CHAPTER 12 - BOSSTOWN

When the others awoke the following morning, they silently dismantled their impromptu camp. Trick and Lore spoke in hushed tones throughout the morning. Zack didn't know what they were discussing, but he was glad that Lore was sticking around. He saw the two of them going back and forth and thought about Cody. They had never been apart this long. Their mother used to tell them that they had a twin connection. No matter how rough things got, they'd find their way back together.

It didn't take long for the group to start back on their journey. Trick and Lore led the way, while Maxine and Zack brought up the rear.

"They haven't stopped talking," Maxine said. She was staring at the twin jesters leading their convoy.

"Listen, I know you don't trust them, but maybe you should ease up a bit," Zack said, frustration eeking out in his voice. She didn't seem to mind.

"I DON'T trust them, but that's not why I bring it up. I'm more concerned they aren't paying attention." She frowned. "We don't know what we're running into, and we all have different reasons for being here," she reminded him. "We need to be on the same page." She was right, of course. If they were going to have any success, it was important they be ready for anything, including each other. It was then that Trick and Lore stopped. They faced the other two with serious expressions. Zack was instantly worried. His hand clutched his staff tighter, unsure of what the twins wanted.

"We need a plan for when we enter Bosstown," Lore said. "We've come up with something, but you won't like it." Their voice trailed off at the end. Neither Zack nor Maxine said anything. Better to let Lore explain themself. They looked to their sibling for help.

"As far as Mozaro knows, we haven't defected. Bosstown is run from Mozaro's spire. We can get up to higher floors, and thus closer to Mozaro by using a bit of trickery." A slight smile came across the jester's face. "Simply, you two pretend that you're captives of Lore and I."

"What?" Maxine said immediately. A look of confusion and disgust was etched on her features. "Absolutely not!" She waved her hands. "Look, I've come around a bit on you two, but not that much!"

"We knew you wouldn't really like it," Lore argued. "Think about it for a minute though. If you two are our captives, we get in with no suspicion. Trick and I would come back with captives all the time. We'd raise no alarm." This was an interesting point. Zack would prefer to fight less, and not drain their stamina.

"I'd assume it's obvious, but you'd have to be tied up." Trick said gingerly. Their attempt to soften the blow did not work. Maxine laughed out loud. She'd had enough of this hypothetical.

"What's to stop the two of you from handing us over to Mozaro? We'd be tied up on a silver platter!" Maxine shouted. "Here's an idea, if you two are important members of his forces to where you can get that close to him with no questions…" she tried to think of an equivalency. "How about we go there with you two as hostages and demand to see him." She had stepped closer to the twins, who, to their credit, held their ground.

"If you think that's a better solution, we will go with it," Lore said. "I assure you that Mozaro doesn't care for either one of us. He'd likely allow you to get close just to laugh at you."

"Sounds like we end up in his chamber either way," Maxine taunted. Trick and Lore said nothing.

"Zack, what do you think?" Trick asked. Zack scratched his head. Maxine was being facetious, but Zack understood her weariness. There was a large element of risk involved with the twins' plan. Then again, the entire trip to Bosstown was risky.

"I'm sorry, Maxine," he said slowly. "I think we raise less overall suspicion as their captives. I want as little casualty as possible." He turned to the twins. "You guys promise that you won't hand us over to Mozaro?"

"Seriously?" Maxine laughed. Zack walked up to the twins and stared them in their eyes. He was a few inches from each one, looking back and forth. They were unwavering.

"We promise," Trick said. "You've done so much for us, thus far. We're with you to the end." Zack turned his attention to Lore.

"I'm still here, aren't I? Lore asked "You have my word." Zack nodded.

"That's it?" Maxine was exasperated at the turnout.

"It's not ideal," Zack admitted. "However, I think it will work, and after everything that's happened, I trust the two of them. I know they'll repay that trust."

"Okay," Maxine said, resigned to this new plan. "If either of you two do anything to hurt Zack, I will ignore Mozaro and come straight for the two of you. Am I clear?" The twins nodded at the threat. With all matters satisfied, Trick and Lore tied the duos wrists together. Zack grimaced as he tried to pull apart his wrist restraints.

"Don't worry," Trick giggled. "We'll be able to remove them quickly if we have to," they assured Zack.

"You're with us, right?" Zack asked again for good measure. The jester smiled. They gave Zack a pat on the chest.

"Have to be. You and I are the same, after all." Trick put their head piece back on, and Zack was once again staring at the crudely drawn X eyes. Lore had done the same after tying Maxine's wrists. "We're going to stop Mozaro. I believe we can do it." Even with his wrists tied, Zack felt confident in their ability to do so.

The group made their way to Bosstown. Zack could feel himself sweating more as they reached the city limits. It didn't take long for a large black spire in the distance to start becoming clearer and larger. This was Mozaro's spire. It was an impressive landmark. It rivaled buildings Zack had seen in his own home city. He angled his neck to see all of it.

"We've gotta scale that?" Zack asked.

"Yep," Trick said. "Mozaro's at the top. Now do you see why we're better off keeping you guys as captives?" Trick let out a little chuckle.

As they walked the spire grew taller, and Bosstown drew closer. Zack felt the butterflies scampering in his stomach. He felt like he was going to throw up. He was having second thoughts about this plan. He didn't know where in the spire Cody was, if he was even there. He tried to shake out the negative thoughts, but they lingered.

"Fair warning," Lore said quietly. "Once we enter Bosstown, Trick and I are going to be rougher with the two of you, and we won't be speaking on such friendly terms."

"Makes sense," Maxine said roughly. "Gotta sell it, right?"

"Right," Lore agreed.

They didn't have to wait long for that change in Trick and Lore. Once the crossed the city's border, Zack received a hard shove in the back. He wasn't expecting it, and feel forward. His face scraped on the hard ground. He grunted as he was grabbed by his cloak and roughly lifted to his feet.

"Move," Trick growled. The jester sure was convincing. Zack and Maxine were forced through the town to the base of the spire. A group of Lizardmen were guarding the entrance.

"Ssstop," one of them hissed. The creature went up to the two prisoners. "We mussst inssspect the new cargo!" Its long tongue kept protruding and retreating into the creature's drooling mouth.

"Out of the way, Tadpole," Lore threatened. "These are stowaways from Denmall."

"Lore?" the Lizard immediately backed off. The jester clearly held a high amount of respect form the creatures. "Enza thinkssss you have defected. We didn't know you were ssstill rounding up ssstowawaysss."

"Of course I haven't defected. Trick had failed to capture these two, and I had to step in." Lore informed them. This caused the three Lizardmen guards to laugh.

"That meansss punishment for Trick again!" The main Lizardman said with glee. "Sssuch a failure. What would you do if Lore wasssn't there to back you up?" Trick said nothing.

"If we can be on our way now?" Lore tried to push their way through the guards.

"One sssecond, Lore! Aren't you going to punish your...what isss it? Brother? Sssistsser?" The guards laughed again.

"Sibling, Tadpole!" Lore said. Zack could see their hand trembling holding onto Maxine's shoulder. To her credit, she was staring straight ahead. "What do you care, anyway? Trick's already received their punishment. If Lord Mozaro requests further punishment, then further punishment will be dispensed."

"Prove to usss you haven't defected." There was a sick hunger in the eyes of the Lizard. More drool was flowing from its maw.

"Trick was not punished properly by Lore," Trick said, holding their arms out. "Trick's mistakes were many."

The Lizards were laughing from deep within their bellies at this display. With blazing speed, Lore appeared before one and jammed their fist into the laughing lizard's stomach. Drool splattered all over the place as the creature gasped for air. It's slitted eyes were wide with shock from the blow. His friends were in shock too.

"This is why your worthless kind never makes it above the ground floor of the spire!" Lore removed their fist from the Lizardman's stomach. He fell to the ground, trembling. "Trick's punishment is not for you to decide. Their wellbeing falls to me." Lore motioned for Trick to take Maxine and Zack inside. "I hope that proves I haven't defected." Lore caught up with the others. They pushed their way to an elevator.

Zack looked around the ground floor of the spire. He was shocked to see that there was nothing on this level. The floor was just the Earth. There were no rooms, it was just wide open with black walls closing them in. The ceiling was also black making the wide open room feel claustrophobic. At the center of the room was an elevator. Trick and Lore shoved the other two to the elevator. When the doors closed, Lore breathed a sigh of relief.

"You should have hit me," Trick said softly.

"No. We're not doing that anymore!" Lore said. "I'M not doing that anymore."

"Are we going to the penthouse now?" Zack asked. "Am I allowed to talk to you guys in here?"

"Yeah, you're fine," Trick said. "We're going to be a few floors below the penthouse. Elevator only goes so high."

"This place is really creepy," Maxine said. "I feel a weird pressure."

"You're in a demon's domain," Lore informed her. "We feel it right now too, because we're not under his control. It's taking a lot ot make it look like it's not affecting us."

"I don't feel any different?" Zack said.

The elevator dinged. Maxine and Zack were thrown from the elevator

"No more talking," shouted Lore.

Zack and Maxine hit the ground hard. Once again they were unceremoniously lifted to their feet.

"Well, well, well," a voice said. "What is this?" Zack looked and saw a man wearing green plate armor. He had tanned skin, and his hair was shaved close to his head. A falcon rested on his shoulder. It was the man that lead the raiding party on Denmall. It was Enza. "Trick and Lore back at last! It's lovely to see the two of you. I missed you both so much!"

"Your pets told us as much," Lore hissed.

"Ha! Always so cruel, Lore. You know not to listen to them," Enza cackled.

"I had to teach one a lesson when it accused me of defecting," Lore said.

"You have anger issues, Lore. You should be more agreeable like Trick!" With amazing dexterity, Enza grabbed Trick in a headlock and pulled them away from the other three. Trick was flailing in attempt to get away. "I'm assuming this little jester was the reason why you were both missing for these last couple days?" Enza asked squeezing Trick's head. The helpless jester was moaning trying to get free. "One of these days, Mozaro is gonna let me pop you like a grape!"

"I assume he hasn't ordered you to do that today?" Lore asked. Zack looked at Lore. Their hands were behind their back, being wrung nervously. Enza had loosened his grip on Trick and held them by the earpiece.

"No, but I lost a lot of time because of this...thing you drag along with you, Lore." Enza spun Trick toward him and reared his fist back. Thinking quickly, Zack launched his spell at Trick. The jester was covered in bright blue light. The spell took effect just as Enza's fist made contact with Trick's stomach. They grunted, but managed to stand their ground. Enza saw the blue light surrounding them, and Zack with his hand out. "You have defected!" There was a twisted smile on Enza's face now. "I've always wanted to be rid of the two of you!"

Using their quick speed, Lore sped up to Enza and leapt into the air. Their knee came into contact with Enza's chin, sending him to the ground. The falcon on his shoulder flew across the room.

"Dudley! Get reinforcements! Trick and Lore have defected!" The man stood to his feet and drew his sword.

Trick freed Zack and Maxine. The four stood ready to face Enza. He was laughing hysterically.

"Four heads for the trophy case. Four bodies for my pets!"