Chapter 3 Part 10

Like marionettes with their strings cut, the four spies went limp and dropped to the floor.
With a gesture Sara and Deke found themselves free. Billy ran to his mother and flung himself into her arms, sobbing hard in relief.
She comforted Billy for a bit then stood and faced Ultrecht. “Zachary? Is this the real you?”
Ultrecht smiled at her gently. “Yes.” He took her hand, bowed and kissed it. “It has been my greatest honor to have met you. My real name is Ultrecht.” He straightened. “But we have much to do now and very little time.” He turned to the people in the room and pointed to the spies. “Bind them and put them in a room.”
Thomas looked at him a little unsurely. “What about the mage?”
“Bind him, gag him, secure his hands, and,” Ultrecht retrieved the poker, “if he moves, thump him.” He paused. “Don’t kill him though, I may need him later.”
Thomas nodded and gestured to Billy. They set to work with enthusiastic volunteer help from the crowd.
Ultrecht turned back to Sara. “Find Regald," he urged her. "Tell him it has started.”
Sara’s breath caught. “How did… Uh… Right.” She tried to compose herself. “What about you?”
He winked. “I thought I’d go and slap some sense into a Dragon.”
Her jaw dropped. He smiled and walked out the door. Three steps later, amid chaos in the street a beautiful golden eagle beat its wings skyward.
As he flew, Ultrecht felt his fury build. He cast his thoughts across the leagues to where his friends awaited him. With a crystal clear mental image of the clearing near the mercenary camp, he commanded, “Meet me here.”