As he reconnoitred, his attention was immediately drawn to a small group of armed men surrounding a coach, that had been run off the hard packed dirt track into the shade of some low, spreading trees. Here and there, the bodies of the escorting troopers lay strewn in awkward death postures and from behind the coach came the ringing clangs of sword on sword as the last of the defenders was cornered and slaughtered.

Unhurriedly, Vulkan drew the telescope out of his saddlebag and raised it to his eye. The heretofore-unknown device was only one of the many remarkable accoutrements with which the amazing Malpurgo had supplied him.

From his vantage point he watched as the half dozen surviving attackers began to ransack the vast array of luggage piled high atop the grand looking carriage. Vulkan was about to turn away when he heard the unmistakable, high pitched cry of a lady in fear of her chastity, issue from within the darkened interior of the coach. Another ruffian, presumably the leader, was taking his pleasure with the unknown passenger the prince reasoned.

At the thought of the rape in progress, Vulkan's mighty cock gave a lurch inside his breeches. The enforced celibacy of the past five days suddenly weighed heavily upon him, making his belly feel painfully hollow.

Moving swiftly now that his mind was made up, Vulkan put the looking glass away, slipped his shield on to his left arm, and snatched up one of his short lances in his right hand. He spurred his horse down the hillside, guiding the powerful animal with deft touched of his knees as he slalomed purposefully between the intervening trees.

The robbers were so engrossed in sorting through their booty that they failed to hear Vulkan's lightening fast approach until he was almost on top of them. As the first to realise the danger leapt up, Vulkan veered his mount sharply to the side and crashed the full weight of the stallion into him, sending the man flying through the air to dash himself against one of the huge, iron rimmed coach wheels – instantly snapping his spine.