Once they’ve reached the door leading outside, Ohan opens it for them and bids them good day. Jiron and the others leave the Order of the Scarlet Sword and pass back into the plaza. He stops abruptly when he notices something he hadn’t before.
“What?” asks Stig.
Indicating the statue atop the fountain, he says, “Look at the way it’s facing.” When the others look, they see what he means. The statue is facing directly toward the door leading into the Order of the Scarlet Sword.
“So?” asks Reilin. “It has to face somewhere.”
“I don’t know,” he replies. “It just struck me as odd that a statue of a soldier is facing the entryway to a guild of soldiers.”
“Think there could be some connection?” asks Stig.
“Maybe. But right now I’m not really concerned about it.” Turning toward the other two he says, “All I care about right now is talking to Azku.”
“He may not even be in the city,” says Reilin.
“Perhaps,” states Jiron. “Although after the message I left, if he is we will know soon.” Stepping out, he leads them back to the Soaring Eagle to wait for Azku’s appearance.
Chapter Eighteen
Back at the inn they tell James and the others about what transpired at the Order of the Scarlet Sword. At the description of the red banner that hung by the door, Scar interrupts by saying, “I think there was one in the City of Light.” All conversation ceases as every eye turns toward him. “If you described the banner hanging out front correctly, then there was one just like it on Copper Street.”
“Wasn’t that within the merchant’s district?” asks Stig.
“That’s right,” replies Scar. “I met a patron in that area for some reason, I forget exactly why, but I do remember seeing a banner just like the one you mentioned hanging on a building there.” He can see the doubt in some of their eyes. “I’m telling the truth.”
“I believe you,” says Shorty. “I saw it too.”
“What can it mean then?” asks Reilin.
James soon finds everyone’s eyes upon him for some sort of explanation. “Don’t look at me,” he says. “I don’t know.”
“But you can guess,” says Jiron. “You always have some idea about everything.”
“Do I?” he asks surprised. When everyone nods their head, he shrugs. “Guess it’s due to my over active imagination. Always made me a good Dungeon Master.” When he sees them looking confused by the term, he waves away the question that was on their tongues. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Well?” asks Jiron.
“Maybe it’s a guild that transcends nationality,” he replies. “From what you said, it’s comprised of fighters and those who have dealings with them such as weaponsmiths and those scholars who deal with the theory of fighting.” Looking to Jiron he asks, “The man said that a Commander of Ten was a member?”
Jiron nods. “Yes, that’s what he said.”
James remembers going up against one of those on his trip to recover Miko from the Empire. The one he faced was exceptionally skilled with the sword not to mention the added ability to use magic. “It seems odd that such a one would be a party to something that consists of elements outside of the Empire.”
“When this Azku gets here,” Jiron says, “we’ll ask him.”
The others agree and for the next several hours they toss around different ideas of what the Order might mean, what it does, that sort of thing.
Darkness settles in with a vengeance and they finally decide Azku is not going to make an appearance this evening. James sends them all to their rooms and then climbs into bed. He no sooner blows out the candle than there’s a knock on the door.
Jiron is out of bed in a flash and runs to the door. Flinging it open, he sees one of the inn’s boys standing outside. The boy hands him a letter and says something in the Empire’s tongue then turns around to head back downstairs.
“Reilin!” Jiron calls out.
A nearby door opens up and Reilin sticks his head out. “What?” he asks.
Indicating the departing boy, Jiron holds up the recently delivered letter and says, “Ask him where this came from.”
Moving from the doorway, Reilin hurries toward the boy and hollers for him to stop. The boy pauses at the top of the stairs and turns back to see what Reilin wants. Reilin and the boy exchange a few words before the boy turns back to the stairs and heads down.
Returning to where Jiron waits in the doorway, he says, “One of the street kids delivered this and said it was for you.”
“Me?” asks Jiron, looking at the letter.
“Yes,” he replies. “The kid didn’t give any further explanation other than that a man had asked him to deliver it right away.”
“Must be from Azku,” says James.
Jiron hands the letter to James and says, “Can you read it?”
Taking the letter, James opens it and finds it is written in the northern tongue. “Yes I can,” he replies.
“What does it say?” Jiron asks.
“It says…
Red Lantern Bridge. One hour. Come alone.
“Red Lantern Bridge?” asks Stig. The others have gathered in the hallway to see what’s going on.
To Reilin, Jiron says, “Go downstairs and see if you can find out where we can find Red Lantern Bridge.”
Nodding, Reilin says, “Right.” He then turns and hurries to the head of the stairs. In a second he’s disappeared down the stairwell.
James indicates for everyone to come into his room while they wait for his return.
“Looks like you got his attention,” says Brother Willim.
“If it is him,” says Miko. “We have been misdirected before.”
“I agree,” James says. “There’s no way to know if this is from him or not.”
“I realize that,” states Jiron. “I’m not stupid.” He puts his arm around Aleya and they wait for Reilin’s return.
A few minutes later, the door opens and Reilin walks in. “I found out where it is,” he announces.
“Where?” Jiron asks.
“It’s in the heart of the city,” he explains. “A tributary from the river winds its way through underground tunnels until it emerges in a large park area the locals have constructed. The waterway runs for two hundred feet before returning to the underground tunnels on its way back to the river. Several foot bridges span it and one of them has two red lanterns that are lit at either end during the night. That’s where its name came from.”
“Where is it?” he asks.
Reilin explains. “If you follow the street running in front of the inn down to the right for six blocks then take a left, that street will take you all the way to the park. From there, just look for the red lanterns.”
“Very good,” Jiron says as he stands up. “I’ll be back,” he tells the others.
Aleya grabs him by the shirt and says, “It might be a trap.”
“I know,” he says. “I’ll be careful.”
“We’re going with you,” says James.
“The note said to come alone,” he objects. “If I bring all of you, he may not show himself.”
“Don’t worry,” assures James. “We will be at a discreet distance and I’ll use my mirror to keep an eye on what’s going on. If trouble arises, we will rush to your aid.”
He considers the plan for a second then nods. “Just don’t be too close,” he says.
“We won’t I assure you,” James tells him.
