The Lady Sweet opened her eyes.......slowly......bracing

        herself  against the shock of whatever she might see.    But,  much  to her

        relief,  they  appeared to be standing aside a normal road.   Where she  might

        be,  she did not know,  but  nothing  was  pursuing her.   Looking around her,

        she  saw  that Grouche,  eyes  screwed  tightly  shut  fists  clenched,  was

        not aware  the   terrifying darkness had passed.
 

                   Walking to him,  she  took his face in her hands,  and spoke softly,

         "M'Lord Grouche,  'tis over................Modem's spell has  given us escape."

        Still,  Grouche did not respond,  apparently  struck dumb by events.   The

        Lady,  unsure of the course to take,  stood  in  thought  before the  stricken

        man, finger tap-tapping on her chin.   "Hath thee lost thy wits, Sir?"  she asked

        in frustration.   Then,  inspired by  Modem's example,  she threw  her arms

        around  him,  and  kissed  him  passionately.   Hoping to  bring  Grouche to

        his senses, (and nearly  intoxicated  with the  wanton  warmth  this action gave

        her),  she continued  to kiss him.
 

                    Grouche  slowly  relaxed  his hands,  and they  found  the Lady's

        waist of their own accord.......his body relaxed in a ripple.  "Mmmmm......."

        He murmured dreamily.   Suddenly  his eyes flew open, and he looked about

        in a panic.   "Thee art safe!" the Lady quickly assured  him, "your friend,

        Modem hath brought us here......but I  know not where."
 

                 Grouche's  breathing  had   slowed to a  reasonable pace, and he  no

        longer felt the  panic that had consumed him.   Looking past the Lady, standing

        patiently, he saw three fine  horses,  two richly  outfitted  for  saddle,  the other

        packed with what appeared to be their belongings.   Oddly  enough,  the packs,

         though appearing  to be the originals,  had  none of  the  road  wear  they

        had  acquired during the  journey.   Grouche  shook his  head..............more

        surprises from Modem.
 

                  Lady  Sweet  stood  watching  Grouche,  pleased  that her  remedy

        had been so  effective,  savored  the  remembrance  of the  remedy  herself.

        Grouche strode to the road,  where a variety of traffic passed.   In the

        distance, he could  see  the  towers of a  city,  the road  busy with  horses,

        oxcarts  and pedestrians.   Their  course was obvious.........the safety of

        numbers  versus  the rigors of the wilderness....
 

                 "M'lady,  I  see fine lodgings, and  good  feasting  in our future,"

        Grouche  said with a smile,   "we  shall  beguile  this  fair  town,  and  take

        a wee rest."   Gathering their mounts,  they  rode unto  the  road,  turning

        with the others toward the city.    Overtaking   an  oxcart,  Grouche  reigned

        in close,  and hailed the driver.  "Ho, good sir, what city is that yonder?"

        The driver  looked at Grouche,  plainly considering the question ridiculous,

        said  "why...........'tis Marividnum, Sir, .......where else 'twould it be?"
 

                   "Marividnum?............does Magistrate Unka still govern there,

        sir?"  Grouche asked, .........a scowl on his face.   "Indeed he does, Sir,"

        replied the driver, "and we hath no thieves or cutpurses since he came,"  tthe

        driver grinned,  "Hangs 'em, he does...."   Grouche swore violently under

        his breath.   Turning to his Lady, he leaned in close, "M'lady, we must be

        away."   "But  why, M'Lord?"  the Lady protested,  longing for a real bed

        to sleep upon.
 

               "M'lady........please, I cannot explain now.............we must avoid this

        town."   Grouche  hissed urgently, " we must away...........now."   Grouche

        breathed a sigh of relief as the Lady nodded  assent and they reversed their

        horses.   Unfortunately,  their  retreat  came to an  abrupt  halt,  as they had

        turned  directly  into  the  path  of a  small  band of  armed  men.    The leader

        of the group,  riding a  fine stallion, richly caparisoned, himself finely dressed,

        rode  forward.
 

                Eyeing  Grouche  with  speculation,  he spoke,  "Ah, Grouche,  the

        Wanderer.......... we had nae  expected the pleasure of thy company  again."

         The  man  grinned  broadly,   "of course,  thee left before we could show

        thee the full extent of our......... ah..............hospitality."   The mans grin

        became even  broader.   "We shall correct that this time, Sir."
 

                  A  quick  hand  signal  to  the  men  behind  him,  Grouche  and

        Lady  Sweet found  themselves  surrounded,  the men  boxing  in their

        mounts   closely.   Grouches'  face  drained of  color,  as the leader

        chuckled  to himself.   "Aye, Grouche, thee shall be my honored guest

        ..........till thee swing."   Greatly  pleased,   Magistrate  Unka  laughed

        heartily,  "Aye...........ill thee swing, my friend.......till thee swing."
 
 

       And the band continued to the city........

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
 

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