Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li: The Morcyth Saga Book Three (45 page)

“Intriguing,” Captain Kurk says. “Lord
Pytherian said you might be coming this way and to give you any aid
you may require. He also told us to ask you if you’d meet him in
Lythylla as soon as possible.”

“Thanks,” replies James. “We were planning
on doing that anyway.”

Captain Kurk says, “Lieutenant Rolger will
see to your needs.”

A man steps forth and says, “If I may be of
any assistance?”

James, feeling like he’d just been
dismissed, turns to leave the inn with Lieutenant Rolger following
behind. Once outside the inn, he turns to the lieutenant and says,
“We could use fresh horses and some supplies, food and the
like.”

“Sure thing,” he says. “Follow me and we’ll
get you what you need.” He takes them down several buildings before
entering one with a crossed knife and fork embossed on a sign
hanging in front.

Within, they find a nice restaurant. “This
is the main mess for the troops while we’re here,” he explains.
Many of the tables have soldiers eating their meals, or just taking
it easy and talking with each other.

Lieutenant Rolger waves down one of the
servers and says, “Get these gentlemen something to eat. They’re
our guests.”

“Yes sir,” the man replies.

“I’ll see about fresh horses and some
supplies while you’re eating,” he tells them.

“Thank you,” says James as the server leads
them to a vacant table.

The lieutenant just nods his head and then
leaves the restaurant.

Once they’re seated, the server says,
“There’s not much of a choice, but I’ll bring you some of what we
have.”

“We’d appreciate it,” James says as the man
moves to return to the kitchen area.

“Man it’s nice to be able to relax again,”
Miko says as he leans back in his chair.

“You got that right,” agrees James. “I don’t
know how long it’s been since I could completely relax.”

The server returns with steaming bowls of
stew and two loaves of bread. He sets them down on the table and
then brings over a pitcher of ale and four mugs. “Enjoy,” he says
to them.

Miko mumbles something through a large
mouthful of food as the server leaves their table.

The meal is surprisingly good, made all the
more so by the ability to sit at a table to enjoy it without the
worry of being killed at any moment. Before they’re done, the
lieutenant returns and says, “I took the liberty to transfer your
things from your other steeds to the fresh ones. They’re waiting
for you outside when you’re ready to depart.”

“Thank you,” James says appreciatively.

“Is there anything else I can do before you
leave?” the lieutenant asks.

“Not that I can think of,” James assures
him.

“In that case, I shall return to the
captain,” he tells them before turning toward the door and
leaves.

It isn’t long before they’re done with their
meal. Leaving the inn, they find four good horses outside waiting
for them, each with a new bedroll and saddlebags. And when Miko
checks the bags on his mount, finds them full of travel rations. A
new water bottle hangs from each of the saddles as well.

“Didn’t expect all this,” Jiron says as he
climbs into the saddle.

“Me either,” agrees James after he mounts
up. He looks at the others, everyone is looking tired and travel
worn. Though he doubts if anyone is experiencing fatigue to the
degree that he is.

“Tired as we are,” he begins, “we better
make for Lythylla before stopping. I’m sure we’ll get plenty of
rest there.”

“I hope so,” says Fifer.

“And a bath!” pipes up Miko. He grins at
James when he glances in his direction.

“That too,” says James, returning the smile.
“Let’s go.” As they move out, they see the wagons with the wounded
going through the streets. It doesn’t look as if they’re going to
stop here in Colton but continuing on down to Lythylla.

Once past the outskirts of town, they
continue passing people on the move as they try to get to safety
from the coming armies. James is reminded of the traffic they
encountered when they were approaching the City of Light. The faces
of these people show the same lack of hope for the future that the
others had.

Across the river they see patrols of the
Empire riding along. They have complete control over there, the
only thing keeping from being on this side is the river. It’s
flowing much too wide, deep and fast for them to be able to make it
across safely. Especially if there’re soldiers over here picking
them off while they’re in the water.

The light begins to fade as they continue
along. Riding hard, they pass several small towns along the way,
each is in a stage of evacuation, soldiers encouraging and helping
the citizens to leave.

When night has finally settled in and the
stars have come out, they slow their pace so as not to ride over
the people on the road. Even the dark of night isn’t stopping the
refugees from fleeing. James feels sorry for them and hates those
behind the wars that cause such grief.

Near midnight, they begin to see the lights
from a great city appear ahead of them. “That must be Lythylla,”
comments Jiron.

“I would assume so,” says Fifer.

As they continue to move closer, they’re
able to discern campfires, thousands of campfires on the other side
of the river. “There must be thousands of troops over there,” says
Miko in awe. “Why are they just sitting there?”

“Might be they can’t get across the river
without dying,” suggest Jiron.

“Or they’re waiting for something,” states
James.

“Like those armies to the south?” Fifer
asks.

“Probably,” he replies. “If so, they’ve got
a long wait.”

He hears Fifer give a chuckle at that,
“Especially if Commander Eathan has anything to say about it.”

To the east of the city are hundreds of
fires and tents of those allies who’ve come to help defend
Lythylla. The wall of the city itself comes right to the water’s
edge. Anyone trying to cross the bridge there will face a massive
barrage from those defending the walls.

“Looks pretty defendable,” says Fifer.

“That’s what they thought back at the City
of Light too,” counters James. “And we know how that turned
out.”

The area around the city is well lit with
torches and campfires. No one could possible sneak in or out
without being seen.

James thought they’d at least stop them and
ask them some questions, but the guards at the gate just wave them
on through with the other refugees entering the city.

“Should we go in search of Lord Pytherian?”
Fifer asks.

“Yeah,” replies James. “He’s probably up at
the castle.”

Moving through the streets, it isn’t hard to
find their way to the castle. It towers over every other building
in the city and they’re able to follow the streets that head in its
general direction. Eventually they make it to the curtain wall
which surrounds the castle area.

The guards at the gate leading into the
castle area are not nearly as lackadaisical as the ones at the
outer wall. When they approach, one of the guards moves to block
them. As they come to a stop, he says, “No one is allowed within
the castle area.”

“We’re here to see Lord Pytherian,” James
tells him.

The guard looks him up and down and then
glances at the others, obviously questioning the voracity of what
James is saying.

“And why would you be here to see Lord
Pytherian?” the guard asks him. “In the middle of the night?”

“I don’t see how it could possibly be any of
your business,” replies James. “Just send a runner up to the castle
and inform Lord Pytherian that James is here to see him.”

“James huh?” the guard asks, the other
guards get up and come over. “You’re the third ‘James’ that has
been here to see him today. Are you claiming to be the one who
helped to rescue him from the clutches of the Empire too?”

James glances at the others, and sees them
mirror his doubt and confusion on their faces. Turning back to the
guards, he starts to reply when the guard continues, “The first one
was brought expeditiously to Lord Pytherian and was soon exposed as
an imposter. The other ‘James’ tried to attack him and kill him,
his body now lies in a garbage heap somewhere.” Giving him a
suspicious look, the guard asks, “Now, why should I believe you?
I’ll not disturb his lordship again until I am sure.”

“I don’t believe this,” complains James.

“What’re we going to do?” Jiron asks
him.

“Well, we’re definitely not going to fight
our way through,” says James. “They’ll need every ‘fool’ on the
walls when the Empire attacks. I’m just too tired to do anything
about it at the moment.”

Turning back to the guard, he says, “I am
the real James. With me are Jiron, Miko and Fifer who’s a member of
Miller’s band, the irregulars out of the City of Light. When
someone asks you if we’ve shown up, please inform them that you
turned us away.”

James turns his horse back toward the city
and says to Jiron, “Let’s find a room somewhere and get some sleep.
I’m about ready to fall off my horse. We’ll deal with that,” he
says, indicating the guards behind them, “tomorrow morning.”

Moving away from the gates they head back
into the city as they try to find an inn to spend the night. The
first several they come across are all full, refugees have taken
every available space.

They finally end up finding an empty
warehouse with enough room for them and their horses. Bringing them
inside, they shut the door and spread out their bedrolls.

“What do you think he meant when he said
that two other ‘James’’ have been here?” asks Jiron.

“I don’t know,” replies James. “But it can’t
be good.”

“Who would know?” Fifer asks. When the
others turn their attention to him, he continues, “I mean, who
besides us would know to come here and say that?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” says James
from where he’s lying down. “But we’ll worry about that tomorrow.”
Before he falls asleep, he glances over to where Jiron is looking
out one of the windows. Glad he’s decided to take the first watch.
Unbeknownst to him, the others are going to allow him to sleep
through the night without a turn at watch.

The following morning, when everyone but
James is awake, they sit on the other side of the warehouse from
him as they talk quietly so as not to awaken him.

Jiron says to Fifer, “Think you could go and
find someone from Miller’s band who could help us get in to see
Lord Pytherian?”

“Maybe,” he replies. “I’m not sure if
they’re even in the city.”

“I know,” says Jiron. “But it might be our
only way without something spectacular.” He nods over to James, “If
you know what I mean?”

Fifer flashes him a grin as he remembers the
trip back and all the things James has done. “I understand,” he
replies. “Better try to keep this low key unless we have no other
option.”

“Exactly,” Jiron agrees.

“Need me to go with you?” asks Miko in the
hopes of escaping the warehouse.

Shaking his head, Fifer says, “No, I better
go alone. It’d be quicker that way.”

“Okay,” says Miko, disappointed.

Fifer gets up as he says, “I’ll meet you
back here in a couple hours, whether I’ve found someone or
not.”

“We’ll be here,” replies Jiron.

Fifer turns and walks over to the door and
leaves the warehouse, closing it behind him.

“Now what?” asks Miko, sighing.

“Now, we wait,” replies Jiron who almost
can’t stop himself from smiling at the despondent sigh Miko lets
out.

An hour later the door to the warehouse
bursts open and three members of the city watch come in.

The sound of the door slamming open startles
James awake and he sits up groggily as they enter the
warehouse.

“What?” he asks, still not completely
awake.

Jiron moves over to meet them as the first
guard asks in a surly tone of voice, “What are you doing here?”

“We couldn’t find any inn with space for
us,” replies Jiron. “We had to stay somewhere and since this was
empty, we came in here.”

“Damn refugees,” one of them says.

“Well, you can’t stay here,” the first
watchman tells him.

“But we’re waiting for the return of a
friend,” Miko blurts out. “If we leave, he’ll never find us!”

“Be that as it may,” the watchman says,
“this is a private building and it ain’t yours. So you’ll have to
go.”

Now completely awake, James gets up and
comes over to join the conversation. “Surely there must be some way
that we can stay here?” he asks as he digs in and pulls out three
silvers. “Maybe you could find the owner and give him this for us.
Three should be enough for a days rent, wouldn’t you say?”

The watchman gazes at the coins in James’
hand a moment before reaching out and taking them. “Alright, I’ll
get these to the owner. I’m sure he won’t mind if you stay here a
few more hours to wait for your friend.” He quickly puts the coins
in the pouch at his waist.

“Thank you,” James says. “We do appreciate
it.”

“But don’t be thinking you can stay here
forever,” the watchman tells them. “You better be out by sundown at
the latest.”

“We will,” James assures him. “Rest assured,
we will.”

“Okay then,” he grunts at them. Turning to
the others of the watch, he says, “Let’s go.” They move toward the
exit and are soon through it, the door shutting with a bang behind
them.

“He’s not going to give that money to any
owner,” Miko states.

“I know,” James replies. “I just wanted to
stay here a little longer. I assume the friend we’re waiting for is
Fifer?”

Jiron glances at him and says, “Yeah, it is.
He went looking for someone from his unit that might help get us
past the gate.”

Nodding, James says, “Good idea. Though
should he come back without finding anyone, we’ll try the gate
again. There’ll probably be a different set of guards there and we
might get lucky.”