are going to respect this person enough to let them rest in peace, so take Molly away.” with that Shade gave Kit a look that sent chills down the older boy’s spin. Later as Kit sat with Molly a few feet away they were both wrapped up in his sweater, as Kit held her close to keep her warm.

“Why did you call him big brother?” Kit asked, finally as he looked at Molly who only smiled slightly.

“I don’t know, but don’t you think it would be neat’O if he was are brother?” Kit rolled his eyes slightly as he shook his head.

“No I don’t think that, Shade’s a hot head, one minute he’s friendly the next he’s like a soldier from a war, and to be honest I think he’s mentally unstable.”

“And he’s been known to rip out the tongs of people that talk behind his back.”

“That to.” Kit agreed, as he looked at Molly who was looking behind him. “He’s standing right behind me isn’t he?”

“Yep.” Molly giggled slightly, as Shade walked past Kit and sat in front of them.

“It’s done, I’ve looked over the plane and it seems almost as good as new, the freezing temperatures haven’t had a whole lot of effect on it, and also slowed down the decay rate, so we should be able to fly out of here tomorrow.

“YEAH!” Shade smiled at Molly’s reaction and then looked at Kit.

“Tomorrow, you and Molly are going to sit in the back and wear the parachute.”

“And what makes you think you’re going to fly that plane? I have more experience in flying then you do, so I should be piloting it.” Kit protested, as he looked at Shade.

“You have a more important job; it’s called being a big brother, and keeping your little sister safe. That outweighs everything. Your experience flying, your knowledge of planes, means nothing compared to keeping that little girl in your arms safe, and to make sure that both of you get back into the arms of your parents. That is something that overrides everything else, so we aren’t going to argue this anymore, and you’re going to just shut up.” Shade stood up and started to head back to the aircraft. Back in the capital of Thembria Rebecca looked out a window at the stars as the high marshals’ wife sat next to her on a couch.

“You are worried for your children no?”

“No… I mean yes, they’ve been out there for two days now and both me and Baloo have been stuck here.” with that the high marshals wife patted Rebecca on the back slightly.

“Do not be worrying too much, if they are anything like you and your husband then I am sure that they are fine.” with that Rebecca turned and looked at the high marshal’s wife and smiled.

“I’m sure they are, Kit is a very smart boy, sweet and always trying to do the right thing, I’m sure he’ll keep my daughter safe.”

“You see already your worries are leaving you, now let us speak of other things to help you relax.” with that the high marshal’s wife looked around for a second and then smiled, as she leaned close. “Tell me

About this Ghost we have been hearing about in Cape Suzette, I was told that he was going to be on your plane, and I was rather disappointed when you arrived and he wasn’t with you.” with that Rebecca smiled slightly as he looked at the Marshal’s wife.

“That’s because he jumped out of the plane after are kids.” with that the woman smiled brightly as she looked at Rebecca.

“There you have it then, not only do you have a smart son looking after your daughter but a strong brave man watching over them as well, your children are in good hands if half of what I’ve heard is true about this Ghost person. My husband’s stupid coronal thinks that he is some kind of super weapon to be used against us.”

“The Ghost?” Rebecca almost laughed as she looked at the marshal’s wife. “No he tries to keep the peace, and brings people to justice, in fact the reason he was doing security on this delivery was to try and keep the peace between our two nations.”

“Oh that’s very good indeed… oh excuse me we’ve been talking for a while and I’ve just realized I’ve failed to introduce myself to you, I am Brittany.”

“Please to meet you Brittany my name is Rebecca.” as the two women shook hands Baloo and the high marshal watched them from another room smiling at one another.

“It does my heart good to see my wife happy.” the High Marshal said, as he walked Baloo into his office. “She hasn’t been the same since she found out that we are unable to have children.”

“Oh that’s a darn shame your highness.” Baloo said, as he looked at the Marshal.

“Yes and what’s bad is that we have filed to adopt but are still waiting for the papers to come back.”

“Well how long ago did you file I’m sure that they’ll be back soon.”

“Ten years ago.”

“Oh man that long, how long does it normally take?” Baloo asked as he slapped his forehead.

“20 years, that is why adoptions do not happy all that often in Thembria.”

“Why not streamline it some than, make the paperwork go smoother?”

“We have it used to take 40 years.”

“Oh baby that’s harsh.”

“Yes and it has only been getting worst for my wife, she spends a lot of time visiting the local orphanage to make sure that the children are being taken care of, but I’m fear that it does not make her as happy as having one of her own.”

“I hear you there, and to be honest I wish I could help you two out.”

“I was hopping as well.” with that Baloo looked at the High Marshal with a puzzled look on his face.

“I’m not sure I catch your drift.”

“Well my superiors have been listening to coronal Spigot as of late, and they wanted to show good faith in your Ghost person, they were going to let him make one request of the people, and no matter what they would grant it, as long as he swore never to attack Thembria.” with that Baloo started to laugh slightly as he looked at the high marshal.

“Let me get this straight the people over you listen to spigot, so to keep the peace, they wanted to grant the Ghost anything he wanted… Oh baby that would have been funny.”

“How is this humorous?”

“Because he never wants anything, he doesn’t like to take things for his actions, and he normally gives people things, to offer him something is almost like insulting him.” with that the High Marshal nodded and sat back in his chair.

“I see, well then it’s good that he didn’t arrive with you, otherwise we might have insulted someone that my superiors fear because of the fool under me.”

“Oh don’t worry about it your highness, the Ghost would have only told you to treat your people right or something, he isn’t greedy or anything.”

“I see… but it still does not matter, when he arrives my superiors still wish to give him such a gift, but he will most likely ask for you and your wife to be released.” with that Baloo looked at the Marshal and then snapped his fingers.

“You said that there was away to get out from the firing squad how do we do that?” the High Marshal looked at Baloo with shock and shook his head.

“Don’t think of it, if you fail then your entire family is put to death.”

“Come on tell me what has to be done?”

“It called Бой праведного” The marshal said the last words in old Thembrian getting Baloo to give him a funny look. “It roughly translates into Fight of the righteous, it was an old way that people that swore they were innocent could get out of their execution, but it hasn’t been used for years.”

“Alright what does it mean?”

“Well you have your accused in a circle of my soldiers and you both fight until you give up or he gives up.”

“Me fight Spiggy? Oh brother why didn’t you say so, I’ll do it right now.” Baloo started to get up but was stopped as the high Marshal grabbed his wrist.

“Wait my friend you miss understand, in this case Spigot would be able to invoke the rule of Champion, when your wife threatened him she threatened the people, so you would have to face the people’s champion.”

“And who would that be?”

“Are strongest and most skilled fighter.”

“So if I said I wanted to do this.”

“You would have to face the people’s champion, and I am sorry to say, you would loose to him.”

“I see, alright but if it comes down to it. While I’m fighting get Rebecca and the kids out of here.”

“I will do this for you Baloo, I have not forgotten the many times you have helped are country, even if Spigot has.” Later that night as Molly slept in Shade’s trench coat and a blanket, that he had found in the plane, Kit walked up to Shade who was still looking over the plane’s weapons.

“We need to talk.” Kit said, as he looked at Shade who didn’t turn away from his work.

“No we don’t, I told you what’s going to happen tomorrow. You’re going to strap yourself, and Molly, in that parachute over there and sit behind the pilot