“Thanks, it really helped,” he tells them. The headache and fatigue are still there, just not so bad.
“Where should we meet you?” asks Jiron.
“Let’s say back here, a couple hours before sundown?” he suggests.
Jiron gets up and motions for Miko to join him, “Then we’ll see you in several hours.” They grab their horses and lead them over to the door.
“Good luck,” wishes James.
“You too,” replies Miko. They lead their horses through the door and once on the other side, mount up before heading down the street.
“Shall we go to the gate and wait there for your friend?” James asks.
“No point in staying here any longer than necessary,” agrees Fifer.
Leaving their horses in the warehouse, they step out onto the street and make their way to the gate. For a city about to be attacked, there sure are a lot of people here. Maybe if there’re enemy patrols out and about, they may not have much choice. With that army sitting on their front doorstep, the ones in charge probably don’t want to provide soldiers to escort civilians. They’ll be needed on the walls.
As they approach the gate, Fifer says, “Shyn’s already here.” He points to a man, vaguely familiar to James. Standing about five foot ten with red hair, Shyn waves a greeting at their approach.
He steps up to them and says, “Sorry about last night, lots of strange things been going on around here.” He turns to the guards and says, “It’s alright, these are the ones I told you about.”
The guards just nod as they pass on through, Shyn in the lead.
“So you’ll take us to see Lord Pytherian?” James asks him.
Shaking his head, Shyn says, “I don’t have that kind of access.”
“Then how did you arrange for us to get past the guards?” asks Fifer.
“It wasn’t easy, let me tell you,” he explains. “I tried unsuccessfully to convince the captain of the watch and he all but had me thrown out. Practically accused me of being party to the failed assassination attempt by that other man posing as you.”
“I finally got an audience with one of the members of the council. You see, I have a cousin who is one of his assistants and ran into him as I was leaving the watch captain’s office. He agreed to take me to the councilman where I convinced him of who you were and from that point on it was a whole lot easier.”
“We appreciate your help,” James tells him.
“Glad to do it,” he replies. “Besides, Lord Pytherian wants to see you, the people around him must make sure it’s the right you. You understand, I hope?”
“Oh yeah,” agrees James. “I can see the need even if I don’t like it.”
“I’m glad you feel that way,” he says.
They come to a large courtyard, at the end of which is the gates to the castle itself. Shyn doesn’t lead them there as James at first expected. Instead, he takes them to the right of the castle where a large four story building borders the courtyard.
Before coming to the door, he pauses and says, “This is the offices of the councilman I was referring to. He said that you should wait in here until the meeting is over. Then he’d either bring Lord Pytherian here, or have you taken to him, depending on the wishes of his lordship.”
“Very well,” James says as they enter the building. Shyn leads them up to the second floor and down the hallway where he stops before a set of double doors on the right. He opens them and they walk into a room with several tables laid out with food. Plush chairs and a couple couches are situated around the room.
“You can stay here until the meeting is over,” he says. “Help yourself to the food, it’s here for your enjoyment. It’s the least we could do for the ones who rescued his lordship.”
“Thanks,” James says as he goes over to a table laden with food. When he sees Shyn beginning to leave the room, he asks, “Aren’t you going to stay?”
Shaking his head, he says, “I need to inform the councilman that you’re here. I’ll be back shortly.”
“Okay,” says James as he turns back to the food. His stomach begins to growl as he realizes just how hungry he is. He takes a plate and fills it with bread and meat, making sort of a sandwich.
“Not bad,” Fifer says next to him through a mouth full of food.
Taking a bite, James nods and grunts in agreement. Then he sees on another table tarts, as well as other confectionary delights. Man, Miko would’ve loved this!
Chapter Twenty Five
Upon leaving the warehouse, Jiron and Miko follow the street until they come to the west gate overlooking the bridge. The gate is shut with many archers and soldiers lining the walls above it.
“I think we can forget about leaving through here,” Miko says.
“It might be a bit crowded,” agrees Jiron, chuckling.
They turn to follow the main thoroughfare along the wall as they continue their reconnoitering. “What exactly are we looking for?” asks Miko.
“Oh, I’m not really sure,” admits Jiron. “But getting an idea of where everything is, is usually a good idea.”
“I suppose so,” agrees Miko. “When the City of Light fell, James and I didn’t know where anything was. We just kept running around, trying to find a way out. Eventually we got separated, and you know the rest.”
“Yeah,” states Jiron. “Let’s hope this time things will work out better,”
All of a sudden Miko’s stomach cramps when he catches the delicious aroma of fresh baked bread. Looking around, he spies a probable source. Several buildings down a side street sets an inn with a sign hanging outside which may indicate a restaurant within. His stomach lets out another growl as he indicates the inn and says, “I’m hungry, let’s go get something to eat.”
“Good idea. I’m hungry too,” Jiron says as they turn down the side street and make for the inn. The odor of fresh baked bread gets stronger the nearer they get. As they near, they’re able to see that the sign shows a satisfied fat man holding his stomach.
They secure their horses to the post outside before walking in. A large fat man, similar to the one on the sign outside comes over to them as they enter the inn. “Welcome sirs, how may we help you here at the Satisfied Gent?” he asks with a broad, friendly smile.
“The mouthwatering aroma has led us here,” Jiron tells him.
“Ah, of course,” the man says. He gestures to the crowded common room and says, “Just find a seat anywhere and someone will be along momentarily to see about your needs.”
Jiron leads them into the room, and sighs when he finds the only table left unoccupied sits out in the middle of the crowded room. Really not wanting something out in the open like that, but not having any other choice, go over and take their seats.
A girl comes over, and after getting their order for the roasted beef and ale, returns to the kitchen. She returns shortly with their food and ale. “Enjoy,” she says as she places the food before them on the table. She then promptly moves to another table where a man is signaling for her.
“…now that he’s back, the alliance will stand firm…”
“…can’t stand the waiting! Wish it would begin so it…”
They sit and listen to the conversations around them while they have their meal. For the most part, the people seem none too worried about the army sitting across the river. From what they hear, the people in Lythylla have great faith in Lord Pytherian and the alliance.
“Hate to think what would’ve happened if Lord Pytherian hadn’t returned,” remarks Miko between bites.
“I know,” Jiron replies. “This city probably would’ve fallen already. From what we’re hearing, he’s their strength, their will to fight.”
They continue to listen to the conversations around them until they’ve finished their lunch. Miko sits back with a contented look on his face. “Ready to go?” asks Jiron.
“Sure,” says Miko just before letting go with a loud belch. He gives Jiron a grin, “That was good.”
; Outside the inn, they again mount their horses and continue their way along the street bordering the wall. They eventually come to another gate situated on the south side, the one they’d originally come through the day before. The stream of humanity coming in through the gates continues, the guards doing their best to keep the gates clear.
“I don’t know if I would come here if I were them,” Miko says.
“They may have no choice,” Jiron replies. “A walled city with ample soldiers and a strong leader is preferable to being out there unprotected, even if the city is on the verge of being attacked.”
“I suppose so,” says Miko.
They move past the gate as they continue following the road. Some of the houses have been built against the wall and may afford a way out, providing of course that the enemy hasn’t taken the walls yet.
The eastern gate, when they reach it, has a stream of people leaving the city. Some of the people have wagons and carts, while the greater majority carries bundles on their backs, holding what few possessions they can take with them.
“Jiron, over here,” says Miko pointing to their right.
Looking over to where he’s indicating, he sees a small grate set in the side of the street which allows excess water to flow into the sewers below. He dismounts and then moves over to inspect it. Kneeling down, he takes hold of the grate and then quickly looks around to see if anyone is watching. Once he’s certain of not being observed, he tries to pull up the grate.
Straining as hard as he can, he’s unable to budge it. “Not this way,” he tells Miko. “I think it’s bolted or secured in some fashion. It’s not going to budge.” Getting back on his horse, he leads them further down the street.
Now that they’ve seen one, they begin to see others of those grates positioned periodically along the side of the street.
“Too bad we can’t look inside of a house,” Miko says. “There could be an entrance to the sewers.”
“Possibly,” agrees Jiron. “But I don’t think we’d want the kind of trouble that could bring right now.”
“True,” says Miko.
Suddenly, Miko exclaims, “Tarts!”
Jiron turns in his saddle and glances over to him, “What?”
“Look!” he says as he points to a boy walking down the street eating a berry filled tart. He moves his horse over to the boy and asks, “Where did you get that?”
The boy looks up at him, some of the filling smeared around his mouth, and says, “Nannie down the street sells them.” He points back down the way he had come.
“Thanks,” he says to him.
“What’s that all about?” Jiron asks.
“I’m going to get me some tarts,” he explains. “I’ll get some for James too, he likes them.”
Jiron just shakes his head but since the shop is on their way, doesn’t argue. When they come to the shop with the tarts, he waits outside with the horses while Miko goes inside.
Several minutes later, the door to the shop opens and Miko walks out with a large bag stuffed with tarts. Smiling, Jiron asks, “Think you got enough?”
“Hope so,” he replies not even realizing Jiron was being sarcastic. He puts the tarts in one of his saddlebags before remounting. Having a tart in one hand makes mounting difficult but he manages it.
Once he’s in the saddle, they resume following the wall as it continues around the city. They find more houses built against the side of the outer wall, all fall short of the top by at least twenty feet. Jiron figures this might be due to a city ordinance designed to prevent unauthorized access to the top of the wall.
The northern gate is crowded with people leaving as well. Not too surprising, there’s no one here trying to enter. Anyone to the north of the city is moving deeper into Madoc, away from the enemy.
“It doesn’t look like there’s any other way out of here,” Miko says when they start to return to the warehouse.
“No,” agrees Jiron, “I didn’t figure there would be. At least we now have a fair idea of the city’s layout.”
“Hopefully James will be able to see Lord Pytherian soon and then we can get on our way back to Cardri.”
“Let’s hope so,” says Jiron.
They continue down the street, making as good a time as they can in the press of people. The crowd begins to grow thicker as they approach an intersection of streets. A wagon sits crooked with a broken wheel, effectively congesting the traffic flow down both streets.
Several men are trying to replace the wheel, all the while those passing by shout obscenities at them. Jiron feels sorry for those guys as he slowly moves forward, creeping closer to the blockage.
From where he sits next to him, Miko suddenly gasps and grabs his arm. “What?” he says as he turns to see what’s the matter. A shiver runs down his spine when he sees Miko’s pale face staring down the side street.
He never takes his eyes from where he’s looking as he whispers, “Look there!”
Jiron gazes where he’s indicating but doesn’t understand what he’s trying to show him. “I don’t see anything,” he tells him. Then he notices a group of men standing outside a store, talking among themselves. “That group of men there?” he asks, pointing to them.
Nodding his head, Miko says, “See the one there, the one with the patch over one eye?”
Giving the men a closer look, he nods his head, “You mean the one with the scar running across his face?”
“That’s him,” Miko says breathlessly. “He’s the one who poisoned the guards back at the City of Light and opened the gates for the Empire’s army.”
“Are you sure?” he asks.
“Positive,” he replies. He glances at Jiron as he says, “He had me and James captured and was torturing James before we managed to get out.” Lowering his voice, he continues, “He’s definitely an agent of the Empire.”
The crowd finally begins moving again and they make it around the blockage. Getting down from their horses, they take them to a post out front of an inn where they secure them. Jiron pulls Miko close and says, “We need to tell someone.”
“But who?” Miko asks. “When James gets back, we can tell him and then go to Lord Pytherian. He needs to know about this.”
“James might not be out for hours,” he says to Miko. “We should follow them and see what they’re up to. If we lose them, we might never find them again before whatever they’re planning comes to fruition.”
“Alright, but let’s be careful,” Miko says. He then follows Jiron as they move back to the corner of the street where he peers around to watch the group of men. The group is breaking up and most of them are moving together down the street away from where he’s watching.
“They’re moving,” he says just before stepping around the corner as he proceeds to follow them. With the amount of people on the streets, it’s fairly easy to keep them in sight without being spotted.
Ol’ One Eye and the others are moving deeper into the city. As the group progresses down the street, the others with him begin to break off as they go down various side streets until finally only One Eye is left. When they come to realize where he’s heading, they can’t quite believe it. As he approaches the gate to the castle area, the guards on duty nod to him in acknowledgement before passing on through.
Jiron indicates an alley and they move into it, all the while keeping the gate in sight. “This can’t bode well,” he says to Miko. “If he has access to the castle, then there must be someone of rank here in the city behind his activities.”
“Could whatever he’s planning be what the army across the river is waiting for?” asks Miko.
“Could be,” agrees Jiron. “We better get back to the warehouse and wait for James to return.”
“What if One Eye decides to do something?” asks Miko.
“Nothing we can do about it right now,” replies Jiron. “We’re going to have to hope we can contact James before he does.”
“We should tell someone!” he insists.
�
��And who would we tell?” Jiron asks. “If we tell the wrong person, we’ll be silenced and then no one will know what’s going on.” Pointing back up to the gate, he adds, “Those guards up there knew him, or at least had seen him often enough to recognize him. I wouldn’t know who to trust other than Lord Pytherian.”
“I guess you’re right.” Not happy about it, Miko tries to think of an alternative to just sitting and waiting but is unable to come up with anything. Sighing, he looks to Jiron and nods.
They make their way back to where their horses are tied and then ride back to the warehouse. As they approach, the guards who had bothered them earlier in the day about being in the warehouse, are leaving from a side door. Pausing until the guards move further down the street and out of sight, they return to the warehouse where they get comfortable as they wait for the return of James and Fifer.
The closing of the door brings him back to consciousness, or something close to it. Opening his eyes, he quickly shuts them tight again as he shuts out the nauseatingly swirl of the room. His head feels foggy and he can’t think straight.
A moan next to him tells him Fifer is in the same state as he, maybe worse. Hands suddenly grab him and sit him up straight on the couch he’d been lying upon. A hand slaps him hard across the face, and then someone pulls open his eyelid as he stares at his pupil.
The blurry face of the man is somehow familiar but he can’t quite recall from where. His mind won’t focus long enough to draw out the memory.
“They’ve taken too much,” the voice says with impatience. “They’ll be worthless for hours!”
“Forgive me,” another voice begs. “We didn’t know what they were going to eat so we laced everything. That they were so hungry was unexpected this late in the morning.”
“Let me know when they’re able to talk,” the first voice says commandingly.
“Yes, sir,” the second voice says, distraught over the dissatisfaction of the other. “First thing.”
Suddenly the door opens and closes, and James is again resting in blissful silence.
Warrior priest of Dmon-Li ms-3 Page 35