Free Knights of the Apocalypse (A Duck & Cover Adventure Post-Apocalyptic Series Book 2) by Benjamin Wallace

I’ve got my own face on my
money.”
    “You seem to be as confused as the men in the
market. I’m not …”
    “You should just be thankful that your
skills, if your reputation is to be believed, are worth more to me than some
bounty from back east. Or the political capital I could score with Alasis. Do
this and you and Erica and,” the king chuckled, “Chewy go free. With my
blessing and my gold.”
    Options played through his head. Most of them
ended with his head in a bag bound for the east or with him stuck in a mine
surrounded by a town full of lunatics. And what would happen to Erica?
    “I can see you’re conflicted. So, to show you
how generous I am, I’ll offer you something more than gold. Something you can’t
get anywhere else.”
    “One of those bitchin’ robes?”
    The king ignored the remark. “I’m sending a
group of men that are unaffiliated with my rule into the country. You go with
them and ensure their success and I will welcome you as a citizen of my kingdom
under any name you choose. The running can end, Jerry. You can be Michael and
Jennifer or whatever you want. You’ll have the word of my kingdom to anyone who
asks.”
    The chance to start over was tempting and
didn’t end up with his head and body being too far apart.
    “I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, but
I’m no assassin.”
    “Of course not. You’re one of the good guys.
And that’s what I need right now. I need a white knight to ride to the rescue.”
    “You need me to slay a dragon? Where’s his
cave?”
    “No,” Elias leaned forward awkwardly. “I need
you to rescue a princess. And I know exactly where she is.”
     

 
 
 
 
    SEVEN

 
    Erica stood on the
street waiting for Jerry to emerge from the town hall. Her arms were folded
against the cold and Chewy lay on the ground next to her with her paws crossed.
She took in a relieved breath as Jerry emerged from the building unrestrained and
unescorted. Chewy stumbled to her feet and ran to meet him. He crossed over to
her and kissed her on the head.
    “Well?” Erica asked.
“They let us go and told us to wait here. So what did you agree to do this
time?”
    Jerry mumbled,
“Rescue a princess.”
    Erica spoke mumble.
“Are you serious?”
    Jerry nodded and
pointed down the street. They started to walk towards the center of town.
    “A princess?” Erica
asked. “What kind of twisted fairy tale did we step into?”
    “It seems a little
less silly if you think of it as a good old-fashioned kidnapping.”
    “Except it’s a
princess,” Erica said.
    “The girl was taken
last night. They’re not even sure how it happened.”
    “I’m going to say it
again. You have to go rescue a princess.”
    “You’re right. It
still sounds silly. But, it will get us what we need.”
    “One princess for a
fuel pump? Sounds like a normal everyday trade. Then we get to leave?”
    “Then we get to
stay,” Jerry said.
    Erica stopped. “Why
the hell would we want to stay?”
    “If I rescue the prin
… missing girl, we will be granted citizenship.”
    “But I forgot my
ten-sided dice back in—” Erica pointed over her shoulder, “high school.”
    Jerry took her hands
in his. They were warm and comforting. He looked deep into her eyes. She hated
when he did that for effect. He spoke softly which meant he wanted her to
listen. “We can finally be Mike and Jennifer Parker. We can stop running.”
    “And you get to
rescue a princess.”
    Jerry smiled and
dropped her hands. “Stop that.”
    “But that’s it,
right? We do this and that’s it. No revolution? No great rebellion? You’re not
going to raise an army and march against injustice?”
    “I don’t do that that
much.”
    “It’s your worst
habit.”
    “I want to disappear
as much as you do,” Jerry said. “This makes it happen.”
    “You say that, but I
know you. It happens every time. We could just sneak away, but you’re just too
much of a good person.”
    “I know. I’m sorry.
I’m