Chapter 7
"You know something, brother? I think our friend Fitzherbert has been holding out on us?"
Sideburns turned to look at his brother. They had been waiting by the tower all day for Eugene to return from his usual meeting with the Princess or the Lady in Waiting or whomever he was hanging out with. This time it was a bit longer than usual.
"Never fret, boys," a new voice came from the woods. "I think your question has just been answered."
The twins turned around to face Flynn Rider, their new partner in crime. Sideburns frowned. "What exactly are you talking about?"
"Well, you guys wanted our little imposter out of the picture, right?"
The twins looked at one another, then back to the thief.
Eye Patch frowned, turning his attention back to the new guy. "How do you know so much? We only met you…"
Sideburns quieted his brother down, then spoke to Rider. "My brother's right. We've known your distant cousin a lot longer than you and he's been pretty loyal to us. How do you know we can trust you?"
Rider smiled. "Here's the proof, boys." He pulled an unconscious Eugene from the bushes. He was bound and gagged.
The twins stared from one thief to the other; then smiled and turned their attention back to Flynnagan Rider.
"What do we do with him?" Eye Patch asked.
"Stick him in the basement of the tower," was Flynn's answer. "Chain him up, lock the door and he won't be able to get out. Meanwhile, I get my way into the castle and you already have your tickets so we're home free, boys. Get in with the loot and get out, plus you get the Princess with the magic hair."
Sideburns frowned again. "Just like that, huh?"
"What? You don't trust me; after all this time? Geez guys, I'm speechless. Come on. How long have we known each other now?"
"Yeah, that's all well and good," Eye Patch said, "but we didn't expect you to…"
Flynnagan Rider frowned. "Now how did you think we were going to pull this off, boys? You thought that your unconscious friend here would be getting involved? No way. I was just waiting around for the situation to present itself and now it's all here." He looked down at Eugene lying on the ground. Any moment now, he could regain consciousness. They'd have to get him out of here and into that basement as quickly as he could.
"Let's move this guy before he comes to, gentlemen. We've got no time to lose here. The ball is tomorrow night."
Eye Patch turned toward Sideburns, with a confused look on his face. Sideburns just stared back.
"You guys gonna help me or not here? Your buddy isn't light, you know."
Sideburns turned his attention back to Rider. "Alright, we'll help you, Rider, but you better be telling us the truth."
Rider shook his head. "Or else what, you'll kill me?"
There was a pause; nothing but silence met the thief's question.
"All right," Sideburns agreed. "Let's move our old friend downstairs."
Rider smiled. "You get his head and your brother takes his legs. I'll go open the door and get everything secure."
Flynnagan Rider walked inside the tower and climbed the steps leading to the main part of the tower. The twins followed with Eugene in between. Rider then opened up the hatch and crawled down the ladder to the tiny crawl space they called a basement. The Stabbington's were going to have a hard time getting him down there unless they lowered him into his cousin's waiting arms. He would drape Fitz across his shoulder and wait for the brothers to join him down in the crawl space. Then, all three would crawl up the ladder
Flynnagan Rider laughed. If the brothers thought that they'd actually access to the castle and inside the ball, then they would have a rude awakening because that was not his intention at all.
And he wasn't even after the treasure. All he wanted was his revenge and he was going to get it.
XXXXXX
Elvira lost track of Eugene. One minute she heard him whistling happily and the next minute there was nothing but quiet. Eerily quiet. She heard voices, arguing, fighting and then the thud. She had to get back into the air, had to or else all this was for nothing.
Her wings spread and the next thing she knew she was flying. She had to locate the area where the scuffling had come from.
And then she saw it.
A young man about her grandson's age was tying Eugene up. He was lying on the ground unconscious; at least that's what it looked like, but she couldn't tell which one was which. The two looked enough alike to cause a doubt in Elvira's mind. Well, she just had to go by instinct. She followed the young man as he dragged the body to a clearing in the woods; to a tower where two heavy set, burly young men were waiting. One had a eye patch and the other didn't. She knew by the wanted posters around the town that these were the Stabbington Brothers and they were wanted thieves just like her grandson was. She watched the three of them talking. She landed behind the tower. No one could see her; she wanted it that way. They would be able to if she willed it, but she didn't want them to see her just yet.
That's when she overheard their plan and her worst fears were realized. She had arrived to late to save Eugene Fitzherbert. He was the unconscious boy. They were going to deposit him in the basement, whatever that was. Well, she'd follow them into the tower and wait to see what they'd do.
And then she'd bide her time. Elvira had always wanted to see the inside of that tower and now she'd get her wish.