Worried about the boys, but even more worried they may lead someone here, he tries to relax. Resting his back against the wall, he realizes there is nothing he can do about it now but wait.
He still feels weak and a little drained from the battle two days ago. Even though he’s had two good nights of sleep and food, he still feels a little shaky. “Is there any more food?” he asks after his stomach growls loudly.
“Oh, yes,” Cassie says. She gets up and goes over to a sack sitting against the wall. She pulls out some bread and cheese, bringing them over to him along with a bucket of water.
When she sets the bucket down next to him, she says, “Sorry, but there are no cups.”
James smiles at her and replies, “That’s okay.” He takes the bread and cheese from her and removes his knife from its sheath, before slicing off a chunk of cheese. He only has to scrape a little bit of mold off with his knife.
While he eats, Cassie returns to Delia and resumes their conversation. Both occasionally stop talking and glance over at him, then when they realize he’s noticed them staring, they quickly turn their heads away.
Sighing, James tries to ignore them. Miko, what’s happening to you? he silently wonders. He’s feeling better and stronger, but is still a little too shaky to attempt to go after him. Upset with his own weakness, he knows all he can do right now is try to regain strength quickly so he can go after him.
About that time, Jiron and Tinok come back in through the collapsed hallway. Earlier, he took a look and found it choked with stone and wood from when the building above had collapsed some time in the past. A small space has been cleared through the debris, wide enough to allow people to pass through in single file.
Several feet down the passage, a stone stairway extends up to the ground above, exiting in a corner of a park. From what Jiron told him, the opening is overgrown with bushes and grass, effectively hiding the entrance from anyone passing by.
Several years ago, when he was younger, Jiron had been playing in the area and stumbled upon the opening. Excited about finding a secret place, he decided to keep the knowledge of it to himself. Later, when he and Tinok became close friends he brought him here. Only because the Empire had showed up had they allowed Cassie and Delia to come.
Apparently, when Jiron had stumbled upon him during his battle with the soldiers, he was out trying to find his sister who had become separated from him earlier. When he saw James fighting the enemy and had actually driven them off, he decided to save him and bring him here. As far as Jiron knew, no one else has ever been down here in the years they’ve been using it for their secret clubhouse.
Delia sees them first and gets up asking, “Any luck?” Cassie stands up with her and they go over to them as they enter the room.
With a look of disappointment, Jiron replies, “No, and I looked everywhere.”
“I’m sorry,” Cassie says.
Jiron comes over to James and asks, “Can you help find her?”
Shaking his head, James replies, “Not unless you have something of hers I can use?” The look on Jiron’s face tells him that he doesn’t.
Feeling bad for the boy, but unable to help, he says, “She may still turn up.”
“I doubt it,” says Jiron, “I went to everyplace that she would’ve gone and she wasn’t there. I can only assume that they found her and she’s one of the thousands of slaves they captured.”
“Slaves?” James suddenly interrupts. “Where are they being kept?”
“They had a big encampment outside of the walls for them,” Tinok says, “but sometime yesterday, they started marching them south.”
“South?” James asks.
“Yeah,” Tinok replies. “Looks like they are taking them back to the Empire. Your friend is most likely with them.” He looks over to Jiron and adds, “As Tersa may be as well.”
“Can’t we do anything?” asks Cassie.
“Like what?” asks Tinok, “Chase after and rescue them?” He looks at her incredulously, “They have hundreds of guards, not to mention their entire army occupying the city. It would be suicide!”
Jiron had been studying James’ face while the others had been talking. When James glances over at him, he asks, “You’re planning on going after your friend aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” James replies, nodding, “just as soon as I feel better. Miko is a smart kid, he knows I’ll find him. He’ll do what he needs to in order to survive until I get to him.”
“You’re crazy!” Tinok exclaims. “You’re going to get yourself killed!”
“Perhaps,” James says, “but I’ll not leave him to his fate. He wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for me.”
“What do you mean?” Delia asks.
“I came to the City of Light to find out all I could about Morcyth, a god that used to be popular around here a long time ago.” He looks at them and asks, “You wouldn’t by chance have ever heard of him, have you?”
They all four shake their heads no.
“Anyway,” he continues, “Miko tagged along despite my attempts to warn him of the dangers. I had found out some info from Ollinearn, the Keeper of the Great Library here in the City. We were on our way out when the Empire’s forces showed up and then things just went from bad to worse.”
“The last thing I told him was, ‘Find a place to hide, I’ll find you.’” James finishes his bread and cheese then cups his hands together as he drinks water out of the bucket. Sitting back against the wall once more, he glances at the four faces staring at him.
“I’ll go with you,” Jiron states.
“What?” Tinok exclaims in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”
“You’ll be killed!” Cassie cries.
“How can I leave her in the hands of slavers?” Jiron replies. “I’m all she has left in this world and I’ll not rest until either she’s free, or I’m dead!” Turning to James he says, “So, when do we leave?”
James considers the request, and nods his head, “Alright, we’ll go tonight.” He turns his attention to Jiron and asks, “Can we get out of the City unobserved?”
“I don’t know,” he admits, “there are hundreds of troops stationed within the walls and thousands more on the outside. It looks like they plan to defend and hold the City against attacks from our soldiers. Both inside and out, there are many patrols and they’ve been doing routine sweeps of the houses, looking for anyone else still hiding.”
Delia lays her hand on Jiron’s arm and says softly, “So you truly intend to go after her?”
He looks into her eyes and says, “I have to.”
“Then I’ll go with you,” she says, emerald eyes revealing the fear she’s trying not to show.
“That wouldn’t be wise,” Jiron tells her. “You’ll probably die or be taken as a slave if we fail.”
“What chance do I have here?” she asks. “With all the Empire’s forces occupying the town, what chance do any of us have if we stay? It’s only a matter of time before they find us, we can’t hide out indefinitely.”
“I’m coming too!” Cassie says.
Tinok just looks at them like they are crazy, and then says, “Well, I’m not staying here by myself, better count me in as well.”
James sits there thinking for a few seconds while they all stand there, staring at him. He looks at Jiron and asks, “Can you get us supplies? Like food?”
Jiron nods his head and replies, “Food’s no problem, we have some stashed here as it is.”
“We’re all going to need packs to carry it with us,” he says. “Can you get one for each of you?”
“Should be able to,” he replies. “I’ll go out now and get ‘em.”
Yawning, James says, “I’ve got to rest if we’re going to do this tonight. I’m still not over the effects of the magic I used during the battle.” He settles down on the ground and uses his backpack for a pillow.
The others go to the far side of the room and confer among themselves quietly, allowing him some quiet so he can fall asleep. Not long after James falls asleep, Jiron and Tinok leave through the passage to attempt to acquire four travel packs. Delia and Cassie remain behind.
A gentle shake awakens James and he opens his eyes to discover Delia kneeling beside him, shaking his shoulder. “James,” she’s saying, “wake up.”
“What?” he asks, sitting up abruptly.
“It’s night outside,” she says, “and they haven’t returned yet.”
