Replacing the tube within his tunic, he steps over the dead man barely giving him a second thought. At the end of the alley, a doorway stands open and the ring directs him to enter.
On the other side of the door is a long, dimly lit hallway. He moves into it and follows it down past several closed doors. At the fourth door, the ring tells him he’s very close, possibly on the other side of the door.
Opening it, he finds a gruesome sight. A small room, with but a bed and chest. On the floor is a dead girl, bending over her is he who the Eye has been searching for. “You fool!” he exclaims as he closes the door and enters the room.
Chapter Ten
On the way back to the inn, Miko finds Dave sitting at an open air eatery. “What are you doing here?” he asks him. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the room?”
Dave looks up with an annoyed expression and replies, “Relax. All I’m doing is having a meal and getting some fresh air.”
The eatery is just down the street from the inn, he can see it from here. Not wanting to cause a scene in a public place, he says, “Very well. But return as soon as you’re done.”
Sighing, Dave says, “Alright, but you guys are really getting on my nerves.”
Wanting nothing more than to take out his anger and frustration on him, Miko instead turns and walks down to the inn. When he passes through the front door, he finds Illan sitting in the common room near a window.
At his approach, he nods for him to take a seat at his table. “You know where that friend of James’ is? He’s down the street at an eatery!”
“I know,” replies Illan as he glances out the window. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him for some time now. It was a mistake to have taken him with us.”
“So why did we?” Miko asks as he sinks into the chair. A serving girl comes over and he orders some ale.
“James wouldn’t leave him alone,” he explains. “Not after what he’s gone through. Plus, Jiron would’ve killed him if we had left him there with his sister.”
Nodding, Miko sees the girl returning with his ale. After he’s taken a sip, he asks, “Any word from Jiron and Fifer?”
Shaking his head, Illan says, “No, not yet.” In hushed tones, he goes on to relate what Ellinwyrd told him about James. When he’s done, he all but has to restrain Miko from rushing to the castle to rescue him.
“We can’t just sit here and do nothing!” he exclaims.
“I don’t plan to sit here and do nothing,” he states. “But we have a day, maybe two and we don’t want to act prematurely. I think it’s safe to say that they’re not planning on killing him here. Most likely they are going to return him to the Empire for interrogation first and find out what he knows.”
“About what?” he asks.
“About that certain something you all found and which we just recently put away somewhere,” he explains in a roundabout way in case they’re overheard.
“Oh right,” he says and then mouths ‘The Fire’.
“Exactly,” he says. “Our first priority has to be finding Jiron and Fifer. Once we have them back with us, we’ll be in a much better position to attempt a rescue.”
Miko then tells Illan about what he’s having those kids of his do, and about the connection between Lord Kindering and the Ambassador.
Nodding, Illan says, “That puts some things in perspective.”
“What do you mean?” asks Miko.
“Well, first of all it explains why he was summoned here,” Illan explains. “From what we’ve found out, Lord Kindering and Lord Colerain are bound together in some way. Could be simply trading partners, who knows? Lord Kindering might have gotten the idea that if he managed to get James here and to the Empire’s delegates, then they may give Cardri, and thus him, better terms in the negotiations.”
“So you’re saying they’re giving up James just to make more money on trade?” he asks.
“Something like that,” agrees Illan. “Though this is all just conjecture on my part, it does fit with what’s happening. The fact that it also enables Lord Colerain to extract revenge upon James is probably just an added bonus.”
Just then, Dave walks in through the front door. He sees them sitting at the table and simply nods to them as he makes his way to the stairs and up to his room.
“Hope he stays there,” grunts Miko.
“We’ve got more important things to worry about than him,” Illan says.
“You’re right,” agrees Miko.
Jiron comes awake and finds Qyrll sitting against the wall. He turns his head when he sees Jiron sit up. Nodding over to the candle sitting on the crate, he says, “We’re almost out of light.” Fifer remains asleep over against the far wall.
“Is it light out yet?” Jiron asks.
Shrugging, the Parvati says, “It’s hard to tell, but I think the sun’s been up for some time now.”
Worried, Jiron says, “I was sure James would’ve found us by now.”
“Maybe he’s otherwise occupied?” suggests Qyrll.
“Let’s hope not.” Getting up, he stretches and comes to sit next to the Parvati.
Voices can be heard coming from the other side of the door as footsteps approach and then continue on past. “People have been moving along the corridor outside for some time now,” Qyrll states. “Fortunately none have come in here.”
Gesturing to the room, Jiron says, “Do you blame them?”
Qyrll just gives him a grin at that as he shakes his head.
More footsteps approach and they become silent. This time instead of passing by, the footsteps stop at the door.
Glancing at one another, they get to their feet just as the door opens. Swinging wide, several girls in their late teens come in and stop with a gasp when they see them standing there.
Jiron is about ready to say they’re not going to hurt them when one gives out with a scream at the sight of the Parvati and his extensive tattooed skin.
Fifer starts awake and comes quickly to his feet.
The girls turn and flee out the door and down the hallway all the while screaming for help.
“That tears it!” says Jiron as he moves for the door. “Let’s go.”
He reaches the corridor on the other side just as a group of six thugs comes at them wielding clubs and swords. “Back in the room!” he hollers. Once they’ve returned to the room, he shuts the door and puts his shoulder against it.
Qyrll and Fifer lend their strength in holding the door closed as the thugs begin hammering on it from the other side. One of the thugs on the other side shouts for them to open the door but they pay him little attention.
“There’s no other way out!” Fifer exclaims.
To Jiron, Qyrll says, “Let them in. We have to face them some time, they block our only way out. We should do it now before more come, or the city guard is summoned.”
The incessant hammering on the door by the thugs has begun to produce cracks in the old door. Jiron realizes the truth in what Qyrll’s saying. “You guys ready?” he asks.
Standing back, Qyrll draws both swords and nods.
“Alright,” he says as he too stands back, knives appearing in both hands, “let’s do it.”
Fifer draws his sword and they wait.
They don’t have to wait long as the next strike upon the door by the thugs outside splits it down the middle. When they again strike the door, it completely comes apart and one of the thugs stumbles through only to be met by Qyrll and his swords. Off balanced, the man has no chance and falls to the floor as Qyrll removes his shortsword from the dead man’s chest.
As the thugs pour through the door, Jiron lashes out with his knives and another falls to the floor. The others press on through the shattered door and engage them.
Fifer faces off with one while Jiron and Qyrll each have two. Qyrll’s swords dance as they block the attacks from one and strike out at the other.
The thugs are hopelessly outclassed. One strikes out at Jiron with his club while the other strikes out with his sword. Easily parrying the club, Jiron twists to avoid the sword. At the same time, he strikes out with his elbow to the clubber and connects with his chest, sending him stumbling backward. The man with the sword strikes down hard with both hands in an attempt to cleave Jiron in two. Dancing to the side, the sword misses him by scant inches as he strikes out with one of his knives, thrusting it deep into his side.