“Why?” asks Yern, a red haired member of Miller’s band.
“So we couldn’t use him as a witness against him I would expect,” James explains.
“But how did they know he was there?” Uther asks.
“I’m afraid I mentioned it when we were being arrested,” admits James. He reaches into his pack and pulls out the mirror. “If you guys will be quiet for a while, I’ll try to find out if Miller and Miko are still alive.”
He pulls out the mirror and everyone huddles around to watch as he tries to find Miller. The image flickers a moment and then they see the burned out remains of the inn. A charred corpse lies partially buried under the collapsed roof. “I’m afraid Miller is dead.”
The men begin cursing and Jiron shushes them up while James tries to locate Miko.
Fearing the worst, James let’s the image of Miller go and another one begins to form in its place. He sees Miko walking as if dazed down a street, bloody sword in hand. He widens the image and sighs with relief when he fails to see anyone around him.
“Does anyone know where this is?” he asks. “It should be fairly close to where the inn was.”
He slowly scrolls the image until one of the men says, “Yeah, I recognize this place. It’s not too far away.”
James cancels the image and glances to Illan, an older man graying at the temples, and asks, “Can you take us there?”
Illan nods, “Sure, this way.”
Putting the mirror away, James follows Illan as he leads them down a side street. They cross two more streets before turning down another side street. “He should be somewhere around here,” he says.
They move quickly down the street and sure enough, find Miko walking away from them. “You guys stay here,” James tells them.
He moves forward alone, and as he nears Miko, says, “Miko, you okay?”
Miko stops but doesn’t turn around. James says softly, “Miko, it’s James.”
Turning around slowly, Miko gazes at James with red rimmed eyes.
James suddenly realizes that Miko is several inches taller than he had been earlier, and broader as well. The Fire is having a dramatic effect on him. “You okay?” James asks him.
“What’s happening to me?” Miko whispers as he begins to move toward him. He can see tear tracks through the soot covering his face.
“I don’t know,” replies James. “But we’ll figure it out.”
When he comes near, James gives him a smile. Miko returns the smile with a small sad one of his own. Putting his arm around him, he walks him back to where the others are waiting.
Jiron’s eyes widen when he sees the changes in Miko. He glances to James, who only shrugs.
“James!” Miko exclaims, as he suddenly comes more alive. “Korgan is in the city!”
“Yes, I know,” he replies. “Now that you’re safely back with me, we can go take care of him.”
Chapter Twenty Eight
To what’s left of Miller’s band, James asks, “What’re you guys going to do now?”
“There’s a lot to be answered for,” replies Illan. “Fifer here says you’re going after the ones who did this to Miller?”
“That’s right,” states James.
“In that case, we’d like to come along with you,” he says. The others nod their heads, adding their agreements.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he says gratefully. Turning to Fifer, he says, “Let them know what’s going on while I try to locate Korgan.”
“Sure thing,” he replies, then huddles with his comrades as he fills them in.
James, Jiron and Miko move a little ways away from the group to give them time to talk while James locates Korgan. Taking out the mirror once more, he releases the magic as he gazes upon the surface.
The image begins to come into focus and they see Korgan’s unmistakable patch and scar. He widens the image and sees that he’s talking to another man in what looks to be a basement. What really surprises them is that the basement contains tables and racks filled with weapons.
“Looks like they could arm an army from what they have there,” remarks Jiron.
“Probably what they plan to do,” he says. “I wish this thing had sound!”
He scrolls the image around the basement where they see five others there with Korgan as well as the other guy he’s talking to. “Wonder what they’re saying?” Jiron asks.
“My guess is they’re making plans for the fall of Lythylla,” replies James.
“Then we better find them quickly,” Miko says from over James’ shoulder.
“I think you’re right,” agrees James.
He’s about ready to cancel the image when they see the meeting breaking up and all the men there begin to climb the stairs out of the basement. “Where’re they going?” asks Miko.
James suddenly turns and stares at Miko and says, “Say that again!”
“Where’re they going?” repeats Miko, confused at James’ request.
Miko’s voice has deepened, become more of a man’s voice than a boys. Recovering from the shock, James says, “Who knows? Let’s get Korgan and we’ll find out what’s going on.”
“He’s most likely heading to the castle again,” suggests Jiron. When James turns his head in his direction, he continues, “When Miko and I were out looking the town over as you requested, we spotted him. We followed him until he went through the gates to the castle.”
“Then we’ve got to get him before he makes it there,” says James. “Which entrance did he use?”
“It was the east gate,” he replies.
“Then let’s hurry,” he says. He goes back over to the others and says, “We think we may have a lead on him, but we need to hurry before he makes it back within the castle.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Uther asks.
James nods to Jiron who begins running toward the eastern gate leading into the castle area, the rest following right behind.
They have to duck down side streets twice to avoid patrols. They don’t know if they’ll be looking for them or not, but best not to take any chances.
Jiron brings them to a halt when they near the eastern gate, keeping to a side street overlooking it.
James pulls out the mirror and the view of Korgan appears. He’s still walking along the streets, one of the men is accompanying him. Putting the mirror away, he says, “Spread out and cover the streets leading here,” he says. “Let’s hope he’s going to use this entrance again.”
“What if he doesn’t?” asks Jorry.
“Then we’ll have to try something else,” he replies.
They quickly spread out, and station themselves where they’ll be able to intercept anyone heading for the gate.
James, Jiron and Miko watch the main street while the others cover the side streets. They wait for five minutes when, from down the street they can hear the sound of footsteps coming toward them. It sounds like there’re more than one person.
“Think that’s them?” Jiron whispers.
“It’s gotta be,” replies James. To Miko he whispers, “Go tell the others to get back here.”
Miko nods his head then melts into the darkness as he goes to get the others.
“How’s your shoulder?” James asks.
“Bad, but not much I can do about it now,” he states.
James can see one knife in his right hand as they wait for them to come closer. He looks back down the street, they can hear them approaching. The minimal light from the lamps doesn’t give enough illumination to make out more than approaching shadows.
As the others join him, he sends them around side streets to block off any possible avenue of escape. The two people who’re approaching pass through a circle of light from one of the lamps a little ways down the street. They can see that one of them definitely has a patch over one eye.
James hides in the shadows until they’re just about to enter the circle of light from the next lamp. Then he steps out in front of them with his knif
e drawn and says, “Stop right there!”
They take one more step before coming to a halt, which brings them into the circle of light. A woman screams and James can see they’re not Korgan and friend.
A middle aged lady and a gentleman who looks to have been a veteran of battle stand before him.
The man pulls out his sword and cries, “What’s the meaning of this.”
“My apologies,” James stammers, embarrassed. “I thought you were someone else.” Putting away his knife, he begins backing away from the couple.
The man keeps his sword out as they, too, begin backing away.
“The gate!” Uther cries out.
They all turn their attention to the gate as they watch Korgan and his friend run in through the gate. Korgan pauses momentarily as he looks in their direction, a grin upon his face. He says something to the guards, and one brings a horn to his lips and begins sounding the alarm.
“Move!” cries Jiron and they all begin running down the street past the couple James had accosted.
Ducking down a side alley, they try to lose any pursuit that may be forthcoming. They run to the end of the alley and break across another main thoroughfare to the alley on the other side.
Pausing a moment, they listen for any pursuit. When none is forthcoming, Jiron leads them further into the alley until the darkness within completely swallows them before coming to a stop.
“Now what?” he says as he turns to James.
“I don’t know,” he replies. “We might try to backtrack the way he’d come and see if we can find where that meeting was being held.”
“Whatever we do, we need to hurry,” Illan states. “When they come to get you out of the dungeon in the morning for the council meeting, they’ll know you’re not there.” Remembering the horn blast from the guard at the gate, he adds, “If they don’t know already. And dawn isn’t very far away.” They all glance at the sky that is beginning to lighten with the coming of the morn.
“Hopefully we can discover their plans before the army begins its attack,” Uther says. “Whatever they’re planning has to coincide with that.”
“I agree,” says James. “Do you remember the way?”
Indicating the direction with a nod of his head, he replies, “It’s this way.” He then leaves the alley and turns down the street in the general direction of where Korgan had been.
“How are we going to find out which house it is?” Jiron questions.
“Not sure, exactly,” replies James as they continue following Uther.
In the early morning hour, they’ve encountered relatively few people. No group has been greater than two or three and those were usually drunk. That’s why when he sees a group of twenty men coming their way from down a side street, James has them duck into a side alley to avoid being seen.
“What’s wrong?” Illan asks him when they’re within the shadows of the alley.
“Doesn’t it seem strange for such a large group to be about so early in the morning?” he asks.
“Now that you mention it, it does,” he replies.
“And the fact they’re in the area where all those weapons are leads me to think they may be going to retrieve those weapons,” explains James.
“Could be,” whispers Jiron.
They all remain quiet as the men turn onto the street James and the others had just recently vacated. As the men move away from them, James whispers, “My guess is, if we follow them, we’ll find that house.”
Several of the others nod their heads in understanding.
Letting the men move further down the street, James and the others quickly enter the street to follow them. They continue following the men at a discreet distance until they come to a large house. Turning off the street, the men approach the front door, open it, and then go in.
“That’s the house!” exclaims Jorry excitedly. “Has to be!”
“We need to get word to Henri at the north gate,” James says. “If they’re moving to get their weapons, then the attack is imminent.” He turns to Yern and says, “Tell him there are likely other spots around the city.”
Yern nods and quickly heads off down the street.
“How’d they get so many within the city?” asks Fifer.
“Remember all those refugees that were pouring into the city when we got here?” James asks. When Fifer nods, he continues, “That’s how. I bet they’ve been trickling in over the last several days, disguised as refugees.”
“Damn!” he exclaims. “No telling how many there are within the city now.”
James has them spread out around the building, staying within the shadows as best they can. He’s keeping Miko close to hand.
Suddenly the door to the house begins to open and the men start filing out. Where they’d gone in without swords and armor, they’re now coming out fully decked out for battle.
James takes several slugs from the pouch at his hip and sets them in his left hand. Taking one in his right, he let’s the magic flow as he throws it at one of the men exiting through the doorway.
The slug strikes him square in the middle of the chest and gore sprays on the man behind him as the slug exits his back. Still having momentum, the slug strikes the second man in the chest but its force had been greatly reduced by going through the first man, only knocking him back a step as the armor prevents it from punching through.
“Keep them in the house!” cries James.
The others spring into action as another slug flies toward the open doorway, this time taking out the gore coated man. They move to the exits and begin fighting with those attempting to leave.
James can see Miko next to him begin to slowly pull his sword out of his scabbard and says, “Not this time, Miko. They can handle this.”
Miko glances to him, his eyes regaining their focus as he nods and slides the sword back in the sheath.
The fighting going on around the house is becoming intense as those that were within begin to make their way out to engage Miller’s band.
Cries from the neighboring buildings fill the night as the residents take notice of the fighting going on around the house.
Suddenly, horns can be heard coming from the west as the Empire’s forces begin their assault.
James lets loose the power and…
Crumph!
…an explosion can be heard within the building. Windows shatter outward from the blast and all fighting ceases for a moment as the combatants stagger from the explosive concussion. The building begins to shake as the sides buckle and the entire structure collapses, burying those still inside.
The fighting resumes and the enemy that had made it out are soon dispatched. James does a quick survey and is pleased to note that all of them have survived. A few are bleeding from numerous cuts and Jorry has blood running down the side of his head.
“Come on!” he cries. “To the west wall, we can’t let them get a foothold inside the city!”
“How do we know that’s where they’ll make their move?” asks Uther.
“We don’t,” replies James, “but that’s where the horns are sounding.”
As one they turn and begin racing toward the western wall. Other soldiers can be seen running to the sound of the horns to aid in the defense. On their way, they meet up with Yern who decided to return once the horns began sounding. “I think Henri will know what’s going on now,” he says when he rejoins them. Running as fast as they can, they head to the west gate.
They find a battlefield at the base of the west wall. Dead and dying soldiers litter the area in front of it. A semicircle of men are holding off the defenders while several others are over at the gatehouse attempting to open the locking mechanism.
The men keeping the defenders from the gate house are falling fast and soon the way is clear. Soldiers of Madoc rush toward the gatehouse and begin beating upon the gatehouse door. James can see the door itself is beginning to buckle under the force of the pounding.
Suddenly, a clanking sound can be heard as
the locks on the gate are opened. James looks to the gatehouse and sees one of the saboteurs lift a sledgehammer as he begins smashing the locking mechanism, making it so the gates cannot be locked again.
The door to the gatehouse finally buckles and shatters. The defenders rush in, killing everyone, clearing the gatehouse.
“Bar the gate!” can be heard from the captain of the defenders as dozens of men throw their weight against the gate, trying to prevent it from being opened.
Archers upon the walls are raining down a barrage of arrows upon the attackers as they work to push open the gates from the other side. The Empire returns fire with their crossbowmen and James hears a cry as an archer plummets off the wall, a bolt sticking out of his chest.
The prickling sensation of someone doing magic suddenly hits him. He looks around but it doesn’t look like anyone close is the source. Then suddenly he understands, it’s from someone on the other side of the wall.
The feeling spikes incredibly as the gates suddenly burst open, crushing men caught behind them as they slam into the walls.
“Beat them back!” James looks behind him and sees Lord Pytherian there in armor as he arrives with reinforcements. Rallying his men, they move to beat back the enemy.
His men surge forward as they clash with the enemy entering in through the open gates. The fighting is fierce and the defenders are slowly being beaten backward.
The remnants of Miller’s band begin to join the defenders but Jiron stops them. “We must stay and protect James. He’s our only hope!”
Yearning to join in the defense, they understand and position themselves around James to protect him from harm. Jiron nods to James and says, “It’s all yours.”
The prickling sensation begins again and James climbs up on a wagon to get a better look. He sees the mage standing upon the bridge, arrows from the defenders seem to glance off a barrier of some sort surrounding him.
James concentrates on the bridge and meets resistance as the mage begins to counter what he’s trying to do. A sudden thought comes to mind from a story he had read, ‘First mage casts a spell, second mage counters, third mage casts spell to help the first, fourth casts spell to help the second, then the army shows up and cuts them all to pieces.’ If he wasn’t experiencing it, he’d laugh.
Warrior priest of Dmon-Li ms-3 Page 40