At the description of the creatures, Dave asks, “Hell hounds?”
“Possibly,” answers James. “Water and ice affected them where cold iron didn’t.”
“That’s not good,” he says, worried.
“I know. If they have those, what else can they have to throw at us?” James gives his friend a knowing look. Dave nods silently.
“We should stay here and rest,” Qyrll states. Everyone looks to him as he continues, “We haven’t had rest for two days and you two look dead on your feet. If the Empire should show up again, we’ll need to be at our best to survive.”
“Orlander’s bunch too,” adds Jiron.
“Exactly,” he agrees.
“It would probably be best to pass through Illion at night anyway,” says James. “Orlander may have people watching for us.”
Several heads, several tired heads nod in agreement. Breaking out what little rations the Empire’s men had on their horses, they have a quick, cold meal. Eating in silence, each ponders the events of the last several days and wonders just what may lie ahead for them.
After they’ve finished eating and Qyrll is set to take first watch, Miko suddenly asks, “Did you find out about Ironhold?”
“What?” asks James. Then understanding hits and he says, “Damn! I was there and forgot to ask.” He glances to Jiron who just shrugs with a slight grin.
“You going back?” Fifer asks.
“We have to know where it is,” he replies. “If anyone around here would know, it’ll be the Renlon’s. I mean they’re in the iron business and all.”
“True,” agrees Jorry.
“Do you think that’s wise?” asks Dave. At that, grumbling can be heard and ‘coward’ is mentioned by more than one. Giving them an annoyed glance, he looks to his friend.
“No,” James says, flashing the others a looks saying to knock it off. “But I have to get to Ironhold. Since we don’t know where it is, I have to go back and find out.”
“I see,” Dave replies with a worried expression. To him things seem to be spiraling out of control and he doesn’t wish to lose his only friend in this world.
“Let’s get some rest while we can,” Fifer says and they all settle down for sleep. Qyrll takes first watch and moves closer to the road where he can better keep an eye on those using it.
An hour into his watch, Qyrll hears horses coming up the road from the direction of Illion. Hunkering down lower behind a large bush, he watches as seven horsemen gallop past on their way up to the pass. From his vantage point, they don’t look like soldiers from the Empire. He figures they may be part of that bunch with Orlander James had told them about. They’re soon out of sight and the sound of their hooves becomes fainter until finally disappearing.
Chapter Twenty Five
Securing their horses near the outskirts of Illion they slowly make their way into town, all the while keeping alert for any who may be looking for them.
James, Miko and Fifer walk at a steady pace in an attempt to avoid attracting attention. The others are waiting further from town along the road to the pass for their return. It had been decided for James to take Miko and Fifer with him instead of Jiron this time. Jiron had complained but Fifer told him that Orlander will be looking for two men, not three. Also, Jiron may be recognized which could only confound the situation.
James pulls the hood of the cloak tighter around his head to keep his face from being seen clearly. Though it’s dark he doesn’t want to take the chance. Before they left the others, Qyrll had given him his cloak saying it would help him to avoid being spotted.
As they pass through the streets, they take notice of a crowd gathered around a man standing next to a building ahead of them, bathed in the light of a nearby lantern.
“War is coming!” the man cries.
“We know that,” one man replies.
James slows as they come near the crowd. The man looks like some crazy guy, like one of those who would stand on the street corner in those old movies and hold signs saying ‘Repent!’
The crowd seems more amused by the man than actually taking him seriously. “The Empire isn’t moving any further until spring,” another says to him. “We have awhile before we need worry about them.”
“The Empire is but the finger of the true enemy!” he cries to the crowd. “He shall rain fire down and all will be consumed.” Gesticulating wildly, he begins rocking from one foot to the other.
“James,” Miko says.
Suddenly coming back to himself, James realizes he stopped in the middle of the street. “Sorry,” he says as he resumes his way down the street.
“The ground will burn and dark shadows will walk the night,” the man cries. “They will feast upon the living until none survive!”
A chill runs down James’ back as the man mentions shadows. A memory comes to him of another place where shadows had walked in a fire blackened forest. Coming to a stop again, he turns toward the crowd.
“We can’t stop here,” Fifer warns, glancing down both directions. So far, no one seems to be paying their group any attention.
Not heeding his words, James moves closer to the wild man. Miko and Fifer glance to each other in concern and move to follow.
“You’re a nut!” one lady exclaims to the laughter of the others.
“Go away and tell your tales of doom elsewhere,” another hollers to him.
James reaches the edge of the crowd and begins making his way through to the front.
“We must fight him!” the wild man cries out. “We must drive him back!” He suddenly stills his frantic motion and his voice becomes all but inaudible as he says with quiet intensity, “But it’s not by the sword that he will be turned aside.”
The crowd guffaws at him and other insults are cast at him as James reaches the leading edge of the crowd. “What are we to do?” he asks the man.
Specks of foam form at the corners of his mouth as the man’s eyes turn to him. “The temple must rise,” he says, so quietly that James almost can’t make out the words.
“What temple?” he asks, heart pounding.
Then madness seems to take him as he cries out, “The temple must fall! Else all will be lost!”
“James!” exclaims Miko as he grabs his shoulder.
The crowd begins to scream as several armed men approach with swords in hand. James turns to find Orlander, along with six other men coming toward him. That’s when he realizes his hood had fallen off while he was listening to the wild man.
“You’re dead!” Orlander screams as he and the others race forward.
“Come on!” Miko cries as he turns James and propels him away.
Racing away, he turns to glance one more time to the wild man but the man is nowhere in sight. Must have been scared off by Orlander and his bunch.
“Which way?” Miko asks as they run down the street.
The wild man forgotten, James is now more concerned about losing their pursuers. “Renlon’s are off that way,” he says indicating to the far side of town. “But I don’t want to involve them.” Suddenly, a flash of light bursts into life far above them for a brief moment before disappearing.
“What was that?” asks Fifer.
“Just letting Jiron and the others know we need help,” he says as they turn around a corner and race down the main thoroughfare of Illion.
People are on the street and they receive many words of protest as they race through them, at times knocking people over or items out of their hands. Behind them, the crowd parts quickly when they see Orlander’s group hot on their tail.
“Blast them James,” Miko cries out.
“Too many innocents around,” he says. “I dare not.”
Ahead of them is an intersection where another main street crosses the one they’re on. To the left would lead them to Renlon’s Iron so James turns to the right and moves onto the new street.