Mystery Solved

An explosion of energy and sound erupted behind Kyle who turned to look along with everyone else. What they saw absolutely shocked them!

Sir Rollins was fighting against the Mage Melfor! It wasn't a friendly exchange either; it was a life and death battle. Kyle suddenly remembered Mrs. Saseo. He instinctively activated the little box as he turned to look at her.

Froma was knocked aside by Mrs. Saseo, and a fist flew toward Kyle. He was hit so hard, he smashed through the tables and chairs and crashed through the wall of the tavern. He didn't stop immediately, his body skidded more than twenty feet until his head hit the wooden porch of the feed store.

Just as he opened his eyes, he saw a partially solid and partially liquid brown substance falling toward his face. His reflexes were very fast as he dodged the substance.

He took stock at what disaster he just dodged. It turned out his head had been the target of a pooping horse, one with stomach problems no less!

"Whew, that was close!" He said to himself as he turned his attention back to the tavern he just came out of. He rushed back toward the inside just as part of the roof was blown off.

A person was sent flying out of the opened roof followed by a man with a glowing staff. Sir Rollins was blasted out of the tavern and was pursued by the Mage Melfor.

"What's going on?!" He wondered out loud to himself. At that moment, Lady Sif, Mrs. Saseo, and Gazmina crashed through the front entrance of the tavern. Kyle could hear the sound of battle within the tavern.

The whole thing was really confusing, he didn't understand what had happened. The first thing he needed to do was return order; then he could figure out what was going on.

He could see Mrs. Saseo, who now looked like the young lady who he saw in his room on that day; was really strong.

She was able to hold her own against both Sif and Gazmina. Kyle ran forward and executed his Monkey King's Rock Fist and knocked the breath out of Mrs. Saseo.

The recoil from the hit caused him to slide back several feet. He rushed forward after the hit toward the still wheezing Mrs. Saseo.

Lady Sif beat him to it and hit her on the neck with her sword hilt. As he watched Mrs. Saseo fall unconscious to the ground, he heard the battle in the sky.

Sir Rollins was still fighting with the Mage Melfor. Kyle spotted Jewjwin in a tree with a stunned look on his face. It was clear he didn't know what to do. Kyle would have been happy to tell him but he didn't know either.

"Jewjewin, Melfor betrayed us! Knock him out of the sky!" Lady Sif yelled. Hemler was already jumping in the sky toward the Mage Melfor with his big hammer.

Jewjwin didn't know what was going on, but he knew if even Hemler were attacking Melfor; he needed to act before someone got killed.

He started firing arrows cutting off the Mage Melfor's avenues of escape. With three people attacking him, the Mage Melfor was quickly overwhelmed.

Hemler was able to smash Melfor into the ground with his hammer. Mage Melfor tried to block the strike with a magic shield but he was already tired from his intense fight with Sir Rollins.

The magic shield broke almost immediately and he was smashed into the ground below.

The Mage Melfor and Mrs. Saseo were both securely bound and brought into the tavern. All of his magic artifacts, storage devices, and clothes down to his knickers were removed.

The same was true of Mrs. Saseo. Both were wrapped in blankets to protect their modesty.

Kyle watched the whole process. While those two were being secured, Hemler's men were getting the mercenaries and "guests" under control. Sir Rollins helped him restrain the others when he entered with his men. Kyle saw everything was under control, at last.

"Can someone tell me what's going on?" Kyle asked.

"Does everyone else recognize this woman?" Lady Sif asked those around her. Everyone paid more attention to the Mage Melfor.

They couldn't understand why their comrade would betray them all. They were together for nearly ten years and shared life and death.

There used to be more Royal Adventurers but they had passed away over the years. They were the only ones left. They were heartbroken.

When they finally looked at the young woman; heartbreak morphed into shock, then confusion, and finally anger. Well, if it isn't little sis Page Melfor!" Hemler said seething.

"The same little sis, who died nine years ago to protect our lives? Wasn't her death what inspired us to invite the Mage Kardiak Melfor onto our team?" Gilbor, who just returned asked.

"Well, Kardiak, do you mind explaining what's going on?" Jewjwin asked.

"I think you already understand," Melfor spat it hate.

"Why?" Lady Sif asked.

"Why did I fake my sister's death to get on your team, or why did I form the Bear Droppings Bandit Group?" He asked with a snarling laugh.

"Both!" Jewjwin asked.

"Wait! This is his sister?!" Kyle asked in shock.

"Yes, and what's the idea of not showing us this picture sooner? You don't trust us?" Lady Sif asked. She was really hurt. Kyle was suddenly embarrassed and felt bad.

"It's not that I don't trust any of you it's just that..."

"Just what?" Lady Sif asked once more. The other members of the Royal Adventurers looked at him sharing Lady Sif's hurt. Only Kardiak Melfor had the presence of mind and understanding to laugh.

"It's only, he was trying to show off with his great murder mystery. Didn't you notice all of the theatrics? He wanted to show you how smart he was! Ha-hahaha hahaha" Melfor laughed unrestrained. He laughed so much he started coughing and couldn't catch his breath.

Everyone forgot for a moment Melfor had betrayed them and also laughed at Kyle's ego needing so much stroking.

They soon remembered Melfor's betrayal. Lady Sif once more asked her question.

"Why, to both questions," she said.