“Where are they?” asks Jiron from where he’s pacing back and forth in front of the warehouse window. He again stops his pacing as he looks outside, night has long since fallen and he’s getting worried.
“Maybe we should inquire at the gate for them?” Miko asks for the third time.
Jiron turns from the window and says, “Alright.” When he sees Miko going for the horses, he says, “Leave the horses here, they’ll just get in the way.”
Miko stops and comes over to him as he opens the door to leave. Outside on the street, the crowd of people from earlier in the day has dwindled dramatically and they are able to move more rapidly than before.
Keeping their eyes open for One Eye, they move quickly toward the gate where they’d been turned away the night before. “Damn!” Jiron silently curses when he sees the same guard on duty from the previous night.
When the guard sees them coming, he gets a smirk on his face as he moves to meet them. “Back again?” he says. “I thought I told you guys you couldn’t pass through.”
“I understand that,” Jiron says, trying not to provoke anything. “But earlier, two of our friends were admitted to the castle area. We were to meet them but they failed to return. Could you tell us if you’ve heard anything about them?”
“You mean those other two guys that were with you the other night?” the guard asks.
“Yeah, that’s them,” replies Jiron hopefully.
“Sorry, haven’t heard anything,” the guard replies. He looks over to the other guards and asks, “You guys hear anything?” The others just shake their heads no.
“Don’t know what to tell you,” the guard says.
“Thanks anyway,” replies Jiron as he turns to leave. The guard watches them until they turn the corner and pass out of sight.
Miko says, “Now what’re we going to do?”
“I don’t know, but we’ve got to find out what happened to them,” says Jiron. “Wish I could do that mirror thing that James always did,” he tells Miko.
“Yeah, that would be nice right now,” agrees Miko. They walk a ways in silence before Miko says, “If Miller and his men were in the city, where would they be?”
“I don’t know,” replies Jiron, “probably back in the castle area. Why?”
“I don’t think they’d be there,” Miko says. “This place is overrun with guards and soldiers of the various alliance factions. They would have to be billeted somewhere out in the city, only the highest ranking soldiers would be permitted within the castle area.”
Jiron stops and looks at Miko as he contemplates his words. He begins nodding his head as he says, “You may be right. If that were the case, wouldn’t they be put in a cheap inn?”
“Most likely,” agrees Miko.
“Let’s try searching for them,” Jiron states. “It’s all we have to go on.”
An hour and fifteen less than desirable establishments later, they still hadn’t found them. The last place had tested even Miko’s limits on cleanliness. James must be rubbing off on him.
The next inn they come to is near the north gate. As they approach they find several soldiers and mercenaries standing around outside, which gives them some hopes they’ll find them inside. Jiron swings the door open and steps inside just as a bottle smashes into the door near his head. Instinctively ducking, he looks around the common room at the brawl going on. To their amazement and relief, Miller’s band is right in the middle of it.
One man, the proprietor most likely, is shouting for them to desist but only gets socked in the jaw for his efforts.
Everyone but the participants in the brawl move to the side of the room, giving them some space. Those that were outside come in to watch the fight, calling out to the various fighters as they encouraged them on to greater endeavors. Jiron can see money changing hands as some of them bet on the outcome.
Miller’s band appears to be getting the better of the others as they’ve more men left standing, so Jiron and Miko just stay on the edge of the crowd. Miller and one of his men tosses one of the other combatants through the air, bystanders scramble out of the way as the man sails through the door and out into the street.
Miko waves at Miller when he sees him looking in his direction, distracting him just as a fist connects with his jaw. Flailing backward, he trips over a table and lands on his back. Rubbing his jaw, he gets to his feet quickly and rejoins the fight.
The last of the opponents fall fast until only Miller’s band is standing. A cheer erupts from the crowd and everyone moves back to where they were before the fight erupted. Miller comes over to them and says, “You made it? I really didn’t think to ever see your faces again.” He looks around and says, “Where’s that layabout, Fifer and that other guy, James?”
Jiron flashes a quick glance to Miko and then says, “Didn’t Shyn tell you we were here?”
“Shyn?” asks Miller, a dark look building upon his face. “I haven’t seen that rat since we entered the city, he disappeared shortly after we arrived. I’ll kill him when I see him!”
“We need to talk,” Jiron says as a foreboding feeling comes over him. “Right now and in private.”
Miller studies his face and says, “Let’s go to my room, we can talk there.” He hollers over to his men, “Be back in a minute.” His men just give him a wave as they down more ale.
Leading Jiron and Miko down a dark dingy hallway, he takes them to a small room in the back. After they have entered and shut the door, he asks, “Now, what’s all this about?”
Jiron proceeds to tell him about the incident at the gate the first night. Then he goes on to tell of Fifer’s finding of Shyn and how he helped James and Fifer get into the castle area.
“Out on patrol?” Miller cries out. “Hah! We’ve been sitting on our butts in this damn inn since coming to this city. And if he’d suffered an injury, it’s nothing compared to what I’m going to do to him when I finally lay my hands on him!”
“There’s more,” says Jiron. He waits a second for Miller to compose himself then tells him of Shyn leading them into the castle area, and then of their failure to meet them again at the warehouse. “I think they may be in trouble, and Shyn is the key to finding them.”
Miller considers what he’d said a moment, then says, “Let me get my boys.” He opens the door and goes back out to the common room.
“You didn’t tell him about One Eye,” Miko says.
“Let’s worry about one thing at a time,” he replies.
Just then, Miller returns with his men and they all manage to squeeze into the small room before shutting the door. He gives them a rundown on what’s going on, several get dire looks on their faces and Miko almost feels sorry for Shyn should they ever find him again.
“Okay boys, here’s what we’ll do,” Miller announces. “Let’s quickly comb the city and return here in an hour. The one who brings Shyn to me gets a bonus, alright? Alive, preferably.” They all nod. “Okay, get a move on. Back in one hour.”
His men hurry out the door and quickly leave the inn as they begin combing the city for Shyn.
“Think they’ll find him?” Jiron asks.
“If he’s not holed up somewhere,” Miller says, “they’ll find him.”
“Why have you just been sitting here in this inn?” Jiron asks.
“Orders,” he tells him. “We were told to stay here until word came for us to go on patrol or the enemy attacked.”
“Who gave you those orders?” inquires Jiron.
“A guard in the livery of the city watch,” he answers. “Why?”
“It just seems too convenient for you to be here at an inn that’s about as far from the castle as you can be,” he explains. “If Shyn’s up to something, or in with the enemy, it’s sure been helpful to have you all stashed here where you’re unlikely to discover whatever he’s up to.”
Nodding, Miller begins pacing the floor.
A little over an hour later, the door opens up and Shyn is shoved into the room from
behind. One eye is swelled shut and blood is oozing from his nose and mouth.
“Where’d you find him?” asks Miller to his men as they follow Shyn into the room.
Uther, a tall brown haired man replies, “He was on his way back into the castle area. He’d almost made it to the gate before Jorry got a hold of him.”
Going over to where Shyn lies on the floor, Miller says, “Get up!” When he doesn’t comply, Miller kicks him hard in the side, “I said get up! NOW!”
Coughing from being kicked, Shyn gets on his hands and knees and uses a chair to help himself rise off the floor. Unable to stand, he collapses into the chair.
“What’d you guys do to him?” Miller asks as he looks to his men.
“He didn’t want to come with us at first,” Uther replies. “We had to convince him.”
“You damned near killed him,” accuses Miller.
Uther just shrugs.
Miko comes over and grabs Shyn by the shirt, “Make him tell what he did to James.”
Miller grabs his arm and has him let go of Shyn’s shirt, “We will lad.” Turning his attention back to Shyn, he says, “Well? Where are Fifer and James?”
Shyn raises his head and stares into Miller’s eyes defiantly, remaining silent.
Miller cocks his arm back and strikes him on the chin with his fist. Shyn’s head snaps back and when it comes forward again, fresh blood begins to dribble from the side of his mouth, as he spits a tooth out onto the floor.
Signaling to Jorry, Miller has him draw his knife and come over. “Now, I’ll ask you again. Where are they?”
When he again fails to answer, he nods to Jorry who, with the help of another of Miller’s men, grabs Shyn’s left hand and places the edge of his knife alongside his pinky.
Fear is evident in Shyn’s eyes as he stares at the knife ready to sever his finger. His eyes flick to Miller as Miller again asks, “Where?”
Giving him a moment to reply, Miller says to Jorry, “On three, slice it off.”
Jorry nods his head as he readies himself.
Miller looks into the fearful eyes of Shyn as he says, “One.”
Sweat begins to bead on his face as he glances first into Miller’s eyes and then at the knife threatening his finger.
“We’ve got all night,” Miller tells him, no hint of mercy in his voice. “There’re nineteen more fingers and toes after this one, then other parts of the body.”
A few more tense seconds go by before he says, “Two.”
The sweat is beginning to drip off the end of Shyn’s nose. His breathing becomes more labored as he stares at the knife at his finger. Then his eyes look to Miller, he sees him to begin to say three when he cries out, “Okay!”
Miller motions to Jorry and the other guy to let go of his hand and back away. “Now, where are they?”
“They are in the castle area,” he replies.”
“Where in the castle area?” Miller asks.
“In Councilman Rillian’s building,” he says. “I think they’re still on the second floor.”
“What interest would Councilman Rillian have in them?” asks Miller.
“Who’s this Rillian?” Jiron asks.
Miller glances at him as he replies, “He’s one of the members on the Patriarchal Council, very influential and powerful.” Turning back to Shyn, he says, “I asked you a question!”
“If I tell you they’ll kill me!” Shyn exclaims, looking to Miller for sympathy.
He’d sooner get blood from a stone than sympathy from him. “I’ll kill you now if you don’t!” he yells.
“Will you let me go if I tell you?” Shyn asks.
“If you can convince me you’re not feeding me a pack of lies, then yes, I’ll let you go,” he assures him. He suddenly draws his dagger and puts it to his throat and says, “But if you don’t, then you’ll be feeding the buzzards in the morning.”
Nodding, Shyn says, “Okay.”
“Now,” begins Miller as he replaces his dagger in his belt, “what part does Councilman Rillian play in all this?”
He glances from Miller to the others in the room as he says, “He’s been bought by an agent of the Empire.”
“Was it a man with one eye?” Miko bursts out.
Shyn nods, “Yeah, I think his name is Kirgin or Karrigan…”
“Korgan?” asks Miko.
“Yeah, that’s it,” he says.
“Who’s this Korgan?” Miller asks Miko.
“He’s been hounding us for awhile,” he explains. “Ever since James ran afoul of him back in Cardri. We also believe he was instrumental in opening the gates during the siege at the City of Light.”
“Is that why he’s here?” Miller asks as he turns his attention back to Shyn.
“I couldn’t tell you that,” he says. “I don’t know that much about him. I just saw him prior to taking James and Fifer there.”
“What part did you play in all this?” asks Miller.
“Back before the fall of the City of Light, I had been an agent for the Empire,” he explains. “I would pass on information I had heard to another agent who would then get the information out of the city. When the city fell, I fled with the other refugees until I stumbled upon your band and joined it.”
“Traitor!” One of the men behind him says. “You caused the death of thousands of innocent people.”
“There are no innocent people,” he replies. “Just allies and enemies.”
Miller signals for his men to remain quiet and hold their anger. Then he says to Shyn, “Go on.”
“After we arrived here in Lythylla, I saw another agent and met with him,” he continues. Looking to Miller, he adds, “That’s when I left you guys to help the organization here. With Councilman Rillian’s help, it was easy to put you here so you wouldn’t discover what I may be doing.”
“But you still haven’t said anything about James and Fifer!” Miko cries out.
“I’m getting to that,” he assures him. He points to a flagon of ale sitting on a nearby table and asks, “Can I have that?”
Miller hands it to him and after a long drink, he continues. “The return of Lord Pytherian was an unexpected blow to the Empire. The alliance which had stood against the Empire was beginning to fracture and fall apart. It was easy enough for Councilman Rillian to make the rifts wider by casting doubts upon first one faction then the other.”
“In fact, when I gave my report about his rescue and the role James had played, that was when they came up with the idea for imposters to attempt to assassinate him. Almost worked, too.”
“When it was reported that another ‘James’ had showed up at the gates, it was fairly easy to track you down. I made sure you were the ones who contacted me first, I just made myself available. Then it was simple to lead James into the trap that captured him.”
“What did you do to him?” asks Miko.
“Oh, he’s alive, to be sure,” he assures him. “They were most explicit in that regard. We set out some food laced with a drug to inhibit his magical abilities and told him to help himself while he waited for Lord Pytherian.”
“Now what?” Jiron asks as he comes closer to him. “What are they planning to do to him?”
Shrugging, he says, “I was never involved with that. My job was simply to get him there and make sure he didn’t suspect anything.”
“Is there anything else you’re not telling us?” Miller asks.
“No, I swear it!” he exclaims. “Can I go now?”
“What?” Miller says with a laugh. “I don’t think so. We’ll just hold you here until we’re sure you haven’t just fed us a bunch of cow dung.”
Miller turns to his men and says, “You guys stake out the gates leading out of the castle. There’re three of them so two to a gate. If you see James or Fifer leave, or anyone else leaving in an odd manner, one of you comes back here to me and the other follows them. Understand?”
His men nod and as they leave one of them hits Shyn across the back o
f the head causing him to cry out.
Jiron looks to Miller and says, “You staying here?”
“Someone’s got to watch this piece of trash,” he replies. “You?”
“I’m going to get into the castle area and find James,” he explains. “Miko, you stay here too.” Seeing him start to argue, he holds up his hand and says, “I may need to go where you can’t follow. Stay here and I’ll find him, okay?”
“Okay,” he says.
Jiron goes over to Shyn and asks, “Where is the building he’s being held in?”
“There’s a courtyard in front of the gates to the castle itself,” he tells him. “It’s the building on the east side.”
“Which room?” he asks.
“It’s on the second floor,” he says. “Follow the corridor down from the top of the stairs and you’ll find a pair of double doors on the right. Last I knew, he was in there.”
“If he’s not, you’re dead,” Miller says to him. To Jiron he adds, “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” he says as he heads to the door. After opening the door, he glances to a worried Miko and says, “Don’t worry, I’ll get him out.”
“When you see him, tell him One Eye is in the city,” Miko tells him, “he’ll understand.”
Jiron nods his head as he leaves the room.
Chapter Twenty Six
Leaving the inn behind, Jiron moves quickly and silently through the dark streets. The castle rises up before him to the south, its spires standing tall behind the wall enclosing the castle area. If Shyn is to be believed, James is being held in a building on the far side of the castle itself.
He makes his way around to the nearest gate which lies on the north side. The gate is large enough for two wagons to pass through side by side and still have enough room for foot traffic. The area is well illuminated and there are two guards on duty.
The buildings of the outer area end a hundred feet from the wall. It looks like that continues the entire way around, most likely to give the defenders a clear killing area should the enemy make it this far within the city.
Crouched in an alley a little way down from the gate, he tries to determine the best way to enter. Suddenly, a hand touches his shoulder from behind. He turns around fast, knife in his hand and just before he strikes, recognizes Jorry and Uther. “Man, you scared me!” he exclaims quietly.
Warrior priest of Dmon-Li ms-3 Page 36
