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 knife 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.
Two of the enemy break through the lines of defenders and come straight toward him. Jorry and Uther move to meet this threat and quickly take them out.
The contest of wills between James and the Empire’s mage continues, as each tries to get the better of the other. Suddenly, the resistance eases up and James is able to finish his spell.
Crumph!
The area in front of the bridge explodes upward, enemy troops are flung into the air. Suddenly, the prickling starts again and before James has a chance to recover, a bolt of force strikes him in the chest and knocks him backward off the wagon.
Hitting the ground hard, he has the wind knocked out of him. Coming to his knees, he tries to get his breath back as Jiron comes to his side.
As Jiron helps him to his feet, he sees Miko running toward the fighting at the gate, sword in hand. “Miko!” he tries to yell at him, but he can’t get the volume needed to be heard. He watches as Miko begins to wade into the attackers, his sword moving so fast that the eye can hardly keep track of it.
“We’ve got to help him!” James cries out to Jiron.
“He’s too far away,” he replies. “We’d never be able to get to him!”
James watches a moment as Miko, in the state he’s in, inadvertently kills a defender that had been coming to his aid.
The dust clears from where the explosion had occurred and they see that the bridge and the mage are still standing. More troops are pouring across the bridge and working their way through the hole he’d just created to continue the attack on the defenders.
The attackers fall like grain to the scythe as Miko strides into them, totally oblivious to the many minor cuts he’s receiving. The line of soldiers that were pushing the defenders further into the city, buckles as Miko cuts a swath through them.
James tears his eyes away from Miko and back to the mage. The prickling sensation spikes again and another bolt of force flies toward him. Ready for it this time, he’s able to deflect its trajectory and it passes by harmlessly.
He throws two stones in quick succession but they bounce harmlessly off the invisible barrier. Though the mage was untouched by the missiles, he does have the minor satisfaction of seeing them striking soldiers next to him.
The attacker’s push into the city is at a standstill with Miko there. No one can stop him and the defenders are rallying around him. More archers are arriving from their positions on other parts of the wall and their arrows are having a devastating effect.
Lord Pytherian can be seen there amidst the line of defenders as he encourages them on to propel the invaders back. His sword is almost as deadly as Miko’s to anyone who comes close.
James sends his senses out to the barrier around the mage, trying to understand it and find a weak point that can be exploited. Suddenly, he finds it and realizes he should’ve thought of it before.
He redirects his senses, searching for what he needs. When he finds it, he lets loose an enormous surge of power. The one place the mage’s barrier does not cover is the soles of his feet.
Suddenly, an old root from a bygone tree breaks through the ground under his feet. The force of it hitting the mage’s foot sends him reeling, the unexpectedness of it breaks his concentration. When the prickling sensation stops completely, he knows the barrier is down.
He cocks back his arm and with another great surge of power, sends a slug speeding toward the staggering mage. The mage tries to erect another barrier but is too late. Striking his upper chest, the slug blasts through and he topples backward into the river.
A cry rises from the defenders when they see him fall, and Lord Pytherian shouts above the din, “Now! Beat them back!” With unbridled ferocity, the defenders wade into the attackers.
James, fatigued and staggering a little, looks over the battling fighters. Miko stands near the gate, momentarily still as the attackers keep their distance. They’ve learned that to come near him is to die. His sword periodically moves in a blur as it strikes a bolt out of the air as it flies toward him.
“Come on!” James cries to the others. “Now’s our chance to get him out of there!”
Running toward the fighting, James steers around pockets of fighting as he tries to get close to Miko.
Jorry, Uther and the others form a ring around him, taking out any attacker who gets close. Jiron, with knife in one hand, runs next to James. “Will he leave the battle?” he asks.
“I hope so,” replies James. “If he gets out of the gate, we’ll never get him back!”
“James!” he hears Lord Pytherian shout. He looks back and sees him pointing out of the gate. Turning his attention to the gate, he sees a large group of Parvatis coming across the bridge. If they get in it might turn the tide against the defenders.
“Jiron!” he exclaims. “Stop them!”
“How?” he replies. “I’ve only got one arm!”
“You’re the Shynti, remember?” he explains.
Jiron suddenly understands what he’s talking about. Reaching into his tunic, he pulls out the necklace with the three stones. “Right!” he says. To Jorry and Uther, he says, “You guys come with me, the rest of you stay with James.”
Jiron makes for the gates with Jorry and Uther who deal with any attacker foolish enough to come close.
James hurries over to Miko where two attackers have engaged him. James is startled when he realizes he’s grown another couple inches and has developed muscle mass on his arms and chest. Battling is causing this!
Miko cuts the head off one and comes back with a slice that takes off the swordarm of the other. Before he has time to realize what’s happened to him, Miko strikes out twice more, taking off a leg and putting his sword through the man’s chest.
As the man hits the ground, he hears James and the others coming up behind him. He turns quickly and holds his sword at the ready.
“Miko!” James hollers to him, looking him eye to eye. It might be just his imagination, but it almost looks as if there’s a red flicker within his pupils.
Enemy soldiers attack James’ group while they’re standing there staring at each other but Illan and the rest move to engage them, keeping them back while he deals with Miko.
“Miko!” he cries one more time. Miko’s eyes blink and his sword lowers a fraction. “It’s James! Time to go!”
His sword drops lower as he says in a barely audible whisper, “James?”
Nodding his head, he says more softly, “That’s right, it’s me.”
A confused look comes over his face as he gazes at the dead stacked around him. When his gaze finally comes back to James, a tear begins to well in his eye and a frightened look comes over him.
Dropping the sword, he moves to James who puts his arm around his shoulder and leads him away from the battle. Illan and the others fall back with him until they’re once more behind the lines.
James suddenly remembers Jiron and looks to the gate. He sees him standing there in front of the Parvatis holding the necklace out to them. Jorry and Uther are watching his back as their leader pauses and examines the necklace. James can see him nodding his head.
“Milord!” he hears someone holler from the gatehouse. “It’s fixed!”
“Understood!” Lord Pytherian shouts in reply. “Fight ‘em back boys! Let’s get this gate closed.”
While Jiron and the Parvatis are standing before the gate talking, they’re blocking the way for the enemy soldiers behind them who are trying to get through to continue the attack. As the last of the attackers fall within the city and the defenders begin to close the gates, Jiron says something to Jorry and Uther who move back within the city. Jiron goes with the Parvatis away from the gates, back toward the bridge.
The gates finally shut with a bang and the locks again fall into place. But Jiron is still on the other side!
“Stay here!” he tells Miko. When he gets a nod in reply, he runs over to Lord Pytherian.
“Milord!” he cries out to him.
Turning to see who it is, Lord Pytherian gives him a smile and says, “We did it! With you and your friend there, we got it closed!”
“But Jiron is on the other side!” he cries out.
The smile disappears from his face and a concerned look replaces it. “I know,” he says. “I don’t know how he did it, but stopping them most likely saved us all.”
“We’ve got to get him back,” demands James.
Shaking his head, Lord Pytherian replies, “The only way is to open the gate and we can’t do that while that army is camped out there.” He turns to an aide and says, “We got a man out there with the Parvatis, make sure the archers on the walls don’t hit him.”
“Yes, milord,” the man says before running toward the stairs leading up to the walls.
Turning his attention back to James, he says, “That’s all we can do now.”
From the wall over the gate, a man cries out, “Milord! They’re pulling back!”
“Where?” he hollers up to them.
“Back to where they were before,” the man replies.
“Let me know if anything changes,” he orders.
The man salutes him and goes back to watching the enemy.
James gestures for Fifer to come over. “You saw Jiron with the Parvatis?” he asks.
“Yeah,” Fifer replies.
Pointing to the wall over the gate he says, “See if you can get up there and find out where he’s being taken.” Turning to Lord Pytherian, he says, “With your leave milord?”
When he nods, giving his permission, Fifer runs to the access stairs to the wall.
“We still have a little problem with this Councilman Rillian,” mentions James.
“I realize that,” Lord Pytherian says. “But it’s doubtful anything will be brought against you and your friends now. The soldiers here saw you take out the mage and Miko there almost turned the tide by himself. He’s quite good isn’t he?”
“Uh, yeah,” replies James, “he is.”
“So I think you’re safe from any accusations he might make about you being agents of the Empire,” he assures him. “I seriously doubt if anyone here would give credence to it.”
“But what are you going to do about him?” James asks.
“That’s for the Council to decide,” he says, “and I’m not on the Council. I figure it’ll be taken care of quietly.”
James nods, understanding. “But what about Jiron?” he asks.
“I hate to say it, but there’s nothing we can do for him now,” he replies. “We’re not going to take the fight to them for one man. Do you understand?”
“Yeah,” James says, though not very happy about it. “I understand.”
“Good. Now I’ve got to see about the men and wounded, so you’ll have to excuse me,” he says.
“Yes milord,” he replies.
As Lord Pytherian begins calling for casualty reports and status, James goes back over to where Miko and the others are waiting. When he sees Jorry and Uther there he asks them, “What happened?”
“I thought we were dead for sure when I saw where he was heading,” Jorry replies.
“Yeah,” Uther adds. “But when he showed them that necklace, they stopped right in their tracks.”
“We heard those behind them shouting and screaming for them to move,” Jorry says. “But they just ignored them.”
“What did they say to him?” James asks them.
“There was too much noise so we couldn’t hear what was being said,” explains Uther. “But before he left with them he said to tell you that he’d be okay and that he’ll be back.”
Nodding, James begins to relax somewhat. “He’s their Shynti, that’s a rare honor among them,” he says. “I doubt if they’d let anything happen to him while he’s with them.”
James glances up to the walls and sees Fifer begin to come back down. When he joins them he says, “He went with them back to their camp.”
“Is he okay?” James asks.
“Looked like it,” replies Fifer. “The other soldiers out there were upset with them but they just ignored their cries of outrage and went back to their tent area.”
“The Parvati have some peculiar laws and customs,” James tells them. “Let’s find someplace to rest.” Turning to Yern, he says, “Would you mind staying here and keep an eye out for him?”
“No problem,” Yern says, nodding. “But how’ll I find you if he should somehow return?”
“Once we’re settled in, we’ll let you know where we’ll be,” he tells him.
“Okay,” he says then moves to the wall access.
To the others he says, “Now let’s find an inn.”