well under way.”
James can see Miko is somewhat disturbed by this whole plan. “What’s on your mind?” he asks him.
He glances around the table at everyone before returning his gaze to James. “It just doesn’t seem right somehow.”
“In what way?” James asks.
“Well, ever since I’ve met you, you’ve done nothing but what’s right,” he explains. “This just doesn’t seem like you, going against the laws and all. It’s not like we have to reach Cardri today, like it’s a life or death situation or anything.”
“I understand your point,” he says. “But with the letter from Lord Pytherian, we are justified.”
Illan breaks into the conversation. “That’s true, Miko. The magistrate all but asked us to break this guy out so we can fulfill the spirit, if not the letter, of Lord Pytherian’s request.”
“But it seems the only reason he did was just to spite that other guy,” continues Miko. “It just seems wrong somehow.”
“I understand your concern, Miko,” James says to him. “But I have my reasons for this. True, it’s not exactly as I would have liked it, but I have my reasons.” Like finding a place to hide the Fire before it consumes you.
Miko nods, trusting in him.
Turning his attention back to Illan, James asks, “Which town should we head for?”
Thinking a moment, Illan replies, “It would probably be best to dock at Fairview. It’s a little north of Dragon’s Pass and last I heard, the Empire’s forces haven’t progressed much past the Merchant’s Pass. It seems they’re making that their northern line, at least for right now.”
“What’ll we do for horses once we get there?” ask Jorry. “It didn’t look like the ship could hold them all.”
Looking to Illan, James asks, “Is there someone around here who would buy these from us?”
Nodding, he says, “My brother-in-law Michael deals in horses, I’m sure he’d give a fair price for them.”
“Then why don’t you, Jiron and Miko take care of that while we’re over at the jail,” he suggests.
“We can do that,” he says, “but it could take an hour or two to finish the deal. We do have a lot of horses and Michael may not be around.”
“Just do the best you can,” says James. “If you can get it done in the time allotted, then so be it. If not, then just give them to him and we’ll worry about acquiring more in Fairview.”
“Alright,” he says through a bite of the beef stew he’s having.
“We’ll give you an hour’s head start before we head to the jail,” James tells him.
Nodding, Illan says, “That should be enough time, I hope.”
They finish their meal and everyone goes outside to retrieve what they intend to keep from their horses before Illan, Jiron and Miko take them to his brother-in-law’s.
As they’re about to leave with the horses, Illan says to the rest, “Good luck! We’ll meet you at the docks in a little over an hour.”
“Don’t be late!” Uther shouts to him.
He glances over to Uther and gives him a grin. To Miko and Jiron he says, “Let’s go.” Leading the horses, they walk away down the street.
The others gather around James as Jorry asks, “What are we to do for an hour?”
“Let’s make our way over near the jail so we’ll be ready when it’s time,” he tells them. Leading the way, he takes them through the streets until the jail comes into sight.
Stopping a little distance away, he turns back to them and says to Uther and Jorry, “You guys make your way around the building and look for any other exits then come back. When we do this, we can’t run the risk of anyone getting away to warn others.”
“Right,” Uther says. Nodding to Jorry to get moving, they begin making their way nonchalantly toward the jail.
James and the rest move to the far side of the street across from the front entrance and try to act like they’re just hanging around, talking. He casts glances over at Uther and Jorry as he keeps track of their progress. As they disappear around the back he gets a little nervous. When they reappear on the other side, he breathes a sigh of relief, even though he knew it was unlikely anything would have happened.
Once they’ve made their way back to the group, Uther says, “There’s one door in the back and another on the side. But that’s it except for the main entrance.”
Nodding his head while he thinks, James turns to Keril and Hinney, the youngest of Miller’s band. “You two go and watch the back and side doors,” he tells them. “Don’t let anyone in or out.”
“No problem,” Hinney says.
“You can count on us,” assures Keril.
They wait until it’s been about an hour since Illan left with the horses. Looking around the gathered faces, James asks, “Ready?” When they all nod in reply, he turns toward the jail and heads to the front door.
Hinney and Keril break off from the group, Keril heading to the side while Hinney continues around back.
James is a little nervous as he walks in through the front door. The same three men are there, this time they’re all over at the side table playing cards.
They look up when James and the rest walk in through the front door. “Here to see the captain again?” asks the watch captain.
James nods his head and replies, “You could say that.”
The watch captain points at one of the others who gets up and begins moving to the holding cells.
James moves to follow and has Uther come with him. He gives Yern a meaningful glance and receives an answering nod.
The guard unlocks the door and precedes them through into the back. “You got company again,” he hollers back to the captain. When he turns around to leave, he comes to a quick stop. Uther’s sword is out of its scabbard and inches away from his chest.
James reaches out and takes the keys from him. “Thank you,” he says.
“You guys are crazy!” the ship’s captain hollers as he comes over with the keys.
“Probably,” replies James, “but we’re getting you out.” When he’s unlocked the cell door, the captain quickly leaves the confines of the cell. Turning his attention back to the guard, James indicates the now vacant cell and says, “Get in.”
As the guard turns and walks to the cell with Uther’s sword in his back, the watch captain and the other guard enter from the other room. Jorry and Yern have their swords out as they lead them down to join their comrade.
“Take us with you!” the other two prisoners plead.
“Sorry,” James says to them. “Only the captain here.”
“If you don’t, we’ll scream and let everyone know what’s going on,” warns one of them.
Fifer comes in from the other room with some rope and cloth. “I’ll take care of this,” he says as he takes the keys from James and goes to their cell. Opening the door, he says to them, “If you yell, I’ll cut out your tongue. Cause me problems, and I’ll just kill you, understand?”
The two prisoners allow themselves to be tied up and gagged with little problems. He leaves the cell and then moves down to the guards where he does the same to them. Once everyone is secured and silenced, they begin moving back to the main room.
“Go get the other two and meet us out front,” he tells Jorry.
“Got it!” he exclaims as he moves to round up Keril and Hinney.
“Now captain,” James says to him, “let’s get to your ship.”
“Didn’t really believe you when you said you’d get me out of here,” he admits.
“Don’t blame you,” says James. “I wouldn’t have either.”
“How long will it take you to get underway?” Fifer asks him.
“Not very long,” he replies.
Out front, they wait only a moment before Fifer returns with the other two, then they quickly make their way down to the docks.
On the way, the captain introduces himself as Merril Hawls. He had an office in the City of Light but is now working out of Pyrtlin, a city on the northern shore. “Once we’re underway, it shouldn’t take more than a day’s sailing before we reach Fairview.”
