Chapter 17

Night came quickly but it would not pass quietly. Bartz slept soundly in his bed when Falca leaped up and grabbed him with her claws.

“Bartz! Bartz! Wake up! Quick.” Falca tried to shake him but Bartz was too heavy.

“What is it, Falca?” Bartz asked, half asleep and totally annoyed.

“Somebody is trying to hack into the horses!”

“Impossible. Nobody would be stupid enough to steal the horse of one of the knights of the Game. Besides, the horses have alarms.” Bartz rolled away from Falca to go back to sleep. Being a knight of the Game, he had access to the best of what magic and technology had to offer in the lines of protection, especially tonight, with one of the most powerful mages and most experienced techs in the house.

Falca popped a claw out. “Believe me, old friend, this is going to hurt me.” She paused for a second. “But it’s going to hurt you more.”

Falca poked her claw into Bartz’s backside.

“YIKES!” Bartz screamed as he leaped up and