The young woman takes Marshall down the cold and rainy street to her little shack. As they enter, she quickly stokes the fire in the hearth and lights a candle and an oil lamp.

"Normally, I would not light this, but you seem very special and I want to get a good look at you." she giggles, as she drops her shawl and begins to undo the fasteners that hold her skirt closed.

Marshall looks around, not believing how these people live. He feels the woman trying to unfasten the snaps to his slicker. He turns and walks to the window pulling back the furs that cover the opening.

"How old are you? Why are you all living here? I mean, there are better places with electricity and phones and real beer." He takes her face in his hands, looking into her eyes but not expecting an answer.

The girl looking back into his eyes unties the tiny bows that hold her blouse closed and soon it lays open, just covering her breasts but revealing the deep scar of someone who played a bit to rough.

"Don't ya want me Sire?" her voice quivers as she speaks. "I am 16 winters. Am I too old for you? I do have a specialty"

Marshal cuts her off by covering her mouth. There are sounds on the street and they don't sound friendly. Actually they sound like they are looking for him. He looks quickly towards the fur covered doorway. The young girl clings to his arm as he begins to leave.

"Not that way Sire. Come this way. Hurry!"She leads him to her bed, then raises the mattress made of straw and feathers. Under it is a boarded over area. She silently raises that and there is a tunnel out of her home.

"This will lead you away from here underground. It goes a good distance, Sire. Hurry please, the royal guard will cut you to pieces."

Marshall hurries into the hole and she covers it again. He whispers as he finds his way through the darkness, I will be back for you!"

Finding his way, he opens another door. It is inside an old dead tree. But now he is lost, where does the old man live? Swearing to himself and walking down the road as the rain pours and the lightening strikes.

Suddenly he hears

"Hold, knave! You are under arrest by order of the King!"

He turns and sees the two men draw their swords and begin running towards him. Knowing they will not arrest him and knowing he has nowhere to run, he draws his 45, pointing it at these two knights. They either don't see it or they have no idea what it is. He waits hoping for them to stop. They don’t. Firing his first shot, he strikes the man in the head. The knight's head rocks back violently and he falls forward. The second knight tries to stop but the weight of the armor and the speed he was moving carry him forwards. Marshall fires a second shot, striking him in the chest, piercing his armor and stopping him in his tracks.

Realizing that he has just made sure everyone knows where he is, he begins running in the direction he had been traveling.

He rounds a corner when he hears"Over here, Sire, hurry!" It's the old man holding the skin door covering open and motioning for Marshall.

Marshall enters the shack and the old man shows him the hidden trapdoor and motions for him to enter. And he does, just in time. The old man has just replaced the covering over the root cellar when two heavily armed knights burst in.

Looking around quickly, the first of the two knights goes to one knee. "Beg pardon, Sire. We, we meant mean no disrespect."

"What is the meaning of this? How dare you just enter MY home with out being invited? I will have your heads for this!"

The second knight, a much more regally dressed man, slowly turns to the old man, scanning the room.

"We are here looking for an intruder. He has not only caused a disturbance in a local tavern by kidnapping a young woman from there, but has also ATTACKED and KILLED one of the King's guard. It is our WISH, to retrieve this, rogue Knight and bring him to justice. We have a very good description from the dead guard's partner. If you see him, I am sure you will notify us. You would not want to bring disgrace to your brother now would you?"

The old man is angered by the Guard's tone, but holds his temper. "How could one man dispatch two of the King's guard so easily? I thought you were all trained not to lose any battle. Especially those where you out number your adversary." His tone was as sharp as a newly honed blade.

Glaring at him, the Guard swallows hard "He used some sort of magic. He shot fire from his fingertips along with a sound louder than thunder. Then, a small hole was found inside both the dead and wounded men. We think he is a wizard sent here to destroy your brother or possibly even the King himself. Also we have a report from several scouts there was a man fitting the same description who outran them using what some called a steel horse. We will find him. I can smell him."

With that said, the two guards turn and leave the old man's home.

The old man opens the root cellar again and Marshall crawls from the dark hole. The old man paces back and forth across the room, muttering to himself. Marshall walks across the room to a large chair and flops down. The old man turns to him.

"They think you are a wizard. They say you used magic to kill the King's guard. They say..."

Marshall cuts him off as he reaches into his jacket and puts the 45 on the table before him, shoving it a little in the old man's direction.

"Does this look like magic to you? Fuck, Dude, I busted a cap in that dudes ass and he went down like a stone. No magic to it, just good ole American hardware. How that other asshole lived I ain't got a clue. I am just glad no one's called the fucking cops yet. But how could they, there ain't no fuckin' phones in this town!"

The old man looks at then picks up the 45 caliber Colt and begins looking it over, flipping it around and examining every inch of it. Marshal has not been paying attention until he hears the familiar click of the safety being released. He glances up and then dives out of the way. The old man is holding the 45 in his left hand with his thumb on the trigger, the hammer is back and he is still looking it over and squeezing it. The weapon goes off, jumping out of his hand and onto the table. The bullet strikes a large stoneware jar used to store water and it explodes, sending water and shards of stoneware around the room. The old man is standing there, wide-eyed and slack jawed, his right hand on his chest.

Marshall jumps to his feet, grabs the Colt from the table and rushes to the door. He peeks out in all directions, wondering how long it will be until the Royal guard comes crashing in on them now.

"YOU FUCKING IDIOT! Didn't you stop to think it was loaded? What the fuck? Haven't you ever seen a fucking gun before? Ya stupid son-of -a-bitch!" gesturing with the gun in his hand.

"No, Sire, I have not ever seen something that can make such a loud noise as to shatter stoneware across the room!"

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