The mists of sorrow ms-7

by Brian S. Pratt

  “You got a point there,” admits Jiron.

  Down below, it has grown fairly quiet. Jiron moves to where the stairs turn and takes a peek around the corner. He darts back as several bolts fly by and embed themselves in the wall.

  “Still down there I take it?” asks Reilin. Jiron simply gives him a look as if to say ‘That was a stupid question’.

  Stig and Shorty arrive shortly after that and report that the other sides are being watched, but only by a few. “There are only three in the back,” Stig tells them.

  “The sides have a few more than that,” adds Shorty, “but not that much more.”

  “Can we take the three out in the back quickly?” he asks.

  “Probably could if I had my bow,” states Aleya.

  Jiron rounds on her. “Enough already,” he exclaims. “I said I am sorry and this constant distraction from the matter at hand is not helping anyone!”

  She returns his look with a stern one of her own then nods her head.

  He turns back to Shorty and asks, “Can we?”

  “Possibly,” he says. “I can take one, maybe two before they realize it. But the third?”

  They all look to James. Shaking his head, he holds up the sphere and says, “This is all I have until the drug wears off.”

  “That’s not going to start to happen until we get out of here,” Brother Willim adds. “Even then it will take hours.”

  “Where are the men situated back there?” Jiron asks.

  Suddenly, they hear a creak from the lower stairway. Shorty picks up one of the knives from the dead lying at the second floor landing and moves to where the stairs turn back to the first floor. Moving quickly, he dodges around the corner, throws the knife then dives back just as half a dozen bolts fly through where he had just been.

  From below, they hear a man cry out from where the knife found its mark. “We don’t have a whole lot of time,” Shorty says. Again the creaking comes as men from below once more begin to work their way up.

  Scar and Potbelly says, “You guys go take them out and we’ll hold them off here.”

  James and Jiron glance to each other and nod simultaneously. “Let’s go,” Jiron says then turns to Shorty. “Show me where the guards are.”

  “This way,” Shorty says as he begins running down the hallway.

  Jiron follows with James right on his heels. Shorty turns into an open doorway and before James passes through, the sound of Scar and Potbelly engaging the enemy comes down the hallway. Leaving the hallway, James enters what looks like an office of some kind. A desk with papers resting in neat stacks dominates the room.

  “Over here,” Shorty says from where he’s looking out the window.

  James crosses the room until he’s next to him. Looking out, he sees the three men not more than ten feet away. They have their swords out and look very alert. The window through which James is looking is closed. They’ll have to open it before they will be able to effectively strike out at the three men. He moves to the window to begin opening it when Jiron stops him and shakes his head. “What?” he asks.

  Instead of replying, Jiron shoulders him out of the way and begins to open the window himself. A little hurt that Jiron didn’t think he could do it, James backs up and watches him lift the window.

  Inch by inch the window rises and when it is open seven inches, it lets out with a squeal. Jiron immediately stops and moves away from the window. Peering out from the corner of it, he sees one of the three men looking up in their direction. After a moment of staring their way, the man returns to looking down the alley.

  Sighing in relief, Jiron returns to the window and manages to open it fully. From the hallway, the sound of the fighting is growing closer, Scar and Potbelly must be having to give ground.

  Jiron turns from the window and glances to Shorty. He then nods his head in the direction of the men on the ground. Shorty nods as he pulls two knives from his belt.

  “Wait,” whispers Brother Willim as he lays a hand on Shorty’s arm. A subtle glow surrounds Brother Willim and from outside, the sound of a growling dog is heard.

  Glancing out the window, Jiron sees the three men facing away from them and toward a rather large dog that is growling most menacingly at them. He looks back to Brother Willim who says, “Slip out the window while they are distracted.”

  Jiron nods and begins moving through the window. Glancing to the men, he sees them with their swords at the ready and one of them is advancing upon the dog. Swinging out the window, he lowers his body until he’s hanging completely from the window sill. Then he lets go and drops silently to the ground.

  Pulling both knives, he stands there and waits for Shorty to appear. Not taking his eyes from the men, he hears Shorty land next to him. With a quick glance to Shorty to make sure he’s set, Jiron advances behind the men. As he starts to move, the dog begins barking intently, then turns and takes off down the alley.

  The soldiers begin talking among themselves as they relax. Then one falls to the ground and before the other two realize what’s happening, Shorty’s other knife flies through the air and takes out a second. The third one barely gets his guard up before Jiron is upon him.

  One knife feints to the man’s face which causes him to reflexively bring his sword up to block the blow, which leaves him open for the other. Sinking his blade in the man’s stomach, Jiron quickly pulls it out and knees him in the groin. Falling to the ground, the man groans as Jiron lashes out with his foot to the side of his head and knocks him out.

  Indicating the end of the alley, he says to Shorty, “Keep a lookout.” With Shorty running to the alley’s mouth, Jiron returns to the window. He says, “Come on,” and begins helping the others down beginning with Aleya.

  Back in the room, when James saw Jiron and Shorty take out the guards he says to Miko, “Help everyone out and then you get out too.”

  “What about you?” he asks.

  “I’ve got to go help Scar and Potbelly,” he replies. Without another word, he makes a run for the door.

  Out in the hallway he discovers Scar and Potbelly are no longer on the stairs. Instead they are now halfway down the hallway and are slowly being pushed further back. Running up behind them he says, “Time to go.”

  Scar’s two longswords have been devastating, as has Potbelly’s sword and knife. The hallway between where they now fight and the stairs is littered with the bodies and body parts of those they’ve slain.

  “Get out of here,” Scar hollers to him. “We’re not going to be able to hold them off much longer.”

  James comes and stands between them, almost getting sliced by one of Scar’s sword in the process. Holding out the sphere, he stretches his arm between them and says, “Sealing barrier.” All of a sudden a barrier flashes into being sealing the hallway off between them and the enemies trying to kill them.

  “Get back to the others,” James hollers. “I’ll take care of this.”

  Trusting in him, Scar and Potbelly turn and double time it to the room where the others are going through the window.

  James gazes at the men on the other side of the barrier who are trying to break through. He opens his hand and looks at the sphere resting in his palm. Sighing, he says, “Delay five. Cancel. Leach times hundred. Delay twenty. Spoilsport.” Turning his palm over, he drops the sphere onto the floor of the hallway.

  Turning around, he races back to the room. Just as he reaches the door, he glances back and sees the barrier wink out and the men beginning to fall to the floor as the sphere leeches them dry.

  Moving into the room at a run, he sees Scar beginning to pass through the window. Potbelly and Miko are still in the room. He didn’t give them enough time! “Move!” he cries. “We got seconds before this place blows.”

  “What?” asks Miko.

  “Go! Go! Go!” he yells and practically pushes Scar out the window. Losing his grip, he falls to the ground. “Jump or we’re all dead!” he yells to the other two.

  Seeing the fear
in his eyes, Miko dives through the window and is followed a half second later by Potbelly. Hitting the ground hard, Miko breaks his arm and Potbelly his leg. James flies through the window a second later.

  “What…?” begins Jiron as James hits the ground and scrapes off a large area of skin from his side. “No time to explain,” he yells as he gets to his feet. “We have to get out of here now!”

  “Over the top?” asks Jiron. James nods. Grabbing Potbelly on either side, he and Scar carry him to the end of the alley. Brother Willim helps Miko by carrying the pack containing the Book of Morcyth.

  Reilin and Shorty, as well as Aleya are at the end of the alley. When they see the others coming fast, Reilin says, “It’s clear.”

  “Run!” James hollers to them. His tone of voice tells them this is not a time for dithering. Racing from the alley, Reilin leads them down the street away from the Eye’s Court. They don’t get far when…

  Ka-Boom!!

  …the building explodes outwards.

  The concussion wave rolls over them and knocks them to the ground. A cloud of fire erupts out of the building as the sphere explodes with power leeched from dozens of men. Debris sails through the air, some of the larger pieces slam into other buildings.

  Getting up, they are pelted with stones, some hitting them with bone crushing force. Aleya is hit and falls to the ground. James is there and aids her in regaining her feet. Her left arm hangs limply at her side.

  “We’ve got to get out of here!” Shorty hollers.

  “No!” James yells. “Find a place to hole up. We’re in no condition to escape.”

  Nodding, he moves ahead and goes in search of a suitable location. A minute later he hollers, “Over here!”

  They follow the sound of his voice and see him standing beside an open door waving for them to hurry.

  Moving as fast as the injured can go, they hurry over and pass through the door. Just as the door shuts…

  Wham!

  …a large chunk of the Eye’s Court slams into the upper stories of the building they just entered. The building shakes and shimmies but remains erect. Looking around, they see that Reilin has led them into an abandoned building. It could possibly have been a dye merchant’s shop at one time, but in the dark it’s hard to be sure.

  They move from the room just inside the front door to a room further in the back. Potbelly moans as Scar and Jiron set him on the floor against the wall. All of a sudden, light floods the room as Miko removes the Star from his pouch and begins healing the injuries of the others. He starts with his own arm then goes to Potbelly. Brother Willim moves his broken arm into proper position then the glow from the Star surrounds it as it begins knitting the bones back together.

  Jiron comes to James and says, “You cut that a bit close didn’t you?”

  “Sorry,” he replies. “The drug that infused that place muddled my mind. When I set it to go off, I set it for too short a time. When I realized my mistake, it was too late.”

  “Well, fortunately Miko can take care of the injuries,” he says. That’s when he takes notice of the way Aleya’s arm is hanging limp at her side. Leaving James’ side, he rushes over to her.

  “What happened to you?” he asks.

  “Got hit by something,” she replies.

  “Miko!” he yells as he turns toward where he’s still working on his arm.

  “Leave him be,” she says. “He’ll get to me when he can.”

  “I’m sorry,” he tells her and gives her a hug, all the while being careful of her injured arm.

  “Don’t be,” she tells him. “There’s too much going on for us to be fighting over a little thing like a bow.” Then with her good arm, she takes hold of his chin and pulls his face closer for a kiss.

  “What a mess,” Shorty says from the window.

  “Bad?” Reilin asks.

  “That building’s gone,” he explains. “The streets are full of people and a couple fires have broken out in different areas.”

  “Anyone coming in this direction?” James asks.

  Shaking his head, Shorty says, “No. Looks like they are all congregating over by what’s left of that building.”

  “Might be a good idea to wait until things quiet down before we leave,” suggests Scar.

  “As long as no one disturbs us,” adds Reilin.

  Miko and Brother Willim begin healing the rest once Miko’s arm is again whole. Shorty continues to watch the goings on outside from the window. They decide to get what rest they can before making the attempt to leave Morac.

  Once Miko finishes with him, James sits against one of the walls and closes his eyes. After that blast, everyone in the Empire is going to know exactly where he is. They can’t afford to stay here very long, but they could all use a short rest. It doesn’t take him long to pass into unconsciousness.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Waking up, James finds his head much clearer. He tries to summon his orb and succeeds then cancels it. He’s much relieved now that the effect of the drug he was exposed to in the Eye’s Court has worn off.

  Rays of light enter through cracks in the boards covering the windows. In the dim light he sees Jiron standing at the window gazing through to the street outside. Other than Jiron and himself, no one else is awake.

  As he gets up, his feet make a scuffing noise across the floor. Jiron glances over at the sound and sees him rising. Giving him a nod and a slight grin, Jiron returns his gaze back to the street outside.

  James carefully makes his way through the sleeping forms and comes to his side. “What’s going on out there?” he whispers.

  “Seems most of the town has come by at one time or another to see what happened,” he explains. “At first there were but a few guards and soldiers out there sifting through the rubble. Then about an hour ago, a force of over a hundred showed up, cordoned off the whole area and made a sweep of the surrounding buildings.”

  Seeing the worried look in his eyes, Jiron says, “One soldier came by and looked in through the window but moved on his way. Can’t believe he didn’t see you guys there on the floor sleeping.”

  “Luck must be with us,” James observes.

  “Must be,” he says. “I’m not sure exactly what is going on, but the commander in charge of the men divided them up in squads of ten and sent them through the town. It won’t be long before they figure out what happened and who was here.”

  “If they haven’t already,” adds James. He thinks for a moment then asks, “How far away is the inn from here do you think?”

  “It isn’t close, that’s for sure,” Jiron replies. “You’re not thinking about going back and retrieving the horses are you?”

  “You got a better idea?” he asks. “Without them, we won’t get far.”

  “I agree,” he acknowledges. “But there’s no reason we have to have ours, any will do.” He then turns back to the window and points through two of the boards to a building across the street. Four soldiers stand guard by the entrance. “They put their horses in there. There are over a score.”

  James takes in the building, the guards, and the fact that it’s across an open street. “Pretty ambitious aren’t you?” he asks. “They’ll see us.”

  “Just a thought,” he says. “Always like to know our options.”

  “What’s out the back?” James asks him.

  “Not much,” replies Reilin. Having heard them talking, he decided to get up and see what’s going on. “The back door opens onto an alley that runs for a ways. Last night while on guard duty I checked it out.”

  “Could we make our way out through the alley and return to the inn to get our horses?” James asks.

  Shrugging, Reilin says, “I don’t know. I didn’t explore that far.”

  Turning to James, Jiron says, “You keep an eye on what’s going on out there and I’ll find out.”

  “Be careful,” James says as Jiron begins moving toward the back door. As soon as Jiron disappears into the back, James returns his
attention to the goings on outside. Not much is happening other than people working through the rubble in the hopes of finding survivors.

  One by one the others wake up. Miko is the last to awaken and sits up just as Jiron returns.

  “Well?” James asks as Jiron comes from the back.

  Giving him a grin, he says, “The alley out back runs along the backside of a courtyard of another inn. And guess how many horses are in the stable?”

  “Enough for all of us?” James asks.

  Nodding, Jiron says, “That’s right.”

  “We should leave now,” Scar suggests, “while everyone’s busy out there sifting through the rubble.”

  “My thought exactly,” agrees Jiron.

  “The gates out of the city are going to be watched,” warns Reilin. “They’ll not let us simply leave.”

  “I doubt if that will change even if we were to wait for a week,” states James. “We go now.” To Jiron he says, “Take Stig and Shorty with you and get the horses ready.”

  “Right,” he says and indicates for the two men to follow him. Just before he leaves the room, Jiron pauses and turns back to face James. “When you follow, it’s to the left out the back door.”

  “Got it,” he says. Then Jiron leaves the room.

  Moving over to Brother Willim, James asks, “How are you holding up?”

  “Actually doing quite well,” he replies.

  “That’s good,” James says. “There’s something that’s been bothering me.”

  “What?” the priest of Asran asks.

  “Back there in the building, the drug in the air affected my ability to summon magic,” he says. “Yet you were able to. Why?”

  “My magic comes from a different source than yours,” Brother Willim explains. “Where you must direct and channel the power, I have merely to ask.” He can see James is somewhat understanding what he’s saying. “Can’t really explain it better than that.”