Free City of Gold by Daniel Blackaby Page A

urgently. Dace pivoted and braced himself. Approaching slowly was a bald being whose entire body shone as though made of diamonds. It wore a dark purple robe that trailed behind it as a cape. Its expressionless face tilted. As it did, Dace’s legs stumbled and he plunged waist-deep into sinking sand. He fought to climb out, but every move pulled him deeper into the earth. Dace stretched his neck to keep his face above ground.
    The Dark-Wielder opened its mouth and boiling lava poured out like a waterfall, streaming toward Dace.
    “ Colania! ” Xerx shouted. The flowing lava began to slow, hardening into an icicle in front of Dace’s face. “ Gadour! Gadour! Gadour! Byrae! ” Three fist-sized stones appeared, circling above Xerx’s head in a whirlwind. He flung his arms and the stones launched like bullets toward the diamond foe.
    The first rock chipped off a large shard from its shoulder. Before the other two stones could strike, the Wielder’s eyes focused and the rocks imploded into dust. The Wielder sliced its arm through the air. Xerx gagged as he felt something hairy forming on his tongue. Soon a thick fungus filled his mouth, obstructing his breath. Xerx collapsed, his head burning for air as the mold climbed into his nose and out his nostrils.
    The Wielder stood over Dace. A thick cleaver grew into the man’s hand. Dace winced as the blade came swinging down.
    Thump! A body collided with the Wielder, sending both toppling to the ground. Poe rolled to his feet swinging a sledgehammer. The adversary was equally as quick, jumping up and launching a lightning-fast strike toward the stubby servant. To Dace’s surprise, Poe ducked, allowing the blade to swing over his head. Pirouetting in a full circle, Poe threw his full momentum into a weighty swing of his hammer. The diamond foe’s head shattered into a thousand glittering shards.
    Poe stumbled back. As he did so, his hood fell from his head. Dace gasped. “What in the name of… Randilin? !”
    Randilin’s dry lips formed an ugly smile. “A thank you wouldn’t ruddy hurt….”

20
    Trust No One
    “OPEN THE DOOR,” KANTAN COMMANDED. He shoved past the two flustered guards and through the thick, stone entranceway of the prison. “Light.” One of the guards handed him a lit torch. The Prince marched to the jail’s lone cell, his furious eyes burning brighter than his torch.
    “P-p-p-prince K-K-Kantan?” stuttered a meek voice from within the cell. “Th-th-thank heavens! Are you here to let me out?”
    Without responding, Kantan turned and exited the prison.
    “What shall be done?” questioned Levenworth.
    Kantan fought to slow his breathing and quench his billowing rage. “Find Randilin. Bring him here alive. I want the satisfaction of killing him myself.”

    Four Days Remaining…
    “You had better have a good explanation, boy!” Dace scolded. Cody looked sheepishly to Randilin who sat wearing an unnaturally large, amused grin.
    The Company had managed to fight its way to the stable and charge through the enemy mob out of Redtown. Although bloodstained and heavily wounded, none had been lost in the ambush. Their miraculous survival did little to quell Dace’s anger.
    Cody shrugged. “I trust him. When Cia prevented him coming, I guess I just took matters into my own hands the night we departed.” Dace strode to where Randilin, whose hands were bound by thick rope, was sitting.
    “The Queen forbade it because he’s a criminal. His dark deeds are not called so without reason. It’s too dangerous for him to return to El Dorado. Not after last time.”
    Randilin huffed. “Dace, I know you. You’re too ruddy noble to abandon me here, and I’ll be hornswoggled if you weren’t smart enough to realize you can’t afford even a single man to escort me back to Atlantis. Sorry, lad, but I’m afraid you’re bloody stuck with me.”
    Dace thought a moment before nodding. “Flore Gub. You will accompany us, under close surveillance, to Flore