The guard at the door nodded his head. “Yes they did,” he replied.
“Question everyone,” the guard in the courtyard told the other. “And have Caleb and Benn search the neighboring streets. They may not have gone far.”
“Yes sir,” the guard at the inn’s door replied. As the guard ducked back within the inn, the one in the courtyard turned back toward the stable and resumed his progress.
“Everyone back!” whispered Chyfe urgently. He and the others moved away from the door. Then Chyfe turned to Kevik. “As soon as he passes through the door, hit him with your goo spell.”
Kevik kept his eyes on the door and nodded.
The guard’s footsteps could be heard as he neared the door. Then, the door swung open and the guard stepped through. No sooner had the guard’s foot hit the ground inside the stable, than he was encased in goo. Shocked by the unexpectedness of the attack, he remained still for a second before commencing to struggle and shout. The goo covered him to such an extent that the only sounds he could make were indistinct gruntings.
“Let’s go,” Chyfe said as he mounted his horse.
Chad held the reins to Bart’s horse in hand as he swung into the saddle. Soth took up the rear with the two pack mules.
Chyfe turned to Seth, “Take the lead.”
Seth nodded. “You got it,” he replied as he began moving toward the exit.
“Make it quick,” Chad said as Seth emerged into the courtyard and headed quickly for the gate leading to the street.
The courtyard was clear of any other guards at the moment. First Seth, then Chyfe crossed the courtyard and passed to the street beyond. Then came Riyan and Chad. When Kevik’s horse was but two feet from the gate, a shout rang out from the inn. Kevik and Soth glanced to the inn and saw a guard framed in a second story window. The very window to the room Kevik had stayed in the night before.
“Stop!” the guard yelled. When he saw Kevik and Soth kick their horses to quicken their pace, he yelled, “they’re getting away.” In a flash, they were through the gate.
The commotion the guard was making drew stares toward them as they fled. Soth led the others down the street toward the city gate furthest from the castle. It was his hope that the squads of guards which had issued forth from the castle area may not have yet made it that far.
A quarter of the city lay between their inn and the gate. They were quickly forced to slow as the street was congested with people going about their day to day business. Behind them, guards emerged from the inn’s courtyard in pursuit, and began closing the distance.
“We have to move faster,” Riyan hollered at Seth and Chyfe. “They’re gaining!” Hampered as they were with trying to make their way through the crowd on horseback, they were unable to quicken their pace.
Seth looked at the sea of people before them and realized he’d have to trample women and children under his horse’s hooves to accomplish a greater speed. He maintained his pace, agonizing over the knowledge that there was nothing he could do without risking the innocent. And that was something he wouldn’t do.
“Start yelling!” hollered Kevik.
“What?” asked Chad.
“Start yelling like you’re insane!” he replied.
“But we’ll attract attention,” argued Riyan.
Kevik gave him a look of annoyance and indicated the guards rapidly closing the distance behind them. “It no longer matters,” he said. “Now yell!” Raising his hands, Kevik spoke arcane words and a massive spray of sparks flew into the air from his fingertips.
Riyan and the others quickly got the idea and started to yell. Loud, incoherent gibberish it may have been, but the crowd quickly took notice and grew fearful. Then, energy missiles flew over the heads of the crowd and struck buildings bordering the street as Kevik began casting them in rapid succession.
Screaming, the people on the streets ran for their lives. Seth glanced back at Kevik, nodded, then kicked his horse into motion.
The display they put on would only work for a block or two. Then they would reach an area where people had heard the commotion, yet hadn’t recognized it as a possible threat. So Kevik and the others would be forced to repeat the ‘disturbance’ every so often to keep the street ahead of them cleared of pedestrians.
“My lord,” the magic user said excitedly.
“Did you find him?” the River Man asked.
“No,” came the reply. The purplish ball in his hand was spitting out micro bursts of lightning in a frenzy. Moving to the nearest window, the magic user pointed toward the heart of the city. “But magic is being cast out there.”
“Well, well,” his lord said. “Seems we’ve flushed out the intruder’s accomplices.”
“Perhaps,” agreed the magic user. Though they were below the level of the wall surrounding the castle area, they could still see the occasional energy missile arc up into the sky.
Turning to the captain of his guard, the Warlord of the Orack Tribe said, “You know what to do.”
The captain nodded and patted the satchel hanging at his side. Giving his lord a brief bow, he turned and rushed down to the score of horsemen waiting by the castle gates. Once mounted, he led his men from the castle area. He had no sooner exited through the gate than a spray of sparks arced into the sky followed shortly by a series of energy bolts. Thinking it was nice of them to let him know where they were, the captain raced through the streets.
Word quickly spread ahead of them of their approach and the streets began to grow clearer. They could see the wall where it rose above the buildings and knew they were close.
Archers upon the wall were racing toward the gate area. Already there were half a dozen stationed there with more on the way. When the gate area finally came into view, they saw the gates were closed and two score guards stood before them.
“Now what?” asked Riyan. With the archers above and the guards below, not to mention an unknown number following in their wake, he didn’t like their odds should they attempt to fight their way out.
Kevik moved to the fore as the others slowed. “Keep close,” he said as he moved toward the gate.
“We’ll never make it though there,” Chad said to him.
“Just stay close,” Kevik told him. “And don’t move until I say so.”
“Okay,” replied Chad. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Silently, Kevik said to himself, So do I. As he drew nearer, one of the archers atop the wall released an arrow which fell short. Kevik spoke arcane words and a shimmering field appeared before him. Not slowing, he kept a steady pace as he approached the gate.
Ping!
Another arrow launched from the wall hit the shimmering field and was deflected to the side. Kevik inwardly smiled at the effectiveness of the shield.
“Behind us!” hollered Soth from the rear.
Kevik glanced back and saw a swarm of guards coming down the street toward them. There had to be at least fifty or more. Another stream of arcane words and a yellowish fog filled the street behind them.
Riyan watched as guards entered the fog and succumbed to its power. One after another they entered the fog only to fall shortly afterward. “Are they dead?” he asked.
“No,” replied Kevik. “Just asleep. Let me know if any make it through.”
“Alright,” Riyan assured him.
Turning back to the men at the gate, Kevik readied himself for his next series of spells. He was growing fatigued at casting so many spells in so short a time. What his master had explained as his ‘magical reserve’ was rapidly being depleted. He was confident, however, that he could still do what needed to be done.
“They’re dropping like flies,” observed Soth.
Kevik turned a deaf ear to the comments of his friends as he began his first spell.
Arrows were coming at them rapidly as they were now within range. His shield continued to deflect the majority of them, but the shield was only so large. A couple did manage to get through, though they failed to find a target.