The two men spend most of the night discussing the events. Now that he is a wanted man and knowing the old man cannot protect him or keep him hid for much longer, Marshall wants to get out of this town as soon as possible.

"I want the girl. I want to take the girl with me."

The old man looks out the door and then turns to Marshal.

"Let me go see my brother. Maybe between he and I, we can work some sort of magic and get you out of town"

Marshel walks over and flips the skins back on the bike, "I can make my own magic old man. Just point me in the right direction and me and that little cutie are dust."

The old man sighs and shakes his head."Please, my name is not Dude or old man. My name is Marlin. My brother is Merlin, the greatest wizard of this time. With his help we can get you away from this town. Maybe back to your own town, too. But you should forget about that little trollop." Marshall glances at the old man and then away. Hearing who he is, Marshall looks back again.

Laughingly, he says, "You really expect me to believe your Marlin, Merlin the magician's brother? Merlin was a character in a book. He ain't ever been alive; what kind of joke you trying to pull?" He looks at Marlin with a smile on his face, but the humor is gone.

"Look, Dude, tell ya what, you go get the little chick I want, tell her that her knight wants her to come visit him today. In the meantime, I will pack up the bike and be ready to go by the time ya get back. Cool, now go it's not going to take me long to pack." gesturing with his hand in a shushing manner.

Marlin shakes his head and vanishes out the door while Marshall readies the bike for this next step in his journey. It's not long and Marshall has everything checked out. Marlin enters the shack again with the young woman in tow. She looks a little bewildered as she enters the shack.

She curtsies, "Sire, what would you have me do for you this day?"

Marshal looks deeply into her eyes, cupping her chin in his gloved hand.

"Look, sweetheart. I know this is really moving fast. I mean, we just met last night. But you saved me possibly from death. I want you to come with me. I can show you things you have never seen before, the bright lights of the city. We can dress you in the finest clothes instead of these rags you're wearin. Come on what do ya say?"

Looking down with a kind of surprised look on her face she smiles.

"Yes, Sire, I will travel with you if you wish. But first, may I know your name? Mine is Angelica. Now, what's yours, Sire?"

Marshall smiles and rolls out the bike from under the skins again. Patting the seat, "Get on, Sweetheart, we're going for a ride. Oh, my name is Marshall, I'll be your pilot for today"

Angelica looks at the bike then at Marshall, her beautiful green eyes wide with excitement, "Sire how, what, where?" she stutters, watching Marshall swing a long leg over the bike and take his seat.

"I have never seen a beast such as this before, is it gentle? It will not bite me, will it?"

Marshal smiles at her, then holds out his hand. "As long as you ride with me only, it will never bite you. Now, step on that peg and swing your other leg over the seat, then sit down. Keep your feet on these pegs though. Now wrap your arms around me. Just like that."

Angelica wraps her arms tightly around Marshall's waist. Marshall raises the bike off the kickstand twists the throttle twice and pushes the little button on the handlebars. The starter chatters and the motor cranks but does not fire.

Marlin is standing a few feet away amazed at what he is seeing. This metal horse is chattering at him. He walks to the doorway, ready to flip open the fur covering to let Marshall and Angelica out.

He peers out around the covering, "Oh, my stars! Milord, the guards are coming. You have to leave now!"

Marshall again twists the throttle twice and again he presses the button. The starter again chirps as it cranks the motor. But, also as before the motor does not start.

Marlin urges him again that they are closing and they seem to have heard the noise and are coming to investigate. He begins nervously wringing his hands and is quite visibly shaken.

"Oh, I should help now, I KNOW I should!"

Marshalls nerves are on edge now, too, wondering absently why the big bike will not come to life and how many of the guards he is going to have to shoot just to get out of here alive.

He takes a deep breath. twists the throttle twice and just as he is about to press the button again, Angelica asks "Sire, is that your trinket laying on the floor?" pointing to the key fob on the floor. Saying nothing, Marshall reaches down, grabs the key and sticks it into the ignition.

The first guard reaches for the fur door covering.

Marlin rubs his hands together forming a glowing ball of light.

Marshall turns the key and reaches for the button that engages the starter.

The guard throws back the covering, drawing his sword as he does, ducking to clear the doorway with his headdress.

Marlin draws back his hand, the glowing orb in it. He prepares to throw the orb.

Marshal screams "Noooooo, Marlin! Don't!" The bike fires and almost instantly, Marshall stomps on the shifter, kicking it into first gear. As he twists the throttle hard, the back tire breaks loose, screaming from the power instantly transferred to it. The front wheel jumps off the ground chest high.

Angelica screams.

The bike shoots, forward striking the guard in the chest, knocking him backwards and out the door with the bike and its riders in hot pursuit. They clear the door and blast down the road. Angelica is still screaming as they go. Shouts of the guards for them to stop can be heard but Marshall is not about to stop.

He rounds a corner shouting to Angelica "Fuck, I'm lost! Which way is outta town?"

Angelica lets go just long enough to point out a direction and then clings tighter to him.

Marshall again twists the throttle and points the bike in the direction she pointed in.

Arrows from crossbows fly past as they flee the city headed out into the countryside.

©