“You’ll be giving that paper to me.” Said the man behind the desk. She took a step closer and set the items upon the edge of the desk. The large bearded man leaned forward, his weathered and bearded face illuminated more by the lamp between them. He took the paper, dipped the quill and began to write. He then paused and beckoned the same man he’d shown the kings letter to and whispered a second time. The other person crosse the room to stand behind Hoxley by the door blocking her exit. Hoxley’s blood ran cold as she realized he was calling her bluff. Poor Loxo was a dead man for sure. And if the man was going to detain her as well for trying to fool him, there would be no way she could fight off all the people in the room. The ceiling was too low and the room was too dark to use her spear. If things went bad here she’d have to pray that Ignatius and the others would have sense enough to leave her behind take the prince west without her. When he finished his scrawling, he folded the paper and put it in the envelope before pushing it back to her side of the desk.

  “All this trouble over a scrap of a pirate. Take it… and the pirate. Far be it from me to interfere in the dealings of kings.” He huffed before speaking louder to the man behind her “Let her out and bind the pirate’s hands behind his back with good rope. I don’t want that greasy thief missing the gallows when he arrives in the eastern court.” Hoxley out to get the letter. When her hand was over the envelope, the man quickly reached out and pressed her hand down so that it she couldn’t with draw it. “As for you…” he added, standing up from his chair to look her well in the eyes.

  “Y-yes?” the chill returned.

  “Do give our warmest regards to whomever sits in power.”

  “It will be done, good Sir.” she said. For one brief moment his eyes locked upon hers. She dared not blink or break her gaze with the man eyeing her for fear she would see through her ruse and detect the fear she’d done so well to push so deep she could feel it in her hooves. When she didn’t back down, he let up his hand and plopped back into his chair again.

  “Very well then, safe travels, messenger.” He said. A man by the exit opened the door for her and she had to fight the urge to rush out. But she clipped her way at a steady pace and soon was standing in the sun again. The relief that washed over her felt like being dunked in a lake. When she returned to the stocks, Loxo was out of them and a man was binding his hands behind his with the tightest of knots. Once bound, the man tied a long, long, strand to that binding and handed her the other end which was five or six feet long.

  “Keep an eye on him.” Said the man as he glared at the pirate. “He’s a slippery one.”

  “Thank you so much. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.” She said. Looking upon Loxo for the first time in awhile she noticed his appearance hadn’t changed in the slightest since she’d seen him last. He had closely cropped blonde hair atop his head with a matching patch of hair that surrounded his chin and upper lip. His clothes were a white shirt that hadn’t likely been washed since she saw him last, and well-tailored dark navy pants that covered him down to the top of the shin. He wore no socks but simple tan shoes that looked half beaten to death. His skin was tanned a deep tan with extra reddening about his neck and ears. A fine belt wrapped about his waist with a place on it to accommodate a scabbard. It wasn’t until the man returned within the building that Loxo and Hoxley had a chance to speak frankly.

  “Thank you so much, Hoxley dear.” He said. “If you would be so kind as to use that lovely spear of yours to untie me.”

  “Not yet.” she said. “You have no idea what I just had to go through to get you away from the hangman. Come along,” she gave a tug of the rope which she was leading him by.

  “I’m sure it’s a tale fraught with peril and intrigue.” He gave a big grin. “But nothing is too tumultuous for the great Hoxley of the plains, yes? Again, these bindings are must uncomfortable.”

  “I’m taking you to meet with the others. Do you see this inn?” she asked as they passed int front of the “My friend has already made plans for all of us to stay here on the second floor later tonight.

  “The wayward Archer?” he asked. “It’s a lovely place to get some rest and a bath. None better. Your friend has impeccable taste.”

  “Perhaps, but since my friends and I are responsible for you release, that makes us responsible for whatever happens next.”

  “Hello lovely ladies! spledid day for a walk, yes?” he said winking and grinning at at a pair of young ladies as they passed. The maidens blushed and giggled to themselves.

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  “Can’t you be serious for a moment?” she asked, giving the rope a small yank to hurry him along. “Weren’t you listening to what I said?”

  “I heard every word, Hoxley dear. You and your friends are responsible for me now.”

  “Yes, that’s it exactly.” She said, picking up her pace just a little with the rope trailer behind her. “We’ll convene with the others and decide how best to continue west. You know, Loxo, in retrospect, I’m just now realizing how lucky she’d gotten in that the man back there hadn’t taken the time to ponder the events in which everything had happened. If you had only been caught the day before, then how would the eastern king have known to send someone who was more than a day’s travel from his kingdom to collect you? To be honest, I thought it only worked because the letter had an official seal that would be near impossible to replicate without a blacksmith and knowing what the seal looked like in the first place. It’s in both of our best interests to lay low then leave the area with the absolute least amount of attention don’t you agree?” she asked. “Don’t you agree? Don’t you agree Loxo? Loxo, Are you even listening?” Aggravated, she turned around to berate him only to find the pirate had completely vanished and left her holding six feet of useless rope on an otherwise empty trail out of town. She looked left and right but there was no sight of him anywhere. Obscenities raw and angry filled her head to curse not only the pirate but herself for being foolish enough to take her eyes off of him for even a moment. “Loxo?! loxo?!” she called to no reply. The faun’s shoulders sank with defeat as she threw her end of the rope to the dirt. “Ah, horse apples.”

  A fair breeze was blowing when Hoxley returned to the grove where the others awaited her arrival. Siouxsie was the first to perk up when the horns perched atop the white woolen hair came into view.

  “Welcome back, Hoxley!” she waved to get her attention before walking out to greet her. Her eyes searched the area around her before the inevitable question hit her ears. “were you not able to free him?”

  “Oh, I freed him alright. All too well.” The others gathered close. Even Robert hovered high overhead to see what was happening

  “What happened?” Asked Morell. Hoxley sighed a long breath of shame before she conveyed the events exactly how they’d unfolded. When she was done, each of the companions exchanged varied expressions and reaction.

  “I can’t believe the ruse actually got him released!” said Siouxsie.

  “I can’t believe he ran after you got him released.” Said Morell.

  “I can’t believe you allowed him to run after getting him released.” Said the prince.

  “I can’t believe this won’t come back to us somehow.” Said Ignatius.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, everyone.” Hoxley apologized. I turned away for only a moment and he was gone.”

  “Did you try and look for him?” asked Prince Damron.

  “He’s a thief. His livelihood in not been seen or found, your highness.” She said.

  “I may be able to find him after nightfall.” Said the shadow girl.

  “That may be an option if you can be stealthy. The last thing we want to do is cause and uproar that will draw attention our way.” Hoxley assured them. “Let us least hope that Loxo has enough sense to slip town and head elsewhere now that he’s slipped the noose. If he were to remain here and commit more crimes… oh, I don’t want to think about it. Nothing is guaranteed, so we’ll have to continue with our original plan. We’ll stay at the Wayward archer tonight to get some rest and food then continue westward. Morell, Siouxsie and I will go to the inn first and get cleaned up. At dusk I’ll come back and get the rest of you. Siouxsie and Ignatius will enter through the front and then we’ll find a way to sneak the prince in so that no one gets a chance to recognize him.” All nodded in agreement. “Very well.” She said “Let’s get going.”

  Everything went according to plan and the innkeeper said very little outside of asking where the other members were. Hoxley simply said “they’ll be along.” and left it at that. While she wasn’t allowed to take a room within the inn, she was allowed a clean stable which was just fine to her. Bales of hay were stacked high enough around that walls that she knew it would stay cozy all the night through. The whole space was lit with a tiny oil lantern sitting atop a stone base to keep from starting a fire.