Daring Danger

Jim hastily dismounted and ventured to the man sitting outside the small structure. Little did Jim know, the man was one of Grange's agents. Jim spoke: "Sire, have you seen a carriage pass along this way?"

The agent, knowing that he had just instructed the lumbering assasin due east, played coy.

"There are many wagons and carriages on this highway. Were you concerned about one in particular?"

"Sire," said Jim naively, "I am looking for Lady Andrea. Did she pass this way?"

"Why, she did, young man," replied the agent, "Why would you concern yourself with her carriage?"

"I fear, sire," replied Jim honestly, "that a man is after her with intentions to kill her."

"Kill her?" replied the agent incrdulously, even though he had just sent an assasin after her.

Jim nodded seriously.

"Well," replied the agent, "I cannot say with certainty which way it went, though I do hope you find her. I believe she went due north."

Jim thanked the man and lept upon his horse. He did not know that north lay bandit gangs. As he rode along, a gang spotted his fine horse and liberated him of it. As soon as they saw it was a royal horse, they hauled him back to their camp and tied him up to a tree as they taunted him with food and freedom, mistaking him for a figure they might someday ransom.

As morning broke, a dusty bandit rode into camp and woke the others with a shout. He explained that a royal carriage was stopped somewhat east of there in the woods, and that he had shot the driver earlier in the night with his crossbow. The bandits gave a great holler, mounted their horses and, taking Jim with them, rode until they reached Andrea's carriage. All along the way Jim worked at the knots behind his back until he could pry his hands free.

Finally, they arrived at the carriage. Once there, the bandits dismounted and were about to strip the vehicle of valuables when a huge man stepped out from the compartment where he was sleeping. Jim immediately recognized the fearsome Torrance Blood. Torrance did not like people. As the bandits gathered around him, one of them laughed without apparent reason.

With amazing speed, Torrance upper-cut the man, so hard, and with such overwhelming force, that his lower teeth became permanently embedded in his upper mouth. His eyes let out a horrible scream as blood trickled from his sealed lips. As bandits began drawing their weapons, Torrance bolted through them like a halfback toward the safety of the thick woods, knocking men over flat as he went. The bandits followed, albeit cautiously, knowing any one-on-one encounter was not worth the bragging rights.

While the bandits were occupied, Jim loosened his hands and found his horse. Even with his inexperience, he quickly picked up the trail of the Lady Andrea going south, as she left such an unusual boot print. He knew Torrance and possibly the bandits would not be more than a few hours behind. It was nearing dinner when he came up to a small cottage with smoke coming through its chimney. Little did he know, he was knocking upon the door of the great wizard Maculay.

1. Jim meets Andrea.

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