“Us?” Fifer asks. “Who else is with you?”
“No one you’d know,” he explains.
When Fifer’s comrades come over, he turns to them and says, “This is Jiron. We fought in the pits together, the deadliest man with two knives you’ll ever see.” Then he turns back to Jiron and asks, “Is Tinok with you?”
“He was, but we got separated some time ago,” Jiron tells him as he begins to lead them back to where James and Miko are sleeping.
“At least he survived the fall of the City,” he says. Gesturing to one of his comrades, he says, “This here is Miller, he’s our leader.”
Jiron gives him a slight bow, “Glad to meet you.”
“You as well, Jiron,” Miller replies. “Fifer here has constantly told us about the pits and the fighters there. It’ll be good to have you as one of the team.”
James is awake and looking anxiously in their direction when they round the hill. When he sees Jiron smiling and unconcerned, he visibly relaxes and returns the rock to his pouch.
Miko starts awake, at first disoriented but then comes to his senses. When he sees the band of men coming toward them he at first fears attack, but then like James, relaxes when he sees Jiron’s calm demeanor.
“James, Miko,” says Jiron as they reach the camp. “This here is Fifer, a friend from the pits.” He claps him on the back and then indicating the leader of the group, saying, “And this is Miller, the leader of this band.”
“Greetings,” James says. Miko remains quiet, unsure how to take all this. “Just what brings you all this way into the Empire?”
“We’re on the trail of a force traveling south,” Miller says. “You wouldn’t have seen them, have you?”
“As a matter of fact we did, earlier today,” replies James. “There’s a town to the east a few hours away, I believe they were heading toward it.”
Miller and Fifer exchange glances that tell James this news was not what they had hoped to hear.
Turning to Jiron, Miller asks, “Now that you know our business, would you mind telling us yours?”
“We rescued James’ friend Miko here from slavers,” Jiron explains. “Now we’re just trying to get out of the Empire.”
“Why are you pursuing that army?” James asks.
Fifer looks to Miller who nods his head. Fifer turns back to them and says, “Several days ago, there was a major battle between the forces of the Empire and those made up of Madoc’s forces as well as allies who’d come to help.”
“Our general, Lord Pytherian, was captured when the Empire made a bold attack on our flanks. A force of cavalry had cut their way through the lines and before anyone could stop them, had broken through to the command area and taken the general.”
“And you’re trying to rescue him?” James asks.
Nodding, Fifer says, “We must. The alliance is beginning to fall apart without him. Most only joined because he was in command. Without him, the opposition to the Empire in this area will simply disappear.”
“It’s worse than that,” interjects Miller. “Suspicion has been growing that one faction or another had a hand in his capture. If he’s not returned, there may be conflict between the different members of the Alliance as they begin accusing each other of the deed.”
“Join us!” exclaims Fifer. “We must get him back or the Empire will expand unchecked until all of Madoc lies under its thumb!”
“What do you plan to do?” James asks.
“Now that we know where he’s been taken,” Miller explains, “we’ll go to this city and find a way to get him out.”
“Give us a moment,” James says as he nods to Jiron and Miko. Moving away from the others, they talk quietly among themselves.
“We should help them,” Jiron says. “If things are as they say, we have no choice.”
“But we don’t know that it is,” James replies. “We just have their word.”
“Fifer wouldn’t lie to me,” Jiron asserts. “We’ve known each other too long.”
“Okay, let’s say what they say is true,” James begins. “Dare we risk what we carry to help?” He points to the pouch at Miko’s waist wherein the Fire lies.
“I know,” says Jiron.
“What do you think Miko?” James asks.
Surprised at being asked, Miko says, “I say we risk it. The Empire is a blight upon this world that must be hindered in any way.” He says it with such conviction that James is taken aback by it.
Glancing from one to the other, he comes to his decision. “Alright, we’ll help,” James tells them. “But we stick together, agreed?”
Miko nods his head and Jiron says, “Agreed!”
Going back over, they tell them that they’ll help them regain Lord Pytherian.
“Great!” Miller says. “Now, show us where this city lies.”
Suddenly, James realizes that they’ve only gotten a couple hours of sleep and that Jiron has had none. “We should wait until nightfall,” he says. “We are on the point of exhaustion and need to rest before embarking on this venture.”
“Lord Pytherian may not have that much time!” Miller exclaims. “We go now!”
“Then go!” James exclaims with impatience. “You scout around and we’ll show up later, after sunset.”
“That is unacceptable!” blusters Miller. “When you agreed to join my band, you agreed to follow my orders. I say we go now!”
James gets in his face and shouts, “We did NOT agree to join your band, and we certainly are NOT under your orders! If you want our help, you will have to wait until this evening, I’ll not jeopardize our lives because of your impatience!” Standing there eye to eye with him, James can see his face beginning to turn red, obviously he’s not used to having his orders challenged.
James turns his back on him and walks away.
Shhhhht!
He hears Miller’s sword leaving its sheath. Turning around, he sees Jiron has already moved to position himself between Miller and James. The others of Miller’s band draw their weapons as well just as Fifer steps between them.
“Enough!” he cries out. Looking to Miller, he says, “These are allies! And friends! They’ve agreed to help, but even I can tell they’re dead on their feet. As they are now, they’d be little help in rescuing Lord Pytherian.” He looks Miller in the eye as he says in a calmer voice, “They need to rest. We can scout the city and allow them that time. When they’re able to help us, we’ll know better what to do.”
Getting his anger under control, Miller returns his sword to his sheath. A second later the rest of his band follows suit. “Very well,” he says as he turns his attention to Jiron. “We’ll meet you to the east of the city after sunset.”
“Agreed,” Jiron says.
Miller and his band mount their horses again and then head west toward the city. Fifer gives Jiron a shrug and a slight smile as he follows his leader.
“How did he ever get in charge of a band of men,” James says.
“Probably knows someone,” replies Jiron.
“You get some rest,” he tells Jiron. “I’ll take the rest of the watch.”
Yawning, Jiron replies, “Sounds good.” He spreads out his blanket and lies down under the afternoon sun. Both he and Miko slip into sleep in very short order.
As he sits there waiting for night to come, he shakes his head. Another city, more danger. Will it never end?
He took an instant dislike to Miller. Fifer wasn’t so bad, but that Miller, he could definitely do without.
Shortly after the sun sets, James gets everyone up. After a quick meal, they get mounted and then make for the rendezvous with Miller. It takes them a couple hours before the lights from the city appear on the horizon.
They keep to the east of the city as they hunt for Miller’s band, which is quite difficult in the dark of night. The moon hasn’t risen yet, so the only light they have is that of the stars. Off further to the east of the city, they see a small fire burning and Jiron leaves them behind while
he goes to investigate.
He doesn’t get too far before they see the fire being kicked out and extinguished. As he returns with Miller’s band, James can hear Miller saying, “…long enough. What kept you?”
“We slept till dark and then it took us a couple hours to get here,” Jiron replies. “Relax, we’re here aren’t we?”
“What did you discover?” James asks Miller when they reach him.
“There are two main gates, one to the north and one to the south,” he explains. “There are also smaller, auxiliary gates to the east and west. Those may afford us our best chance for entering the city.”
“Do they close them at night?” asks Jiron.
“They closed all but the south gate once the sun went down,” he says. “There’s a contingent of guards there watching all who enter.”
“Perhaps someone could sneak in through the south gate and then go over to the east gate and open it?” suggest James.
“With those guards there?” Miller asks.
“Sure,” Jiron replies. “Just appear like you belong and they’ll most likely not say anything to you.” He glances to James and gives him a grin, “We’ve done it before.”
“True,” James replies, “we have.”
“Okay then,” Miller says. “You go in and open the east gate and let us in.”
Jiron looks to James who nods agreement. “Give us an hour once we’re inside,” he tells Miller.
Miller nods his head, “Alright.”
James, Jiron and Miko turn their horses toward the south gate, leaving Miller and his band behind them. Once they’ve put some distance between them, Jiron says, “Glad they’re not coming with us.”
“Me, too,” he agrees. “There’s just something about that Miller that bothers me.”
“Think he’s a traitor?” asks Jiron.
“Nothing like that,” he replies, smiling. “It’s just his personality. It grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard.”
“What’s a chalkboard?” asks Miko.
“Something from where I grew up that makes a horrible noise when you run your nails across it,” he explains.
“Oh,” grunts Miko.
As they near the south gate, they see many people going in and out. Many buildings spread outward from the gate, inns and other such business as cater to travelers. “How are we going to play this off?” Jiron asks.
James points over to a single story building and says, “Look.”
Hanging around the building are lines with clothes hanging from them. From the looks of it, the building is a laundry. There’re lights coming from the windows of the building indicating someone is still at work inside.
Jiron nods his head as they move in that direction. “Wait here,” he tells them as he gets down from his horse and hands James the reins.
Moving slowly and carefully, he makes his way over to the clothes. After a careful inspection and a quick look around to see if anyone is close, he begins taking clothes off the lines. Once he has his arms full, he hurries back to James and Miko where he passes out the clothes.
They don the native attire and then tie their horses to one of the clothes lines before they begin moving toward the gate. The flow of people in and out of the gate isn’t great, but enough for it to be fairly constant even this late at night.
James notices how the guards will every once and a while pull someone aside and talk to them, inevitably letting them continue to pass through. His pulse starts to race when he realizes they’re doing that. Should they be asked to step aside, they’ll quickly be found out.
When they’re within ten people of entering the gates, one of the guards begins walking toward them. James casually reaches into his pocket and takes a stone out, holding it ready. The guard continues to approach them and then says something. James begins to panic when he feels Jiron’s hand on his arm and whispers, “Steady!”
The man in front of them steps out of line and moves to the side with the guard. Relief washes over James as they continue to advance toward the gate. Giving Jiron a sidelong grin, they pass through the gate and enter the city.
Chapter Eighteen
_________________________
The city is a bustle of activity, in many ways the same as any other. Even though it’s night, there are still many people out and merchants can be heard as they hawk their wares to those passing by. The crowds of people are beginning to disperse as the night progresses and some shops are in the process of closing for the evening.
Jiron directs them to a small alley adjacent to a store where they enter and move far enough away from the street until they’re hidden from the view of those passing by. In a hushed voice, he asks, “How do you plan on opening up the east gate?”
“I don’t,” replies James.
“But we told them we would,” argues Jiron.
“Not exactly,” James said. “Besides, once the gate is opened, we’d soon be found out. Something like that would be sure to draw unwanted attention.”
“I suppose you’re right,” says Jiron.
“Now,” begins James, “do you know anything about this Pytherian?”
“Heard his name a couple of times,” he tells him. “Like Miller said, he’s supposed to be some sort of great general. I think he is related to someone on the Ruling Council in Madoc, not sure who though.”
“Ever seen him?” asks James.
Shaking his head, he says, “No. How are we going to find him?”
“Not sure,” admits James. He looks over the tops of the houses to the Keep near the center of the city. Pointing to it, he says, “But considering whom he is, he most likely would be there.”
Looking where James is pointing, Jiron says, “You’re probably right, but how are we to get in there?”
“Haven’t a clue,” he tells him. “But that hasn’t stopped us before.”
Jiron just nods in response.
James turns to Miko and asks, “You ready?”
“Let’s do it,” he says with a startling eagerness. James gives him a sidelong look and then moves to follow Jiron as he walks out of the alley.
Upon entering the street, he follows the main flow of people down for several blocks before they come to another main road which crosses theirs. That road bears more toward the Keep than the one they’re on so Jiron turns and follows it.
As they continue toward the Keep, the amount of people on the street begins to steadily decrease. The street leads to the gate into the Keep area where two guards are standing watch. While they pause and observe those going through, they notice that the guards give comments and greeting to practically everyone who passes.
“Just about everyone who goes through that gate is probably known to them,” states James.
“I would think so,” agrees Miko.
“How are we to get through?” asks Jiron.
They move to another alley while they ponder the problem. When no answer is forthcoming, Miko says, “We could try the sewers.” When both Jiron and James look to him, he continues, “There has to be a spot where the sewers in the Keep and the sewers in the city intersect. If we can find it, we could walk under the walls.”
By the look on James’ face, he’s obviously not liking this idea. Jiron on the other hand, is nodding and giving Miko a grin.
Miko says, “If we look around a bit, we’re sure to find an access to the sewers.”
“Good idea,” says Jiron, patting him on the back.
“Alright,” James says with little enthusiasm. “Let’s see what we can find.”
They move down the alleyway and along several streets before finding a water runoff drain that they can use to gain access to the sewer. Making sure no one is watching, Jiron squeezes through and begins to descend down the rungs set into the wall to the bottom. James and Miko follow shortly afterwards.
As James begins to climb down the slime covered rungs embedded into the side of the sewer, the smell hits him. Trying not to gag, he continues down until he’s
standing next to Jiron on a ledge running next to and slightly above the main flow of the sewer.
Suddenly, the orb springs to life, giving them light to see. James moves over to allow space for Miko as he reaches the bottom.
The ledge they are standing on is a foot wide and there is one running on both sides of the main flow of the sewer, allowing people to walk without having to step into the filth flowing by below. “Wish Bearn’s sewer would’ve had this,” Miko says.
“Me too,” agrees James. “The keep was to the north of here so we should try to head in that direction.”
“Follow me,” Jiron says as he begins moving north along the sewer’s ledge. They follow him for a hundred feet before coming to where the sewer tunnel splits, one going northwest and the other going northeast. Jiron glances back to James who indicates he should follow the northeast passage. Giving him a nod, Jiron turns to follow it.
They pass several more access ladders leading up into the dark, but they continue on past. Opening up on their left, another sewer passage connects to the one they’re in and is blocked by thick iron bars spaced half a foot apart.
“That’s got to be it,” says James. The iron bars would have been put there to prevent unauthorized access to the Keep.
“I would think so too,” agrees Jiron. “Now, how are we to get through?”
“Leave that to me,” James says as he looks for a way to get to the bars without having to step in the muck.
Miko sees him as he is looking around and smiles. Then he says, “I think there’s no other way but to step into the flow.”
Sighing, James replies, “I know.” Gritting his teeth, he steps off the ledge and into the main flow of the sewer. His leg sinks a foot and a half into the filth and he almost loses the contents of his stomach from the stench that produces.
As he pauses there in the flow, Jiron says, “You okay?”
He just shakes his head. How can he explain to them just how much this nauseates him? Taking several more steps, the muck making a sucking sound every time he pulls his foot out, he makes it over to the bars.
Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li: The Morcyth Saga Book Three Page 24