Jack decided not to call Josie back. If he and the others had been alerted, she had too.

  She would be traveling back to Hawk Ridge to meet with them. He had to get Eric

  and the adventurers back north instead of leaving them in the wilderness.

  He doubted Eileen Fass would like him leaving her husband behind because he was

  in a hurry.

  “The Dragon Boat said he can pull a wagon behind him,” said June. “It’ll slow us

  down.”

  “I can build something lightweight we can use,” said Jack. “Part of me wants to leave

  them behind to fend for themselves, but I don’t see that going over well with Eric’s

  wife.”

  “Save Princess Caroline?,” asked June. “That seems mundane compared to stop the

  book demon legion.”

  “Josie can handle that on her own depending on which kingdom where Caroline is

  the princess,” said Jack. “She’s a better finder than me.”

  “All right,” said June. “How do we get back to Hawk Ridge with all these fogies

  traveling with us?”

  “First, we need something to carry everybody like a wagon,” said Jack. “Next, we

  need to load everybody on this hypothetical wagon. Then we need to hook the wagon

  to the dragon boat. Then we go like heck back home so we can get started on this.

  We’re going to need the Enterprise to deal with some of this.”

  “Try not do anything that will hurt the Dragon Boat,” said June. “I promised him that

  much.”

  “I’ll do what I can,” said Jack.

  He nodded as he considered what he wanted to do. The Fasses were arguing away

  from everyone else. He frowned at that, but it wasn’t his job to quell family problems.

  He started the project by making sure all the supplies, horses, and the wagon the

  adventurers had brought with them were in the same grouping. He didn’t want to start

  and have to chase after a horse and place them where they needed to be.

  He pulled on Magik and created a ring to effect the area that he wanted. He formed

  a platform on top of engines that pushed gently against the ground. He caused two

  hooks to extend out of the assemblage on thin shafts. He slotted them on the stern of

  the floating boat on either side of the tiller.

  “Tell it to try to go forward, June,” said Jack. “We want to see how much of a strain

  this is on it.”

  June petted the dragon figurehead and asked it to float forward as safely as it could

  without losing its back end. It obliged. When she asked how much effort it had to

  exert, it told her it was minute.

  “We’re leaving,” announced Jack when his sister gave him the nod. “Load up or stay

  behind.”

  The adventurers climbed on the floating platform. A couple took seats on the wagon

  to be with the animals so they didn’t do anything stupid while the thing was in

  motion. Eric helped his uncle onboard before he climbed up and took a position to

  one side of the wagon.

  Mister Warner waved from the back of the combination to let them know they could

  get started.

  Jack let Magik go as he climbed on the back of the boat. He helped June over the

  side. She gave directions for a slower pace than what they had used to travel south.

  She made sure to instruct the vehicle to stop if the effort got too much for it.

  Sails unfurled as the phantom wind pushed on the Dragon Boat. Steam escaped its

  nostrils as it started forward. The assemblage flew down the road with the cutting of

  the air.

  “Where do we get started?,” asked June. She watched the road from her seat in the

  back.

  “We dump these guys at the Hospital,” said Jack. “Then we head back to the Hole in

  the Wall, and see if Elaine knows any of this. Then we get the Enterprise back and fly

  at what we think we can fix. I should call her and see if she knows anything about

  Tern.”

  “Boim isn’t going to like her sister causing problems like this after she was warned

  off,” said June.

  “Not our problem,” said Jack. “We aren’t family counselors. We’re problem solvers.

  And Boim’s sister is a problem that we are going to have to solve if we want to

  uphold the peace, and protect the planet.”

  “So how do we solve it?,” asked June.

  “We turn Josie loose on it and see what we can do after the resulting catclysm,” said

  Jack. He grinned at her.

  “I was thinking of something more concrete,” said June. “Something with a little bit

  less explosions and things burning up as they launch for the sun.”

  “The first step for these jobs is gathering intel,” said Jack. He scratched his scar as he

  watched the walls of Hawk Ridge approach. “We need to be able to see what we have

  to deal with before we can deal with it. Once we have an outline of the problem, then

  we can think about fixing it. Since we know Shemmaria is involved, the first thing

  we will have to do is get the Enterprise and do a flyover to see if we can spot

  whatever is going on and fix it.”

  “Do you think we can do that?,” said June.

  “I am sure we can do something,” said Jack. “Once we are on the job, the rest will fall

  into place.”

  “We probably should start slowing down,” called Mister Warner from the back. “We

  don’t want to wreck the gate by accident.”

  “Slow down to walking speed and then carefully take us to Jane’s Hospital,” said

  June. “We will unhook the trailer and then we will have to head to the Hole in the

  Wall.”

  “Yes, mistress,” said the dragon as it lowered some of its sails to ease up on its speed.

  The dragon boat floated through the gate and used one of the few cross streets to head

  directly towards its goal. It had to make a series of turns and then it was on the road

  in front of the new facility. It slid gently to a stop in front of the sign.

  “Mister Warner,” said Jack. “I am going to unhook the trailer. Then we can leave

  everything else here while we see about these quests.”

  Mister Warner waved his understanding. He jumped down from the platform. He

  waved some adventurers over from the door. He told them what had happened and

  how Errol and his group had to be checked out before they could be allowed to roam

  around. A guard for the trailing hauler should be put in place too.

  Errol Fass tried to argue about the disposition of his goods. Mister Warner said

  something to him that Jack didn’t catch. He became his Hulk, stretching in the torn

  clothes he wore. One lift and push freed the hauler.

  Mister Warner waved for the adventurers to go inside and listen to Eric. He had

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  already done his good deed for the day, now he had work to do that an old party of

  mercenaries couldn’t help in any way.

  Jack let his homeless looking monster free. He knew the platform would be easy for

  anyone to steal. It was also unique enough that he could find it from the air if he had

  to search. If it was still there when they got done, he would donate it to the hospital

  for supply runs.

  “Thank you for helping me,” said Eric. He kept an eye on his uncle. “Do you need me

  on this quest?”

  “Not yet,” said Jack. “If it gets bad enough that we need an army of adventurers to

  help us, we’ve probably lost the objective. Enjoy your time with your wife, get the

  hospital to look after you for a bit, get ready for tomorrow.”

  “Maybe we can have a party for when I go home,” said June.

  “Let’s save the world before we think about getting cake and ice cream,” said Jack.

  “And now that I am thinking it, I want it. Let’s go.”

  “Nice meeting you, Eric,” said June. She waved at him before she asked the Dragon

  Boat to pull up and turn around to go the other way.

  “Fass,” said Mister Warner. He straightened his jacket before he climbed on the boat

  and took a seat next to the figurehead.

  “Tell your uncle to test the formula on something other than a human being,” said

  Jack. “I doubt someone hired him to find a healing potion when there are already so

  many in use here.”

  “Be careful,” said Eric.

  “I don’t get paid for that,” said Jack. “Take it easy, Eric.”

  Jack’s com band beeped before he boarded the dragon boat. He saw that it was Elaine

  and opened the channel.

  “Hey,” said Jack. “What’s going on?”

  “We have a visitor from the crown,” said Elaine. “Duke Hent brought him by.”

  “We’re on the way back to the Hole in the Wall right now,” said Jack. He looked up.

  June nodded her understanding. “We should be there in a couple of minutes.”

  “All right,” said Elaine. “I haven’t heard from Josie, but I expect she is on the way

  back too. How hard could it have been to help Boim’s sisters?”

  “Depends on how much running around she had to do,” said Jack. “We’re coming.”

  Jack climbed on the boat. He looked around. June and Mister Warner were already

  onboard. He nodded.

  “Take us to the Hole in the Wall,” said June. “It’s on the southwest wall part of the

  city.”

  “Yes, mistress,” said the dragon.

  The sails unfurled and the boat floated down the street. It made a few turns and then

  hit a straightaway where it could speed up while dodging people in the street. Jack

  kept the band open as they sailed along.

  The boat slowed as the Hole in the Wall came into sight. Two carriages were in front

  of the bulge they used for their headquarters. Some guys in armor guarded the door.

  Jack recognized two as the Duke’s personal guard.

  They waved at him when they saw the boat coming down the street.

  Jack jumped to the ground when the boat floated to a stop and furled its sails. The

  figurehead huffed out some steam. June patted the dragon as she stood back. Deku

  would be okay in this situation, but Kami would make things much easier.

  “His Grace is waiting inside,” said one of the bodyguards. He pointed with his thumb.

  “Some muckity muck from the capitol is in with him.”

  “Elaine and the kids?,” asked Jack.

  “Had to restrain your dragon from setting someone on fire,” said the guard. “Things

  have calmed down now.”

  “He’s Matilda’s dragon, and he is really protective of her,” said Jack. “You know how

  that is.”

  “It was a sight to see,” said the guard. “I am glad I was outside. This guy represents

  the Crown. Don’t let your friend rip him to pieces.”

  “Is Josie here?,” asked Jack.

  “Not yet,” said the guard.

  “That’s good,” said Jack. “Josie is a ton of magnitudes more protective than Aviras.

  Let me go inside and see what we can do. This is June and Mister Warner. June is our

  new hireling and Mister Warner is like Josie if she was old and a man. They’re our

  replacements if something happens to us.”

  The guard nodded at the strangers. The description of Mister Warner as an older Josie

  didn’t relax his guard.

  Jack pushed through the crowd. If he was attacked, he knew June and Mister Warner

  would be on this crowd like rabid monkeys. He doubted his sister would seriously

  hurt any of them, but his mentor had been making good use of the Dart and his flying

  arrow in the last few days.

  He stepped inside the apartment and found his visitors sitting at the dining room

  table. Their guards stood behind them. Beatrice and Laura were on the other side of

  the table, the younger girls behind them. Matilda had Aviras in her arms instead of

  on her head. He looked a little sullen, with flames licking around his snout.

  He didn’t see Elaine.

  She came out of the kitchen with a tray of cups in hand. She smiled when she saw

  Jack taking in the scene.

  “Milord,” said Beatrice.

  “How’s it going?,” said Jack. He took the tray from Elaine so he wouldn’t be tempted

  to do something rash. He carried it to the table, and put it down. He began handing

  out the servings of tea. “Duke Hent. How do you do, Your Grace?”

  The other man opened his mouth to interrupt, but Jack held up a hand. He knew the

  Duke, fairly liked the Duke, was willing to listen to the Duke first. He didn’t have the

  inclination to listen to someone being rude.

  It was no wonder the man’s surcoat had scorch marks on it.

  “I’m well, Jack,” said the Duke. “This is Lord Brant. The King has asked him to

  personally deliver a message to Mistress Fox.”

  “It is a pleasure to meet you,” said Jack. He couldn’t help measuring the guy for a

  body bag. “It always a pleasure to deal with someone from the capitol. I see that you

  have met Josie’s sisters and my beloved Elaine. Girls, have you done your school

  work yet?”

  “Not yet,” said Laura.

  “Please go ahead out to the Hangar, and get started,” said Jack. “The Society has

  handed down quests and we have to get ready to deal with them.”

  “Understood, Milord,” said Beatrice. She waved for the other girls to go before her.

  She leaned over to whisper in Jack’s ear. “Thank you for the ring. Aviras slowed

  these people down when I used it to turn up his flame.”

  “Good,” said Jack. He grinned. “Everybody’s all gangster until they run into an

  enraged flamethrower.”

  “What is the message from the Crown, Lord Brat?,” said Jack. “You can speak in

  front of Hent and Elaine. They help us do our jobs.”

  “And what is your job?,” said Lord Brant. Jack could hear the quotation marks around

  job as he spoke.

  “To destroy evil, protect the innocent, ruin an idiot’s day,” said Josie, coming in from

  the living room. Boim Russ was behind her with a sword belted around her waist.

  “Sometimes we do all three at the same time. Hello, Your Grace. It is a pleasure to see

  you again.”

  Duke Hent slid back from the table a little, tea cup in hand.

  “It is a pleasure for me too,” said Hent. He sipped his tea.

  “Are you Josie Fox?,” said Lord Brant.

  “If I’m not, she will be really angry,” said Josie. “How can we help the Crown?”

  “Princess Caroline is missing,” said Lord Brant. He pushed his tea cup away.

  “We can fix that,” said Josie. “Why come to us at all?”

  “The King told me she is being used as a hostage,” said the messenger. “He said it

  had to do with the Montrose.”

  “I see,” said Josie. She pulled out her chair and sat down at the table. Her face

  smoothed over as she thought. It wasn’t a coincidence that the quest came down. She

  wondered what the actual threat the Society had foreseen. “We’re going to have this

  meeting, and then we are going to deal with this. Some people might be killed over

  this. Do you understand that, Lord Brant?”

  “Yes,” said Brant.

  “Does the King understand?,” said Josie.

  “I think he is counting on it,” said Brant.

  “You have a plan, Jo-jo?,” said June.

  “Duke Hent, this is June, and Mister Warner,” said Jack. “Guys, this is Duke Hent.

  I owe him a house.”

  “You’ll never get that house,” said June. “Jack never pays what he owes.”

  “All I need is a site,” said Jack. “The rest will be a snap.”

  “Jack,” said Josie. She pulled some paper out of her bag and wrote two letters with

  a pen. “Take the Enterprise, go to Shemmaria. Deal with it. Mister Warner, June, Tern

  is yours. I have a feeling this a magical revolving door thing like the thing on the

  lake.”

  She changed long enough to send both letters off.

  “Duke Hent, take the princess to the hospital and have her checked out,” said Josie.

  “Madam Fass is putting the adventurers to work there and there should be some

  Amazons there who can look after her. The Montrose have a history of rape and

  abuse. Take care of her until I get back.”

  “What are you going to do, Mistress Fox?,” asked Brant. He blinked at what he had

  seen in the change, and the sudden coldness filling the room.

  He would rather have the dragon back.

  “I am going to kill as many of them as I can reach,” said Josie. Two pieces of paper

  dropped on the table. She picked them up and read them. She nodded. “And I am

  going to start right now.”

  Josie changed to Zatanna and sent out a bird to fly toward the center of the country.

  She vanished in a second. A young lady in a ragged dress appeared in her place. Jack

  grabbed her before she could fall over.

  “Caroline?,” said Jack. He eased her into a chair. “You’re safe with us.”

  “Where did she go?,” asked Brant. He stood. The princess was part of his

  responsibility now that she was here and free.

  “You heard her,” said Jack. “She went to kill a bunch of people by herself. I wish she

  hadn’t done that, but we have the kid here to worry about, and our own jobs. Do you

  mind taking the princess over to the hospital, Your Grace? I’ll call ahead so Jane will

  have someone waiting on you.”

  “She will be safer than in her own home,” said Hent. He put his tea cup down and

  stood. “Captain? Let’s carry out this task. If you will, Lord Brant. Young lady, I am

  Duke Hent. We’re going to take you somewhere so a healer can look at you, and

  make you comfortable.”

  He held out a hand.