for his turn at watch and then sleeps peacefully until dawn.
Up before first light, they’re back on the road and put a mile behind them before the sun breaks over the horizon. Using the same alternating pace as the day before, they eat up the miles quickly.
Two hours before noon, date bearing trees appear ahead of them. It’s the oasis where they rescued Jiron from the Commander of Ten when he was captured in that ill-fated mission to retrieve James’ backpack from Mountainside. A caravan is currently watering their horses at the oasis’ pool, ten wagons along with an accompanying guard of twenty.
“Better not get too close,” cautions Jiron.
“I agree,” replies James.
The road passes alongside the oasis and it would be very suspicious if they were to leave the road and pass in the desert. Rather than raise their suspicions, they stay as far away from those at the oasis as the road will allow them without appearing to do so on purpose. They pick up their pace as they hurry past.
One of the guards offers them what sounds like a greeting in the Empire’s tongue. Ignoring him, they continue on. When the guard realizes they aren’t going to answer he shouts at them, obviously offended. James glances back and sees the guards staring at them with an expression of indignation. They lock eyes for a moment before the guard turns back to the others.
“I hate not understanding their language,” comments James after the oasis has disappeared behind them.
“I know what you mean,” agrees Jiron. “Would make life easier. Is there anything you can do with magic that might help?”
“Possibly,” he replies, “though I’m not sure how to go about it. Foreign languages were never my forte.”
Picking up speed, they once again race to catch the force ahead of them. It isn’t long before the road begins turning to a more southerly direction. All of a sudden, Jiron stops in the middle of the road.
“What’s the matter?” asks James coming to a stop as well.
Jiron is studying the ground intently. “I think they left the road already,” he explains. The telltale signs of their passing which have been evident since Bindles are no longer present.
“I think you’re right,” concurs James. Turning back to the north, they watch the road closely as they travel for the spot where the force turned off. A mile back, just after the road turned to the south, they find where the force moved eastward into the desert. Turning to follow, they break into a gallop.
An hour into the desert, they see the dust rising from the marching feet of thousands of soldiers. They slow when they come within visual range of the soldiers. At least seven thousand strong, they look to mainly consist of foot soldiers. Only a fraction are cavalry, maybe less than five hundred.
“Do you sense a mage?” Jiron asks.
Shaking his head, he says, “No. I haven’t felt any other doing magic since before Kern.” Pulling out his mirror, he brings his horse to a halt.
“Do you think that’s wise?” asks Jiron. “If there is a mage with them it could get dicey.”
“I realize that,” he states. Glancing at his friend he adds, “But we need to know the situation. Where are Illan and the others? Are there any other forces converging with this one?”
“Alright, I understand,” concedes Jiron.
Summoning the magic, James has the mirror show an overhead view of the army ahead of them. He scrutinizes the leading edge of the force and finds no sign of a mage among them. Holding the image, he waits for a moment to see if the tingling of magic comes to him. When it fails to materialize, he scrolls the image further east.
Ten miles further ahead of the army lies a river running north and south. Just to the east of the river lies a major road running alongside of it. The road is packed with people. Whole families riding in wagons, pulling wagons, or even carrying their belongings on their backs are in an exodus to the north.
“Illan’s to the south,” he concludes. When Jiron comes closer he shows him the image of the fleeing people.
“That means this force is moving to work ahead of him and cut him off from Madoc,” Jiron reasons.
“Looks that way,” agrees James. He scrolls along the road to the south and it isn’t far before they find what’s left of a bridge. The center span is gone. James smiles when he sees more evidence that the seeds he planted within caravans have worked. He scrolls as far as he can and still the road is packed with people. Before he reaches the point where the draw of magic is too great, he discovers another bridge destroyed.
Scrolling back north, he continues to scan the road and finds a bridge that is still standing. “That’s where this force is going,” he says as he shows Jiron the image in the mirror. “All the other bridges south are destroyed and this is the only way for them to get across.”
“So if that bridge wasn’t there they would have to move even further north in order to cross,” reasons Jiron. Glancing to James with a grin he says, “That would delay their encounter with Illan.”
Nodding, James says, “We need to work our way around this force quickly. Their advance units may already be closing on it.” Turning back to the mirror, he scans the area between here and the bridge and discovers a score of riders making for the bridge. He then scrolls across the bridge and to the east.
“Oh, man” he says as a force of over two thousand foot soldiers appears coming from the north. “Another force is on the way from the north. Looks as if they plan to meet the ones ahead of us at the bridge.”
“Then launch an attack at Illan and the others,” concludes Jiron.
Putting the mirror away, James says, “We can’t let that happen.”
Kicking their horses in the sides, they break into an all out gallop as they angle to the north. Staying just out of visual range, they work their way around the northern flank of the enemy.
Ta-too! Ta-too!
Off to their right an enemy scout spots them and alerts the rest of the army. No longer worrying about avoiding detection, they aim their horses directly toward where they believe the bridge to be.
Another horn sounds ahead and the force of twenty riders James had spied in his mirror earlier appear. The riders are coming straight for them with the undeniable intention of attacking.
Crumph! Crumph! Crumph!
The ground erupts under the leading edge of the riders. Horses and men are thrown into the air as the charge falters. When the dust clears, only six riders are continuing the attack.
James slows his horse while removing a slug from his belt. Glancing southward to the other force, he sees their horsemen coming fast. Turning back to the six ahead of him, he looses the magic as he throws the slug. Moving at the speed of a bullet, it strikes the lead rider and knocks him from his horse. Removing another slug, he again drops a rider to the ground.
Crumph!
Letting loose the magic once more, three of the remaining horsemen are thrown into the air. The last man still astride his horse manages to keep his steed from faltering. With sword in hand the rider rides directly at them.
Jiron moves to intercept before the rider has a chance to engage James. With knives out, he closes with the rider. The enemy horseman strikes out at Jiron as he passes him on the left. Jiron blocks the blow with the knife in his right hand as he strikes out at the rear of the rider’s horse with the left. Opening a deep gash along its hind quarters, the horse rears up in pain.
The rider manages to remain in the saddle as he works to steady his mount. Jiron quickly moves in and closes with the rider. Lashing out with a knife, he almost connects with the man’s side before his sword blocks the attack.
Again, Jiron lashes out at the horse and scores another deep wound, this time in its flank. The blow severs several muscles and the horse cries out again in pain as it collapses. Vaulting from his horse, Jiron hits the ground and moves to finish the rider who has one leg caught under his horse.
Working to extricate himself from the fallen horse, the soldier tries to defend himself when Jiron closes for the attack. His sword easily blocks one knife but the other finds an opening and sinks into his side, puncturing a lung. Moving away from the trapped, dying man, Jiron catches a flash out of the corner of his eye. Turning to look, he realizes the flash was another of James’ slugs on its way to take out a horseless rider that had survived the earlier explosions.
“Come on!” shouts James. He indicates the riders closing rapidly behind them.
