James notices how the guards will every once and a while pull someone aside and talk to them, inevitably letting them continue to pass through. His pulse starts to race when he realizes they’re doing that. Should they be asked to step aside, they’ll quickly be found out.
When they’re within ten people of entering the gates, one of the guards begins walking toward them. James casually reaches into his pocket and takes a stone out, holding it ready. The guard continues to approach them and then says something. James begins to panic when he feels Jiron’s hand on his arm and whispers, “Steady!”
The man in front of them steps out of line and moves to the side with the guard. Relief washes over James as they continue to advance toward the gate. Giving Jiron a sidelong grin, they pass through the gate and enter the city.
Chapter Eighteen
The city is a bustle of activity, in many ways the same as any other. Even though it’s night, there are still many people out and merchants can be heard as they hawk their wares to those passing by. The crowds of people are beginning to disperse as the night progresses and some shops are in the process of closing for the evening.
Jiron directs them to a small alley adjacent to a store where they enter and move far enough away from the street until they’re hidden from the view of those passing by. In a hushed voice, he asks, “How do you plan on opening up the east gate?”
“I don’t,” replies James.
“But we told them we would,” argues Jiron.
“Not exactly,” James said. “Besides, once the gate is opened, we’d soon be found out. Something like that would be sure to draw unwanted attention.”
“I suppose you’re right,” says Jiron.
“Now,” begins James, “do you know anything about this Pytherian?”
“Heard his name a couple of times,” he tells him. “Like Miller said, he’s supposed to be some sort of great general. I think he is related to someone on the Ruling Council in Madoc, not sure who though.”
“Ever seen him?” asks James.
Shaking his head, he says, “No. How are we going to find him?”
“Not sure,” admits James. He looks over the tops of the houses to the Keep near the center of the city. Pointing to it, he says, “But considering whom he is, he most likely would be there.”
Looking where James is pointing, Jiron says, “You’re probably right, but how are we to get in there?”
“Haven’t a clue,” he tells him. “But that hasn’t stopped us before.”
Jiron just nods in response.
James turns to Miko and asks, “You ready?”
“Let’s do it,” he says with a startling eagerness. James gives him a sidelong look and then moves to follow Jiron as he walks out of the alley.
Upon entering the street, he follows the main flow of people down for several blocks before they come to another main road which crosses theirs. That road bears more toward the Keep than the one they’re on so Jiron turns and follows it.
As they continue toward the Keep, the amount of people on the street begins to steadily decrease. The street leads to the gate into the Keep area where two guards are standing watch. While they pause and observe those going through, they notice that the guards give comments and greeting to practically everyone who passes.
“Just about everyone who goes through that gate is probably known to them,” states James.
“I would think so,” agrees Miko.
“How are we to get through?” asks Jiron.
They move to another alley while they ponder the problem. When no answer is forthcoming, Miko says, “We could try the sewers.” When both Jiron and James look to him, he continues, “There has to be a spot where the sewers in the Keep and the sewers in the city intersect. If we can find it, we could walk under the walls.”
By the look on James’ face, he’s obviously not liking this idea. Jiron on the other hand, is nodding and giving Miko a grin.
Miko says, “If we look around a bit, we’re sure to find an access to the sewers.”
“Good idea,” says Jiron, patting him on the back.
“Alright,” James says with little enthusiasm. “Let’s see what we can find.”
They move down the alleyway and along several streets before finding a water runoff drain that they can use to gain access to the sewer. Making sure no one is watching, Jiron squeezes through and begins to descend down the rungs set into the wall to the bottom. James and Miko follow shortly afterwards.
As James begins to climb down the slime covered rungs embedded into the side of the sewer, the smell hits him. Trying not to gag, he continues down until he’s standing next to Jiron on a ledge running next to and slightly above the main flow of the sewer.
Suddenly, the orb springs to life, giving them light to see. James moves over to allow space for Miko as he reaches the bottom.
The ledge they are standing on is a foot wide and there is one running on both sides of the main flow of the sewer, allowing people to walk without having to step into the filth flowing by below. “Wish Bearn’s sewer would’ve had this,” Miko says.
“Me too,” agrees James. “The keep was to the north of here so we should try to head in that direction.”
“Follow me,” Jiron says as he begins moving north along the sewer’s ledge. They follow him for a hundred feet before coming to where the sewer tunnel splits, one going northwest and the other going northeast. Jiron glances back to James who indicates he should follow the northeast passage. Giving him a nod, Jiron turns to follow it.
They pass several more access ladders leading up into the dark, but they continue on past. Opening up on their left, another sewer passage connects to the one they’re in and is blocked by thick iron bars spaced half a foot apart.
“That’s got to be it,” says James. The iron bars would have been put there to prevent unauthorized access to the Keep.
“I would think so too,” agrees Jiron. “Now, how are we to get through?”
“Leave that to me,” James says as he looks for a way to get to the bars without having to step in the muck.
Miko sees him as he is looking around and smiles. Then he says, “I think there’s no other way but to step into the flow.”
Sighing, James replies, “I know.” Gritting his teeth, he steps off the ledge and into the main flow of the sewer. His leg sinks a foot and a half into the filth and he almost loses the contents of his stomach from the stench that produces.
As he pauses there in the flow, Jiron says, “You okay?”
He just shakes his head. How can he explain to them just how much this nauseates him? Taking several more steps, the muck making a sucking sound every time he pulls his foot out, he makes it over to the bars.
Standing there in front of the bars, he begins to consider the best way to get through them.
“James!” Miko whispers urgently.
When he turns back to look at Miko, he sees him pointing down the sewer where it continues. He glances to where he’s pointing and sees a light coming toward them. Quickly canceling the orb, he plunges them back in darkness as they watch the light approach.
A lone man is approaching, the flickering of his torch becoming brighter with every step he takes. They can hear him muttering to himself as he walks along the ledge, the same ledge Miko and Jiron are standing upon.
As he continues looking at the approaching man, he sees a shadow begin to move toward him. A glint of reflected torchlight from a knife blade tells him Jiron is moving to intercept the man.
Wishing there was another way, he stands there silently as Jiron moves closer. Then there’s a cry as the
