She would hold it tightly about herself and squeeze her way through the crowded orcs. As close as they were, they wouldn't know they weren't bumping into one another. Then, she'd find a way in. Where, she didn't know, but she'd find it. She'd sneak past Venger, or distract him somehow, and help Hank and Uni escape any way she could.

But she didn't have her cloak, and she knew that even if she did, the chances were slim they'd make it out. It simply wouldn't be enough. She decided she'd offer the cloak to Venger in exchange for their freedom. She didn't like that thought, but she knew it was the truth.

She suddenly felt stupid for even thinking these things. She didn't have anything to help them or to bargain with. She wished she could come up with an idea that would actually help, rather than fantasizing about the impossible.

"I wish we knew what was going on in there," said Diana.

"Wouldn't do us any good," Eric reminded them. "Without our weapons, there's nothing we can do but wait."

"At least the lightning stopped," said Bobby.

"I just hope that's a good sign," said Presto.

Sheila was mute with worry. She looked at everyone around her, imagining them going on without Hank. The thought was difficult to bear, but she couldn't stop herself from considering the possibility of their leaving here without him and Uni. What would happen to them? They would stay together, surely. Wouldn't they?

And what if Venger came after them to get revenge for all the times they'd defeated him? Her heart jumped as she thought of the time when she'd used the powerful rings of heart and mind to send Venger away. He surely would want revenge on her for that. There would be no place to hide. No place in the entire realm. No place on Earth.

Revenger. Sheila shivered.

She turned her eyes back to Venger's castle, the orcs that surrounded it, and Shadow Demon, who glided back and forth from one end of the castle to the other. She tried hard to watch everything at once � hoping, dreading.

She was momentarily distracted, however, when several orcs began fighting near the center of the mass. She saw one of the captains heading toward the pair, but it would take him time to get there. Surely, Shadow Demon would get there first, she thought. She looked for the shadowy figure. Then she squinted, her eyes searching faster.

Where did he go?

She gasped, and her hand shot to her mouth. What if . . . ?

She wanted so desperately to know what was happening inside. She wished she could warn Hank, if he wasn't captured already, but it was as Eric had said. There was nothing they could do but wait.

"Something is definitely happening in there," said Diana. "Are you guys seeing those flashes?"

Presto squinted. "I . . . I think so."

The orcs were beginning to stir, looking all around, and then they closed their ranks around the castle.

"Oh, no!" said Sheila. "They know!"

"I can't watch," Presto said, averting his eyes.

Just then, there was flash none could miss. It was accompanied by the shocking boom of the castle's great doors' being blown apart. Orcs were thrown by the blast, and splintered wood rained down on them.

"It's Hank! It's gotta be!" said Sheila.

Eric was standing now. "Yeah, but where?"

"Does anyone see Uni?" Bobby asked.

The scene below was chaotic. More torches were being lit amongst the heaving sea of orc green. Orders were bellowed out. Orcs began running into the castle, behind the castle, and fanning out beyond the castle grounds.

"Uh, guys?" Presto said. "I think some are coming our way."

"We gotta get out of here," said Eric.

Sheila jumped up and grabbed his arm. "What about Hank? We can't just leave him!"

"And I'm not going anywhere without Uni!" added Bobby.

"Take another look!" Eric said, pointing for emphasis. "Do you really think Hank could fight his way out of that? Even if he did get the weapons back, he can't fight all of them. And Uni can't get him out, either! I say we run for it like Hank told us!"

Bobby stomped his way to Eric and poked a finger in his gut. "Yeah, you would run for it, wouldn't you, Eric?" He turned the same finger to himself. "Well, I'm no coward, and I'm not leaving them behind!"

Diana came to stand beside Eric. "No, Bobby. Eric's right. We never actually saw Hank or Uni. Hank would want us to try to escape. There's nothing else we can do. We're defenseless without our weapons."

Sheila turned away from them to look below. Still no Hank, and the orcs were coming. "Oh, Hank. Where are you?" she whispered through her tightening throat.

Suddenly, a blur of white and orange streaked by, heading straight for Bobby. She heard a familiar bleat as it jumped and knocked the boy over.

"Uni! You made it!" Bobby shouted.

There were suddenly shouts of "There!" and "Up there!" from various orcs.

"Oops," Bobby said apologetically.

"This way, everyone! There's too many of them to fight," Hank shouted from behind them.

"Hank!" Sheila shouted with joy.

"All right!" Diana and Presto shouted together.

"You heard him. Let's move!" said Eric.

They all ran for Hank, catching their weapons as he tossed them their way.

"Water," Eric gasped. "Wa�Water."

Everyone stopped and collapsed to the ground in the middle of a grove. The first sun was rising, and there was finally no sign of pursuing orcs.

"Good to . . . have the . . . ol' hat back," said Presto, panting. "One round of waters . . . coming up."

He reached inside his hat . . . and then reached a little more. "Hey! Nothing's happening!"

Alarmed, Hank rose and watched as everyone began testing their weapons, each with the same result. But. . . .

"I don't understand," Hank said, and tried his bow.

"If the weapons don't have their powers, then that means�" said Diana.

"Venger's got them!" Bobby finished for her.

But. . . .

"Wait, if Venger's got all that power, how did Hank escape?" asked Presto.

Hank turned his back and stepped away from them, trying to piece together what had happened. He frantically searched his memory, and came to a frightening discovery. He couldn't remember exactly what had happened.

"Why not ask the man of the hour?" said Eric. He moved toward Hank. "Well, Hank, what happened?"

Sheila stepped between them. "Give him a break, Eric. How could he have known Venger had already taken their powers? He did his best."

"No," said Hank, shaking his head.

Sheila went over to him. "It's not your fault, Hank. You did get our weapons back. You couldn't have known�"

"No. You don't understand. That's not what happened. Venger didn't take their powers. I�I know he didn't." Hank tried to clear his head and concentrate. He gripped his bow and stared at it, willing something of the ordeal to come to him.

"Hank, he must have," Sheila insisted. "He must have done it before you got there."

"No. You're not listening!" Did I just yell at Sheila?

"Well, I'm listening! What happened, Hank? We're all dying to know," Eric said.

Anger swelled within Hank, threatening to break the surface of his control. He fought to keep that control. He didn't feel himself.

"Do you remember anything?" asked Diana. "I mean, you've got to remember something."

"Shu� Be quiet, all of you! Just . . . let me think." For a moment, he remained silent, and he was glad the others were finally doing the same. How could he remember anything if they didn't give him time to think!

Then, Uni walked across to him, nudged his hand, and looked up at him with concerned eyes. Hank sat at the base of a tree with his back to everyone and stroked her mane. He found that the more he stroked, the closer he felt to remembering. Flashes of memory sparked and faded like fireworks � vivid for an instant, but easily forgotten with the flash of the next display. He couldn't hold to any one image.

But he did suddenly remember a feeling.

Gratification. Intense gratification. Thrilling satisfaction. His could feel his heart start to pound, and he realized he was sitting there, smiling to himself. He took the smile from his face before anyone saw. Now he raised a hand and studied it.

What did I do? How did I do it?

He looked up, wide-eyed, and was glad his back was to everyone. He suddenly felt cold, and his mouth was dry. Surely, the crazy thought that had just occurred to him couldn't be true. What would his friends think, if it was? And what was he supposed to do about it?

"Ranger?" Dungeon Master said from an upper branch.

Hank looked up, and Dungeon Master jumped down.

"Dungeon Master! Are we glad to see you!" Presto said.

Their guide held up a hand to quiet them as he approached their leader. Uni respectfully retreated.

For a moment, neither spoke. Dungeon Master had a way about him that had no need of words. It was something he usually respected in their old guide, but today, it was different. He felt like the old man was going to ground him for taking the car without permission. Who did he think he was, his father? He hated how his expression was telling him to own up to his friends, like he was a child who'd taken all the treats that were meant for the whole class to share.

Fine, he'd do this his way, just to get him off his back.

Hank rose and turned to face his friends. They would find out sooner than later, anyway. Might as well confess. Besides, it wasn't like he'd meant for this to happen. Even so, this wasn't going to be easy.

Well, out with it already. "I took our weapons' powers."

It was obvious by their expressions that that was the last thing they were expecting him to say. Stunned silence all around.

Naturally, it was Eric who recovered the quickest and opened his mouth.

"OK, no problem, right?" he said, looking around at everyone and nodding like an idiot. "Dungeon Master's here." He went and knelt beside Dungeon Master, putting an arm around his back. "You can put the powers back where they belong, right, DM ol' buddy?"

The "ol' buddy" act had never been more annoying. Hank forced himself to look away when he realized how he was glaring at Eric.

"No, Cavalier, I cannot," replied their guide. "Only the Ranger can return the powers to your weapons."

"Well, OK then, Hank, make with the powers," he said, rising and holding his shield out at him.

Hank felt like knocking it out of his hands, but he settled for Diana's nudging him hard in the ribs.

"What!" Eric yelled defensively.

Diana gave him a silencing look in response.

This was going to be trouble. It wasn't right. He knew it. They all knew it.

"Isn't there anything you can do, Dungeon Master? I don't know how I got the powers in the first place, and I don't know how to give them back, either," said Hank.

Dungeon Master remained silent and expressionless for a moment as he regarded the Ranger. He was studying him, and Hank found he did not care for it at all.

"Beware, my child . . . of losing more than you have ever gained."

To this, Hank said nothing, but inwardly, his reply was loud and clear: Save it!

Dungeon Master looked away from Hank at last. Then, he bowed his head and stepped somberly behind the tree. Hank didn't have to wonder if he'd emerge on the other side.