As Chad came closer to the edge of the roof, he saw two shadows move across the courtyard below. The archer, who had turned his head to speak to him as he approached, began turning to look back toward the courtyard.
“Say,” Chad quickly said, drawing the archer’s attention back to him, “don’t Raiders usually come in greater numbers?” Chad positioned himself in such a way that the archer’s attention was turned even further from the courtyard. Riyan and the others didn’t need long to get into position, all he had to do was keep the archer distracted for another minute or so.
“It does seem odd that he came by himself,” the archer said.
“He could have been a spy,” another archer said from his position.
“True,” agreed Chad. “I suppose they’ll learn all they need to know once they get him to Yerith Keep.”
The archer laughed. “That they will,” he said.
Chad glanced once again over the wall to the courtyard and saw the shadows were no longer in motion. They must be in position. “Well, my friends and I are heading out shortly after dawn,” he announced. “I just wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
“It is,” the archer replied. “Can’t tell you how much we appreciated the help you and your friends gave us earlier.”
“Think nothing of it,” said Chad. “We were glad we could help.” He then turned back to the stairwell and was soon through the door and heading back down the stairs. Now, if what the others were doing goes off without a hitch, they may be able to pull this off. Back on the second floor, he headed to his room to wait for it to begin.
Bart entered the stable. Wrapped in the Cloak of Concealment, he moved unseen toward the guard sitting in a chair propped against the door where the Raider was being kept. His head was tilted forward onto his chest and looked to be asleep.
He knew the room in which the Raider was being kept held another door that led outside. Beyond which were another three guards and two archers. They expected any rescue attempt would come from that avenue. After all, the way Bart had come had led through a well lit courtyard where any Raider rescue party would assuredly be seen and dealt with.
He paused and glanced back to the doorway where two other shadows waited. Bart pulled back the Cloak’s hood and reappeared. He motioned for Seth and Soth to come forward. He gestured to the dozing guard and whispered, “You two take him out and I’ll see to the door.”
Seth nodded as he and his brother entered the stable. As they made their way along the rows of stalls, Seth’s horse recognized him and snorted in greeting. The snort was just loud enough to disturb the guard. His head came up and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. Then he gasped as he saw the two figures moving toward him.
“Get him!” whispered Seth when he noticed the guard had awakened. Leaping forward, he and his brother crossed the remaining distance and reached the guard just as he was about to shout the alarm. A strong blow to the stomach paralyzed the man’s diaphragm and stilled the cry before any sound was uttered. Another strike to the side of the man’s head dropped him to the floor.
“Nice going,” Bart said as he moved forward to the door. “Bind and gag him,” he told the brothers. As they dragged the guard and his chair away from in front of the door, Bart moved forward with his picks. To his surprise, the door wasn’t even locked.
He waited until Seth and Soth had the guard secured before opening the door. On the other side, he saw the Raider lying face down on the cot. His hands were tied as were his feet. As the door opened even further, the Raider turned his head toward Bart.
On the other side of the door leading to the courtyard, Bart could hear the muffled voices of the guards stationed there as they talked to one another. Putting his finger to his lips, he indicated for the Raider to remain quiet. The Raider didn’t make any response until Seth and Soth appeared in the doorway. When he saw the dark skin of the twins revealed by the light coming through a window, he nodded. Seth nodded back at the Raider, then he and his brother returned to the stable where they began getting their horses saddled along with a third.
Coming to the Raider’s side, Bart knelt down next to him. “We’re going to get you out of here,” he explained. Then he removed his knife and was about to cut the bonds binding the Raider’s hands. Pausing, he again met the Raider’s gaze and asked, “If I cut your bonds, can I trust you not to do anything stupid?”
“Yes,” replied the Raider.
Bart used the knife and in no time, the Raider was free.
Soth appeared in the doorway. “We’re ready,” he said to Bart.
“Come on,” Bart told the Raider. “We don’t have a whole lot of time.”
“Who are you?” the Raider asked. He seemed somewhat hesitant in trusting his fate to unknown strangers.
“A friend of someone who fears for you,” Bart replied. Then he nodded in the direction of the inn.
The Raider looked confused for a moment then understanding came. “Shaelyn,” he said.
“Who?” asked Bart. “Do you mean the serving girl at the inn?”
The Raider nodded. “Didn’t you know her name?” he asked.
“Can’t say as I’ve ever heard it spoken, no,” he replied.
“Then why help me?” the Raider asked.
“Long story and we don’t have the time,” Bart explained. He glanced to the Raider again and was glad when the man got up from the cot and followed.
He and the Raider went back into the stable where Seth and Soth were already mounted. The reins of a third saddled horse were held in Seth’s hand. Bart indicated for the Raider to mount.
Coming to the horse, the Raider easily swung into the saddle. He then glanced from Seth to Soth. “You’re not of the Orack Tribe,” he said.
“No,” replied Seth.
“Actually, were not from any Tribe,” clarified Soth. “We’re from Byrdlon.” That brought a surprised look to the Raider’s face. But whatever questions he may have had, he kept them to himself.
Bart went to the stable door and glanced out at the quiet courtyard. Off to the east, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the coming of dawn. Turning back to the three on horseback, he said, “Give me a chance to reach Kevik. Then ride for all you’re worth.”
“We understand,” said Seth.
The Raider looked confused, but for the moment would trust his would be rescuers. Then he gasped in shock as Bart pulled the hood of the Cloak back over his head and disappeared.
“We need to wait for a few minutes for him to get into position,” Seth told the Raider.
“My name is Haran Eckbar,” he told them.
“I’m Seth,” Seth told him, “and this is my brother Soth.”
“Twins,” Haran stated.
“So we’ve been told,” Soth replied with a grin.
They waited for a minute. Then when they figured Bart should have reached Kevik, Seth asked his brother. “You ready?”
Soth nodded. Then with a grin asked, “Are you?”
Seth matched his grin then nodded in turn. “Let’s go.” Kicking his horse in the sides, he bolted from the stable. Behind him, Soth and the Raider followed close.
They didn’t get far before one of the archers stationed on the rooftops noticed their flight. “The Raider is escaping!”
The three of them laid low along their horses’ necks and pushed them for even greater speed. Before they were able to reach the gate leading from the courtyard, the twang of a bow could be heard.
“Here they come,” Bart said to Kevik just as the initial cry went up.
Kevik held his staff in hand, and as the riders raced past, cast his wind spell. A split second later, the archer atop the inn fired his arrow. It flew true until it hit the cross draft that Kevik’s spell had created. At that point it was blown off trajectory.
The three riders left the inn’s courtyard and raced out of town. Those who had been set to watch for a Raider rescue party were caught unawares and reacted too late. Before any sort of response could be initiated, the riders were gone.
As people began racing about, Bart said, “Get back to the inn.”
