That night at the inn was one of the longest James can ever remember. Doing his best to try to sleep, he just ends up tossing and turning all night as he worries about the next day. Sometime during the night, Jiron gets up and heads to the door. “Where are you going?” James asks.
Pausing in the dark, he replies, “Down to the docks. Want to look around before morning.”
“Be careful,” cautions James, “and be back an hour before sunup.”
“I will,” he assures him. “Try to get some sleep.” He then turns back toward the door and quickly makes his way out of the room, closing it behind him.
James listens to his soft tread in the silence of the night as he walks down the hallway to the stairs as he lays there for awhile. After no longer being able to hear his footsteps he must’ve managed to fall asleep for the shutting of the door startles him awake when Jiron returns.
“Just me,” he hears Jiron say as he walks over to where he’s lying on the bed. “We got trouble.”
“What?” he asks, coming the rest of the way awake.
“There are twenty or more guards stationed at the docks with more patrols on the streets than there were yesterday,” he explains.
“Did you find out why?” James asks.
“No,” he replies. “It was all I could do just to avoid being seen.”
“How are we going to get the others to the Crashing Wave with all the guards everywhere?” James asks, worried.
“I don’t know, but we better think of something fast,” he says. “Dawn’s about an hour away.”
James sits there and contemplates the situation when Jiron says, “Maybe we could draw them off?”
“What do you mean?” he asks.
“I mean, we get the others close to the docks, then you and I go to another part of town and create a diversion,” he explains.
Nodding, James says, “That might work. Can we get them close enough to the docks without being seen?”
“I think so,” Jiron replies.
“Let’s wake up the others and let them know what’s going on,” he says as he gets out of bed.
Going to the other rooms, they soon have everyone awake and back in James’ room for a quick meeting. As soon as everyone’s there, they tell them about the guards at the dock and what they plan to do.
“Selling the horses,” Delia announces. “That must have tipped them off something was going on.”
“Could’ve been,” James agrees, “but we had little choice.”
He has them take out the money and makes sure that Roland has the fifty golds for their passage. Then he takes ten golds apiece for Jiron and himself, the rest they divide among everyone else. He turns to Roland and says, “Have Ezra keep Arkie quiet. If he starts crying, it’s all over.”
Roland nods his head and communicates that to Ezra, who indicates she understands. “Alright,” he says, “let’s go.”
They quietly make their way down to the main floor and leave out the back way near the stables. “We better leave our two horses here and try to get back to them when we’re ready to leave town,” he suggests to Jiron.
“If we’re able,” he replies. “We might be a little too busy to make it back here.”
Jiron takes the lead and follows a roundabout way through the streets toward the docks. Twice they have to duck into side alleys when they encounter roving patrols. Both times they wait silently until they pass before continuing once more to the docks.
When they’re within a couple blocks of the docks, Jiron stops before a door in the side of a darkened warehouse and places his ear against it, listening. Then he turns the handle and opens the door as he motions for everyone to file inside. The warehouse is empty but for a few boxes that look like they have been abandoned here. “You should be able to wait here until you make the run for the ship.”
“How will we know when it’s time?” Tersa asks.
Jiron looks to James and says, “I think you’ll know.”
James nods his head.
Tersa gives her brother a hug and says, “You be careful.”
He hugs her back and sees the tears in her eyes, “Don’t worry, I’ll see you in Trendle.” Trying to stop his own tears from falling at having to leave her again, he says to James, “We better get going.”
“Good luck,” Delia says to them before they leave. The others offer their ‘goodbyes’ and ‘see you laters’ as well.
With a final look toward the pit fighters, Jiron says, “You keep her safe!”
Scar says, “You can count on us,” the others nod their heads in agreement.
With a slight nod of his head, Jiron leaves the warehouse with James right behind and closes the door behind them. Turning to James he says, “Let’s go cause some trouble!”
“Right behind you,” he says, not nearly as eager as Jiron seems to be.
Jiron leads him through back streets as they avoid the patrols until they’ve put most of the city between them and where the others wait. Hiding in the shadows of an alley, they watch as a patrol of five guards approach from down the street.
“You ready?” Jiron asks James.
“No,” James replies, sighing slightly, “but I never will be. So let’s just do it.”
They wait for the guards to march pass and then Jiron runs out of the alley and tackles the one in the rear while James causes a light to burst overhead.
His knives strike out, killing the rear guard while James takes out another with a slug. Cries begin sounding in the night and horns start to sound. Jiron quickly gains his feet as the remaining three turn around, momentarily blinded by the light bursting overhead.
Jiron closes with the next one and quickly takes him out. “Let’s get out of here!” he hollers to James as they run, leaving the remaining two guards to sound the alarm.
“Think that did it?” James asks as they dash through a side alley to get away from the scene of the attack.
“Probably not enough to draw them from the docks,” he says. “We need something a bit more spectacular.”
“Alright,” James says as they race around a corner.
“Nothing yet,” Shorty announces from where he’s looking out the window for the signal.
“It’s only been a couple minutes,” Delia says. “Give them time.”
Tersa comes over near Delia and asks, “Do you think they’ll be able to draw off the guards at the docks?”
Delia nods her head as she remembers the massive explosion James had produced back at the City of Light, “I’m sure they can manage it.”
Suddenly a bright light comes in through the window and everyone runs over to look. A starburst explodes in the sky near the far side of Al-Kur. “Was that them?” asks Tersa.
“Has to be,” Delia replies just as horns begin to sound off in the distance.
Shorty runs over to a window that has a good view of the docks and the men stationed there. After a brief look he turns back to them and says, “They’re still there.”
“What are they doing?” Scar asks as he moves to join him.
“They’re looking at the light but otherwise not moving,” he says.
“Come on guys,” Stig says as he looks out the window toward the starburst that’s beginning to fade, “you’ve got to do better than that.”
They can see other guards running toward the commotion off in the distance, but the ones at the docks remain where they are.
“I don’t think…” Yorn starts to say when…
Crumph!
A massive explosion rips through the night, fireballs shooting into the air as well as chunks of stone from whatever building had blown up.
“Way to go, James!” Scar exclaims jubilantly.
“Some are leaving!” Shorty shouts from where he’s watching the docks.
“How many?” asks Stig.
“It looks like all but about ten,” Scar replies.
Potbelly says, “That’s better than twenty.”
“It’s unlikely any more will leave if they haven’t already,” adds Stig.
“I agree,” Scar says. “Shorty, can you take out a few before we get there?”
“Three or four,” he replies. “I’m running out of knives.”
“That will do,” he says. “We can take care of the rest.” Drawing one of his swords, he opens the door and takes the lead as they begin making their way slowly toward the docks. The rest of the fighters follow him closely with Roland and the girls at the end along with Potbelly, who’s doing better but still not up to his best.
When they reach the docks, they pause briefly before passing from the cover afforded by the last of the warehouses. Shorty readies his knives and with a nod from Scar, begins throwing them in rapid succession. The others break into a run toward the guards as the second knife flies by.
They watch as his first knife flies and strikes one of the guards. As the man falls to the ground, the second sinks into the man standing next to him. The rest of the guards become aware of the threat and begin scanning for the source of the flying knives. One of them shouts a warning when he spots them running toward them, weapons out.
A third knife takes out another guard and then Shorty’s final knife hits the foremost guard in the shoulder. As he staggers from the blow Scar reaches him and quickly finishes him off with a thrust through the middle.
Potbelly stays behind to guard the women and Roland, his sword and knife ready for any who somehow make it around the others. He keeps an eye out behind them as well for any who may come from within Al-Kur.
Stig faces off with a guard bearing a sword and shield, his mace smashing through the man’s shield and breaking the bone of his arm in two. He deflects the guard’s sword with his shield while following through with his mace. Connecting with the man’s helmet, he caves it in and crushes the skull beneath. As the guard falls lifelessly to the ground, he turns and engages another.
Shorty’s fighting knives dance as he joins the fray, blocking the attacks of two guards. Unable to go on the offensive, he’s at least able to put up a good defense and keep these two busy while the others deal with the rest.
Suddenly a cry splits the night and Scar turns to see Yorn fall, a guards’ sword wedged between his ribs. “Yorn!” he cries, as he strikes out at his opponent severing the man’s head from his shoulders. He runs over to where Yorn lies and engages the guard who has his foot on Yorn’s chest as he attempts to dislodge his sword. With his sword wedged in between Yorn’s ribs, he’s unable to defend himself and falls quickly to Scar’s swords. Scar looks down to Yorn but knows there’s no hope when he sees his lifeless eyes staring out.
Having killed his opponent, Stig moves to help Shorty who’s being hard pressed by the two guards he’s fighting. Coming up behind one, he cuts deeply into the man’s neck, practically severing his head from his shoulder. As the man falls, Shorty is able to utilize both knives in his fight with the remaining man and soon has him on the ground next to his partner.
Swearing at the loss of Yorn, Scar looks around and sees the rest of the guards lying dead on the docks. “Come on!” he yells as he waves to where Potbelly waits with the others.
From across town, another massive explosion rocks the morning. They look and see a large fireball reaching up toward the sky.
The morning is beginning to lighten as the sun peaks over the horizon. Scar looks to the ship, second from the end and sees movement upon the rigging where the sailors are preparing to get under way.
Once Potbelly and the others join them, they begin running toward the Crashing Wave. Reaching the gangplank, Roland hollers up to the ship, “Permission to come aboard?”
The captain comes to the rail and looks down at them. Glancing over to the dead guards lying on the docks he replies, “Permission granted.”
“Come on!” Roland says to the others as he starts crossing the gangway.
When they’re all on board they stop abruptly as four crossbowmen aim their crossbows at them. From behind the captain, the Eye comes forward and says, “Thank you captain, you’ve been most helpful.”
James is growing quite tired, especially after that last spell which took out the guardhouse. “Do you think that’s enough yet?” he asks Jiron.
Grinning back at him, Jiron says, “That should be enough to get their attention in a bad way.”
They run down a side alley as they attempt to evade another patrol passing through the area. They’ve been running and hiding after that last explosion, doing their best to avoid tangling with any large group of guards. James’ supply of slugs is beginning to run low, only ten left.
“Maybe it’s time to get the horses and leave,” he suggests.
Jiron replies as he nods his head, “That would probably be a good idea, they should be on the ship by now.”
“I hope so,” he says as he thinks of Delia and especially little Arkie.
“Our horses are all the way across town,” Jiron informs him. “It’s going to take us a while to get there.”
“I know,” he replies, “lead on.”
Looking out of the alley, Jiron checks to make sure the street is clear of guards before exiting. When the coast is clear, they exit the alley and follow the street in the interest of speed. Breaking into a run, they head toward the inn where their horses are stabled.
Street by street they make their way closer to the inn. Many times they’ve had to duck down alleys or into buildings to avoid being spotted. Back on the street after one such incident, they suddenly see a group of six soldiers turn onto the street ahead of them. Fortunately they’re moving the other way down the street so fail to notice them.
“Soldiers now?” James says as they quickly turn off the street into another alley.
Leading them further into the alley, Jiron replies, “Guess we really got their attention.”
“That was the plan,” James says from behind. “Could be the ones who’ve been following us the last few days, too,” he adds.
“Possibly,” agrees Jiron.
Coming to the end of the alley, they pause as they watch a dozen or more soldiers running past on their way further into the city. They’re just moving past the alley where James and Jiron are waiting, when from up above them, a woman begins crying out to the soldiers.
James looks up as she continues yelling and pointing to where they’re hiding in the alley. Glancing back toward the soldiers, he sees them turning and begin running in their direction.
“Damn!” he hears Jiron curse as they race back down the alley. Before they reach the end of the alley, Jiron grabs James and ducks into a side door of the building opposite the one with the woman.
James slams the door shut and locks it. That’s when he realizes Jiron has led them into someone’s home. Jiron takes the stairs leading up to the second floor with James following close behind. Before they reach the top of the stairs, banging can be heard coming from the door leading to the alley.
Emerging from the stairs onto the second floor they see before them a long hallway running the length of the home. From the far end a door can be heard slamming shut and what sounds like furniture being piled behind the door to prevent them from gaining access to it.
They do a quick search and locate a narrow stairway leading up to the roof. As Jiron steps upon the ladder to go up to the roof, they hear the door to the alley burst in. Moving quickly up the stairs they reach the roof.
Jiron pauses momentarily as James clears the ladder. “Where now?” James asks him.
He scans the buildings adjacent to them and finds one with a small enough gap between them that they will be able to jump. “Follow me,” he tells him as he runs and jumps over the gap between buildings.
James runs as fast as he can and with heart beating wildly, jumps across. Sailing through the air he glances to the alley below and panics. When he lands on the other side, he loses his balance, falls to the roof and rolls a couple of times before coming to a stop.
Jiron is there to help him back to his feet and then they run to the opposite side where they once more jump the gap. James makes it this time without falling.
A noise behind them causes James to turn and he sees soldiers pouring onto the roof of the building they had originally exited. “One more time,” he hears Jiron say as he makes once more for the edge of the building where he jumps across to the other side.
Looking over his shoulder before he starts to run for the edge, James sees the soldiers beginning to jump the first gap in pursuit. Bracing himself for another jump, he runs quickly and soars over to the other building where he lands well, maintaining his balance.
Jiron is standing by an open trapdoor that leads down into the building. “Hurry!” he yells over to him as he begins to climb down.
James reaches the trapdoor and starts to climb down when he hears Jiron fighting with someone on the inside. When he clears the top, he sees him there battling with someone in their nightshirt.
The man is no match for Jiron and is soon lying on the ground, blood beginning to soak the front of his nightshirt.
“Did you have to kill him?” James asks as Jiron begins to descend to the ground floor.
With impatience in his voice, Jiron replies, “Didn’t have time not to.”
Coming to the front door, he pauses a moment and says to James, “I think we’re only a couple of streets down from the inn.”
“Thank goodness,” exclaims James.
He looks out a window near the door and sees many soldiers running past on their way to the building they had originally entered down the street.
Suddenly, they hear the pounding of many feet on the roof as the soldiers chasing them reach the roof from the other building.
Jiron says to James, “There are still a lot of soldiers out there.”
“What choice do we have?” he replies grimly.
Jiron throws open the door and quickly engages the closest soldier, taking him by surprise. At the clash of metal, every eye turns toward them. Jiron quickly disposes of the soldier as he turns to face the others.
James pauses momentarily as he gazes at the dozens of soldiers in the street that are now intent upon them.
Crumph!
The ground explodes to their right, throwing soldiers and dirt into the air. Then he releases the power again as the ground to their left explodes upward. Two soldiers are left dazed and standing after the two explosions.
Jiron closes with the first one and in his dazed state, is unable to defend himself. Jiron takes him out in short order. The other soldier gains his senses quickly and draws his sword as he advances.
James looks back to the building they just vacated and sees the soldiers coming down the stairs from the roof, heading for the open door. Almost out of reflex, he unleashes a blast of energy through the door, knocking them backward and slowing them down.
“Come on!” Jiron says to him as the second soldier falls to the ground.
His head bursting with pain and knees wobbly, he hurries as best he can. Jiron sees the condition he’s in and takes his arm, helping him toward the inn.
They move along the path left between the two large holes in the road he created with the explosions and move into another alley on the far side. Hurrying as best they can, they come to the rear wall of the inn’s courtyard.
The inn’s courtyard is crowded with people who begin screaming and running when they see Jiron and James approaching. Jiron is a ghastly site, covered in blood as he is with one knife drawn, glinting in the torchlight. The courtyard is soon cleared of the panicked people. They move to the stable to retrieve their horses that they had left saddled for a quick escape.
Once in the saddle, they ride out of the courtyard and into the street where Jiron plows through a group of soldiers, knocking them to the ground. Riding with all speed, they race for the edge of town, several crossbow blots fly in their direction but all miss their mark.
They gallop with reckless speed through the streets, heedless of anyone in their way as they make for the edge of town. Suddenly, Jiron pulls up and stops. “Why did you stop?” James hollers at him as he slows to a halt beside him.
Jiron points down the street and says, “Look.”
Looking to where Jiron is pointing, he gasps when he sees the men stationed along the road ahead of them. There are easily thirty crossbowmen and another fifty foot soldiers barring their way. “Oh my god!” he says. Beyond the waiting men is the edge of town, and escape.
Looking behind them, Jiron sees a swarm of soldiers heading their way. “Looks like we’re trapped,” he says.
“Jiron,” James says.
“Yes?” he replies without taking his eyes off the approaching soldiers.
James removes a rope from behind his saddle and begins tying himself in place. “You may need to lead my horse should I lose consciousness.”
Jiron looks over to him and sees what he’s doing, “What do you plan?”
“Don’t have time to explain,” he replies. “Just don’t let go of my horse, whatever you do.”
Jiron nods his head and takes the reins as James closes his eyes. Behind them, the soldiers are gaining, only five buildings separate them from where he’s sitting on his horse. The soldiers barring the edge of town have taken notice of them as well and have begun advancing slowly toward them. Come on, James! he thinks to himself as he watches the men getting closer.
All of a sudden, two of the buildings behind them blast apart, their stones raining down upon the men running in the street. Cries ring out as the stones crush the men. With great relief, Jiron sees the street behind them is now completely blocked by the rubble.
He looks over to James and sees perspiration beginning to form and course down his face. His breathing is coming in gasps and he’s leaning slightly in the saddle.
“James?” he asks but then stops when James shakes his head.
The wind suddenly begins blowing harder as it steadily increases in intensity. Jiron looks to the sky as clouds appear, moving toward them with unnatural speed from all directions. James begins to moan in pain but still he concentrates, directing the magic.
Having just witnessed the power James unleashed on the men now dead under the rubble, the soldiers waiting for them at the edge of town become restless. They become even more so when they see the clouds gathering in the sky above them. Several crossbow bolts fly in their direction, but the force of the wind knocks them awry. A man with a commanding presence, an officer by his bearing, stands there yelling at the nervous soldiers, attempting to bolster their courage.
Jiron looks on in absolute amazement as he watches a section of the clouds begin to descend a little ways down from the dark mass above. And then suddenly, with great speed, it slams into the waiting men below. Nothing can be heard but the roar of the tornado as it rips through the gathered men beneath it. Bodies are ejected from it, flying in all directions to land broken and lifeless. Those not directly under it are sucked into it until they too are eventually thrown out, falling lifeless to the ground.
A very few of the men that were gathered at the edge of town survived the initial plunge of the tornado. Thrown around by the wind, the rest flee for their very lives. Suddenly, a cry comes from James and the tornado splits in two, each half moving away from the center of the street in opposite directions.
Jiron glances back to James who is trying to say something but is having trouble being heard over the roar of the wind. Leaning closer, he’s able to make it out, “Now, go between them!” Trusting in James, he gets the horses moving quickly and they approach the towering funnels. The wind whips them mercilessly as he approaches the gap between the two.
The horses balk at going between the two towering tornadoes, but with whips and kicks, Jiron forces them through. “Hurry!” he barely hears James shout as they pass between the swirling masses of destruction. Kicking the horses harder, Jiron at last emerges from the other side, where it takes little encouragement to get the horses into a gallop.
Another cry escapes James before he passes into unconsciousness. Jiron looks back to the tornadoes and sees them melding back together into one large tornado that quickly dissipates. Seeing no imminent pursuit, he turns the horses southeast and races out into the desert.
“Please drop your weapons,” the Eye says to them.
Roland glares at the captain, feeling betrayed. The captain just returns his stare, his face devoid of any emotions.
The Eye raises his hand and the crossbowmen take aim as he repeats his command, “Drop your weapons, now!”
With little choice they remove their weapons and drop them to the ship’s deck.
“You’ve given us quite a chase,” he says to them. “Fortunately, that is now over.” Turning to the captain, the Eye says, “Have your men secure their hands behind them.”
The captain glances behind him to his men standing there, “You heard him boys.”
“Aye, captain,” one of them says as they start to move toward Roland and the rest.
As they pass through where the crossbowmen stand, they suddenly turn and knock the crossbows out of their hands, quickly subduing them. The captain, in a fluid motion, draws his sword and rests the point on the Eye’s chest.
“What is this, captain?” the Eye exclaims in anger when he sees the captain’s sword threatening him.
“You’re not taking them,” he informs the Eye.
“I’ll have you killed for this, captain!” the Eye warns vehemently. “I’ll send your ship to the bottom of the sea!”
“Toss em over, lads,” the captain tells his crew, ignoring the threats of the Eye.
One by one, the crossbowmen are thrown overboard until only the Eye remains. “Captain!” one of the men up in the rigging hollers out as he points toward the docks, “we’ve got company!”
The captain looks over to the docks and sees a score of men running toward his ship. “You’ll never get out of this harbor alive,” the Eye warns him.
“Cast off,” he cries to his men who begin casting off lines and climbing the rigging.
“Your death will be a pleasure,” the Eye continues, “watching as you wriggle upon the end of a pole as it slowly pushes its way through your guts from your ass!”
“Would you just shut up!” the captain yells at the Eye. He turns him around, boots him in the butt and watches as he plummets over the rail into the sea below.
“Thank you captain,” Tersa says as she comes forward.
“Enough time for that later,” he tells her. “You and the others stay out of our way and we may yet live through this.”
“Mr. Kerny!” he hollers.
“Yes sir,” a sailor yells from the other side of the ship.
“Make for deep water!” he cries.
“Aye, aye captain!” he replies as he begins turning the wheel to steer them out to sea. The wind begins filling their sails as they slowly turn away from the docks and head out of the harbor.
Splash!
A rock hits the water not five feet from the side of the ship. “Look!” Stig cries as another boulder flies through the air toward them. They brace for impact but it flies over the ship, landing with a splash twenty feet away.
“That was close,” exclaims Shorty.
“Mr. Kerny!” the captain yells.
“Yes, captain,” Mr. Kerny replies.
“Hard to port, evasive actions!” he tells him.
“Aye, aye captain!” and then they feel the ship lurch as Mr. Kerny begins attempting to evade the oncoming boulders.
“Captain, look!” Delia cries as she sees two ships beginning to pull away from the docks.
“I see ‘em, lass,” the captain tells her, “but if we can beat them to open water, they’ll never catch us.”
“Ahoy aloft! Full sails!” he shouts to the sailors in the rigging.
Without even a reply, they begin to completely unfurl the sails. Once they’re fully extended, the boat lurches as the wind fills the sails.
Delia looks to the ships that are pulled out, but they’ve already begun to fall behind. She soon realizes that they are not going to be able to catch them.
The captain comes over to where they’re crouching by the railing and asks, “So, do you have my fifty gold pieces?”
She nods to Roland who hands over the pouch containing the gold.
The captain opens it and looks through it, satisfied.
“You did all this for fifty golds?” Stig asks incredulously.
“No, son,” the captain replies, “I did it because I hate the empire.”
“But you’ve risked your life and your ship for us,” Delia says. “How can we ever repay you?”
“Having the pleasure of kicking that son of sea cow overboard was payment enough,” he tells her breaking into a big smile.
“Make yourselves comfortable,” he tells them. “It’s a three day trip to Cardri.”
The wind starts to fall off suddenly and there’s a cry from up above. The captain looks to the sky and watches in amazement as the clouds begin rushing toward Al-Kur. “What the hell?” he exclaims.
“It’s James,” Delia whispers to the others.
“You think so?” Tersa asks.
“Yeah, only magic could make the clouds react like that,” she explains.
They look back to Al-Kur and watch as the clouds intensify over the town and then suddenly seem to descend to the ground in one spot. After a couple minutes, the clouds begin dissipating and everything returns to normal.
“Hope they’re alright,” Tersa says, worried for her brother.
“Those two can take care of themselves,” Scar assures her.
“I hope so,” she says as she watches Al-Kur slowly disappear in the distance. “I hope so.”