After a few minutes Marshall stops the bike. "Can we get out by going this way?"

Marlin leans forward, then back and looks around, making heavy breathing and humming noises.

"No, Milord, we cannot get out this way. The only way in or out that I have ever found is out the way we came in."

Marshall drops the kickstand and gets off the bike. Pacing back and forth he stops.

"Are there any weapons in this area of the cave? I mean like shields or a big gong or..." his voice trails off as Marlin also steps off the bike.

"Come, get closer, Milord. I have been working on a ball of light spell for quite some time. I had hoped to use it to cross the mighty lake but, alas, I was afraid." He puts his head down in shame, but then looks into Marshall's eyes again.

"It will not let anything in or out. I believe it would be a great shield."

Marshall steps closer as Marlin conjures and spell-casts. The air brightens and then, in a swirling flash, they are in a large bubble, bike and all. Marshall pushes on its surface and it seems strong.

"Get on, little man, we are going for a ride." They look like they are in a big, bright hamster ball. Marshall presses the magic button and after a few tries and errors he figures out how to guide this giant hamster ball through the cave towards the awaiting guards and their weapons. Faster and faster they go; bouncing off things and fighting to gain some kind of control. Marshall's eyes begin to burn and he notices his heart racing and he is having trouble breathing. He shouts at Marlin but Marlin does not answer, only falls against him as if asleep.

"Shit, We're killing ourselves. Wake up dude! Wake the fuck up man, NOW!" He turns off the bike and brings it to a stop. He dismounts, trying not to wobble things too much and tries again to wake Marlin.

"Come on, dude, wake up! We are dying here!"

Marlin opens his eyes, coughs and claps his hands; the bubble is gone. They fall to the ground; hard.

"What happened? Why do I feel so ill?"he stammers.

"We were killing ourselves. We were using up all the oxygen and we woulda died if I did not wake you up."Marshall wheezes.

Outside, the ground troops are setting up to not let anything, no matter what, pass. Merlin and the Captain of the guard are also setting a trap.

"We have to find a way to protect ourselves and get the fuck outa here, Dude. I bet have the fucking army is out there right now and the other half is coming quick."

Marlin nods in agreement, not knowing exactly what Marshall is talking about, but knowing he most likely was right about it anyway.

"Milord, I may be able to form a shield around us but not under the bottom. Would that maybe be sufficient?"

Marshall raises a brow and ponders for a moment. "Can you make the shield to my specs? I mean, if I say leave this open you could, right?"

Marlin looks at the bike then towards the distant shouts coming ever closer towards them. "I can only do my level best,Milord."

With that said, Marshall begins directing Marlin as to how the shield should operate and where openings should be to let out the poison gasses and yet protect them from the onslaught they are about to encounter. They finish the plans for the shield and none too soon, as the first of the guard charges from around the bend directly towards them.

"Is it ready yet?" Marshall shouts to Marlin, who is climbing on the back of the bike.

Marlin taps Marshall on the shoulder, telling him to go and Marshall opens the bike up a little, charging directly towards the lead guard's horse. Marlin stands on the pegs and begins conjuring, quickly forming a large lightning bolt. He casts the bolt at the group of riders. The flash is so bright Marlin has to squint his eyes tightly and still, when opening them, he sees spots.

"Don't do that again unless you let me know first, Marlin. That hurt my eyes." Marlin is still blinking hard trying to clear his own eyes.

Marlin giggles "I am sorry your eyes are hurting, Milord. But at least they are not hurting as bad as those men." pointing over his shoulder towards the smoldering remains of what was 7 brave riders.

Marshall is amazed by the devastation. The men and horses were literally blown apart by the blast.

Hey, Dude, can you do that every time?"

"I am not sure, Milord, that’s the first time I tried that spell and it is a bit taxing I must say."

"Well, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve, Marlin? I ask 'cause you're gonna have to pull a big fucking rabbit out of your hat now!"

"Tricks up my sleeve, Milord? There is nothing up my sleeves and why would I wish to pull large rabbits from me hat, Sire? That would not do us much, if any, good, Milord."

Marshall shakes his head and again twists the throttle as they speed toward the opening.

In the near distance they begin to see the faint shadows of the fire they had set still burning.

Outside, the Captain of the guard and Merlin continue to prepare for the arrival of Marshall and Marlin.

The Captain paces, noticeably aggravated. He stops and turns to Merlin who is admiring a new ring one of his mages made for him. The ring is elegantly detailed and has twin dragons intertwined through a pentagram in a battle of superiority.

"Merlin, are you sure everything is set and all is ready for the capture of your brother and the new wizard? I want no failure here. They cannot get away!"

Still fascinated by something about the gold and silver ring on his index finger, Merlin does not even look up.

"Milord, there is nothing Marlin can do that I cannot undo. I am by far the stronger and more experienced of the two of us. He can barely even light a candle without the aid of a match. But, alas, if you do not trust in my judgement, I suppose I can go back to my home and speak to the King." he then raises a brow and looks with disdain at the Captain for a few seconds then back at the ring.

Something about this ring is very distracting to Merlin especially now.

"Well, it had all better be ready for them. If they get away I will..." the Captain's voice is stopped abruptly as Merlin glares at him.

"What, Milord? Will you have my head?" Merlin laughs maniacally, then continues "I can stop them just as easily as I just stopped your voice. How dare you doubt me and the power I control. I have moved mountains and turned people just like you into meager little frogs. Yet, you, all-powerful Captain of the western guard, don't trust in ME? I should cast you into the depths of Hell for that." He raises his hand and a small but growing ball of light begins to swirl in his palm. "I have half a mind to do just that!"

Marshall pours on the speed as they enter the next to last cave room. He shouts to Marlin.

"Hang on, dude! I have no idea what we are coming into but in just a few seconds we're going to be outside!"

They fly past the guards who are fighting the flames and then into the first of the caves.

Marlin knows his brother is outside waiting for them. He also knows he has to come up with something grand or all will have failed as far as their escape is concerned. Marlin takes away the motor sound of the bike, silencing its roar, then casts invisibility on himself, Marshall and the bike.

They burst from the opening of the cave at over 100 miles an hour, totally silenced, and totally invisible to everyone. Except Merlin, who cannot help but smile as they pass, just as he throws the spinning light orb into the ground before the Captain, causing a large flume of dust appear.

Merlin then demands "Well, are you just going to stand there? GO IN THERE AND GET THEM! Bring them out to me so I may take out my wrath on them!" He points his long scepter in the direction of the caves' mouth.

The Captain turns quickly drawing his sword "You heard him, men! Charge in there and flush those two out!" He then begins to run behind them. Just at the mouth of the cave, he looks back at Merlin, who is again admiring the ring with the twin dragons intertwined in the pentagram, as if looking for reassurance. Merlin casually waves his left hand in a shoo go on gesture. And contemplates sealing the doorway for a little while to give Marlin and the mysterious new man more time to flee.

A ways down the road, Marlin begins shouting and whooping "I did it, I did it! I got one over on Merlin the magnificent! HA HA! What a wonderful day it is for me! FINALY! After all these years, I got past him with that spell!"

Marshall eases up on the throttle and slows the big bike considerably "I am just glad we made it away for now. When I did not hear the bike anymore I thought the motor died but then when everything on it disappeared... do you know how hard it is to ride like this? Make it real again, Bro."

Marlin releases both spells and all is like it was before.

Except for that bright light in the sky a few miles down the way.

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