"Amber just said that Cyril needs my help, but that he is also dangerous. She was so far away that I didn't even recognize her. We've always been within sight of each other when we talked. I didn't know she was so powerful!" Henry explained.
"Well whatever the story is with him, I for one am glad he's not free, or in the clutches of the Predas. Ah, here comes Bucephalus!" Exclaimed Rachel, as the magnificent mare trotted up to her.
"Rachel! I'm glad to see you! Where is the horse for Henry? And why did you bring that ?" she asked, eyeing Cyril Pikers with disgust, and a tinge of worry. His demonic guest returned the sentiments by trying to kick her foreleg.
"There was a change of plans. I couldn't risk drawing attention by trying to leave with a horse or two, because of Cyril here. Amber is exhausted from communicating at a long distance with Henry, but she is confident that she can escape."
Bucephalus snorted and nodded. "I don't like leaving Amber, but she's right."
"She said for us to get home as fast as possible. Once she's on the move, the thing in Slickville will know that she's escaped, so she doesn't want to lead it to us. Both Henry and Cyril are keys to resolving this mess with minimal bloodshed."
"Let's get moving." suggested Bucephalus. Rachel adjusted Cyril's bindings to make it more difficult for him to thrash around, then hefted him onto the large horse. She and Henry mounted carefully, worried if even Bucephalus could safely carry such a load. Bucephalus looked skyward for a second, then bolted for home.
Meanwhile in the living room at the old Manor House:
"It's empty." declared Danny Rupert with disappointment.
Tolcetta nodded. "It was worth a try though, Dear. We had to be sure."
Delilah and Mirabel were still looking around. "This is where I got the portfolio from. He dropped it right there and didn't even notice." she told the cat, recounting the adventure which ultimately led her to the Pizza Baron's front gate.
Mirabel smelled the spot idly, then something under the sofa caught her attention. She crawled under, and emerged with a small medallion.
"Look what I found!" declared Mirabel to her three companions. She then gently leaped upon Delilah's shoulder, and offered it to her. Engraved on one side was a dove with an olive branch bearing an olive in its beak. On the other side was a pizza, still steaming hot.
As she was examining it, Danny walked in back of her, curious. "Do you know anything about it?" she asked him, turning to give him a better look.
"It's the symbol of the Pizza Initiative. A friend has been in this room." he whispered.
In a filthy stall belonging to the Predas:
"Get busy, you lazy idiot! Next time you're late I'll flog you, and dump your sorry carcass in a ditch!" boomed a large man. Seconds later, a small boy scurried into Amber's sight. He couldn't have been over twelve years old, and was trembling in fear.
"I'd best get these stalls clean before Old Man Ginners smells how bad they are!" he thought furiously. The lad was horrified that he had dared go out to steal a loaf of bread last night, instead of attending to his duties. And to top it off, his full stomach had caused him to oversleep.
Amber sighed. It hurt to witness such misery. "I wish I could help him. But I have to remember the bigger picture." she thought with regret.
The child hastily opened the stall door of a fine bay mare much like herself in color, but a little darker. This horse had been brought in by a messenger last night. After he cleaned the stall, he threw in fresh smelling hay. "Maybe I will get by with this after all!" he thought, with a glimmer of hope.
Amber nickered loudly to get his attention. Noting the stench coming from her stall, which she had deliberately added to seconds before, he forgot to close the other one.
After cleaning, he found he needed more hay. Without a thought about the quietly standing horses, he sprinted for the hayloft.
"Friend, I need to switch stalls with you. It's important, and you won't have to work for some time. You will have a chance to rest." she sent telepathically to the simple but gentle creature.
The mare stared blankly for a second, then focused on the word rest. Swiftly she moved, eager for a much needed break from her duties.
When the boy returned, he saw two horses standing placidly exactly where he had left them. After he filled the newly cleaned area with sweet fresh hay, he locked both stalls. "I'll be back soon with your food and water." he promised, before he moved on to clean the rest of the occupied stalls.
Cover image made in Canva using their gallery
