Not knowing what else to do, he stands there and watches as she disappears into the Tunnel of Love.
“Sir?” a voice says, bringing him back to consciousness.
Opening his eyes, he glances over to the tent flap and sees Devin there. “What?” he asks.
“Illan says we need to be on the road soon,” he replies.
“Alright,” James tells him and then lies back as the tent flap closes again. Trying to catch the fleeting remnants of the dream, he begins to be unable to recall the details. Sighing, he gets up and starts getting dressed. The one thing about the dream he recalls is that the girl was in some way familiar. Why, he’s not sure.
By the time he’s dressed and leaves his tent, the memory or the dream has faded completely and all he’s left with is a feeling of having lost something.
Chapter Three
In less than an hour they’re up and on their way. The sun rising over the Sea creates a truly dazzling display as the waves upon its surface sparkle in the early morning light. Leaving the city of Pyrtlin behind, they take the east road along the northern shore of the Sea.
Not long after Pyrtlin disappears behind them, they come to a crossroads where they can either continue along the shore to the east or take the road to the north. They continue along to the east.
“We should arrive at Shore Town sometime before the evening meal,” Illan explains to James. “There we’ll need to take the northeast road out of town.”
“Wouldn’t it be quicker to stay next to the Sea?” questions Jiron.
Shaking his head, Illan says, “There’s a mountain range on the eastern shore of the Sea which we will have to ride around.” To the east they see the peaks of the mountains silhouetted against the sky in the distance.
“How long will it take us to reach Lythylla?” James asks.
“A week or so,” he answers.
The rest of the day passes fairly quickly and just as Illan predicted, they reach Shore Town shortly before the evening meal. They find an out of the way inn where they stop to have a bite to eat. Having been on the road for many days and eating their own cooking makes them all long for a real meal.
The mood here in Shore Town isn’t nearly as harried and anxious like what they found back in Pyrtlin. Probably due to the fact that before they’re going to be attacked by the Empire, other cities will have to fall first. Everywhere there are signs of preparations being readied in the event the Empire makes it this far.
From where they sit having their meal in the inn, they watch a group of boys who are put through drills, similar in nature to those Illan had the recruits doing back at The Ranch. When James asks a local at a nearby table about the drills, he’s told that Madoc has called for a levy. All able bodied men and older boys are required to present themselves for training in the defense of Madoc.
“Look at that,” Caleb says as he watches the lads. “They don’t even know how to hold a sword.” Others offer their observation as to the boys’ lack of skill.
Illan turns to them and says, “You weren’t much better before I got a hold of you.” He then winks to James and gives him a grin.
A quick meal of roast duck, bread and ale and then they’re off. They travel several more hours, putting as much road behind them as possible before they decide to call it a day and make camp.
The next day and a half finds them reaching the northern edge of the mountains and skirting along the foothills before coming to a town known as Raider’s Doom. It sits on the banks of a river flowing from the north where two main roads intersect. Illan tells them that after they cross the river they’ll turn southward and follow the eastern side of the mountains until they come to an end. From there it’s only a day to Lythylla.
Raider’s Doom is a quiet, little town, not nearly the metropolis one would expect to sit on the convergence of two main arteries. Not a small town to be sure, but the people there have a quiet calm about them that’s been lacking in the other towns they’ve passed through. It almost seems as if they are not concerned about the war coming in their direction.
“They don’t seem to care about what’s going on to the south,” Uther states as they pass through.
Kids playing in the street, ladies taking their time in their daily routines, no one seems worried or concerned about what the future might hold.
“Hope they can stay that way for a long time,” James replies. He hopes someday every town could have that same carefree attitude.
“How did the town get a name like Raider’s Doom anyway?” Devin asks from the rear.
Before Illan has a chance to explains, Scar pipes up and says, “You see, a century ago, there was this band of raiders…” For the next twenty minutes, he regales everyone with a tale of raiders and a trap laid by the local villagers. How the raiders were slaughtered to the last man. “…and that’s why it’s called Raider’s Doom. Since that day, so the story goes, no raider has ever been seen in the area.”
From somewhere in the back, in a voice barely heard, James hears Uther ask Jorry, “You know how you can tell when he’s lyin’?”
“How?” Jorry asks.
“His lips move,” explains Uther. At that, laughter breaks out up and down the line.
Before Scar has a chance to begin an argument, Illan announces loudly, “No, it’s true. It actually happened the way he said.”
Scar turns to look at Uther with a smug expression and then turns back to the road.
The road continues to follow the river and they are able to make good time. Other travelers pass them coming from the south from time to time, those fleeing the coming of the Empire. Seems no one has any confidence that Madoc and the alliance will be able to hold the Empire when they finally make their move.
Near the end of the day, the road begins angling more to the southeast and away from the river as it continues in a more southwesterly direction. Not long after leaving the banks of the river, they come to a junction where a smaller, little used road branches off and moves to follow the river.
“If you take that road,” Illan explains, “it will take you to Serene Lake.” He turns in the saddle and glances to James. “I know you have an interest in things of nature. On the far side of the lake, Thunder Falls roars its way into the Sea.”
“Thunder Falls?” he asks.
“Largest damn waterfall I’ve ever seen,” he explains. “If you stand near its base, the sound seems to vibrate through to your very soul. Quite an experience.”
James would like nothing better than to take an excursion to see this wonder of nature. But time is pressing and they need to reach Lythylla before the Empire begins the attack. “Maybe another time,” he says wistfully. Glancing at the fading light, he says, “Perhaps this would be a good time to make camp for the evening.”
“As good as any,” agrees Illan.
They move off the road and set up camp near the banks of the river for easy access to the water. The mountains rise just to the west, casting deep and long shadows in the sun’s final light of the day. Another couple days and they should arrive at Lythylla, then things will become interesting.
Just as twilight sets in, the sound of dogs barking can be heard coming from the direction of the road to Serene Lake. In the gloom, six figures appear and are soon revealed to be local farmers, one of whom is in the lead with two dogs on leashes.
They all come to their feet when it looks as if they’re heading straight for them. James moves to meet them as they enter the campfire’s light. “Have you seen two small children?” the man in the lead asks.
“No,” replies James. “You are the first we’ve encountered. Are they lost?”
Nodding, the man says, “Since day before yesterday. They are my children,” he continues, a sad and worried look upon his face. “They are a wild pair but they’ve never been away this long.”
The dogs sniff around, as if trying to find the scent. James notices the man holds a shirt in his hand, one too small for him to wear. Indicating the shirt, he asks, “Is that one of theirs?”
The man glances at the shirt and nods. “My son’s,” he replies. “Been using it for the dogs to get the scent, but so far they haven’t picked up the trail.”
James glances first to Jiron and then to Miko. Miko has a serious expression on his face and nods his head.
