CHAPTER SIX HUNDRED and TWENTY-NINE

(part three)

“Here they come.”

He heard Mari whisper through the mask. Sighing to himself, he turned toward the door.

They heard scratching and saw the door knob giggle. Mari raised her hand to block them out but Nelson pushed her hand down.

“We need to deal with this,” Nelson said.

“Why?” Mari asked.

“They’ll keep coming until they know,” Nelson sighed. Taking a breath, he said, “They have to know that I am the Grand Master and that everything that happens from here on out is up to me by the blessing of. . .”

He waved his hand in the air.

“Blah, blah, blah,” Nelson said.

“I’m here,” Mary Joy said.

They turned to look at her. She had changed into modern military grade body armor. Her face was covered in a black mask and she was holding a machine gun.

“I don’t think we’ll need that,” Nelson said.

“Better to be safe than sorry,” Mary Joy said.

“I like her,” Mari said.

“Who are you?” Mary Joy asked.

“This is my friend, Princess Marigold,” Nelson said.

“Oh, a princess,” Mary Joy said with a roll of her eyes.

“She’s of the fairy realm,” Nelson said. “Don’t antagonize her. Fairies are fierce warriors, not little fluffy, giggly things like in the movies. They are long lived and have spent much of that time battling for their realms. In fact, they are the only realm that held back the Viking hoards. We are no match for them.”

Unoffended by Mary Joy, Mari just lifted an eyebrow and nodded.

“Just don’t get in front of her,” Nelson said with a sigh.

“Are you getting tired?” Mari asked. She put her hand on his elbow.

“I’m tired of having to protect myself and my father from people who are supposed to be family,” Nelson said.

“I understand,” Mari said.

“I know you do,” Nelson said.

The door moved a tiny bit.

“Here they come,” Mari said.

Mary Joy turned off the lights.

The door opened with a dramatic bang. Two men and a woman slipped inside the door. The back door of Nelson’s little house banged open. A man and two women moved in their direction. When they were set, Nelson pulled the sword from its scabbard.

Sparks of light burst from the sword as it was pulled from the scabbard. Nelson held the sword above him. The light from the sword was so bright that the invaders had to cover their eyes from the sight.

“I am Guy Semaines, the Grand Master of the Templars,” Nelson said in old Frank. “Who dares to disturb my father’s sick bed?”

“What did he say?” A woman whispered.

Nelson sighed and shook his head.

“You are Templars,” Nelson said in modern French. “You should, at the very least, be able to speak old Frank.”

There was some mumbling between these invaders. Nelson pointed the sword at Mary Joy and she flicked on the light. Nelson, Mari, and Mary Joy shaded their eyes. The invaders groaned and covered their eyes.

“And you should be wearing eye coverings,” Nelson said, continuing in French. “You say that you are Templars, are will to kill for the cause, and yet you are. . .”

“Pathetic,” Mari said.

“Pathetic is too mild of a word,” Mary Joy said.

Denver Cereal continue tomorrow...