Jiron stays motionless for a few seconds, cocking his head to the side he tries to hear if the sound of the door slamming against the wall disturbed anyone. A slight rustling noise can be heard coming from down the darkened hallway.
“Jiron…” Miko begins and is cut off by Jiron.
“Shhh…” he says. Moving cautiously forward with knife at the ready, he softly walks toward the sound. Unable to see anything, he has to use his other senses to find the source of the noise. Step by slow step he moves down the hallway, ears alert for even the slightest sound.
Suddenly, a body lurches from a side room and knocks him backward a few steps and then he hears footsteps running away. Regaining his balance quickly, he breaks into pursuit, the person ahead of him but a dim shadow in the dark as Jiron races to catch him.
The person fleeing smashes through the door at the end leading outside and they see that it’s a lad of about twelve as he races off down the street in the moonlight. Coming to a halt, he lets the boy go.
“That wasn’t her,” he hears Miko say from the back.
Turning back to him, he says, “I realize that.”
Moving down the street they come across another dilapidated building that has seen better days. Jiron comes to a halt as he stares at the building. “What?” asks Miko quietly.
Pointing to the rear of the building, he says, “There’s light coming from the rear window.”
“So?” Miko asks not sure why that would require special attention.
Jiron glances back to him as he says, “The building looks like it’s about ready to fall apart. I wouldn’t be in there unless I had no choice.”
“Could be just another street kid like we found back there,” suggests Miko.
“Perhaps but we better check it out anyway.” Moving toward the window, Jiron steps quietly. The light is none too bright, most likely coming from but a single candle.
They reach the edge of the building several feet away from the window and he motions for Miko to remain there while he goes to investigate. When he sees Miko’s nod, he moves to the window. Peering inside, he sees four men standing around another seated in a chair. His breath catches when he sees who it is seated in the chair, James’ friend Dave. He has half a mind to leave him there.
The men are saying something to Dave but Jiron can’t quite make it out. Suddenly, Dave looks toward the window and sees him there. “Jiron?” he asks.
The four men as one turn to see him there at the window and they draw their swords.
“Damn fool!” he exclaims as he backs away from the window and draws his knives.
“What?” asks Miko when he hears him curse and sees him draw his knives.
Jiron glances back to him for just a second and says, “Trouble.”
The door to the building crashes open as three of the four men rush out onto the street. Jiron moves to engage them and hears Miko’s sword leave its sheath as he too joins the fray. “They have Dave!” he tells him.
The first man to reach him tries to bull his way through his defenses as he hacks down with both hands on the hilt of his sword. Jiron easily sidesteps and lashes out with a return strike as the man passes and scores a deep cut on his left shoulder.
The second man comes at him with a thrust which he dodges backward to avoid. He hears the first man cry out as Miko takes him through the chest with his sword and moves to engage the third.
Now one on one, Jiron is able to block the man’s attacks. After three exchanges of attacks, he has the man’s measure. When the man thrusts as he knew he was going to, he sidesteps the sword and strikes out with an attack so fast it’s but a blur. His knife sinks into the man’s throat and severs the larynx. Choking on his own blood, the man is unable to properly defend himself and Jiron kicks out, connecting with his knee and shatters it. Falling to the ground, the man gurgles as blood fills his lungs.
Miko parries the third man’s attack and follows through with one of his own. His reflexes having been honed by his time with the Fire, his sword flies at the man horizontally and severs his leg at the hip. As the man topples forward, he strikes out one more time and runs his sword through his chest. His sword gets wedged in between the man’s ribs and is ripped from his hand.
After the man hits the ground, he puts his foot on his ribcage and draws out his sword. Looking around quickly, he sees Jiron wiping his blades on one of the dead men’s shirts.
“Dave!” Jiron says and moves toward the doorway. He stops suddenly when he sees Dave peering around the corner.
“Are they dead?” he asks, a tremor of fear in his voice.
“You can come out now,” Jiron tells him. “Where’s the other guy?”
“He ran out the back,” he says. Looking at the dead bodies, he can’t help but hide his revulsion at the sight.
“Let’s get back to the inn,” Jiron says.
“Yes,” he says, “I’d like that.”
“Who were they?” Miko asks as they begin moving back toward the inn.
“From the Empire, I think,” he says. “They said they were going to kill me if I didn’t tell them where the Fire is.”
Jiron glances to Miko who gives him a knowing look.
“Just what is the Fire?” he asks. “They knew I was his friend. How could they know that?”
“I don’t know, but we better hurry and tell James about it,” Jiron says. Picking up the pace, they make their way straight toward where the inn lies.
When they go upstairs they find Fifer and Qyrll have already returned, having no better luck in finding Serenna than they had.
James gets to his feet as Dave walks into the room ahead of Jiron and Miko. “Are you alright?” he asks.
“I’m fine,” Dave replies, sinking into one of the chairs by the table. Illan gets up so James can sit next to him.
James turns his attention to Jiron and asks, “What happened?”
“Found him in some old building on the outskirts of town,” he replies. “Looked like he was being questioned.”
Turning back to Dave, James says, “Tell me everything.”
“Several minutes after you left, more of those people showed up,” he tells them, a haunted look coming over him. “They demanded us to go with them and when we refused, they fell upon the boy and started killing him. I grabbed a chair and smashed open the window and climbed down to the street below. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. There were more of them on the streets so I just starting running, I was hoping to find you.”
“But instead, I ran into those other guys. They recognized me as being your friend,” he says, bringing his eyes to meet James’. “How could they know that?”
Startled at that, James glances around to the others in the room and then says, “I don’t know. It wouldn’t seem likely.”
“They’ve probably had spies on us for awhile now,” offers Illan. “It wouldn’t have been too difficult for them to find out who we all are and our relationship to you.”
Nodding, James says, “Possibly.”
Laying his hand on James’ arm, Dave says, “They wanted to know about something called ‘The Fire’. Do you know what they’re talking about?”
James sits back in his chair and contemplates what he just heard.
“They haven’t given up,” states Jiron.
“No they haven’t,” he replies. Looking to Dave, he can see the questions behind his eyes but can he afford to give him the answers? “The Fire is an artifact of power here in this world. I have it on good authority that should the wrong people acquire it, this world could end. Or at least those who live here would wish it had.”
“So you have it?” he asks.
“Not any more,” he answers. “It’s hidden away for all time.”
“Where?” he asks.
James looks to his friend for a minute as he considers his reply. Finally, he says, “I can’t tell you.”
“But I’m your friend!” he exclaims. “My life is in jeopardy because of it, I have a right to know!”