“What temple?” he asks, heart pounding.
Then madness seems to take him as he cries out, “The temple must fall! Else all will be lost!”
“James!” exclaims Miko as he grabs his shoulder.
The crowd begins to scream as several armed men approach with swords in hand. James turns to find Orlander, along with six other men coming toward him. That’s when he realizes his hood had fallen off while he was listening to the wild man.
“You’re dead!” Orlander screams as he and the others race forward.
“Come on!” Miko cries as he turns James and propels him away.
Racing away, he turns to glance one more time to the wild man but the man is nowhere in sight. Must have been scared off by Orlander and his bunch.
“Which way?” Miko asks as they run down the street.
The wild man forgotten, James is now more concerned about losing their pursuers. “Renlon’s are off that way,” he says indicating to the far side of town. “But I don’t want to involve them.” Suddenly, a flash of light bursts into life far above them for a brief moment before disappearing.
“What was that?” asks Fifer.
“Just letting Jiron and the others know we need help,” he says as they turn around a corner and race down the main thoroughfare of Illion.
People are on the street and they receive many words of protest as they race through them, at times knocking people over or items out of their hands. Behind them, the crowd parts quickly when they see Orlander’s group hot on their tail.
“Blast them James,” Miko cries out.
“Too many innocents around,” he says. “I dare not.”
Ahead of them is an intersection where another main street crosses the one they’re on. To the left would lead them to Renlon’s Iron so James turns to the right and moves onto the new street.
Suddenly from out of the crowd on the street, a porter carrying several boxes appears before him and he crashes into the man. Boxes flying everywhere, James and the man go crashing down to the street.
Miko and Fifer in their haste move past before they even realize what’s happened. When they do, they come to a stop and return to him just as Orlander and his bunch show up.
James pulls out a rock from his pocket as he and the others ready to meet the charge. Then from behind Orlander’s group, several horses appear in the intersection they had just left. Another starburst in the sky and the horsemen turn to race their way.
“No tricks are going to save you this time,” Orlander says as he readies his sword and advances upon him. He takes three steps forward before he hears the thunder of the hooves approaching from behind. Turning, he sees Jiron and the rest bearing down fast. Lurching to the side, he moves out of their way a split second before they would’ve run over him.
Jiron reaches down a hand to James who swings up onto the horse behind him. Qyrll grabs Fifer and Uther takes Miko. They fly down the street away from Orlander. Glancing back, James sees him picking himself off the ground and staring at him, hate in his eyes.
At the next intersection, he signals Jiron to come to a stop. “I still need to talk to the Renlon’s.”
Nodding, he says to the others, “Go back and get their horses, James and I are going back.”
“Are you mad?” Dave asks from his position next to them. “They’ll kill you!”
“Not now Dave,” James tells him. To everyone he says, “Meet us east of town in half an hour or less.”
“We’ll be there,” Fifer tells him.
As the others begin leaving, Dave hesitates. “Go on Dave,” James tells him. “Stay with the others, I’ll be alright.”
Not happy about the situation, Dave turns his horse and gallops after the others.
“Let’s make this fast,” he tells Jiron.
Turning down a side street, they angle their way quickly around town until the complex of Renlon’s Iron appears before them. The whole place looks deserted for the evening save for a single light coming from the window of the office building where he met them the last time.
Coming to a stop before the door, James gets down and says, “Don’t go anywhere.”
Chuckling, Jiron replies, “That’s a dumb thing to say.”
James flashes him a grin and nods. Moving to the door, he opens it and passes through to the other side.
The older Renlon is sitting at the desk as he was the last time. Looking up, his eyes widen is surprise when he sees him come in. “James!” he exclaims coming to his feet. “What are you doing back here?”
Dispensing with the pleasantries, he asks, “Ever heard of a place called Ironhold?”
“Ironhold?” he asks. “What makes you ask about that?”
“I need to find it,” he explains. “Do you know where it is?”
“Sure,” he says. “Just follow the north road out of town and you’ll run right into it.”
“Thanks,” says James as he turns to leave.
“Just a minute,” the senior Renlon says.
Pausing, James turns back and says, “I haven’t much time.”
Nodding, he replies, “I heard about Orlander’s tavern, bad business that. You do that?”
“Yeah,” he says. “Didn’t mean to, things just sort of got out of hand.”
“Heard he wants you in a bad way.” Looking at him with a worried expression he asks, “He didn’t follow you here did he?”
Shaking his head, James says, “I don’t think so.”
“Good, we don’t need that headache,” he replies. Returning to his seat behind the desk he motions for James to sit in the chair opposite him. “About Ironhold,” he begins. “Just what takes you there?”
“Can’t really explain,” is all the answer he’s willing to give.
He looks at him for a moment before saying, “It’s the northern most town in Madoc, situated in the pass leading to the northern kingdoms. Used to be a mining town, been there for as long as I remember. They say it’s haunted.”
“Haunted?” James asks.
“That’s right,” he says, nodding. “Over the last century or so there have been those who have tried to bring those mines back in service. But every time something happens and the project fails.”
“Like what?” he asks.
“Last time the miners claimed apparitions of those who have died in the mines before appeared. Scared them bad and they left. Other times ore carts are found broken apart, things come up missing. I even heard one time several miners disappeared for several days only to be found wandering around in the forest days later.”
“The whole place is cursed,” he warns. “You might wish to reconsider going there.”
James sits there a moment as he digests what he just heard. Then he says, “Nevertheless, I have to go.”
Getting to his feet, the senior Renlon says, “Then be careful.”
“I will,” replies James as he, too, gets to his feet. “I appreciate the warning.”
The door opens and Jiron’s head pops in. “James, we’ve got to go.”
“Be right there,” he says. Turning back he holds his hand out as he says, “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Renlon says, shaking his hand.
Moving quickly to the door, he joins Jiron outside and they mount. He turns to the sound of the door opening and waves to the senior Renlon standing there as Jiron kicks the horse into motion and they bolt away into the night.
As soon as they leave Renlon’s Iron, they turn and ride around the edge of town until they meet up with the others on the eastern side. “Any trouble?” asks Fifer.
Shaking his head, James replies, “No.” He dismounts from behind Jiron and moves over to mount his own steed.
“Did you find out what you wanted to know?” Dave asks.
“Yes I did,” he says. “If we follow the north road out of town, we’ll come right to it.”
“Excellent,” Uther states. “How far is it?”
James’ enthusiasm dampens somewhat whe
n he replies, “I forgot to ask.”
“No matter,” interjects Jiron. “We know where it lies.”
They get their horses in motion and circumvent the town until they reach the north road then turn to follow it. James doesn’t inform them about the strange occurrences at the mines. He figures they have enough to worry about right now. Besides, they could be the overactive imagination of miners left too long alone. Somehow that idea doesn’t bring him any consolation.
Riding through the night, they decide to put many miles behind them before they stop and rest until morning. The road moves through the foothills for the first couple of hours but then finally leaves them behind as it moves into open plains. No inns in sight, they pull off the road and make a camp some ways from the road.
Bellies grumbling from lack of food, they settle into their blankets. The stars are bright overhead which on the one hand is good as there’ll be no rain. But bad on the other as what warmth there is in the air will be gone by morning, escaping back into space.
In the morning as the sun breaks over the horizon, they awaken to find frost covering the grass and their breath fogs in the cold air of a fall morning. Shivering, they break camp and return to the road.
“I’m starving,” complains Dave as they make the road and turn to follow it north.
“We all are,” assures James. “We’ll get something to eat at the next town.”
“If there is a next town,” he hears his friend grumble under his breath.
Sighing, James rolls his eyes and tries not to worry about his friend. Frankly he has too much on his mind. He worries whether or not Orlander will be coming after him, if the Empire has more forces in the area, not to mention those creatures.
Also on his mind is what that crazy guy back in Illion had said. The temple must rise. Then he went and contradicted himself by saying the temple had to fall. He would completely dismiss it if it weren’t for the other things the man had said about shadows and fire. He could’ve been just a crazy man and his ramblings nonsense, but he doesn’t think so. And finally ahead of them is a place he’s been told strange occurrences have been happening for some time. Altogether too much to worry about.
Dave rides next to him as does Miko, one on either side. Two hours after leaving camp, a farmstead appears off to their right, quite a ways off the road. People are seen working the fields around it, probably bringing in the last of whatever crop they had.
“Fifer,” he says coming to a stop. “Take Miko and go over there to see if we can buy some food.” He pulls out the pouch he acquired at Orlander’s and removes some coins which he hands to Fifer.
“Sure,” he says, taking the coins. He and Miko then leave the road and begin making their way to the homestead.
James sits there with the others as they watch them approach. When the farmers notice them approaching, they hurry from the fields to the house. Fifer and Miko come to a stop near the house and look to be talking with the locals. After a few moments, one of them is seen going to the house and returning with several sacks and gives them to Miko. Several more words are exchanged before they turn about and return to the others.
As they approach, he sees Miko giving him a big smile as he holds up one of the sacks the farmers gave him. “We got food!” he exclaims once they’re close enough.
“Should be enough for a day or two,” Fifer says.
“Good,” says Dave coming forward.
Miko begins handing out some bread, cheese and dried beef to the others before they resume their northward trek. Once everyone has their share, James is gratified to see that the sacks still contain quite a bit of food.
They continue on for the rest of the day, the sun doing little to warm them. A cold breeze feels like it’s blowing down off the mountain. “Might be an early snow,” Uther announces at one point.
“Let’s hope it holds off until we get back over the mountains,” Jorry says.
“Amen to that,” James adds.
The proximity of the mountains probably has a lot to do with the drop in temperature. Of course a cold northern could be on its way down to make life a misery for the travelers. Either way, they pull their jackets closer together and do their best to keep warm.
Throughout the rest of the day, the riders fight off the cold as they steadily progress northwards. By the time night again falls there have been no sign of inns or anything else which would provide them some comfort through the cold of night.
Finding a place near a few lone trees on the plains, they make their camp. At least they’re fortunate enough to find enough wood for their campfire to last through the night. They again rotate the watch, the threat of the Empire still very real. With any luck, Orlander has remained back in Illion.
Another cold morning, even colder than the last has them shivering before the fire roars to life. They take just enough time to warm up and eat some of the rations acquired yesterday before they set off again.
The sky is a crystal blue without a hint of clouds. They ride for several hours before the sun has managed to warm the air enough so their breath no longer fogs. James is thankful for what warmth the sun gives them.
Trees begin to appear with more frequency and ahead it looks like the road enters a forest. Close to noon a town appears straddling the road ahead of them. As it turns out, it sits at a crossroads just within the forest.
“Let’s get something to eat and find out which way Ironhold lies,” James announces when the town first appears.
“I’m for that,” agrees Miko enthusiastically.
The town looks to be not very large, mainly servicing the traffic moving along the two roads which converge there. Off to one side sits a large sawmill with piles of stripped logs awaiting their turn.
“Be interesting to see how they do it here,” Dave says to his friend.
“Sure would,” agrees James.
They approach the town and find an inn sitting on the outskirts. Looking it over, James nods and says, “Let’s try this one. Looks clean.” Pulling up, they dismount and secure their horses to the rail out front and make their way inside.
Over to one side is a table large enough to accommodate them so they make their way over and take their seats. Shortly a serving girl comes over and takes their order. Instead of regular ale, James and the rest opt for mulled ale with a hint of spice to better warm themselves from the cold of the road.
“Wonder how far Ironhold is from here?” Miko asks.
“I don’t know,” replies James. Turning to the table next to them where a man and a woman are sitting, he says, “Excuse me.”
They both turn to look his way and the man asks, “Yes?”
“Do you know which road to take to reach Ironhold?” he asks.
“Ironhold?” the man asks surprised. He glances to the lady and then turns a serious look back to James. “Why would you want to go there? It’s said the place is haunted by spirits.”
“What?” asks Miko.
“That’s a bunch of hogwash,” Uther says. Jorry just snorts.
“What do you mean?” prompts James, trying to ignore the reaction of his comrades.
“I heard that some miners went up there in an attempt to reopen the mines and were never heard from again,” the woman says.
“Never?” asks Miko, fear creeping into his voice.
“Now don’t exaggerate dear,” the man chides her. “Most of them were found.” Turning his attention back to James and the others, he continues. “They disappeared for a time and all but two were found lost in the mountains. They claim a spirit came and took them away, leaving them lost in the woods. No mention was ever made of the fate of the remaining two.”
James glances back to the others and can see emotions ranging from the fear in Miko’s eyes to the disbelief in Uther’s. “Has anyone been up there lately?” he asks the man as he turns his attention back to the couple.
Shaking his head, the man replies, “Not that I’ve heard. None dare even go near there. Those that pass
through do so quickly without stopping.”
“James,” Miko says, “maybe we shouldn’t go there.”
“Your friend is right,” the woman tells him. “It’s a bad place.”
“Be that as it may,” asserts James, “we need to get there.”
“Then take the north road out of town through the forest and it will lead you there,” explains the man. “The road continues past Ironhold to the northern kingdoms but no traveler dares to spend the night there. Those that have tell of strange sights and sounds.”
“We’ll keep that in mind, thank you,” replies James.
“Just be careful,” the woman says, concern in her voice.
“We will,” James assures her.
Turning back to the others he says, “Seems an interesting place.”
“Interesting?” asks Miko. “Cursed more like it.”
“Relax,” Uther says with confidence. “Most likely it’s simply the wind howling through the trees or something.”
“Sure,” adds Jorry. “There’s no such thing as spirits.”
Laughing, Jiron draws every eye to him as he says, “Well let me tell you about…” He then goes into the tale of complex in the swamps which everyone must have already heard a dozen times. He reminds them of the spirits of the dead which they encountered there. “So don’t go discounting tales of spirits so easily,” he concludes.
Uther and Jorry don’t look convinced. Sure, they’ve heard the story many times but never put much credence in it. After all, some of their tales are just as scary but truth be told, most of them are not altogether true.
“Do you still think it wise to go there?” Dave asks.
“Wise or not, that’s where the trail leads,” he replies.
Turning back to the couple he asks, “Pardon me, but do you know how far it is from here?”
Over his shoulder, the man says, “Couple days I think. Not for sure though, never had the occasion to travel there.”
“Thank you,” James says as he turns back to the others with a grin. “Not that much farther.”
“Great,” mumbles Miko next to him.
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