, “In a moment that will no longer concern you.”

      Before the man brought the sword down, Declan pulled at the dagger at his waist. In a swift motion he thrust the blade deep into the man’s chest. The cloaked man dropped the sword he was holding in surprise. He looked down and saw the handle of the dagger in his own chest. The cloaked man dropped to his knees and held the dagger. Blood pulsed down the man’s hand and soaked through his clothes.

      Declan leaned in and asked “Who sent you?”

      A gurgling noise escaped the cloaked man’s lips. Declan stood up and saw Duster standing nearby.

      “Master, we must keep moving, the knight..” Duster stated.

      Wasting no time, they ran towards the kitchen doors and out into the back garden. Declan heard a strange clanking sound as they ran across the garden. Rounding the corner Declan saw the hulking knight clanging noisily as he ran after them. Even with all of the armor, the metal knight was gaining on them. Declan maneuvered towards the barn and the woods beyond.

      “How is he so fast with all that armor on?” Declan yelled to Duster.

      Duster did not answer, instead he was pointing towards the roof of the barn. Startled he said, “The roof! Duck!”

      Declan looked up and saw an arrow whizzing towards him. He ducked holding his head down while continuing to run forward. The arrow grazed his hair only missing him by a very small margin. That is when Duster stopped running. He balled his hands into fists and put them on either side of his hips glaring in the direction of the knight. 
    

      “I’ll hold them off master...Go.” Duster spoke with a reserved calm.

      Declan continued on down the road and disappeared through the trees. The archer slid off the roof and chased after him.

      Duster faced the metal knight with both hands on his hips and his chest puffed out. He fearlessly scowled at the knight.

      The metal knight stopped and gave a little chortle as he stared down at the creature before him. Pointing his sword at Duster he said, “Are you going to fight me brownie?”

      Duster’s eye twitched, “My name...is Duster!” He galloped full force at the metal knight, a scream of rage emitted from his mouth. Plunk! Duster collided with the knight’s leg in an almost laughable way. He had not even moved the six foot tall statue of a man. Duster gripped the knight’s leg as tight as he could as the knight attempted to shake him off.

      “What is this!? Get off of me!” growled the knight.

      The knight’s hand enclosed around Duster’s head. Dangling in thin air Duster looked likely to lose this fight. The knight no longer amused said, “You are getting on my nerves.”

      Duster began to swing back and forth gaining momentum. The knight held on unsure of what Duster was doing and in disbelief that this small creature dared to fight him.

      Duster kicked his feet until he was swinging fast. Twisting his body, he thrust his foot out and kicked the center of the knight’s throat. The knight loosened his grip on Duster’s head. He bounced off the knight looping into a double backflip and landed on his feet.

      The furious knight called out, “No more games, I’m ending this now!”

      Duster beckoned him forward and retorted “Let’s go you crooked-nosed knave!”

      The knight dashed at Duster and reached him with incredible speed. The knight was mere steps away when Duster bent down. The knight attempted to stop but the heaviness of his armor continued to propel him forward. Duster grabbed the knight’s arm as he toppled him into the ground knocking him out cold. Victorious, Duster scampered off in the direction of the Gorge.

A fair distance away in the forest, Declan slowed his run to a jog. He turned his head to take a quick glance to see if he had escaped his hunter. The glimmer of an arrow told him he had not lost the pursuer. Exhaustion was beginning to take ahold of Declan. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep going, and he did not even know where the Gorge was or if Duster would even be there when he arrived. He weaved through the trees in the hope that he would lose the archer.