Fountain stared up at the ceiling of the little shop. It was wooden and leaking heavily. Not the best roof. Everything drenched and even Fountain, himself, was lying in at least two inches of water. Anything of value had been taken with the owners of the shop with a good chance of never returning. Fountain sat up and studied the now broken window. There had been wood covering it, if only two planks nailed together in a large “X.” The writing that had been on the glass was shattered and incomprehensible and Fountain was sitting on it.
  He climbed out of the window and looked around the town with growing interest. Jeissy and Krysh were already halfway back to the coaches, a good mile and a half from where Fountain now stood. This little town had seen many storms and the possibility of the former residents returning was nil.
  “Jeissy, I have a great idea,” he cheered, now standing right behind her. Krysh jumped and grabbed for a shuriken. “We can store the gold here! This town can be your island!”
  Jeissy, now in possession of the shuriken, cocked an eyebrow. “You’re kidding right? Do you know how much repairs need to be made to this place? This town gets ten to fifteen hurricanes a year.” Jeissy’s mind began to process what she had just said. “Fountain, start building the seawall. Little Ninja, go start tearing down stuff.”
  “I have a name,” Krysh barked.
  “Yes, and it is Little Ninja. Now, go do my bidding.”
  “My name is Krysh.”
  “It can speak. Wonderful. Now, go tear down some buildings.”
  Krysh narrowed his eyes. “I’m willing to respect you as master of great power, but only if you grant respect for me. Until then, not even your little spell can control me.”
  “What little spell?” Jeissy hissed. “And don’t you dare talk back to me. I own you and there will dire consequences for disobeying me.”
  “You think you can threaten me?!”
  “Oh, that wasn’t a threat. That was a warning. I don’t make threats.”
  “I’m not afraid of you,” Krysh snapped, towering over her with squared shoulders and narrowed eyes.
  Jeissy just stared up at him, her own eyes peering into his, ripping him apart from inside out. “Do as I say. I want this whole town leveled by sunset by your hands. Salvage what you find valuable and bring in the coaches. Take all the debris to the shore and give it to Fountain. The seawall needs to be built by tomorrow afternoon. There’s another storm coming and I want my cargo to be safe. Now go.”
  Krysh’s stance loosened until he had slumped completely as Jeissy was now the one towering over him. He had underestimated her powers of persuasion. She poke her finger into his sternum and he fell flat onto his back. Krysh crawled back onto his feet and ran off in the direction Fountain had gone.
  Fountain was busy staring at the debris on the shore and figuring out equations on his fingertips. When he looked up, Krysh had joined him and was looking around nervously. “What’s your problem?”
  “Has she always been that crazy?”
  “And controlling? Yes. For as long as I’ve known her. You get used to it. She’ll lighten up eventually but until then keep your tail firmly between your legs and protect it at all costs. Do whatever she tells you to do. Don’t question her authority and above all else, never look her in the eyes. That’s how she catches you. She’s like a spider. Wrapping her sticky webbing all over you then she sinks her fangs into your flesh and sucks you dry.”
  “How long have you known her?”
  “A few years.”
  “And when did she lighten up?”
  “A few months ago, actually.”
  “So, basically, I’m fucked beyond belief.”
  ‘Yessir,” Fountain said with a grin that reached from ear to ear.
  “You’re a lot of help, you know that?” Krysh huffed.
  “I do my best. Weren’t you supposed to be doing something?”
  “She wants me to start tearing down buildings and salvaging anything that I find valuable.”
  “Well, you better start looking because here she comes.”
  Krysh tried to run but Jeissy had caught him by the collar. Fountain started laughing hysterically until Jeissy tossed Krysh into him.
  “It’s so nice to see my two little helpers getting along and wasting time,” Jeissy snapped. “I thought I told you to start building a seawall, Fountain? And, you, Little Ninja, why do I still see buildings?”
  Krysh got to his feet. “It was all his fault. He tried to get me to mutiny against you.”
  “What?!” Fountain yelled. He jumped up and look pleadingly at the growing personified anger that was Jeissy. “No! He’s lying! I would never do anything like that!”
  Jeissy shoved their heads together and watched them fall back to the ground. “I gave you two simple tasks. If neither one is done by sunset, I’ll have both of your heads on a silver platter. And I’m not talking about the heads on your shoulders.”
  Fountain rubbed his head. His eyes grew wide and he pointed, speechlessly at something behind her. “Jeissy, there’s a problem with that plan.”
  Jeissy unsheathed her cutlass and slowly turned to face the Governor’s son.
  “Jeissy?” the mounted prince huffed. “Is that what your calling yourself now?”