"Grrr...Those skinwalkers sure tied us up tight!"
Imala and Bella squirmed on the dusty earth, trying to break free of the ropes restraining them, like worms drying up in heat.
"Oy!" A deep gruff voice called out. "You girls alright there?"
Bella craned her neck upward and saw Claus running towards them. "Boss!"
Claus knelt down and pulled out a knife, cutting the sisters free from their ropes.
"You both alright?" He asked.
"Yeah. Thank you so much, Boss!" Bella said.
"He's your boss?" Imala asked. "At the tavern you and Avaron work at?"
"Yup! He's really cool." Bella beamed brightly. "His name's Claus."
"Ah, well...Thanks for freeing us, Claus," Imala said.
"Yer welcome." Claus looked around. "Where's that lyin' cheatin' sister of yer's, Bella?"
"The Skinwalkers took her away!" Bella said. "We have to rescue her."
"They even took Gran'pa Ken too!" Imala added. "Where could those Skinwalkers have gone though?"
"They'd be residin' on the other side o' the desert," Claus said. "We might be able to save that lil' liar, Ken and his grandsons if we can catch up to 'em fast enough." Claus motioned his arm to signal the girls to follow him. "Come on, now! We don't have all afternoon!"
The sisters quickly got up and ran to catch up with Claus.
******************************************************************************************************
At the Skinwalker hideout, the preparations for freeing the Sultan were quickly underway. The Masked One entered the Sultan's chamber.
"O Sultan, I have excellent news for you. I have finally found the green-dressed woman needed to free you."
"Excellent..." The Sultan hissed. "So you can learn from your mistakes."
"I have also captured the farmer and his grandsons," the Masked One added. "Shall we sacrifice them as well?"
"I will let you do as you please with them," the Sultan permitted.
"Then it has begun," the Masked One declared with pride and accomplishment. "The time is nigh, O Sultan. I shall prepare the ritual now."
The Masked One laughed wickedly as he walked out of the room. Tonight was when he would get revenge for everything that was taken away from him, for everything that rightfully belonged to him.
And he couldn't wait to watch his sacrifices burn.