“Torture and interrogate you mean,” replies James. “I hardly think it’s going to be a social call.”
Breaking into a grin, the man says, “I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
“Do I know you?” James asks.
“I don’t think so,” the man says. “Our paths haven’t crossed until now.”
“Who are you?” he asks.
“Just a loyal servant of the Empire,” he replies.
“I see,” says James as he leans his head back against the wall behind him.
Gesturing to the food, the man asks, “Are you worried about what may be in your food? Is that why you don’t eat?” He waits for a response and when none is forthcoming, he adds, “You needn’t be worried, there is nothing contained within other than food. No drugs or anything like that.”
James simply stares at him, not believing him in the least.
“We should be leaving in a couple hours,” the man says. “The negotiations have been concluded most favorably for all parties. Trade between the Empire and Cardri shall continue.”
“Good for you,” says James. After a few moments of silence while the man simply stares at him, he asks, “So why are you down here?”
“Just wanted to see you for myself,” he explains. “From all that I’ve heard, I thought you would be more impressive.”
James starts laughing.
Turning to leave, the man says, “I shall return when we are ready to leave.”
“I can hardly wait,” James says, sobering up quickly. He watches as the man walks to the stairs and then ascends to the upper level. Absentmindedly, he rubs the object in his pocket and waits.
Shortly after he arrived at the Dancing Squirrel, Miko set himself in the common room drinking ale. He wanted to be quickly available should the need arise. He worries about James, imagining the worst possible things happening to him and would like nothing better than to storm the castle and rescue him. But like Illan said, that would be foolhardy.
When it draws close to the time when he said he would meet them back at their rendezvous, he gets up from the table and makes his way outside to the street. He doesn’t get far before he sees the older boy running up the street toward him.
Upon seeing him, he hollers, “Miko!” and races straight for him. Looking distraught, he comes to a stop in front of him and says, “They’ve got them!”
“Got who?” he asks.
“Gwynne and little Daria,” he replies. When he sees Miko not understanding, he clarifies, “One of the older girls and the little one who took such a liking to you.”
Alarmed, he asks, “Who? Who has them?”
“The Empire’s men,” he explains. “They were down there keeping an eye on their camp while the rest of us met with you earlier. When me and Jerrick went down to join them in watching, they weren’t there.” Fear evident in his voice, he looks pleadingly to Miko.
“Calm down,” he says as he tries to keep his own emotions under control. “How do you know they have them?”
Taking a deep breath, he calms himself and then says, “Just after we got there and began looking for them, the camp started to break up. I think they’re getting ready to leave. A coach was sitting in front of one of their tents and I saw children hurriedly being put inside.” He pauses for just a second before exclaiming, “I saw Gwynne and Daria being put inside with the others. It looked like they were crying.”
Red hot anger begins burning inside him. The thought of those sweet girls going through what he had is more than he can bear. “Try to find out where they’re going and then return fast,” he says as he turns around to return to the inn and inform Illan what’s happening.
“Right!” the boy says. As the boy turns to leave one of the girls comes running down the street. “Miko!” she exclaims.
Turning to see the girl coming, he stops and waits a second for her to reach him. The older boy joins them as well. “They have a boat at the docks!” she tells him. “We saw some of them leave the castle area and followed them to the docks where they began boarding.”
The older boy says, “I bet that’s where they’re taking Gwynne and Daria!”
“Gwynne and Daria?” the girl asks.
To the boy, Miko says, “Send one to keep an eye on the camp to make sure they’re not going somewhere else. Round up everyone else and meet us at the docks.”
“Right!” the boy says as he takes the girl by the hand and they go racing down the street.
Bolting for the inn, he races through the door and takes the steps two at a time. Upon reaching the room, he opens the door and says, “They’re leaving!”
“What?” exclaims Illan as he comes to his feet.
“They have a boat at the docks and they’re leaving now!” he replies. “Their camp is being taken down and that’s not all. They’ve taken two of my kids. They’re going to make slaves out of them!”
“Damn!” curses Illan. “If they get away from the docks, we’ll never catch them.” To Fifer he says, “Go down to the docks and try to locate this ship.”
“Right,” he says as he runs out the door.
To the others he says, “If they try to move James to the ship, that will be our best chance to rescue him.” Moving toward the door, he says, “Let’s go.” Opening the door, he passes through to the hallway, the others following right behind. He glances behind him, glad to see Dave is among them and not being obstinate.
The Parvati is in the middle of their group, the hooded cloak hiding his features. Fortunately it’s autumn so relatively cool. If it was the middle of summer, he would attract attention like that.
Each walled section of the city has its own set of docks. It’s unlikely the Empire’s vessel would be docked outside in the poorer section. That dock is mainly used by simple merchants and fishing boats. The dock for the interior section by the castle is for the royalty and nobility of Cardri and the city. It’s possible the ship could be there but most likely it’s docked at the dock for the central section of the city where most of the merchants and travelers dock their ships.
It’s to this section Illan leads them. Trying not to hurry and draw unwanted attention to themselves, they forge their way through the crowds upon the streets until they’re able to see the masts of the docked ships ahead.
“Miko!” a young girl hollers and he turns to see her wave at him.
“One of yours?” Illan asks.
Nodding, Miko disengages from the group and moves to see what she wants.
With a worried expression, she hurries to meet him halfway. “Thank goodness you’re here!” she exclaims.
“Why?” he asks. “What happened?” Illan and the others have come up behind him to hear what she has to say.
When she sees them approach, she looks to Miko who nods assuringly, “They’re my friends and are going to help me rescue Gwynne and Daria.”
“Paul told me to wait here and tell you the ship is called the Black Topaz,” she says. “It’s tied down at the docks, he didn’t say which one it was, just the name.”
“That should be enough,” he assures her. “You wait here, there might be trouble and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
With fear in her eyes, she nods her head.
Miko turns back to the others and asks, “You heard?”
Illan nods. “Let’s hope Fifer has already located the ship.” Continuing down the street to the docks, they leave the frightened girl behind. The street doesn’t go much further before they’re able to see the harbor open up before them.
The docks are in a mass of confusion as ships are loaded and unloaded either by porters carrying the goods off down the gangplank or by use of one of the several cranes located throughout the dock area. One ship, a smaller two masted deep sailing ship is currently having a coach lifted aboard.
Miko’s blood goes cold when he sees the sailors on board that vessel are from the Empire. “I think we’ve
