“Now that we know where he’s been taken,” Miller explains, “we’ll go to this city and find a way to get him out.”
“Give us a moment,” James says as he nods to Jiron and Miko. Moving away from the others, they talk quietly among themselves.
“We should help them,” Jiron says. “If things are as they say, we have no choice.”
“But we don’t know that it is,” James replies. “We just have their word.”
“Fifer wouldn’t lie to me,” Jiron asserts. “We’ve known each other too long.”
“Okay, let’s say what they say is true,” James begins. “Dare we risk what we carry to help?” He points to the pouch at Miko’s waist wherein the Fire lies.
“I know,” says Jiron.
“What do you think Miko?” James asks.
Surprised at being asked, Miko says, “I say we risk it. The Empire is a blight upon this world that must be hindered in any way.” He says it with such conviction that James is taken aback by it.
Glancing from one to the other, he comes to his decision. “Alright, we’ll help,” James tells them. “But we stick together, agreed?”
Miko nods his head and Jiron says, “Agreed!”
Going back over, they tell them that they’ll help them regain Lord Pytherian.
“Great!” Miller says. “Now, show us where this city lies.”
Suddenly, James realizes that they’ve only gotten a couple hours of sleep and that Jiron has had none. “We should wait until nightfall,” he says. “We are on the point of exhaustion and need to rest before embarking on this venture.”
“Lord Pytherian may not have that much time!” Miller exclaims. “We go now!”
“Then go!” James exclaims with impatience. “You scout around and we’ll show up later, after sunset.”
“That is unacceptable!” blusters Miller. “When you agreed to join my band, you agreed to follow my orders. I say we go now!”
James gets in his face and shouts, “We did NOT agree to join your band, and we certainly are NOT under your orders! If you want our help, you will have to wait until this evening, I’ll not jeopardize our lives because of your impatience!” Standing there eye to eye with him, James can see his face beginning to turn red, obviously he’s not used to having his orders challenged.
James turns his back on him and walks away.
Shhhhht!
He hears Miller’s sword leaving its sheath. Turning around, he sees Jiron has already moved to position himself between Miller and James. The others of Miller’s band draw their weapons as well just as Fifer steps between them.
“Enough!” he cries out. Looking to Miller, he says, “These are allies! And friends! They’ve agreed to help, but even I can tell they’re dead on their feet. As they are now, they’d be little help in rescuing Lord Pytherian.” He looks Miller in the eye as he says in a calmer voice, “They need to rest. We can scout the city and allow them that time. When they’re able to help us, we’ll know better what to do.”
Getting his anger under control, Miller returns his sword to his sheath. A second later the rest of his band follows suit. “Very well,” he says as he turns his attention to Jiron. “We’ll meet you to the east of the city after sunset.”
“Agreed,” Jiron says.
Miller and his band mount their horses again and then head west toward the city. Fifer gives Jiron a shrug and a slight smile as he follows his leader.
“How did he ever get in charge of a band of men,” James says.
“Probably knows someone,” replies Jiron.
“You get some rest,” he tells Jiron. “I’ll take the rest of the watch.”
Yawning, Jiron replies, “Sounds good.” He spreads out his blanket and lies down under the afternoon sun. Both he and Miko slip into sleep in very short order.
As he sits there waiting for night to come, he shakes his head. Another city, more danger. Will it never end?
He took an instant dislike to Miller. Fifer wasn’t so bad, but that Miller, he could definitely do without.
Shortly after the sun sets, James gets everyone up. After a quick meal, they get mounted and then make for the rendezvous with Miller. It takes them a couple hours before the lights from the city appear on the horizon.
They keep to the east of the city as they hunt for Miller’s band, which is quite difficult in the dark of night. The moon hasn’t risen yet, so the only light they have is that of the stars. Off further to the east of the city, they see a small fire burning and Jiron leaves them behind while he goes to investigate.
He doesn’t get too far before they see the fire being kicked out and extinguished. As he returns with Miller’s band, James can hear Miller saying, “…long enough. What kept you?”
“We slept till dark and then it took us a couple hours to get here,” Jiron replies. “Relax, we’re here aren’t we?”
“What did you discover?” James asks Miller when they reach him.
“There are two main gates, one to the north and one to the south,” he explains. “There are also smaller, auxiliary gates to the east and west. Those may afford us our best chance for entering the city.”
“Do they close them at night?” asks Jiron.
“They closed all but the south gate once the sun went down,” he says. “There’s a contingent of guards there watching all who enter.”
“Perhaps someone could sneak in through the south gate and then go over to the east gate and open it?” suggest James.
“With those guards there?” Miller asks.
“Sure,” Jiron replies. “Just appear like you belong and they’ll most likely not say anything to you.” He glances to James and gives him a grin, “We’ve done it before.”
“True,” James replies, “we have.”
“Okay then,” Miller says. “You go in and open the east gate and let us in.”
Jiron looks to James who nods agreement. “Give us an hour once we’re inside,” he tells Miller.
Miller nods his head, “Alright.”
James, Jiron and Miko turn their horses toward the south gate, leaving Miller and his band behind them. Once they’ve put some distance between them, Jiron says, “Glad they’re not coming with us.”
“Me, too,” he agrees. “There’s just something about that Miller that bothers me.”
“Think he’s a traitor?” asks Jiron.
“Nothing like that,” he replies, smiling. “It’s just his personality. It grates on me like fingernails on a chalkboard.”
“What’s a chalkboard?” asks Miko.
“Something from where I grew up that makes a horrible noise when you run your nails across it,” he explains.
“Oh,” grunts Miko.
As they near the south gate, they see many people going in and out. Many buildings spread outward from the gate, inns and other such business as cater to travelers. “How are we going to play this off?” Jiron asks.
James points over to a single story building and says, “Look.”
Hanging around the building are lines with clothes hanging from them. From the looks of it, the building is a laundry. There’re lights coming from the windows of the building indicating someone is still at work inside.
Jiron nods his head as they move in that direction. “Wait here,” he tells them as he gets down from his horse and hands James the reins.
Moving slowly and carefully, he makes his way over to the clothes. After a careful inspection and a quick look around to see if anyone is close, he begins taking clothes off the lines. Once he has his arms full, he hurries back to James and Miko where he passes out the clothes.
They don the native attire and then tie their horses to one of the clothes lines before they begin moving toward the gate. The flow of people in and out of the gate isn’t great, but enough for it to be fairly constant even this late at night.
