17. Ambush

Chuck frowned back. “I said I was sorry.”

When the Gem awakens to call a Hero, the world is ill prepared...and its fate is placed in the hands of a 17 year old boy, named Wendell. 

Some will say this is nothing but a tale of fiction.
Let them think as they may. 

After all...I can't fix stupid.

Previously: Wendell and party travel to the surface of Elämä with elder’s Gaidred and Altorin, to scout the Tämä-Un Prime Gate. Wendell, who gives into his new instincts…takes a deadly blow for Alhannah.

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There are dark and ominous people in this world. Individuals who lack scruples, morals, and even a shred of mercy. If it’s your misfortune to cross the path of such a person, tread cautiously.

Use wisdom to avoid a confrontation.

If a confrontation is inevitable, engage in conversation to de-escalate the situation. Some say words are violence. That’s not my experience.

Just be aware that violence could be the only language such individuals understand.

Make sure you speak clearly and concisely.

With the help of the Ithari, my wounds healed faster than ever before. That was a good thing, because Elder Gaidred pushed the party up the mountainside and across the peaks until we reached the ridge of Tämä-Un.

This was one of twelve gates, eleven active in the world. The ‘original’ or mother gate was in pieces, under the guardianship of King Robert III. Supposedly the guy we were going to meet. When I asked more questions, I was all but ignored. 

The elders seemed reserved about sharing gate lore. Gaidred would shake his head when I asked anything specific about how they functioned, then nod towards Alhannah. I made a mental note to ask Chuck my questions later and gave up.

Sweat trickled down my brow and neck, and my hair matted to my forehead. It felt like being in Georgia. It was so humid. The last hiking trip I’d been on was with my father — and that had gone badly. It had been too difficult for me to keep up in the sweltering summer heat. My dad, an avid hiker, was forced to stop repeatedly. He had to adjust his stride to compensate for my weaknesses and lack of experience.

This was different.

Ever since the Ithari had accepted me as host, I’d had more energy, stamina, and I was stronger. Even through the gasps and hard breathing, I could keep pace with the party without complaint. The moment we’d stop, my heart and lungs rested and rejuvenated in moments. If only I’d had the gem when I tried out for the cross-country team back home.

Only the wizard huffed and puffed loudly, which started to worry me. Chuck grunted and moaned, which was bad enough, but there were parts of the climb where he truly labored to breathe. When he’d start wheezing, Dax would appear by his side. There was a father and son type exchange between them. The elf always had water in hand, or offered to port Chuck ahead of our party. The wizard would refuse and instead throw out an occasional “exercise Nazi” comment in the direction of Gaidred. 

No one seemed to listen to his comments.

Except me.

The more I got to know the old wizard, the more I listened. That old guy knew things he wasn’t sharing, and there was no doubt in my mind that he’d been to Earth. He quoted Gene’s Wilder’s Willy Wonka, Yoda, and when I asked about Tämä-Un, he’d whispered ‘Now you know,…and knowing’s half the battle, G.I. Jooooe’. When Dax offered him some kind of Iskari biscuit, he grumbled about wanting a hamburger and a chocolate malt instead. Sure, he was odd, spouted all sorts of crazy phrases and insults I didn’t understand, but I liked that about him.

Chuck cared about others.

It was in the tones, the looks, and the thoughtfulness in little things.

Alhannah, as tough as she was, started stumbling through the thick brush as we labored on. When we stopped, Chuck had a cushion ready for her against a tree. When she sat down, he expressed how impressed he was with her focus and determination; her legs being shorter than everyone else’s. She’d smile, and he’d kiss her forehead.

He was here to help destroy Mahan, but — there was something else. Several times I’d caught him staring at me. Most people look away when they’re caught staring.

Not Chuck.

He’d just smiled encouragingly and nodded.

The morning sun made it difficult to see the small valley from above. The trees were thick along Tämä-Un’s peak, amply hiding us, but you couldn’t locate the black claws of the Prime Gate through the mist, either.

“I don’t like this,” Chuck muttered uneasily. “We’ll be sitting in their laps before we can see them through this soup.”

“There’s no other option, unless you want to use magic,” said Altorin, “but I wouldn’t advise it. Too much of a change would alert the enemy. They may have a mägo with them.”

“If there is one,” replied the wizard. “We could be sitting here, worrying about nothing at all.”

Gaidred stood and adjusted the pouch on his belt. “There is little choice in the matter. We must get close enough to see for ourselves.” 

Even I couldn’t argue with that line of logic.

The further we descended into the valley, the thicker the mist became. The sweat on my neck and forehead became uncomfortably cold. The light from above cast strange shadows, which hung in the air. Trees and shrubs melded together, taking on a blue tint, until the shapes became one. A single mass of growing darkness that consumed the surrounding forest, its thin tentacles writhing out into the cold.

“Your gonna be ok,” whispered Alhannah.

I looked at her wide-eyed. “What?”

The gnome reached out and patted my hand…which was scratching at my jeans. “You are going to be ok, Wendell. It’s just fog.”

“But what if there’s something in the fog?” I said.

She grinned. “There’s always something in the fog. The real question is if the something is close or far away. If it’s close, trust me, Dax’ll hear it before it can hear us.”

I breathed a momentary sigh of relief and relaxed. “Thank you, Alhannah.”

“No problem. You…reminded me of Green just then.” She adjusted her belt and her swords rattled lightly. “My little brother. He was always terrified of the mist, back home.”

“So you’d soothe his feelings. That’s…nice.”

She grinned widely. “Actually, I’d scream about seeing shapes in the mist and run like hell. Freaked him out.”

I stared at her, horrified.

She shrugged. “I just said you looked like him.”

“Shhh!” Dax signaled for the party to stop. Turning his head slowly from side to side, his ears twitched wildly. With a whisper to Gaidred, the Elder nodded and Dax vanished into the mist.

“He says we’re close,” Gaidred said.

Moments later, the elf returned. He was frowning.

“We’re here, but I can’t tell how much company we’ve got. It might be a good idea to scout the perimeter and see if the main path is being guarded. Just be careful — they could have their own scouts about.”

Gaidred looked at Altorin and whispered, “Be in the mist.”

What floored me was how silent the rotund Elder could move…and how fast. In moments, he’d vanished.

Dax waved everyone forward. “Step lightly and follow me,” he whispered.

It took a few minutes, and I walked from heel to toe, as Alhannah had shown me, minimizing the sound. She lowered her hand, signaling me to slow down as we reached the edge of the trees. 

I kneeled down and positioned my body behind a thicker clump of brush. 

The clearing was devoid of trees and underbrush — at least as far as I could see, anyway. Near the center of the clearing, sitting in the white haze, was the Prime Gate. Its large, arcing claws sat defiantly, clearly visible from tip to base.

A campfire crackled next to a small pond on the far side of the Gate. Three figures hunched near the flames, eagerly eating. I could hear the soft trickling of water echoing in the morning air.

That can’t be all of them. A whole army came through the gate — why would they leave it unprotected? But that made me think. Maybe the Prime Gates weren’t common knowledge. Dax had said Dathern Istul didn’t use magic, or at least avoided it, if he could. According to the High Council, it took magical knowledge — gate lore — to even open a Prime Gate, which explained dark mägo being present. Maybe using magic — or at least using these gates — isn’t a common event.

Maybe there was no need to guard it.

Thick trees and bushes provided an abundance of cover. Being here in person helped me understand how Tiell could hide for hours on end without being discovered, even without the fog. 

Gaidred surveyed the surroundings, then tapped Altorin and pointed to the Prime Gate.

Sitting on the ramp of the platform were two more of the Vallen race, grunting and snorting between each other. Their dark green skin, heavily tattooed and scarred, was…intimidating. I mean, come on…how could you not be intimidated by those things? One had long hair, scraggly and braided, hanging down its back. It leaned on a pole-arm, which rattled with dozens of rings looped through the blade. The other beast was even larger, bald, and sitting on the ramp of the platform. Its arms, twice as big as my thighs, rested on a large two-handed axe. The other three, sitting around the fire, were more than fifty yards from the Prime Gate.

The fog broke for an instant and I could see the giants clearly huddled near the fire. Something large was being cooked over the open flame.

I almost shrieked…but Alhannah slapped her gloved hand over my mouth and knocked me to the ground.

Flashes of white jumped along the rim of my vision. Something pushed against my chest and I couldn’t breathe. All I could do was exhale. Clawing at my throat and chest, I pulled at the T-shirt. Even the smiley face was shaking from side to side, purple-faced with pupils the size of pinholes, screaming silently.

Dax crept near. “What’s wrong?” he whispered.

Alhannah nodded in the direction of the campfire, but kept her hand firmly pinned against my mouth. “The cooking fire.”

Dax leaned down so I could hear him clearly and whispered. “Wendell. Hey — look at me.” He tapped my cheek lightly until my eyes rolled over and focused. “You’re gonna see a lot of bad stuff." His expression softened. "I’m sorry, bub. I can’t do nothin’ about that — but that won’t be you. Hey,…you hear me? ‘Hannah and me are here."

We shouldn’t have come. My being here was going to make all this worse. All the excitement I’d felt did not take into account people trying to EAT me. I tried to turn to look at what those…those…beasts were roasting over the flames.

"No. Look at me, kid." Dax bobbed his head into my field of vision. "Wendell. Look me in the eye."

I did.

"Our job is ta protect you…and that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

Then the impossible happened. 

Dax smiled.

Not the tainted, scary, antagonizing smile or grin he’d shown until now. It was genuine. The lines chiseled into his rough face smoothed out, his lips covered his canines, and even his eyes seemed somewhat — normal — if that was even possible. 

Dax looked…kind.

He gave my shoulder a firm, solid squeeze. “They’ll have to kill us both to get to you, ok?”

Alhannah snorted. "And THAT ain’t happening. I so have things to do next week." She grinned at me, then winked.

The weight…lifted from my chest. Air seeped back into my lungs.

I nodded.

Alhannah slowly took her hand away from my mouth. “Good,” she whispered, “then let’s get this party started.”

When I rolled up to my knees, Gaidred was frowning at the two guards in conversation. “They are too close to the gate for us to work. A conflict is imminent.”

Alhannah rested her hands on the small swords strapped to her hips and smirked. “If you’re leery about the job, I’ll gladly dispatch them myself. Two of those beasts are hardly a challenge. Just give me a few minutes.”

"Wait." Gaidred gripped her forearm. “It’s not the enemy that disturbs me, Lady Alhannah. It’s the lack of them. There were five watching the gate two days ago. Tiell dispatched the original guards…and they have only replaced them?” He searched across the field where pockets of the fog opened up to give a better view. “This mist does not bode well for our success.”

Altorin crawled up beside him. “The far rim of the valley is clear. The enemy is not watching the main path as far as I could discover.”

Only Chuck seemed unconcerned.

“It doesn’t really matter, now, does it?” he said. “The more time we waste, the further the enemy gets inland. The people need to be warned, the gate purged, and the King escorted back to his people.” He jabbed his staff in my direction. “Our young hero here also needs to make his way to Til-Thorin, if there’s any value in that letter.”

“Then let’s get moving,” grumbled Dax. “I can port me and Gaidred right next to…” Without completing his sentence, blood issued from Dax’s nose.

The Elder shook his head. “You won’t be porting anyone until you regain your strength, my friend.”

“Fairy farts,” Dax grumbled, wiping the blood across his forearm.

I couldn’t help but stare at the giants near the gate. These weren’t the same creatures I remembered from the Black Market. Those scouts from the Tavern were smaller. Huge compared to the rest of us, sure, but more like massive linebackers from the NFL. These guys were huge. They had to be over seven feet tall…at least.

I squatted lower to remain completely out of sight.

It’s going to be ok, Wendell. I closed my eyes and tried to slow my breathing. Seriously. Dax and Alhannah will…protect me.

I gulped

Protected by a gnome……and a midget elf with chronic nose-bleeds.

I had the sudden urge to throw up.

Alhannah, Altorin, and Gaidred were all armed. Perhaps a dagger or two hidden in Chuck’s sleeves? But then I looked out at the humongous weapons wielded by the enemy. Broadswords and axes that could probably slice a cow in half.

Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Dax with a weapon.

Did he bring one?

We’re so going to die.

How can we possibly beat things that big!? Rippling muscles, armored, pierced, with scarred faces sporting hooks, chains and bones protruding from noses, cheeks, and ears.

The moment we appeared out there, they would try to kill us. Actually, literally KILL us! I looked down at my hands. They shook violently against my pant legs.

An eagle screeched high overhead. 

The vallens oversized ears, riddled with metal rings and gauges, clinked together as heads snapped back to search the sky. Their jaws jutted so far forward, their  jagged teeth reminded me of a piranha.

Yup, they’re going to kill us.

…or eat us.

My body flinched hard as Chuck grabbed my shoulder. He whispered, “Stay here. Don’t move.”

“Not a problem,” I swallowed. I turned and pointed at the vallen. “Don’t they look bigger than the ones at the Roadkill Tav…"

…but I was alone.

Completely alone.

I whipped my head around. Then I peered through the dense trees. I couldn’t see any of my companions. 

A small bird chirped from a nest in a low branch of the trees.

Dax?

Alhannah?

Gaidred?

Altorin!??

Where did everyone go?!?

I dropped my face down into the leaves.

"They left us," Doubt whispered. "We’re gonna die. You know that, right?"

Now is NOT THE TIME.

"I’m just sayin’."

Painfully long minutes passed. It took all of my nerve to hold still and not cry out. The whole world had suddenly fallen into silence.

"Don’t breathe," Doubt whispered just loud enough for me to hear. "They’ll hear you." 

The more I tried to keep perfectly still, though, the more my body ached and begged to move. My limbs shifted and twisted, desperate to run away. So I did what any masculine guy in my position would have done. 

I clenched my eyes tight.

Don’t find me. You can’t see me.

I’m invisible.

No one can see me.

My hand kept shaking.

Ohhhhhh, they’re going to find me, I just know it!

There was a loud grunt at the gate.

My head popped up to see the two giant guards jumping to their feet. In the far distance, past the Gate, a wobbling silhouette with a pointy hat and walking staff appeared through the mist. Pulling his robes free from the grasping underbrush, Chuck snapped. “Let GO, you silly dogwood! Go grope a squirrel and leave me alone…” 

Oh no, CHUCK! What are you doing!?

Both vallen licked their lips and made their way around the corner of the platform.

The wizard looked up and froze. He looked between the enemies, then looked about, as if trying to find something. He finally let out a big sigh. “Oh poodle piddle!” Then he shouted nervously, “…I got my timing wrong again, didn’t I?”

With a high-pitched scream, Alhannah lunged from the platform at the nearest giant, her black sword in a two-handed reverse grip. The creature had no time to react. The thin blade lodged in its throat, sinking to the hilt. As the giant’s pole-arm fell against the ramp, her forward momentum carried Alhannah’s body in a curving arc. She swung across the giants barrel chest, and down under its arm….opening flesh, muscle and exposing bone. 

She rolled across the damp ground and up to her feet as the soldier collapsed from its gaping cavity wound. Black blood seeped across the grass. Alhannah pulled the blade from the body, wiping it across the beast’s tunic.

The second guard quickly slid across the stone ramp and lunged at the gnome. It exposed its jagged teeth in a sadistic grin.

“Hannah, MOVE!” bellowed Dax, already dashing up the far ramp. Using his arms like a monkey to propel himself forward, he reaching the lip of the platform and leaped.

Alhannah dove at the ground, curling her shoulder and rolling just in time to avoid being severed in half by an axe swing. The clang of metal rang through the air, small rocks and dirt exploding upon impact.

Dax landed on the giant’s back. 

Without stopping his momentum, he grabbed an ear in one hand, and a protruding canine jutting out of the giant’s jaw with the other. Kicking off the giant’s shoulder, Dax swung his dense body in an arc around the soldier’s face,…to the opposite shoulder.

…and pulled.

Hard.

Even from where I was hiding, I heard a loud snap resonate through the air.

Dax rolled down the back of the creature as it fell to the ground, lifeless.

My jaw dropped open.

Exploding into the clearing, just beyond the tree line near the pond, six more giants charged from cover. Two to the north and four to the south. Weapons in hand, the soldiers at the campfire roared like possessed beings and joined the fray.

“Ambush!” Dax yelled. Creating some space between himself and the gnome, he snatched up the enemy’s weapon.

Alhannah, however, just grinned. She drew her other blade from its sheath and found a level piece of ground and bounced in place. “COME ON!!” she screamed.

Altorin and Gaidred also burst into the clearing, exiting the tree line closer to Chuck. Swords, mace and shield to the ready, I was shocked to watch them run straight at the enemy. That whole skinny nerd versus the bodybuilder comparison did not inspire confidence. 

…until Altorin answered the bloodlust roars with a shout of his own.

His voice pierced the mist and sent chills down my spine. The fat Elder met one beast head on, shield held high.

Broadsword struck the shield.

Light flared, and I winced, covering my eyes.

When I could see again, I watched Altorin dashing between opponents, crushing kneecaps while deflecting swords and flails. Gaidred moved behind him, close as a shadow, running his blades over limbs and between armor, finding unprotected throats. With a spin, a pivot, and a flick of his wrists, enemies bled to death. The Elders moved in such unison, there were moments they appeared to be the same person.

My attention was drawn to Alhannah’s incessant giggling.

She sounded…psychotic.

Running, jumping, rolling, and dodging, every blow her attacker could deliver with its mighty war hammer, missed. Rocks exploded with each swing, but it never came close to the gnome. She taunted the beast with coos, smiles, blowing kisses or shaking her behind as it shrieked in rage. When the swings became wild, unfocused, and desperate, she rolled across Dax’s path.

I almost jumped out of the trees in shock.

The giant roared, mouth foaming in madness. Like a wild dog chasing its prey, it destroyed everything in its path to get at her.

Dax did a back flip out of harm’s way — which left his own opponents exposed to the attack.

The lesser vallen perished under the mindless rage of their comrade. Armor folded and bones shattered as the hammer fell again and again. With a final roll, Alhannah shot between the beast’s feet, skillfully severing both hamstrings as Dax snatched the hammer.

Unlike Alhannah, Dax’s weight pulled the vallen forward, spinning it off balance. Gripping the giant’s thick green neck, Dax flipped up and over the torso of the enemy, sending it crashing onto its face. In one swift motion, Dax reached down, grabbed its deformed head, and twisted sharply.

Tha-THUMP-Thump!

Tha-THUMP-Thump!

Tha-THUMP-Thump!

Chuck had gotten himself backed up under a large pine tree on the far side of the clearing. I could see his hands up in front of him. Two soldiers were converging on him.

I jumped into the open, my voice piercing the air. “CHUCK, RUN!” I screamed frantically as I sprinted towards him. “RUN!!”

Dax and Alhannah bolted across the grass, but it was no use. They were too far away to get there in time.

His enemies momentarily distracted by the sudden shriek, Chuck turned to make his escape…and walked right into a low-hanging branch. 

"No," I gasped, pushing my legs as hard as I could. My surroundings blurred.

Tha-THUMP-Thump!

Tha-THUMP-Thump!

Tha-THUMP-Thump!

Reeling from the blow to the forehead, Chuck’s tall pointy hat flipped forward over his eyes and nose.

“AHHHH!!” he hollered in surprise. “Sniper wizard! Run for your lives! Run for your lives, I say!” Panicked, Chuck’s hands shot out to steady himself and he dropped his walking staff.

The carved wood made a clunking sound, landing on an exposed tree root near his feet. Chuck twisted and turned, reaching out to steady himself, but missed the tree altogether.

…and started walking towards the soldiers.

They both grinned in amusement, raising their weapons.

“Mahan’s pink panties!” Chuck bellowed. “Someone turn on the blasted lights!”

Stepping forward, one soldier swung his axe. It was a death blow. A wide arc, powered by a mountain of muscle…at the perfect height and speed to sever the old man’s head.

Only it didn’t.

It cleaved his comrade in half, instead.

Chuck tripped over the end of his staff, propelling him forward.

The axe passing harmlessly over him.

With a ‘chunk’ and a gasp, the vallen ‘parts’ crumpled to the ground, sword still tight in its grip. Chuck discovered the bottom end of his walking staff and grabbed it. As he stood up, his free hand reached out for something stable to hold on to.

“CHUCK…BEHIND YOU!” I screamed, more than halfway to him.

“What’s that?” Chuck replied, turning towards my voice.

In doing so, he pulled the end of his walking staff with him. The hook of the staff cupped the back of the giant’s heel, yanking the vallen off balance. The giant stumbled, tripped over a rock, and fell backwards, impaling itself on the broadsword.

…the one propped up between his comrade’s dead body and a tree root.

The vallen warrior gasped as its heavy body slid down the blade, the tip reemerging from the center of its chest.

The body went limp.

Tripping a second time, another low branch knocked Chuck’s hat back into its original position.

“Oh!” he exclaimed. “Much better.” He recoiled at the sight of the two bodies. The second giant, propped up on the sword, had a frozen look of shock on its face. Chuck cautiously leaned in…and poked it with his staff. "This is why you don’t run with scissors, I say." He crinkled his nose. “Ew.”

Hobbling across the field, Chuck poked each of the dead bodies with his staff.

He looked up to find us all staring at him.

I tried to hide my laughter, but don’t think I did a very good job. Gaidred and Altorin were on the platform, checking the symbols on each spire. They shook their heads, but Altorin was laughing openly.

“What?” Chuck asked innocently.

Dax frowned and shook his head. “You couldn’t pull off an ambush if your life depended on it!”

Chuck frowned back. “I said I was sorry.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I didn’t?” Chuck said.

Dax shook his head. “Nope.”

The wizard threw his shoulders back and folded his arms. “Well, I’m not going to. Leaving a frail old man all by himself like that, I could have been hurt! You have no consideration for the elderly.”

Alhannah giggled, and the smiley on my shirt rolled its eyes.

“Wait!” Dax hissed. Twisting his head, his oversized ears twitched.

Chuck frowned. “Don’t change the subject!”

Gaidred pointed past us. “Over there, in the trees!”

At the mouth of the valley’s entrance, a lone enemy soldier emerged from the brush. Clutching sword and shield, it sprinted towards the narrow forest opening.

Dax and Alhannah took off in hot pursuit.

“Oh, let the big chicken go!” chided the wizard. “I certainly wouldn’t want to hang around after losing all of my friends, would you?”

“But won’t it go report to someone?” I said, nervously. The soldier disappeared around the bend. “Let them know that we’re here?”

“Oh poo,” the wizard complained, “more running. I hate running, you know. Why can’t people casually stroll after one another instead? I could do that all day long.” He bit his lip when he noticed me suppressing another laugh. “Fine. Off we go then. I’m right behind you.”

Quickly distancing myself from Chuck, I sprinted with all my might. It was as if I’d been built for this all my life. Within moments, I’d caught up with Dax and Alhannah. Both sides of the valley narrowed and eventually met at a natural archway of rock. The forest grew thick with trees on either side of the doorway, nearly hiding its existence.

“He’s…gonna…get…away,” gasped Dax, slowing down. A small trail of blood trickled down from his nose. Sweat beaded across his forehead, his face turning pale.

I slowed to match him.

“No…he’s not,” snarled Alhannah, and skidded to a halt. Pulling a long knife from her back, the gnome threw the blade at blinding speed. The thin weapon hummed and tumbled through the air. It found its target…in the base of the giant’s skull.

The beast crashed to the ground like a wet rag, sliding to a halt.

“Wow, ‘Hannah…,” gasped Dax, hacking. He grabbed his ribs and leaned over. “Now that was impressive. Been practicing a bit, have we?”

She grinned, also gasping for air. “A bit.”

If it wasn’t for the worn patches of ground making a vague trail, the vallen could have vanished if he’d gotten past the tree line. Both sides of the valley sloped down and converged right here. Nestled among the thick trees, the doorway of Tämä-Un was almost invisible within the forest.

“Shouldn’t we get the body off the path?” I asked.

Dax nodded, swaying from side to side. “Don’t want…anyone knowing…we were here.”

With considerable effort, we dragged the body to the edge of the trees and gave up. A total of four feet.

“He’s too heavy,” I said. Which felt weird, considering I’d matched one of its kind in strength at the Roadkill Tavern. Was there some trick to tapping into the strength of the gem?

Alhannah yanked the blade from the skull of the corpse. “Bah, let’s cut him into pieces.”

Dax looked up along the mountainsides. “No. Just cover him with branches and leaves. This is good enough.” Stumbling to the side, he fell against the dead body.

I reached out to steady him. “You ok?”

Dax slapped my hand away. “Of course I’m alright — don’t be stupid! Now get off me!”

I ignored the attitude and leaned closer. “You helped me, Dax. Back there. I’m not trying to tick you off. This is just me, trying to help you back.”

Even Alhannah frowned. “Lighten up, uncle Dax. The kid didn’t mean any harm.”

Dax relaxed, his expression softening. “Yeah. I…uh,” he sighed, "Sorry, kid. I’m just not used to…"

Alhannah smiled weakly. “Mahan’s Pink Panties, is that genuine emotion?”

"Shut up," Dax grumbled.

It wasn’t a full apology, but it was progress.

Once we’d covered the body with leaves and branches, we jogged back to the gate. Halfway there, we passed poor Chuck, who was hunched over, coughing, wheezing and purple with exhaustion.

“Come on, old fart,” Dax teased, poking the wizard in the arm as he passed.

Chuck slumped down to the ground and tossed his hat to the side.

“You children are plotting against me, I just know it,” he panted.

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Author Notes

Thanks for reading this weeks installment! This process is still new to me, but I’m loving every minute of it. What’s fun is how the whole process flows better in serial format.

Hope you like the artwork. I truly thought the books cover (or whatever the general idea was at the time) would suffice. I was wrong. It grew boring IMO…so being able to do these new doodles for each episode has been a wonderful treat for me.

Let me know what you thought about Ambush in the comments!

Jaime

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