The number of travelers has dramatically increased since yesterday. More families are on the road than there were yesterday, many small children ride in the back of wagons or walk beside their parents. When asked, they tell him the City had not yet been besieged when they left.
As the day progresses, groups of riders appear to the west as Madoc riders patrol the area. The closer to the City they go, the more frequently they appear.
Miko rouses several times during the morning, but lapses back to sleep after taking a quick look around or answering the call of nature.
Prior to midday they pass through a small fishing village which was really not much more than a couple main buildings with lots of huts and houses surrounding them. The people there, though concerned about the Empire, haven’t yet evacuated their homes. Many still go about their day to day business as usual, several fishing boats are seen out on the water.
One of the buildings is a store and James decides to make a brief stop to replenish their depleted supply of rations. The only food left is dried fish and day old bread, the throngs of people coming through having bought everything else. He buys two days worth at exorbitant prices. The lady wouldn’t even haggle with him, saying that if he didn’t buy it, someone else surely would before the end of the day.
They returned to the road, eating the dry fish and stale bread as they ride, though not very tasty at least they were filling. The road passes through other villages, about one every five miles or so, and the number of closed and vacated buildings increases the closer to the City of Light they become. The number of people on the road is also steadily increasing as well with more and more refugees fleeing the approach of the Empire.
As the shadows begin growing long with the closing of the day, a great walled city nestled against the edge of the Sea begins to appear in the distance ahead. A formidable wall surrounds it and many ships are anchored in the harbor. When asked, a passerby confirms that it is, indeed, the City of Light. Hundreds of buildings spread outward from the wall, though many have the look of being deserted, likely in anticipation of a siege by the Empire.
Travel upon the road is slow as a veritable exodus of people flow from the city. In the surrounding fields many farmers work to save what crops they can. Some fields are actually on fire to prevent the Empire from benefiting from the unharvested grain.
Cavalry can be seen running patrols throughout the countryside, and the walls of the city are lined with many men. “It’s going to take a while to break this city,” James observes.
“Yeah,” agrees Miko. “It looks impressive, bigger even than Cardri.”
“It’s not just the men already here,” James says as he points over to the harbor. “But the Sea enables them to receive fresh supplies of men and equipment should they need it.”
The gates are jammed with people and wagons, going both in and out. An entire squad of the city guard is at the gates attempting to maintain what order they can. It takes a while but they make it to the gates where one of the guards questions them about their business in the city.
When James tells him of the package they are delivering and shows it to him, they are waved on through into the city.
They make their way carefully from the gate, forging their way through the throng of people who are trying to make it out of the city. After inquiring as to the whereabouts of the Great Library, they forge their way further into the city. Following the directions given to them, they arrive at the Library in little time.
The impressive structure which is the Library is at least four stories tall and a hundred yards wide. Outside the entrance sit many wagons being loaded with books and manuscripts brought from within the Library.
A man is supervising the distribution and packing of the books and manuscripts. “Easy there!” he yells at one man who tosses several books haphazardly into a wagon. “Those are hundreds of years old, you must treat them with care.” The man mumbles an apology then returns inside the library for more.
James dismounts and walks over to the supervisor and says, “Excuse me.”
The man directs two men carrying a chest to place it in the last wagon, then turns to James and says, “Yes?” Then to another man he yells, “Not in there, take it to the front wagon!”
“I was wondering if you could direct me to Ollinearn?” he asks.
“He is very busy,” the man says to James. “He does not have time to see anyone today.” Spying a man walking out of the Library with books stacked on top of delicately rolled scrolls, he rushes over and berates the man, taking the books off the scrolls that were being crushed.
James follows him and says, “But this is important, I have a delivery from Ellinwyrd in Cardri.”
“Ellinwyrd you say?” the man asks as he pauses and actually looks at James for the first time.
“Yes, Ellinwyrd,” James acknowledges. “He asked us to deliver a book for him.” He reaches inside his backpack and brings out the package, showing it to the man.
The man takes it, sees Ellinwyrd’s seal and then hands it back to James. “Very well,” he says, “go on inside. You will find him in the back preparing the last of the books for travel.” Seeing another man not treating ‘his books’ properly, he leaves James standing there and rushes over to the miscreant where he begins berating him and instructing him on the proper way to handle these aged books.
James signals for Miko to remain by the horse as he enters the Library.
Inside he finds shelf after empty shelf where books until recently had sat. If the number of empty shelves is any indication, they must have already transported a staggering amount of books and other related items.
From a door in the back of the central area another man emerges carrying a box filled with books. Figuring this to be where Ollinearn would be, James walks over and passes through the doorway.
Within the room he finds a wizened old man directing three helpers in the packing of books and manuscripts.
“Carefully now, Yorn,” the old man says kindly. “They must be packed just right if they are to survive the journey.” He pats the young man on the back and turns to see James walk in through the doorway. “Yes?” the old man asks. “Can I help you?”
“Are you Ollinearn?” James asks.
“Yes, I am he,” the old man replies.
James brings out the book and offers it to him, “Ellinwyrd sent me here to give this to you.”
Ollinearn takes the package and glances at the seal upon it, then removes the wrapping. He looks at the book a moment then glances questioningly at James, “He sent you here to deliver this book?”
“Yes, sir,” James replies.
He motions for him to follow and says, “Come with me.” To his helpers he says, “Continue with these, then we shall finish with the histories.”
“Yes, sir,” one of the helpers says.
Ollinearn exits the room through a small door in the back and walks down a small hallway. Near the end he opens a door on the right and enters.
As James follows him inside he sees it’s a small study with but a desk and three chairs. Ollinearn goes around the desk and sits down. He gestures to a chair across from him and says, “Please, sit and be comfortable.” After James sits he continues, “My apologies for not offering any refreshments, but things around here are in a state of confusion.”
“It’s alright, I understand.” James assures him.
Placing the book between them on the table, he says, “Now, I find it strange that Ellinwyrd would have sent you here to deliver this book.” He looks at James for a response.
“Why?” James asks.
With a wave of his hand he says, “It’s a book of little consequence, quite common really. It’s hardly worth sending someone through a war zone to deliver. In fact, I have two copies already.”
James produces the letter Ellinwyrd had written and hands it across the table to Ollinearn. “He did send this as well,” he says.
Ollinearn takes the letter, breaks the seal and then reads it. After he’s finished reading the letter he looks to James and says, “He asks that I aid you any way I can, very strange.”
“Why is that strange?” James asks.
Placing the letter on the table he says, “He has never made such a request before. In addition, he makes no mention of your need.”
“I am in search of the god Morcyth,” James explains. “Ellinwyrd believed that the last temple to him was
