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Fulton leap for the last one, the smallest of the bunch. Fulton, Godfrey was annoyed to see, missed, and instead he went groaning and tumbling down to the ground.
    Godfrey knocked out one of them on the ground and held down another, yet he was panicked to see the smallest one still running, breaking free, about to turn the corner. He glanced up out of the corner of his eye and watched as Ario stepped forward calmly, reached down and picked up a stone, examined it, then reached back and threw it.
    A perfect shot, it struck the Finian in the temple as he was turning a corner, knocking him down to the ground. Ario ran over to him and stripped him of his cloak and began to put it on, realizing Godfrey’s intentions.
    Godfrey, still struggling with the other Finian, finally reached up and elbowed him across the face, knocking him out. Akorth finally grabbed his Finian by the shirt and smashed his head into the stone floor twice, knocking him out too. Merek choked his long enough make him lose consciousness, and Godfrey looked over and watched Merek roll onto the final Finian and hold a dagger to his throat.
    Godfrey was about to yell at Merek to stop, but a voice cut through the air, beating him to it:
    “No!” commanded the harsh voice.
    Godfrey looked up to see Ario standing over Merek, scowling down.
    “Do not kill him!” Ario commanded.
    Merek scowled back.
    “Dead men don’t talk,” Merek said. “I let him go, all of us die.”
    “I don’t care,” Ario said, “he did nothing to you. He will not be killed.”
    Merek, defiant, slowly rose to his feet and faced Ario. He got in his face.
    “You’re half my size, boy,” Merek seethed, “and I hold the dagger. Don’t tempt me.”
    “I may be half your size,” Ario replied calmly, “but I’m twice as quick. Come at me and I will snatch that dagger from you and slice your throat before you finish swinging.”
    Godfrey was amazed at the exchange, most of all because Ario was so calm. It was surreal. He didn’t blink, or move a muscle, and he spoke as if he were having the calmest conversation in the world. It made his words all the more convincing.
    Merek must have thought so, too, because he did not make a move. Godfrey knew he had to break it up, and quick.
    “The enemy is not here,” Godfrey said, rushing forward and lowering Merek’s wrist. “He is out there. We fight each other, and we stand no chance.”
    Luckily, Merek allowed his wrist to be lowered, and he sheathed his dagger.
    “Hurry now,” Godfrey added. “All of you. Strip their clothes and don them. We are Finians now.”
    They all stripped the Finians and donned their bright-red cloaks and hoods.
    “This is ridiculous,” Akorth said.
    Godfrey examined him and saw his belly was too big, and he was too tall; the cloak ran short, exposing his ankles.
    Merek snickered.
    “Should have had one less pint,” he said.
    “I’m not wearing this!” Akorth said.
    “It’s not a fashion show,” Godfrey said. “Would you rather be discovered?”
    Akorth grudgingly backed down.
    Godfrey stood there and looked at the five of them standing there, wearing the red cloaks, in this hostile city, surrounded by the enemy. He knew their chances were slim, at best.
    “Now what?” Akorth asked.
    Godfrey turned and looked out at the end of the alleyway, leading out into the city. He knew the time had come.
    “Let’s go see what Volusia is all about.”
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Thor stood at the bow of the small sailing vessel, Reece, Selese, Elden, Indra, Matus, and O’Connor seated behind him, none of them rowing, the mysterious wind and current making all effort futile. It would carry them, Thor realized, where it would, and no amount of rowing or sailing would make a difference. Thor glanced back over his shoulder, watched the massive black cliffs marking the entrance to the Land of the Dead fading farther and farther away, and he felt relieved. It was time to look forward, to find Guwayne, to start