The boy then brings in the bags and sets them down by the bed. He stands there looking at James, not making any move to leave. Understanding dawns and James pulls out a couple coppers, handing them to the boy who pockets them and promptly leaves, shutting the door behind him.
James settles down on one of the beds just as he breaks into a big yawn. Realizing just how tired he is, he decides to relax and rest until Miko arrives. He lays there for a time worrying about how Miko is making out, but soon exhaustion overcomes him and falls asleep.
Chapter Twelve
Miko opens the door to find James fast asleep. Keeping quiet, he begins to close the door slowly until a mischievous grin spreads across his face. Realizing such an opportunity may never repeat itself, he opens the door wider and slams it shut with all his might.
Wham!
He watches in amusement as James jumps two inches off the bed and proceeds to fall over the side where he lands on the floor with a thud. Smiling and chuckling quietly to himself, he goes over and sits at the table while a startled James flashes quick glances around the room.
When his gaze settles upon Miko and the way the boy’s grinning, his eyes narrow. “Did you have to do that?” he asks angrily.
“No,” replies Miko before his grin turns into a full blown smile. “I guess I didn’t, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”
“Don’t ever do that again,” James says sternly, then mellows out and can’t help but smile himself. It was pretty funny.
“I’ve got good news,” says Miko, “and bad news.”
“What’s the good news?” James asks.
“There is an archive located near the castle, past the inner wall. Supposedly it has hundreds of books scholars come from near and far to research.”
Now off the floor, James comes over to the table and takes a seat. “And the bad news?”
“There may be a small problem with gaining access to it,” explains Miko.
“What sort of problem,” James asks.
“Well first of all,” Miko begins, “only those with business in the castle area are allowed within the castle area. If you try, they will at best turn you away, at worst take you in for questioning.”
“I see,” says James. “What else?”
“Since the Empire has attacked Madoc, their security has been doubled. Anyone caught there without a reason will be treated as a spy and taken to the castle’s dungeon for questioning.”
“Alright,” James says, “it sounds like this is the place I need to go. Any ideas on how to get in there?”
“No,” replies Miko shaking his head. “Maybe Perrilin will have an idea.”
“That’s another problem,” James explains. “He was taken by the city watch last night and most likely is in jail.”
“Great,” says Miko, “now what are we to do?”
“After lunch, I plan to go down to the city jail and find out what is going on. Until then, I suggest we adjourn to the common room and see what there is to eat.”
Never one to turn down food, Miko quickly agrees and head downstairs with James who is carrying the ever present backpack. Coming into the common room, they find an empty table next to a window overlooking the street. It isn’t long before a girl comes over to take their order. In less than a minute, she returns with two big steaming bowls filled with chicken stew, a loaf of bread, and two foaming mugs of ale.
Miko eats with his regular gusto, while James takes his time, savoring each bite. Between, and during, mouthfuls of stew Miko offers to ferret out what those on the streets may know about Lord Colerain’s presence in the city, while James finds out about Perrilin.
“Try to draw as little attention to yourself as possible,” James cautions. “We don’t need any more surprises.”
“Not to worry,” Miko assures him as he puts a last bite of stew soaked bread into his mouth, “I’ll be careful.” Getting up, he hurries across the common room and soon has disappeared out the door.
James finishes the last of his lunch while he gazes out the window, watching Miko walk down the street until he’s lost amidst the crowd of people. After downing the remaining dregs of ale he scoots his chair back and comes to his feet. Shouldering his backpack he makes for the door. Once outside he heads further into the city in the hopes of finding the jail and discovering what has happened to Perrilin. It’s not long before he spots one of the city’s constables and questions him as to the whereabouts of the city jail. The constable gives him directions and he’s quickly on his way.
The city jail lies within the second wall near the gate leading into the castle, not far from where he is now. The jail as it turns out is an imposing three story building with only the barest slits passing for windows on the ground floor. A very solid door stands ajar at the top of three steps, so he goes on up and walks inside.
Entering a large room, he sees a man wearing a constable’s uniform sitting behind a desk reading one of many papers stacked neatly before him. The sound of James entering draws his attention. As James approaches, the man sets the paper down and asks, “Can I help you?”
“Yes,” replies James as he comes to stand before the desk. “A friend of mine was brought in by the city watch last night and I was wondering if it would be possible to talk with him?”
Setting the paper aside, the constable looks him up and down then asks, “And just who might your friend be?”
“His name is Perrilin, a bard,” James answers.
“There’s been no one brought in with that name,” replies the constable.
“But I heard that several constables came to the Silver Bells last night and dragged him out right in the middle of his performance,” he protested.
“Yeah, I heard about that,” the constable replies. “Nevertheless, he’s not here, sorry.”
“Where can I find him?” he asks.
“Don’t know,” the constable replies. He holds up a hand to forestall any more questions. “I am not privy to all that goes on. I just know he’s not here and I don’t know where he would be.”
James looks at the constable in quiet frustration. He can tell there will be no more help forthcoming. After a moment, he turns about and leaves the jail.
He walks across the street to an alley and takes a moment to make sure he won’t be observed. Reaching into his backpack, he draws out the compass he made earlier in Trendle. Using a variation of the spell he used while looking for Hern, he watches in surprise as the pointer turns and indicates a direction down the street. He had thought for sure it would point toward the jail.
Stepping back out of the alley, he turns in the direction indicated by the compass and proceeds down the street. Trying to maintain a course as true as possible to the direction indicated by the compass, he eventually comes to a dead end against the inner surface of Cardri’s middle protective wall.
The pointer continues indicating Perrilin’s position to be somewhere on the other side. James quickly makes his way to the gate and passes through Cardri’s middle wall and enters its outer ring. From there he once again allows the compass to lead the way.
Down several streets and passing around various buildings, his search comes to a stop again as he comes up against the inner surface of the outer wall. There is no denying the truth of what the compass is telling: Perrilin lies somewhere outside of Cardri. Making his way to Cardri’s main gates, James leaves the city.
The compass leads him through the buildings built outside the city’s protective wall, to the outskirts of Cardri. When he reaches the last building before entering the countryside, the compass still directs him on.
James contemplates returning to the inn for his horse, but discards that idea. Moving out, he enters the countryside with the plan to continue on until an hour before nightfall. If he doesn’t come across the bard by then, he’ll return to the inn and set out on horseback the following day.
Now that he no longer has to wend his way through crowded streets and around buildings, he’s able to progress much faster. Hours of trudging through fields later finds him cresting one of the many rolling hills dotting the area. He pauses when a farmhouse comes into view on the far side of the hill. A glance to the compass reveals the pointer directing him straight toward the abandoned looking building.