The contents of one ore cart are currently being transferred by slaves into a waiting wagon. Several other empty wagons wait in line for their turn. While the ore cart is being unloaded, the mules are unhitched and then rehitched to the other side. Once the cart is empty, a switch is thrown and the tracks shift allowing the mules to pull the cart to the other track, the one upon which the carts return to the mine. Once past, the switch is thrown again and the next cart waiting in line is pulled forward.
James works the image to move into the mine but is unable to see clearly due to the lack of sufficient light. Having seen all he needs to, he puts away his mirror.
“So,” begins Jiron, “will we need to get in there?”
Shaking his head, James replies, “I don’t think so. Give me a minute while I check out something.” Jiron nods his head as James’ eyes close.
“What’s he doing now?” Jared whispers to Jiron.
“I don’t know,” he replies. “Maybe taking a look inside the mine.”
Just then the gate begins to swing open and four ore filled wagons roll through. When the last wagon passes through the gate, it again swings shut. Each wagon has a driver and a guard, neither look to be too worried about attack. By the time the wagons have rolled out of sight down the road, James comes back to them.
“There are fissures all in that mountain,” he tells them. “We’ll come back tonight and collapse the mine.”
“Why not do it now?” Jared asks.
Before James has a chance to answer, Jiron says, “Because the mine is full of slaves and they would all be killed. At night they are taken out, makes them last longer.”
“Right,” agrees James.
Moving quickly they return to the road and in no time are on the outskirts of Ki. Wary at first in case the dead man has been discovered, they approach the town slowly. But when they see the people moving about in a normal manner, they relax. Going directly to the inn, they are soon back in their rooms.
“We’ll leave shortly before midnight,” James tells them. “Get what rest you can for it may be the last for awhile.” They have a quick lunch before they turn in for a nap. James sits on the side of his bed as he gazes down at the sack of crystals he brought. Within are several more of the power crystals as well as others that have a more specific purpose. He wonders if the power stored within will be enough to enable him to maintain the spell that prevents anyone from finding him magically. When the mine goes, they’ll know precisely where he is and all their power will come to bear until they find him.
Dong…Dong…Dong…
The tolling of the bell announces it’s time for the Assembly of Masters to gather in the Great Hall. Kerith-Ayxt sits at the table in the secret room going over for the last time the spells needed to bind Aekion to his will. A day’s rest has restored much of his strength, he will need it for what is to come.
When the bell tolls for the last time he closes the book and comes to his feet. As he leaves the secret room he says the word of power and the wall once again seals shut. He dons his ceremonial robe and then leaves his room.
Aezyl, Mage of the Third Circle, awaits him outside and walks with him as he takes the stairs down to the bottom. “Everything is ready milord,” he says.
“Excellent Aezyl,” he replies. In the courtyard outside the Tower of the Magi, all those not included within the Assembly of Masters have gathered, even the novices who have yet to achieve the rank of the First Circle.
As he exits the tower the assembled mages part for him, creating a way to the Great Hall. A hushed murmur runs through them as he makes his way through their ranks, for though they may not know exactly what will happen, they know it’s something monumental.
Upon reaching the Great Hall he begins to climb the fourteen steps to the ornate double doors at the top. Upon reaching the tenth step, two Mages of the Second Circle who are standing before the doors open them for the Lord High Magus. Once he and Aezyl pass through the doors, the Seconds close them with a resounding thud.
All the mages gathered within the Great Hall are dressed in ceremonial robes similar to his. Light from hundreds of candles illuminates the Great Hall. In the center of the rotunda lies the Great Seal of Power, upon which a pentagram glows darkly with power.
Moving to his place at the apex of the pentagram, Kerith-Ayxt readies himself. Coming to a stop, he faces the assembled mages and says, “Let us begin.”
Before they set out for the mine, James takes out his map of targets within the Empire that Lord Pytherian had supplied him with. Laying it out upon the table he indicates a town to the southwest. “Here is our next target. This town is used as a supply depot for the army,” he explains. “Food, goods and weapons are brought here from all over before being sent to the armies at the front. If we can take out the storehouses and goods, it could take them some time before supplies can be sent to the front.”
“Those will definitely be guarded,” Jared states.
“I realize that,” he says. “We’ll deal with that when we get there.” He then moves his finger along the road leaving that town to the west. “From there we high tail it west and cross the river here at Inziala.” He stops his finger over the river town. “Once across the river we work our way north until we rejoin Illan and the others.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Jiron says. Jared gives him an odd look and he only grins in reply.
“Now, let’s go down to the stable and get going,” he says. “Bring everything. I seriously doubt if we will be coming back here.”
“You got that right,” agrees Jiron.
Leaving their room, they make it down to the stables. Outside is quite dark, the sun has been down for several hours now. Despite their attempt at being quiet, the stableboy wakes up and comes to help them in getting their horses ready for travel. When all is ready, James flips the boy another copper before they mount.
They leave the inn’s courtyard and make their way through town to the road leading up to the mine. The streets are dark with only the moon overhead lighting their way. Once on the road leading to the mine, they waste no time in hurrying along.
A cool wind blowing off the mountain feels good after the heat of the day. The sound of their horses’ hooves reverberates in the quiet as they proceed further up the mountain.
It doesn’t seem all that long before the wall enclosing the mine complex appears before them. Torches are spaced at twenty foot intervals along the top of the wall and several guards are visible in the light.
“That’s dumb,” comments Jiron.
“What?” James asks.
“With those torches up there they won’t be able to see much of what’s on the outside,” he explains. “Will ruin their night vision.”
“I doubt if their greatest concern is what’s on the outside,” James replies.
Jiron nods in agreement.
They pull off the road a ways and leave Jared with the horses while Jiron and James work their way closer to the wall. In the darkness they are able to come fairly close without fear of the guards seeing them.
“I think this will be close enough,” James says as he comes to a stop. The place he stops is a dozen or so yards from the wall and twice that from the gate. He settles down on the ground and Jiron comes to stand next to him.
At his belt is the pouch containing power crystals, similar to the ones he used when the enemy tried to locate him. He takes a few deep breaths to settle his nerves and then glances up to Jiron standing next to him. “Get me out of here if things go bad,” he says.
Jiron grins. He knows what he means by bad. “Don’t worry, I will,” he assures him. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s had to carry an unconscious James to safety after he expended himself doing magic. Fortunately though, those times are becoming fewer and fewer.
Closing his eyes, James brings forth the magic and sends his senses into the mine. The mine is on a single level that extends deep within the mountain. A moment’s hesitation comes when he finds slaves still within the mine, but not nearly the number that would be there during the day.
Jiron hears him sigh and asks, “What’s wrong?”
“There are still slaves within the mine,” he tells him.
“A lot?” he asks.
“No, just about a dozen or so,” he replies.
