building, blending into the shadows. Once the men are positioned such that they can see the inn yet remain out of sight, the leader has the squad move out. They turn down the street and begin moving in the direction of the building where Aleya is being held.
“If we had been any later we would have fallen into their trap,” Miko says.
Jiron nods and watches as the squad comes closer.
They remain quiet and still in the shadows as the squad passes by. “We can’t let them reach that building,” James says once the soldiers have moved further down the street from their hiding place.
“Ambush?” questions Stig.
“You better believe it,” replies Jiron. “I’ll take Stig and get ahead of them. James, you and the rest follow close behind.”
“Okay,” James replies.
Jiron and Stig move into the alley and run to the other end where it opens onto the next street over. It runs parallel to the one the guards are taking and will allow them to get ahead of the squad without being seen. James takes the lead and enters the street behind the departing squad with Miko, Brother Willim, and Reilin right behind. A slug from his slug belt rests in his hand.
“Are you going to kill these men?” asks Brother Willim.
James glances to him and nods. “Afraid so. Our friends are in mortal danger, we don’t have time to play it safe.”
Brother Willim sighs and nods understanding. The death of any man is hard on the Priests of Asran.
James maintains a discreet distance and they follow the guards for a couple blocks. Then they notice that the street ahead of the squad is darker than it was when they passed through earlier. The streetlights are out. James grins and thinks, Smart thinking Jiron.
The squad appears not to be bothered by the fact that the street lights are no longer lit and continue to walk forward. Just before they enter the darkened area, James sends the magic forth and breaks the rope binding Shorty’s hands behind his back. Shorty’s pace falters a moment by the unexpected freedom and almost doesn’t recover in time to prevent his captors from realizing he’s no longer bound.
James can see him nod his head three times to let them know he’ll be ready. “Any time now,” he says under his breath and hears Miko say, “Yeah.”
Then ahead of the marching guards, a shadowy figure detaches itself from the greater darkness and approaches them. The guards, oblivious to the oncoming threat, continue to march.
“Now!” he hears Jiron holler and the shadow leaps toward the lead guard.
Throwing his slug, James takes out one of the rear guards as the one Jiron engages falls lifelessly to the ground.
Stig rushes in from the side and the battle is joined. Shorty tackles the guard to his left and wrestles him to the ground. Kneeing him in the stomach, Shorty struggles for possession of the man’s sword.
Another slug flies and takes out the remaining rear guard. Jiron has both knives out and is trading blows with one while Stig stuns the one he’s facing with a powerful blow of his mace to the side of the man’s head. Stig then follows through with another bone crushing blow to the head. Brains and bone shatter under the impact. Maces are brutal weapons in the hand of an expert.
Jiron dodges to the left to avoid a thrust by his opponent, then dodges back and sinks his knife in the man’s side. Lashing out with the pommel of his other knife, he knocks the man backward and to the ground. Jiron glances around and sees Shorty getting up from the ground with the guard’s bloody sword in hand. The guard lies on the ground unmoving, his life blood beginning to pool on the ground next to him.
James and the others come running and Reilin says, “Quick, get the bodies in the alley.” Glancing around, it doesn’t look as if anyone has taken notice of the fight. The street remains quiet.
Working quickly, they get the dead guards off the street and into the alley without anyone taking notice. “When morning comes, it won’t take very long before the bodies are found,” Stig says.
“We won’t be here by then,” Jiron tells him.
“You okay?” James asks Shorty.
“Yeah,” he replies. “They jumped me when I returned. I took one of them out before they could take me.”
Jiron comes to him and asks, “Did you find where Orrin is staying?”
Shorty nods. “Yes, he’s staying at an inn not too far from here. Now, could someone tell me what’s going on?”
“We’ll explain on the way,” Jiron says. “Show us where he’s staying.”
As Shorty heads out, the others fill him in on the events so far.
Moving quickly toward the inn where Orrin is staying, they are forced to alter course twice to avoid patrols moving along the streets. The increased patrols have to be in response to them being in town.
“There it is,” Shorty says when the inn comes into view.
“Which room is his?” asks James.
“Third floor,” he replies. “Second room on the right.”
“Jiron, come with me,” James says. “The rest of you stay here.” With Jiron beside him, they hurry across the street and enter the inn. The common room still has a few night owls at the tables. The bard, if there had been one, has long since gone.
They move toward the stairs located at the rear of the room at a normal pace. When they reach the foot of the stairs, they quicken their pace, taking them two at a time until they reach the third floor. James then walks down to the second door on the right and knocks.
When the door opens up, Orrin looks out with the question he was about to ask still upon his lips. His eyes widen when he sees who it is standing at his door.
“Remember me?” James asks.
“Oh yes,” he replies. Then a smile comes across his face, “You’ve given the Empire no end of trouble since last we met.”
“Can we come in?” James asks.
Opening the door wider, Orrin gestures for them to enter.
“Thank you,” James says as he and Jiron enter the room. After they’re in, Orrin closes the door and walks over to the only table in the room.
“Please,” he says indicating the chairs around the table, “have a seat.” As they sit he adds, “Sorry I can’t offer you any refreshments.”
“That’s alright,” James assures him. “We’ll survive.”
“Did you follow me here?” he asks.
“Why would you say that?” Jiron asks.
“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Orrin asks.
“This is my friend Jiron,” James says.
“Oh yes, the knife fighting Shynti,” nods Orrin.
“You seem to know an awful lot about us,” Jiron says, a frown coming to his face. He doesn’t like the fact that an absolute stranger would know such things.
“Yes I do,” he replies without expanding further. “As to your earlier question, I attended a brief meeting by an associate at his residence. At the meeting, I learned of your presence in the city and how you used a ruse to get him to meet with you. He wasn’t too happy about that.”
“I realize that,” James tells him. “We followed him to his house.”
“Obviously,” Orrin says. “You’re here aren’t you?” He glances from Jiron then to James before asking, “So why are you here?”
James gives him a rundown of what’s going on with Aleya, that she’s being held captive, and where. He also relates how Shorty had been taken at the inn where they were staying. “What we came here for is to see if you could help us in any way to get inside that building,” James concludes. Sitting back in his chair he gazes hopefully at Orrin.
Outside, Miko is waiting in growing impatience and dread. “Come on James,” he mumbles to himself, “there isn’t much time.” Then from down the street fifty men, a mix of guards and soldiers come marching down the street.
