The Danger Gang Meet The Bulgar Royal Family
Roused by the farmers, the Danger Gang and friends decide to track down some royals. Martialis changes into a bird, and armed with a vague description of Princess Theodora Pasara, she flies to the palace. He finds her window without too much trouble, and she's even kind enough to toss him a few bread crumbs. She flies back and someone whips a note saying they want to meet her outside the palace. Karl hands over a tiara he took from Vampire Princess Miyu, in exchange for one of Marty's diamonds. Marty delivers the goods, and the princess seems puzzled. She darts off to the other room.
Hours later, the Gang appears at the appointed time. Lleryn hangs out in the shadows. A woman, finely dressed, but not the princess Marty saw, approaches rolling a coin on her knuckles. They ask her where the princess and she's all like, "I'm the princess". Yeah, right. They tell her anyway about Ahkrem having a gift from whoever that guy was, a ring with hair wrapped around it, but it was stolen by the Goblins. She seems confused by this news, and says she'll be right back. Soon, a pair of riders on griffins descend from the sky. They are Prince Gavril Rodamir and Princess Theodora. They were expecting the ring, not the tiara, hence the ruse. Ahkrem introduces as the last scion of the Star and Moon Clan and messenger for whoever that was. He introduces the gang as his guards and retinue. The royals invite them all into the castle.
Once inside the walls, Gavril magically wisps the griffins into his pendant (Marty detects he also has a magical shield). They invite the gang in to dinner, and even let the gang talk to the big wigs over dinner. Gavril offers them a letter of protection while in Bulgar territory, so hopefully they won't get too jacked up by Cyclopese and the rest. That sounds pretty good.
They then offer them a place to rest. When they get ready to rest, a knock comes at the window. Barry, who was on watch, peers through the slats to find a large vulture peering in. He wakes up some other dudes and they let it in, trying to catch it under a blanket. But it turns out the vulture is Chow-Han. Good to see him. They warn him that the circus needs to get the hell out of Dorachyon. It seems like the priests there have been telling him some tall tales, etc., and some how he hasn't been able to see through the ruse. They advise him to get out of there. It's then that he notices that several people have been charmed. He tells Barry to take them out, subdue them. Everybody says that he needs to cool out. It's true, they're a little overwhelmed by ensorcelling, but that doesn't mean they're not on top of things. He just needs to worry about the circus. He tentatively agrees and flies out of there.
