“Said at the Silver Bells,” replies the boy. “But don’t think you should try to get through the gate right now.”
“No, I wasn’t planning to,” states Jiron.
“You wait here and I’ll see if I can get him for you,” he suggests.
“Very well,” replies Fifer.
“Back in a few minutes,” the lad says as he strolls out of the alley and walks toward the gate. At the gate, he passes on through, the guards don’t even give him a second look.
“Who is this Miko?” Qyrll asks.
“A friend of ours,” replies Jiron. “Hopefully we can get ourselves out of this situation.”
“Well, well,” a voice says.
Cracking an eye open, James sees Lord Colerain and another individual standing next to him outside of his pen.
“Seems the circumstances of our meeting have greatly improved since our last encounter,” he continues. To his friend he says, “You have no idea how much satisfaction I have to see him here like this.”
“We’re getting some very good concessions from the Empire’s Ambassador for him,” his friend says. “Always pleasant when you can achieve two goals with but one action.”
James looks out through the drug induced fog, his mind barely able to even follow what the men are saying. Their voices sound as if they’re coming to him through water, probably a side effect of the drug they used on him.
Lord Colerain nods at his friend’s comment and then turns his attention back to where James is lying on his side on the bench. “The negotiations will be concluded by this evening and you’ll be happy to know that you’ll be able to leave these poor accommodations for others.”
His friend laughs and then says, “We must return. The negotiations will be starting again soon.”
“Very well,” Lord Colerain says. Taking one more satisfying look at James, he turns and follows his friend out of the cell area.
Through blurry eyes, he watches them go. When at last they’ve ascended the stairs out of sight, he slips back into unconsciousness again.
Miko and Illan are still sitting out in the common room when one of his street kids comes walking in the inn. Miss Gilena immediately moves to shoo him out but Miko sees him and says, “He’s here to see me.”
Eyeing the boy questioningly, she leaves him alone and returns to what she had been doing before he entered.
Coming over to Miko, the boy says, “I found them.”
“Where?” asks Illan before Miko has a chance to say anything.
The boy glances to Miko who gives him a nod and then says, “They’re out by the gate. I think they were trying to find a way through without being seen. Told them I’d come get you.”
“Great!” Miko says as he gets to his feet. Turning to Illan he asks, “What should they do?”
Thinking a moment, he says, “Find an inn close to where they are and have them stay put. Then come get me and we’ll figure out what to do.”
“Alright,” he says. To the boy he adds, “Let’s go.”
Leaving the inn, the boy takes him along the streets until they come to the gate near the spot Jiron and the others are waiting. Once through the gate, the boy leads him directly to the alley in which they’re hiding.
Before he gets to the entrance to the alley, Miko sees Jiron’s head poke out and break into a grin as he sees them approaching. He’s surprised when he finds not only Fifer there with Jiron but another man in a hood as well.
“Man, are we glad to see you,” Fifer tells him once he’s in the alleyway with them.
Miko holds up his hand to halt any further questions and then turns to the boy. “Round up everyone and tell them to meet me at our regular spot in an hour,” he says. “There’s something else I need you to do.”
“Alright, Miko,” the boy says and starts to walk out of the alley.
“Here,” Miko says to the boy. When he stops and turns back to him, he flips a silver over to him.
Snatching it out of the air, the boy smiles and says, “Thanks.” Then he turns back and continues out of the alley. He’s soon out of sight as he enters back onto the street and disappears around the corner.
“Now, what’s going on?” Jiron asks.
“I should ask you that question,” Miko replies. “Illan wants me to find an inn to stash you guys away for awhile until he’s able to come and talk with you.” Nodding to Qyrll, he asks, “Who’s your friend?”
“His name is Qyrll,” replies Jiron.
At that, Qyrll glances to Jiron who nods. Removing the hood, he reveals the fact that he’s a Parvati. Miko’s eyes widen and then turns his attention back to Jiron, “A Parvati? This just gets more and more interesting. We’ll talk after we get to the inn,” he tells them. “I know just the one.” As he begins moving toward the end of the alley, he glances back and says, “Follow me.”
Falling in behind, Jiron, Fifer and lastly Qyrll with his hood once more in place, follow him into the street. Several blocks down they come to an inn with a sign outside depicting a dancing squirrel. A yellow cat is lying on a nearby window sill and Miko goes over and scratches him on the back of the head. “Good girl, Furball.” Furball lets out with an answering purr, obviously enjoying the attention.
Around Furball’s neck is a rather plain collar with a small, circular metal disk hanging from it. Upon closer examination, Miko sees an exact duplicate of the dancing squirrel from the inn’s sign engraved on it. So, looks like Inius took James’ advice after all.
The last time they were there, Furball had gotten herself lost. When he and James had come across her and returned her to Inius, James had suggested a collar with something that would tell anyone who found Furball where to take her. Any local who found Furball would definitely know to return her to the Dancing Squirrel.
“Come on,” he says to the others as he goes through the open door. He sees Inius there behind the counter and waves to him as he enters.
Inius looks at him with a smile and comes over. “Can I help you gentlemen?” he asks.
Miko expected a more personal greeting and then again realizes he doesn’t look anything like he did when last here. Rather than going through what he did with Meliana and her father again, he just says, “I’d like a large room, if you have any. One with three beds maybe?”
“All I have available at the moment are rooms with two beds,” he says. “But they are quite large.” Looking on hopeful, he awaits their reply.
“Very well,” replies Miko. “A quiet one in the back would be nice.”
“We have just what you want,” he says as he returns to the counter. Reaching for the room key, he says, “It’s on the second floor. Only be two silvers and two coppers.”
Miko looks to Jiron who digs the money out of his pouch and hands it over. Taking the key, he says, “Thank you.”
“If there’s anything else you gentlemen require,” Inius says, “just let me or one of the servers know.”
“We will, thanks,” Miko says as they head to the stairs.
Once up to the second floor, they quickly find their room and file in. When the door shuts, Jiron says, “Okay. What’s going on?”
“James was arrested last night for the murder of the adjutant to the Empire’s Ambassador,” he explains. “Which I believe you had a hand in?” He looks from Jiron and Fifer and from their expression, knows he hit the mark.
For the next half hour, Jiron tells him of the fight and what’s happened since. Miko for his part, relates how James was arrested in the middle of the night, what Ellinwyrd had said to Illan, and of seeing Meliana and her father down at the docks.
When they’re at last done with catching each other up, Miko stands up and says, “Just sit tight until I return with Illan. Maybe by then he’ll better know what to do.”
“Alright,” Jiron says. “You be careful.”
Miko looks at him and says, “I’m not the one wanted for murder right now.” Turning to the door, he opens it and walks out. Shutting it behind him, he heads to the stairs and descends to the ground level. He’s soon out on the street and heading back to the Silver Bells.
