The Bullfinch

His gray hair was close cropped and came to a peak in the middle of his forehead, his lips were pale, but his blue eyes gleamed keenly. As he ate and drank his color improved and he visibly relaxed. When the second bottle of Shiraz was finished, Zaldivar materialized a third.

"What are you doing here in space?" Merlin asked.

"We’re bounty hunters," Mercury answered.

"Mercenaries," Thalia added.

"Like Paladins," Zaldivar chimed in.

"What or who are you hunting now?"

"We’ve just come from the castle at the end of the milky way," Mercury said, "and we’re on our way to the far side of the north wind where we expect to find . . ."

Zaldivar shreiked, "Fiery destruction dead ahead."

Thalia and Mercury leapt up and ran to the helm. Merlin dashed after them.

"It’s a sea of fireballs," Zaldivar shrieked. "Watch out, dive, go starboard."

"Quiet," Thalia commanded.

Out the front spaceshield Merlin could see massive balls of fire gyrating maliciously. He watched beads of concentration sweat form on Mercury manually navigating the ship, and Thalia hard and cold with her cutting orders. The affects of the Shiraz were replaced with the unknown and Merlin’s heart pounded.

Finally they flew through the incinerary milieu. Everyone was drained and they resumed autopilot, then returned to the great hall for a third bottle of Shiraz. Zaldivar whirred quietly, busily.

"Where do you think that came from?" Thalia demanded.

"I’m not sure yet," Zaldivar said, "but I am sure they’ll be back."

"I’ve never seen anything like it," Mercury said.

"I have," Merlin said. "Arthur used to throw them from great catapults."

Mercury instantly brightened, "See, I told you King Arthur and his knights of the round table were real."

Thalia squinted at Mercury, "We don’t even know if this guy is for real."

"He’s for real," Zaldivar said.

"I am Merlin, King of the Druids, supreme prince of the secret arts, magus to the highest orders."

Thalia smirked, "Good, we’re going to need a sage where we’re going." She turned sharply and left the great hall. Mercury followed her with his eyes, Zaldivar sighed, Merlin frowned.

"Where are we going?" Merlin asked.

"To find Ashtaroth," Mercury answered.

The great hall suddenly became cooler.

"Zaldivar please," Mercury said.

"I’m just trying to depart a little drama." The hall grew warm again.

Merlin frowned deeper. "Ashtaroth is wise, terrible and cruel. Why are we looking for him?"

"Thalia is being wasted from an evil spell from which only Rinaldo can save her, so we’ve been informed, but we’re not sure how it is that he can save her." Mercury replied heavily and sat down. "And only Ashtaroth knows were Rinaldo is."

"You’ve got your history way mixed up," Merlin said.

"Mixed up from your previous life," Zaldivar said. "But the truth now is that if we don’t destroy Ashtaroth before he destroys Rinaldo all arts and graceful sciences will be lost to the universe leaving only roil and toil."

"And the death of Thalia," moaned Mercury.

"She seems fine to me, a little snippy is all."

"Yes, but her true personality is as sweet and as unassuming as the most graceful, beautiful, wild flower you ever saw."

"She degrades daily," Zaldivar said.

After Mercury had left Merlin who needed almost no sleep and Zaldivar talked and talked.

"One hour to planet Aetna," Mercury announced from his pilot’s chair.

Thalia was seated at the helm studying charts and scans. "This planet should appear deserted. It is here that I expect to find Malagigi, who will know the whereabouts of Ashtaroth."