Taylor Davis and the Flame of Findul by Michelle Isenhoff

Author:Michelle Isenhoff [Isenhoff, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2013-05-01T16:00:00+00:00

Lesson #15

Chariots Are a Sizzlin’ Ride

Ranofur bent over, catching his breath and shaking his head in dismay. We hurried to join him. “How bad is it?” Elena asked, alarm brightening her eyes.

“Bad,” Ranofur stated. “Within hours, Swain will have our location and our mission. Any advantages stealth may have granted are long gone. ”

Elena and I exchanged worried glances. “Guess it’s a good time for a trip to Heaven,” I said.

“It will throw them off our trail temporarily,” Ranofur agreed. He pulled himself upright and handed over my sword.

I took it without much enthusiasm. My beagle-footedness was manifesting itself in new ways. Time and time again I had proven inadequate in battle. I was as bad as Mike. Worse! At least he managed to take out one of the creature’s eyes. I’d done nothing but shave off a little troll armpit hair before I’d gotten myself and my weapon removed from the battlefield.

People were beginning to crawl out of their hidey-holes. They mingled in the carriageway, discussing the damaged streetscape. “Bet a story about an asteroid cluster breaks on the news tonight,” Elena guessed. “I hope that thing didn’t damage the arch beyond repair.”

“I’ll throw a little money at it when things blow over,” Mike assured her. “Humans have become quite good at recovering from natural disasters. If they only knew how many weren’t natural at all…”

“Our ride is due in three minutes,” Ranofur said, consulting a pocket watch. “We’re to meet in the park.”

He led the way past the crowds, past the fountains. Elena joined him, and he flung a heavy arm around her shoulders in a squeeze of approval. They looked so right together, both tall, well-formed, and beautiful. Both so capable. I trailed behind feeling useless and unimportant, followed by my absurd guardian in his shabby costume. I supposed we were adequately matched, after all.

My mood picked up considerably when a flaming chariot drawn by two white horses blazed across the sky and landed near the parking lot. A small figure dressed in a World War I flight jacket, helmet, and goggles climbed from the inferno. Raising his goggles to the top of his head, he scowled heavily. “So, what are you waiting for? Climb in already, before the Churkons discover us.”

“Q!” Mike shouted, running to meet the newcomer and pumping his hand.

“That’s our ride?” I shouted.

“Sure is.” Ranofur smiled, guiding us toward the chariot. “Kids, meet one of the best agents I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Quinset, meet Taylor and Elena.”

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Elena said. I murmured a hello and looked the little driver over carefully. The top of his head reached only to my shoulder.

“Sure, sure,” Quinset muttered. “Whenever anyone needs a favor, they call Q. Q will do it. He’s our man. Bah!” His round little face creased ferociously, but I saw the sparkle in his eyes and noted how hard he fought back a grin.

“Q is a noble fighter and the most skillful charioteer in the army,” Mike gushed.

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