“Then they have sent men to engage Illan,” James states.
“Looks like it,” agrees Jiron. He points out several different tracks of wagon wheels as well as the footprints of foot soldiers. “Could be a sizeable force.”
“If this is the only one, Illan should have little trouble,” observes James. “Two days…” Picturing the map of the area in his mind he tries to estimate the position of Illan and the rest of their friends. If this army passed through here only two days ago, they may not have had the time to reach them yet.
Glancing to Jiron he sees he’s come to the same conclusion. They kick the sides of their horses and break into a gallop. Illan needs to be warned of this new threat.
Riding hard through the morning, they come to where the road ends at Bindles just after noon. Another road passes through the town going north and south. During their earlier sojourn on their way to find Miko, they had passed through here in the guise of merchants. Delia had even managed to secure additional cargo bound for Korazan to give them more legitimacy.
When the town appears before them, they slow down to look for any forces in the area. Not finding any, they continue to follow the road into town. Out of water and short on supplies they stop at the trader they visited on their last trip, the one Delia had acquired the cargo from. A sign hangs above the door depicting three barrels.
Dismounting, they head for the front door. Just as before, the people on the streets barely give them more than a cursory look. Jiron reaches the door first and opens it. Upon entering they find the same merchant they dealt with the time before.
The merchant looks up from where he was going over a ledger and sees them enter. “Good day to you sirs,” he says with a grin. Closing the ledger he comes over to them and asks, “How may I help you?”
James was worried that he would recognize them but looking into his eyes can tell he doesn’t. “Additional water bottles and several days’ worth of travel rations,” he tells him.
“And a mirror if you have one,” adds Jiron. Glancing at James he gets a nod of approval. He hadn’t thought to purchase a replacement for the one lost on the road.
“Very good,” the merchant replies. He then goes over to a table with water bottles. “How many would you require?”
“Two bottles each,” he says.
The merchant picks up four bottles and takes them over to the counter. He then moves to another table containing packages of dried beef and cheese. Picking up an armful, he brings them over to the counter. “Will this be sufficient?” he asks as he places the packages next to the water bottles. “I’m sorry I don’t have much of a selection to offer, the soldiers bought almost everything and the caravan carrying my goods is overdue.
Nodding, James says, “Yes, thank you.” He gives Jiron a knowing glance. The caravan in question may very well be one of the ones he secreted the explosive seeds in. The merchant may be waiting a long time before he sees his goods.
The merchant moves behind his counter and produces three mirrors of varying sizes. James selects one that is only six inches by three and has a plain bronze frame. The merchant replaces the other mirrors and then adds the one selected to the rest of their items.
“I heard that an army passed through here a day or two ago,” Jiron suddenly says.
“That’s right,” the merchant replies. “There’s a rumor going around that Black Hawk has returned. But that is hardly possible.” Finishing bundling the items together he quotes a price to James who then hands over the required coins.
“Oh?” asks James. “Why is that?”
“He and his men were slaughtered years ago,” he states.
Jiron casts a quick look to James who asks, “Are you sure?”
“Well, I wasn’t there of course but that was the story going around at the time,” he explains. “Supposedly his men were destroyed by the Empire’s armies after some battle or other.”
“Oh,” Jiron says with a barely concealed grin. “So what about the soldiers who passed through here?”
“Well like I said, a rumor had been going around town for some time that Black Hawk had returned. I never gave it much credence, rumors seldom being reliable and all. But when the men who had been stationed at Kern passed through, they said the same thing. Apparently they are on their way to take out whoever this is. Probably someone stirring up trouble and using Black Hawk as a rallying cry or some other such nonsense.”
“Yeah,” agrees James. Taking his newly bought goods from the counter, he turns for the door. “You wouldn’t happen to know which road they took out of town would you?”
“Why?” the merchant asks.
“We’re heading east and if there’s a battle about to be fought, we don’t want to be anywhere nearby when it does.”
Nodding, the merchant says, “They took the south road.”
“Thanks,” James says as he starts moving for the door. Jiron reaches the door first and opens it for him.
“May your travels be safe ones,” offers the merchant.
“Thank you,” Jiron replies. Stepping aside, he lets James leave the chandlery and then follows him out.
They secure the rations behind their saddles and James puts the new mirror into one of his belt pouches. Then taking the water bottles over to the rain barrel sitting against the building, they fill them up.
James says, “So they are indeed going after Illan.”
“Hope he’s faring all right,” replies Jiron. Worries for his sister and friends have been a constant companion since he and James left them.
“With Miko and the Hand of Asran to take care of any magical foes,” James says, “it would take a large force indeed to cause him any real problems.”
Topping off his last bottle, Jiron secures the stopper in the bottle’s neck. James finishes with his and they return to their horses to pack the extra bottles away. Mounting once more, they turn south to follow the road through town.
Once past the last building, they break into a fast gallop as they race down the road. Seeing as how the force of soldiers ahead has wagons traveling with them, they may be able to catch them before they attack Illan. Alternating between a fast gallop and at times dismounting to give the horses a break, they put many miles behind them. As they ride they keep an eye on the tracks of those they are pursuing to make sure the soldiers don’t turn off the road unexpectedly.
By time they reach the town of Arakan, the sun has begun its descent to the horizon. Having bought sufficient supplies back in Bindles, they decide against stopping. Instead they hurry their way through town.
As they enter the outskirts, James eyes the building that the officer who had stopped and checked their papers exited from during their last visit. Since neither one can speak the language, any confrontation can only lead to disaster. Coming abreast of the building, he quickens the pace of his horse slightly and moves past. He breathes a sigh of relief when no one makes an appearance.
“Take it easy,” Jiron says to him softly. James gives him a nod and brings his horse back to a normal gait. The last thing they want to do is attract attention. Continuously scanning the people on the streets for any potential problems, they make their way through town.
One thing James notices is the lack of guards or soldiers. Since entering Arakan, he’s only seen one guard. Glancing to Jiron he sees that he’s noticed that fact too. Last time they had more of a presence. Perhaps when the soldiers passed through here they took most of the guards with them.
If that is the case, James is both elated and worried. Elated in that if they are forced to strip town garrisons and city guards to bolster their army, then they must be hurting for men. On the other hand, he’s worried because that would mean more to face should there be a battle.
They reach the far side of town and leave the last building behind them without incident. Not far past the town they come across an area that looks like it could have been the bivouac area the army they’re following used the night before. Piles of horse dung dot the area and there’s evidence of over a dozen fire pits spaced evenly throughout.
“We’re gaining on them,” Jiron says after examining a pile of horse dung.
“I hope so,” replies James.
They push on for a couple more hours until the sun drops below the horizon and twilight has almost turned into full night. Pulling several hundred feet off the road, they make camp without a fire. Rolling out their bedrolls, they have a quick meal then James takes first watch while Jiron turns in. A little after midnight, James wakes Jiron
