When they reach the road moving northward, they turn onto it and again increase their speed to a fast gallop. Along the road between Reardon and the City of Light, they encounter many civilians. Families as well as merchants and the occasional group of soldiers are upon the road heading south to Reardon. Many have their belongings with them and their mood is one of hope for the future.
James remembers last year and the refugees who were fleeing the approach of the Empire. His heart is gladdened that the fear and hopelessness he had seen on the faces of many has been replaced with joy and hope. He fervently wishes that they will be able to continue having hope and joy for a very long time to come.
Before the walls of the City of Light come into view, camps are seen where they’ve sprung up along the sides of the road. Tents turned into makeshift taverns operated by smart tavern keepers supply ale and other essentials to those who are working to put their lives back together.
Few women and children are seen, though there are pockets of them here and there. The majority of those they encounter are men, workmen who are here to begin the rebuilding of their country.
When at last the walls of the City come into view, the pit fighters come to a stop. This is home for them. Where they were born and raised. James is actually surprised to see a tear come to the eyes of some of these hardened fighting men.
“There she is,” breathes Potbelly.
“Never thought I’d ever be coming back here,” Stig says.
“Let’s go,” urges Miko. When he first laid eyes on the walls his sense of urgency increased. Nudging their horses, they take a more moderate pace as they approach the gates to the City.
“James,” Jiron says, “look over there.” He directs their view over to an open area west of the road near the walls.
“What about it?” asks James.
“That’s where you took out the majority of the enemy when we left,” he replies.
James looks hard, but after the effect of several seasons, there’s hardly any evidence left of what happened. A few blackened trees here and there are all that stands in testimony to the explosion that rocked the night so long ago.
The closer to the gates they go, the denser the tents and number of people become. The pit fighters scan the people they pass for any sign of those they knew, but so far haven’t recognized anyone.
Soldiers stand guard at the city’s gates, more for maintaining order than anything else. Jiron leads them through and into the city. Surprisingly enough, the streets are fairly clear of debris.
“They sure cleaned up this place,” remarks Jiron. During their escape, James had played merry hell with several of the buildings, exploding them in the night in order to cover their escape.
Moving across the courtyard, they pass through the next gate into the city. Signs of reconstruction are going on everywhere. People, mainly shopkeepers working to get their business back in shape, are seen setting stones and hammering planks.
“If Delia hurries, she could make a killing selling these people building supplies,” comments Shorty.
“I think she already has that idea,” replies Stig.
“Didn’t Lord Pytherian say the first building that would be rebuilt here would be that temple you wanted?” Jiron asks.
“Yes he did,” answers James. “But I don’t expect them to be able to arrange that until the hostilities subside.” Glancing over to his friend, he adds, “Besides, it’s not like we’ll be around to tell them where to build it.”
Nodding, he says, “That’s true.”
“Can you find your old hideout?” James asks.
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” he replies. “Even with the state the City is in now, I know my way around.”
“Oh, man,” Scar says sadly.
“What?” asks Jiron.
“Beggerman’s is gone,” he says, indicating a destroyed building that once sat on the corner ahead of them.
When James looks questioningly at Jiron he says, “It was a place where pit fighters hung out. A tavern and brothel all rolled into one.”
“Yeah,” agrees Shorty. “Beggerman had been a pit fighter in his younger days. Set it up when he had accumulated sufficient money to last him the rest of his life. He claimed he won the building in a card game, though no one’s ever been able to verify that.”
“Wonder if he’s still alive?” Potbelly asks.
Just then three young teenage boys come running around the corner and Scar signals them to stop, that he wants to talk.
Slowing down, the three lads approach him. “What do you want?” one asks.
Scar reaches into his pouch and says, “I’ll give you each a copper if you can answer me a question.”
“Sure,” says one. The other two nod as well.
“Beggerman,” he says. “Do you know who I’m talking about?”
“Sure do,” the first boy replies. Gesturing back to the destroyed establishment he says, “The guy with only one eye and missing half an ear, right?”
“That’s him,” nods Scar. “Do you know if he’s still alive?”
The lead boy glances to the other two who only shrug. Turning back to Scar he says, “We haven’t seen or heard about him since the City fell.”
Removing three coppers, he flips on to each of the lads. “Thanks,” he says.
“Sorry we couldn’t be of more help,” the lead boy says. Then they’re off down the street on whatever errand they were about before being stopped.
“Remember that massive mace he use to keep behind the bar?” Stig says. “He always said anyone who caused problems would get real familiar with old ‘Ironhead’.”
The others laugh at that. “Never once saw him take it down,” Potbelly states.
“I would think it came down when the City fell,” Scar says more somberly. “He wasn’t one to run off when trouble came calling.” Several of the others nod at that.
They slowly continue to make their way through town. Jiron leads them unerringly from street to street toward the entrance of his hideout. Along the way, other places that once held meaning to them are passed and James learns more about the men who have chosen to travel with him.
Finally Jiron says, “It’s not too much further.”
A green glow springs to life around Brother Willim. James notices and asks, “Trouble?”
Shaking his head, he says, “I don’t think so. I can feel something here.”
“What?” asks James.
“I’m not sure,” he replies. “I think what I’m feeling is the holiness of this place.” Glancing to Miko he sees the odd look on his face. “You feel it too don’t you?”
Nodding, Miko says, “I didn’t know what it was.”
The greenish glow disappears as Brother Willim’s attention is turned back to James. “When a holy place stands for a long time, the rocks, stones and at times the ground itself resonate with the god’s power. The more holy the place, the stronger it becomes.” Glancing around he adds, “And the longer it remains.”
“Why can’t I sense anything?” James asks. Usually when magic is near his skin tingles.
“It’s not active magic in the sense you are referring to,” he explains. “More like a resonate signature that marks the place as holy. Having once been the location for the High Temple, I can understand why I can sense it even after the Temple has been gone for so long.”
James nods his head. He remembers one of the early visits by Igor in which he took him to Disneyland. Igor referred to Disneyland as a focal point. That to those who are good, the place is like a beacon in the night. Perhaps it’s the same principle.
Jiron turns after a severely fire damaged building and then enters a street with a large crater in the middle of it. He remembers when they had originally been sneaking out and Cassie had sneezed just when a column of enemy soldiers were passing by. The hole is where James blasted a group of them to give them time to return to the hideout.
Rounding the corner of the building, they enter what once use to be a park. When James first saw the place,
