to enter.
The light from the torch illuminates a sizeable cell with several benches situated about the floor. He finds it empty, much to his relief.
Jiron follows him in and then the guard carrying Fifer comes and lays him on one of the benches. Then they proceed to remove all their weapons, Jiron looks like he’s ready to protest when they remove his knives but stands passively as they take them.
Once all their weapons have been removed, the guards leave the cell, closing the door behind them. They then proceed from the room in silence, taking the weapons with them. As they move up the stairs, the light from the torch gets dimmer and dimmer until they’re finally in total black again.
Light suddenly flares up as James’ orb springs to life in the palm of his hand. “I thought you were too tired?” asks Jiron.
“I am, but this is fairly easy to do,” replies James. “How’s the shoulder?”
“Hurts,” he replies. “I think the blood has finally stopped oozing out.”
James gets up and moves over to Fifer who’s beginning to groan once again. “Fifer!” he says as he sits next to him. Holding the orb close, he can see his eyes are open. “Can you hear me?” he asks him.
Fifer nods his head and says weakly, “Yeah.”
James helps him to sit up and has to hold him steady as he’s still not completely over the effects of the drug and it’s messing up his equilibrium.
“Where are we?” he asks.
“In the dungeon under the castle,” replies Jiron.
“What?” he exclaims. “How?”
James proceeds to relate the events since he woke up back on the couch. Fifer’s eyes widen when he hears the accusations being brought against them. “That’s absurd!” he cries out, the glow from the orb accentuating the anger on his face.
“We know that, and you can bet Councilman Rillian knows it too,” James explains. “But he’s just covering up his own hand in all this, at our expense.”
“What about that one eyed guy?” Jiron asks. “That one Miko mentioned?”
“We’ve got to get word somehow to Lord Pytherian about him,” says James. “Before it’s too late.”
James moves over to Jiron and takes a closer look at the bolt sticking out of his shoulder. “Can’t leave that in there to fester,” he says.
“I know,” he replies. “You better pull it out.”
“But we have nothing to close it with,” counters James.
“What choice do we have,” says Jiron. “It’s got to come out.”
“Alright,” agrees James as he gets in position to pull it out. Just before he takes hold of the bolt, the stairwell begins to lighten up again and the sound of approaching footsteps can be heard. He takes his hand away as they all turn to see who is coming.
Lord Pytherian, along with another man bearing a bag and a torch, move into the room. They come and stand before their cell.
James glares at him from where he’s sitting next to Jiron.
“I believe you,” Lord Pytherian tells him. “Go ahead,” he says to the man with him who produces a key and opens the cell door.
“He’s a healer,” he tells them. “He’s here to remove the bolt from your shoulder, Jiron.”
James gets up to make room for the healer. He then goes over to Lord Pytherian and asks, “If you believe us, why are we here?”
“You must understand,” he explains, “I have no authority in civil matters. Councilman Rillian is a very powerful member of the council with many friends. I could not side against him, it would’ve created severe problems we can ill afford with that army sitting on our doorstep.”
A muffled cry escapes Jiron as the healer pulls out the bolt. They glance over to him as he begins sewing the wound closed. Fifer is there giving the healer a hand.
“But we have proof,” insists James. “One of his agents is being held by Miller at an inn.”
“One man’s word still wouldn’t be enough,” he says. “If the enemy should launch an assault now, it’s all we could do to simply withstand it. I cannot afford to have a rift in the council, as that would surely happen if this is brought to light.”
“But he could be your biggest danger!” James exclaims.
“I know,” he says. “But as long as the illusion is held, his men will fight in the city’s defense should it become necessary. I don’t think he’d turn on us outright unless he thought it would be to his benefit or if he had no choice. As surely would happen if we pressed this matter.” Pausing for a moment, he then adds, “If he turns too soon, then everyone on the council will turn against him. He can’t afford that right now so I believe he will attempt to sustain the illusion of his patriotism as long as possible.”
“I see,” replies James. “What do you plan to do?”
“Keep an eye on him,” he explains. “Because of your outburst back there, he now knows I know. That will make it harder to discover his plans, but not impossible.”
“Don’t you have the alliance for support?” asks Jiron, joining the conversation. He’s a little pale but the wound is stitched closed.
“Some remain,” he replies. “I’ve sent riders after the others that have left, but how soon they’ll return is anyone’s guess.”
“There’s an agent from the Empire here in the city,” James tells him. “A one eyed man named Korgan. He was instrumental in opening the gates of the City of Light the night it fell.”
Nodding, he says, “My agents have reported seeing the man in the company of Councilman Rillian on several occasions. But they didn’t know who he was. If we can find him, then we could possible lay charges before the council.”
“How are you going to do that?” Jiron asks.
“Not me, you,” he replies.
“Us?” asks James incredulously. “How are we to do that from in here?”
“You’re not,” he states. “You’re leaving here right now.”
“But you told Councilman Rillian that you were going to lock us up,” Jiron says. “You’re not going to go back on your word are you?”
“I said I’d lock you up,” he replies with a smile. “And I’ve done that. I never agreed to how long I would keep you here.”
The healer comes to Lord Pytherian and says, “The wound is clean but will take a while to heal.”
“Thank you,” he says, taking the torch away from him. “On your way out, can you ask Henri to come in?”
“Yes, milord,” the healer replies. Giving Lord Pytherian a slight bow, he begins walking toward the stairs. Shortly after the healer leaves the room, a guard enters and comes over to them.
“Yes, milord?” Henri asks.
“I want you to assist them to get out of the castle and into the city without them being seen,” he tells him. “And make sure we return their weapons, they may need them.”
Giving him a bow, Henri turns to the prisoners and says, “Follow me.”
“How are we to get in touch with you?” James asks.
“Henri here will be at the north gate,” he says. “He’ll get you in to see me.”
“Okay,” says James as they move to follow Henri from the room. He glances back to Lord Pytherian when they get to the stairs and sees him standing there by the cell, the light from the torch creating a circle of light about him. Then he turns to follow Henri from the room.
The other guards who had escorted them here are waiting at the top of the stairs. They return their weapons to them, Jiron is mighty happy to have his knives back. “Is there anything else you need before we leave?” Henri asks.
“Actually,” begins James, “a mirror would be most helpful.”
“A mirror?” Henri asks. “What do you need with that?”
“Just do,” replies James. “Can you get me one?”
