Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two (21 page)

The silence was broken by three quick
raps upon the door, followed a moment later by two more. The door
opened a crack.

Kip recognized Father Keller. The
priest took in Ceadric and Kip before fully opening the door.
Motioning for them to enter, he gave Ceadric a slight bow. For Kip
there was a brief grin and a nod of approval.

Three figures sat around the lone
table on the far side of the room. A fourth chair remained vacant.
The room was small with but one bed whereupon two others were
seated.

Ceadric crossed the room toward the
vacant chair. Kip moved to sit upon the bed next to Jira and Father
Vickor. None spoke until the door shut and Father Keller threw the
bolt.

James, Jiron and Miko stood as Ceadric
drew near.

“I am glad to see you,
Ceadric.”

The Raider Captain took the hand James
extended and shook it. “We heard you were dead.”

“As you can see, the rumors were less
than accurate.”

His stoic demeanor softened and a grin
appeared. “I’m afraid I didn’t give much credence to your
messenger. But he had enough right answers for me to doubt he was
up to no good.”

Jiron motioned for the Raider Captain
to sit, then he, James and Miko returned to their seats as
well.

“I hope you understand that discretion
is paramount at this time.”

Ceadric nodded to the one-time pit
fighter. “Completely.” Turning to James, he asked, “What did
happen?”

“I’m afraid we don’t have much time to
go into any great detail. Suffice it to say that my island was
attacked by men in the uniform of The Empire.”

His expression turned serious. “The
Empire?”

James shrugged. “I don’t know if they
were behind the attack, or if I was meant to believe they were had
the attack failed.”

“Have you heard anything from within
The Empire that might shed light on this?”

Ceadric glanced to Jiron and shook his
head. “Not a thing. Their warlords are busy fighting one another
and I doubt if any care enough about you to launch an attack. In
fact, most see you as being the one having given them the
opportunity to seize power.” After half a moment, he added, “You
might want to speak with Illan about this.”

“We heard he was out of the Aerie,”
James said.

“He is. Three days ago word came of
trouble over in the Briddlestone Hills off to the west. He left
with three-score men to investigate.”

“Nothing serious I hope.”

“Three men and two women from several
villages in the Hills have gone missing over the last two weeks.
Several farmers claim they’ve lost livestock as well.”

“Bandits, do you think?” Miko
asked.

“That’s what Illan intends to find
out. Losing livestock is one thing, but we can’t have our people up
and disappearing.”

“Hope he finds them,” Father Keller
said.

“He will.”

“What about Lord Cytok? I know he
would like nothing more than to see me dead.” Lord Cytok had been
second only to the Emperor prior to the arrival of James.
Afterward, his influence had been greatly diminished.

Returning his gaze to James, Ceadric
nodded. “That is true. However, the territory he controls is beset
on three sides by rivals seeking to seize his lands for themselves.
Even if he wanted to seek vengeance, he simply does not have the
resources to spare.”

“That is what I thought.”

“Is this why you wished to meet with
me? To see if The Empire was behind the attack?”

“In part, yes. But right now, there is
a matter of more pressing urgency.”

Ceadric raised his eyebrows
questioningly when James paused.

“The City Watch has Scar and Potbelly
along with two others of our company.”

The Raider Captain rolled his eyes.
“What did those two do this time?”

“Nothing that would warrant their
arrest,” Miko replied. “This is an old score between the Watch
Commander and them.”

“Well, they should think twice before
absconding with men in his command.”

“We would like you to intervene and
get them out for us.”

Ceadric sighed. “That isn’t as easy as
one might think.”

“Why?”

“For one thing, the City Watch doesn’t
report to Black Hawk, but to the City Council.”

Jira came off the bed. “Can’t you do
anything?”

Giving her a smile and tousling her
hair, he replied, “Perhaps I can,” then returned his attention to
James. “I take it you are not planning on doing
anything?”

James shook his head. “I could, but
that might alert those who attacked the island that I was in the
area. It would be best if this could be handled on a local
level.”

“I concur. How long ago were they
taken?”

“Several hours.”

“Hmm.” Coming to his feet, Ceadric
said, “I best be going then. I’ll see what I can do.” Pausing at
the door, he turned back toward James. “I’m glad you’re
back.”

“So am I.”

After Ceadric departed, James turned
to Jiron. “Do you think he can get them out?”

“If not, we’ll have no choice but to
go in and get them ourselves.”

James sighed, then nodded.

Not far from the eatery, half a score
men ready for battle waited. Ceadric had positioned them within
earshot should a quick rescue be warranted. Fortunately for all
concerned, the Raider Captain emerged safely.

“Some friends are being held at the
City Jail.”

Jorl, a Raider Captain of many years
and one of Ceadric’s long-time comrades, grinned. “Trouble, do you
think?”

Ceadric nodded. “Without Black Hawk
here at the Aerie, things could get dicey.”

Another soldier snorted. “About time
we did something about the Guard. They’re a bunch of rogues and
tavern-idlers if you ask me.” Several others grunted in
agreement.

“Who do they have?”

Glancing to his men, Ceadric replied,
“Friends.” His tone indicated that was all he planned to say. “From
what I understand, the Watch Commander has an old score to settle
with them.”

Pointing to two of the
younger Raiders, he said, “Run to
The
Rusty Scabbard
and see how many of our men
you can find. Take position in the back and waylay any guards that
might be returning to the Jail. You have ten minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” they said with a nod and
raced off to carry out their orders.

Six more Raiders were sent to other
nearby haunts. When it was down to himself, Jorl and three others,
Ceadric indicated for them to join him and headed toward the
Jail.

En route, they picked up another three
Raiders. When they drew within sight of the Jail, he set four to
watch the avenue. He, Jorl and two of the more veteran of the newer
Raiders proceeded at a leisurely pace toward the entrance. Two
torches sitting one to either side of the door bathed the area in
light. Ceadric came to a halt before entering their field of
luminescence.

From within, they heard a man cry out
and another shouting.

“Torturing them do you
think?”

Ceadric glanced to his man. “Let’s
hope not.” He feared what The Dark Mage might do should he be
unable to diffuse the situation.

“Shall we go in?”

Shaking his head, the Raider Captain
replied, “No. We’ll wait for our men to arrive.”

A great cry went up from
within.

“Something’s going on,” one of his men
said.

Jorl tried to pierce the shuttered
windows for a clue as to what. “Might be the other
prisoners.”

Ceadric shrugged. “If so, that’s their
problem.”

His attention was drawn to the sound
of someone approaching. From out of the darkened street, one of the
men sent to gather others appeared.

“Three score men are moving into
position, sir.”

“Good. Tell them to hold position and
move only on my command. Should any guards return to the jail,
detain them.”

“Yes, sir.” Saluting, the man turned
smartly about and raced back into the darkness.

“Now?” Jorl asked.

Ceadric nodded. “Let’s go.”

Jorl kept to his right while the other
two Raiders followed behind. As they entered the glow of the
torches, shouting once again erupted and this time, there was the
unmistakable clang of metal striking metal.

Ceadric drew his sword and rushed the
steps.

Jorl spied one of their men at the
corner of the building as his sword leapt to hand and moved to
follow his Captain. He signaled to the Raider for those lying in
wait to swarm the building.

Hitting the door with his shoulder,
Ceadric rushed into a scene of utter mayhem. Tables lay smashed,
chairs broken, and nearly two-thirds score men lay strewn about the
floor; some moaned, others moved not at all.

Six men remained upright. One was
pinned to the wall, a knife piercing his hand kept him firmly in
place. Two others were busy tossing a uniformed man into a nearby
cell. Of the three left, one wore the uniform of the Watch
Commander. A two-foot jagged piece of broken staff pressed
painfully against his neck.

The man holding it turned toward
Ceadric as he entered. “About time you got here.”

Tinok smiled not at all as he returned
his gaze to the Watch Commander. He put additional pressure on the
broken staff-end and the Watch Commander winced. A drop of blood
trickled from the point of contact.

Scar stood next to Tinok with sword in
hand and wearing a big grin. The grin vanished when armed men
rushed in from the back and through the front. He readied to meet
the charge.

“Hold!”

Ceadric’s shout brought his men to a
halt.

Potbelly and Shorty stood back to back
before a cell containing six unconscious men wearing Guard
uniforms, one of which had recently been cast ignominiously upon
his comrades. The former bore a sword while the latter held a knife
in each hand.

A Raider eyed the situation then
turned a questioning gaze to Ceadric, “Sir?”

“Ceadric, seize…”

Tinok cut off the rest of the Watch
Commander’s words by asserting additional pressure upon the broken
staff-end. The trickle of blood had now soaked a copper’s sized
spot on the Commander’s collar.

Jorl kept sword in hand as he glanced
to his Captain.

“Take the men and ensure we are not
disturbed until our business here has been concluded.”

“As you wish, sir.”

Sheathing his sword, Jorl ordered the
men back to their positions outside. Snickers and rude comments
directed at the Watch for being taken out even when outnumbering
their opponents turned the Watch Commanders face red with
anger.

Ceadric’s gaze never wavered from
Tinok and the Watch Commander. “I think you can lower that
now.”

“Are you sure?” Scar asked.

“Yeah,” chimed in Potbelly from where
he and Shorty were picking up a seventh unconscious guard to add to
the pile within the cell. “He might kill us all.” At which Shorty
and Scar gave out with loud guffaws.

Coming to stand next to Tinok, Ceadric
laid a hand on the arm holding the broken staff. “That’s
enough.”

There was something in the pit
fighter’s eyes that gave the Raider Captain pause. For a moment, he
worried the jagged end might just as easily go up and through the
Watch Commander’s throat, as go down. When Tinok lowered the broken
staff, Ceadric breathed an inward sigh of relief.

“Call your men back, Ceadric!” ordered
the Watch Commander. “These men are criminals and are to be held,
tried, and executed!” Scar’s laughter only increased the red-faced
Commander’s rage.

Ceadric failed to respond. Instead, he
took a good look at the bodies lying about the floor. “Anyone
dead?”

Scar stepped over a fellow writhing
upon the floor with arm clutched to chest, and came to stand next
to the Raider Captain. “I don’t think so.”

“So, what happened?”

Nodding toward the Watch Commander,
Scar replied, “He wasn’t content to merely hold us.”

“Torture?”

“Of a sort. We were more than happy to
go along until this could be sorted out. But when two guards
started tying Potbelly to the bars and a third approached with a
cudgel, we had to act.”

“Do something, Ceadric!” the Watch
Commander exclaimed.

Turning toward the man, the
Raider Captain shrugged. “Aren’t you forever telling us to stay out
of your business? That what happens within Al-Ziron is your
province and that we should, how did you put it,
keep our bastard, Raider noses out of
it
?”

Shorty came up behind the Commander
and pressed a knife point against his ribs. He gestured to a nearby
cell. “This way, Commander.”