“Miko,” Delia says again. “James needs you.”
Coming fuller awake, he shades his eyes and then opens them a crack. The pain knifes into him again as he’s helped to a sitting position. Looking around, he sees James lying next to him.
With fingers trembling from fatigue he picks up the Star from off his lap, then with Delia’s help he scoots over to where James is lying. Head swimming and spots appearing before his eyes, he tries to concentrate and bring forth the magic of the Star. The trembling in the hand holding the Star increases as what little strength he’s recovered leaves him. Suddenly, the Star falls from his fingers and only the quick reflexes of Jiron prevents it from falling upon James’ chest. Swooning, Miko collapses.
“Damn!” curses Illan.
“At least the fire seems to be letting up,” offers Shorty.
Looking up at the barrier’s apex, Illan finds the fire has continued to subside even further. “That is something,” he admits. Looking down at James, Illan hopes he comes out of it soon.
In no time at all, the fire upon the barrier has completely subsided. When no more flames are touching the barrier, it winks out. Cool desert air washes over them despite the fact it’s the middle of the afternoon. After being in the sweltering heat contained within the barrier, even the hot summer air feels cool.
Looking around, they see an area of devastation beginning where the barrier had ended. Flat and grey, the ground looks to have been burnt clean by the blast, there are still pockets of fire scattered here and there. Of the enemy soldiers caught outside the barrier there’s no sign, not even bones.
“Get the wounded in the wagons,” Illan says as he begins barking out orders. “We still have a ways to go before we reach the safety of Madoc.” He pauses a moment and waves Jiron over to him. “See that James and Miko are put in the same wagon,” he tells him. “And post a guard.”
Jiron nods and goes to see that it’s done.
Potbelly is put into one of the wagons, his wound healed by the brothers. Alive and cranky he gives his friend Scar no end of trouble as he works to get him into a wagon. Jiron grins, if he’s got strength enough to complain, he’s likely going to make it.
It takes them an hour to be ready to roll. A couple of the wounded that the brothers said were beyond even their skill had to be put out of their misery. Brother Willim sits on the wagon carrying James and Miko as they get underway.
Illan takes the lead when they leave the untouched area where they were sheltered from the blast. His horse’s hooves kick up the grey dust which soon clings to everything. They travel for an hour before the ground shows any sign of improvement. From there it gradually returns to its former state. By the time they leave the grey area behind them, everyone is coated with the grey dust. Looking back at the column behind him, Illan can’t help but think they look like ghosts passing through the desert.
When night falls, they keep going. None wish to remain any longer in the Empire than they have to, especially seeing as how close they are to Madoc. During the night, Miko stirs a couple times and by morning he awakens completely. James on the other hand continues as he has been, feverish and bothered by tremors every once in a while.
Sitting up in the bed of the wagon, he looks around in the predawn light. Not entirely sure what’s going on, he sees Brother Willim sitting on the seat next to the driver.
“Where are we?” he asks.
Turning to him, Brother Willim says, “A long way from where the battle was fought.”
“We won?” he asks.
Grinning, he replies, “Yes we won. How do you feel?”
“Tired,” he says with a yawn. Then he notices James lying next to him. Casting a worried look to Brother Willim he asks, “Is he okay?”
“We don’t know,” he explains. “He’s been that way ever since the end of the battle.”
Miko moves closer to his friend and places his hand on his chest. Sighing in relief, he feels the heart still beating.
“Hey man,” Jiron says as he rides closer to the wagon. “Glad you’re awake.”
Miko glances to him and can see the lines of worry marring his face. He looks around himself for a moment before Brother Willim says, “It’s in your belt pouch.”
Taking hold of the pouch, he feels the Star within. Opening the pouch, he pulls forth the Star and taps its magic. Mouthing words silently, he kneels next to James and lets the glow from the Star envelope them both.
Jiron sends a rider to fetch Illan who arrives a few short minutes later. They ride next to the wagon in silence as Miko continues what he’s doing. Finally, the glow disappears and he sits back against the side of the wagon.
“The fever’s gone,” he announces. “But his mind is…” then trails off as if he’s trying to come up with the right words.
“What?” asks Illan.
Glancing to him, Miko says, “I’m not sure how to explain it. But he seems to be…elsewhere.”
“What does that mean?” demands Jiron.
“I don’t know,” he replies. “It just is.”
“How can we get him back?” asks Illan.
“I don’t know,” he admits. He looks from each in turn and they can see the worry in his eyes.
Then a rider comes thundering toward them from the head of the column. When he pulls up before Illan he says, “Riders coming, lot of ‘em.”
“Where?” Illan asks.
“From the north,” the rider replies.
To Ceadric and Jiron he says, “To your men gentlemen.”
Jiron gives him a nod as Ceadric says, “Yes, sir.”
“Keep an eye on him,” Illan tells Miko.
“Count on it,” he replies.
Turning his horse toward the head of the column, he kicks it in the sides and rushes forward. He reaches the front just before Ceadric and Jiron come with their men. Halting the column, they begin forming up for battle.
“They’re ours!” cries a Raider when the riders come closer.
Sure enough, the approaching riders turn out to be over five hundred of Madoc’s cavalry led by Captain Kurk.
“Am I glad to see you,” Illan tells the captain as he draws close.
“Black Hawk,” the captain replies with a nod. He takes in the bedraggled look of the men before him and the number of non military personal further back. “Heard there was some kind of disturbance in the area and was on our way to investigate.”
“Escort us back to your camp and I’ll tell you all about it,” he says. “How far are we from our lines?”
“You’re standing on them,” he explains. “A week after you left Lythylla, Lord Pytherian and the Alliance went on the offensive. They’ve steadily pushed them back and have almost managed to reach the old border between Madoc and the Empire. Still some heavy fighting to the west, but the east is falling fast. The Kirkens have joined the fight and together we’re giving them what for.”
“Excellent,” breathes Illan.
As the word spreads to the rear of the column, a cheer goes up. ‘Black Hawk’ and ‘Madoc’ resound as the people celebrate the fact that they are now safe. They did it. Not only have they passed from the Empire but it’s on the verge of being forced out of Madoc.
Captain Kurk says, “Our camp is several hours away.” He dispatches a rider back with word that Black Hawk is on the way. The rest of his men move to take charge of the prisoners.
“Lead on,” Illan says and with a command, the column begins to move. Glancing back to a wagon riding near the center, he wonders what’s going on inside James’ head.
Smoke chokes him as he tries to outrun the fire. The hills behind him are aflame and the fire is coming fast. Winds fan the approaching inferno, spreading the blaze even faster. Running, he dodges around trees as he moves over first one hill then another.
His mind has begun to play tricks on him. Out of the corner of his eye he catches movement within the flames but that can’t be possible. Nothing could survive within the inferno.
