“We need to wait for a few minutes for him to get into position,” Seth told the Raider.
“My name is Haran Eckbar,” he told them.
“I’m Seth,” Seth told him, “and this is my brother Soth.”
“Twins,” Haran stated.
“So we’ve been told,” Soth replied with a grin.
They waited for a minute. Then when they figured Bart should have reached Kevik, Seth asked his brother. “You ready?”
Soth nodded. Then with a grin asked, “Are you?”
Seth matched his grin then nodded in turn. “Let’s go.” Kicking his horse in the sides, he bolted from the stable. Behind him, Soth and the Raider followed close.
They didn’t get far before one of the archers stationed on the rooftops noticed their flight. “The Raider is escaping!”
The three of them laid low along their horses’ necks and pushed them for even greater speed. Before they were able to reach the gate leading from the courtyard, the twang of a bow could be heard.
“Here they come,” Bart said to Kevik just as the initial cry went up.
Kevik held his staff in hand, and as the riders raced past, cast his wind spell. A split second later, the archer atop the inn fired his arrow. It flew true until it hit the cross draft that Kevik’s spell had created. At that point it was blown off trajectory.
The three riders left the inn’s courtyard and raced out of town. Those who had been set to watch for a Raider rescue party were caught unawares and reacted too late. Before any sort of response could be initiated, the riders were gone.
As people began racing about, Bart said, “Get back to the inn.”
Kevik nodded.
Chad stood at the window and watched the riders race from the courtyard. The courtyard began to fill with people, two of which were Riyan and Chyfe. Swords in hand, they joined with others who had gathered to repel an attack force which never materialized.
Picking up the rope that was lying on the table nearby, he moved from the window and opened the door. The hallway was dark and quiet. Crossing to the doorway opposite his quickly, he entered the room Seth and his brother shared. Shutting and locking the door behind him, he went to the window and waited.
He didn’t have long to wait before two shadows appeared crossing the street. Recognizing their silhouettes, he lowered the rope down as they came closer.
“He’s gone,” the old soldier told the onlookers as he exited the stable. Riyan and Chyfe stood with the others who had come when the alarm had sounded. “They tied up Rall, and took the prisoner.”
Just then Rall emerged from the stable and came to the old soldier. Rubbing the side of his head, he said, “They came out of nowhere!”
Another man who walked with Rall saw Riyan standing with the onlookers. “They stole three of your horses,” he told him.
“What?” exclaimed Riyan in dramatic surprise. Rushing to the stable, he and Chyfe saw the empty stalls.
“Damn horse thieves!” Chyfe cursed, playing the part to the hilt.
As the two of them exited the stable, the old soldier was staring at them peculiarly. Riyan noticed the look and came to a quick stop.
“You have two men with you who looked like Tribesmen don’t you?” the old soldier asked.
“Well, yes we do,” Riyan replied, “But they come from up north near Gilbeth.” He paused a moment as he took in the growing negative stance the locals were taking toward him and Chyfe.
“Where are they?” a local asked. The man and others glanced around to see if they could be located.
“Yes,” the old soldier said as he stared at Riyan. “Where are they?”
“I…I don’t know,” replied Riyan. “Surely you can’t think they had anything to do with this?”
“Two men appear out of nowhere,” the old soldier stated. “None of the men posted to watch for the approach of Raiders saw them. Perhaps they were already here?”
From behind the old soldier, Bart appeared for which Riyan was grateful. Bart was much better at this sort of thing than he was. “What is it exactly that you are accusing us of?” Bart demanded. “After all, we were the ones who affected his capture if you’ll remember.”
“Then where are they?” asked the old soldier.
“Back in the inn,” Bart explained, “watching our equipment.”
“We’ll just see about that,” he said. Motioning to the two archers who were in the crowd he indicated Riyan, Bart and Chyfe. “Don’t let them get away.”
“Yes sir,” one of the archers replied.
“Instead of wasting time with this nonsense,” Bart said then pointed in the direction the three riders had fled, “maybe you should be getting after them.”
“Too late now,” he replied. “Besides, it would be foolish to leave the protection of Marl Crest. Who knows how many Raiders lie in wait out there in the darkness?” Turning toward the inn, the old soldier and a good portion of the onlookers began heading quickly for the rear door.
Kevik, who had by this time returned to the inn, stood at the window overlooking the courtyard. When he saw the group of locals heading their way, he left the window and raced across the hall.
“Hurry up,” he said to Chad, “they’re on their way.”
Chad nodded. Beside him stood Seth who had just finished making his way up the rope and through the window. The rope tightened in his hand as Soth began his ascent. From below, they heard the door open and the footsteps of many people crossing the common room toward the stairway leading to the second floor.
Soth moved up the rope with great agility. When he was but a few feet from the window ledge, they heard the footsteps reach the landing on their floor. “Time’s running out,” Seth said as he leaned out to see how his brother was doing.
Soth pulled himself up to just below the window ledge and then said, “Give me a hand.” His brother reached down, took his hand, and pulled him quickly through the window.
As soon as Soth’s weight was off the rope, Chad quickly pulled it into the room and stuffed it beneath one of the beds. No sooner had the rope been stashed and they took their seats than the old soldier appeared in the doorway.
“Yes?” Kevik asked as the old soldier came to a stop just within the room.
Not saying a word, the old soldier took in the fact that Seth and Soth were in the inn just as Riyan had said. From behind him one of the locals said to others further down the hallway, “They’re here.”
“Were we supposed to be somewhere else?” asked Chad.
Turning about, the old soldier left the room and proceeded down the hall to the stairs. The local who had come with him followed, after each had looked into the room to see for themselves that the twins were there.
After the last one had left, the four companions broke into smiles. Seth got up and hurried to close the door. “That was close,” he said to the others.
“Too close,” agreed Kevik.
Then from out in the hallway, more steps could be heard approaching their room. Worry that the locals had returned quickly disappeared when the door opened and Bart, Chyfe, and Riyan entered the room. Everyone remained quiet until the door had been shut.
“We did it!” exclaimed Riyan in a hushed voice.
“So it would seem,” agreed Bart. “I suggest we take the rest of our horses and get out of here now.” Turning to Seth, he asked, “How did it go?”
“Haran said we’d find the horses in an abandoned farm three miles south of town,” he replied.
“Haran?” asked Kevik.
“That was the Raider’s name,” he explained. “The horses will be stashed inside a farmhouse with a broken chimney.”
“Alright then,” Bart said. “Get your stuff and let’s get out of here.” Outside, the eastern sky was brightening with the coming of dawn. A short time later, each had their packs and was headed down the stairs. At the bottom, they found the girl happily getting the common room back in order.
Riyan paused a moment as he watched her pick up one of the pallets from off the floor. She was humming a merry tune. Though she didn’t leave with Haran, she was pleased by the fact that he wasn’t being sent off to Yerith Keep for questioning. Hope was still alive that she and her man could be together. It just wouldn’t be this day.