The Star of Morcyth: The Morcyth Saga Book Five (41 page)

“Stay right there,” the man says, his voice
somewhat shaky.

Drawing his knives, Jiron advances upon him.
A woman screams from the nearby bed as the man’s sword strikes out
at him. Jiron easily deflects the blade and follows through with a
punch to the side of the man’s face.

As the man stumbles out of the way, he races
past and out of the bedroom. From downstairs the sound of many feet
can be heard running up the stairs. Running along the hallway away
from the stairs, he comes to the last door and smashes into it. The
door bursts open and he rushes into the room, quickly closing it
behind him.

He looks around for something to bar the way
and realizes he’s stumbled into a nursery, over to one side of the
room is a small child standing in a crib. Couldn’t be more than a
year old, the child holds onto the side of his crib as he stares at
Jiron. The pounding of feet toward him down the hallway tells him
he doesn’t have much time.

Pulling a dresser over to in front of the
door, he braces it with a couple chairs and then heads to the
window next to the child. The child just stares at him curiously as
he looks out. The street below appears to be empty.

Bam!

The door is hit from the other side as his
pursuers attempt to break it in. He glances and finds the dresser
and chairs are for the moment keeping them at bay.

“My baby!” can be heard coming from the
hallway.

Ripping the sheet off the baby’s bed, he
ties it to the side of the crib and then puts the excess out the
window. At this point the child starts to sob and then lets out
with a god awful scream. Jiron glances toward it and sees the child
is attempting to reach through the bars for something.

On the floor next to the crib he finds one
of Tersa’s teddy bears.
Are these things everywhere now?
Picking it up, he hands it to the child who immediately quiets
down. It must have been lifted from the crib when he had removed
the sheet.

Bam!

The door opens an inch and begins to be
pushed further into the room as those in the hallway put their
weight into it. Swinging out of the window, Jiron takes hold of the
sheet and proceeds to climb down. Unfortunately the sheet only
extends several feet and he has to let go and freefall the
remaining ten feet.

Landing on his feet, he glances up just as
Orlander’s head pops out of the window. “He’s on the street
outside!” he hollers. He leaves the window and a crossbowman takes
his place. Taking aim at Jiron he fires just as Jiron begins
running away down the street and misses, the bolt strikes the
ground where he just vacated.

Coming to the edge of the house, two of
Orlander’s thugs round the corner and engage him. Not even slowing,
he waits until the last possible moment then drops to the ground
and rolls into their legs. One hops over him as he rolls and the
other fails to move fast enough and is tripped.

Coming to his feet quickly, he turns and
goes on the offensive with the one still on his feet. Feinting with
one knife, he draws the man’s sword into a defensive position.
Using his other, he knocks the sword out of the way and ends it
with a kick to the man’s chest which sends him stumbling backward,
tripping over his comrade.

Turning, Jiron resumes racing down the
street as more of Orlander’s men leave the house and gain the
street.

The commotion on the street has begun to
draw the attention of those living in the vicinity and many are
sticking their heads out the window to see what’s going on. When
they recognize Orlander and his bunch, they immediately pull their
heads back from the window and throw the shade.

Just three streets away is the inn where
hopefully James has begun to get the horses ready for a quick
getaway. Needing to give him a few more minutes to assure he’ll be
ready when he gets there, he pauses at a corner at another junction
where he’s sure the light from the moon overhead will illuminate
him. Making sure he’s seen by Orlander’s bunch, he then races
around the corner.

Ping!

A crossbow bolt strikes the building near
where he had just stood. The thunder of pursuit remains behind him
as he continues to lead the mob through town. At one corner a
member of the city watch appears before him.

“Here now…” the man begins to say as Jiron
runs right into him without even slowing. Bowling the watchman
over, he continues fleeing down the street.

Hoping James has had enough time to get the
horses ready by now, he begins to make his way back toward the inn.
Shouts from all over begin to be heard as Orlander’s group splits
up to cover many of the streets. The watchman join the group, seems
they’re on rather friendly terms with Orlander. He must’ve bought
them off.

Pausing for a moment to catch his breath in
a darkened doorway, he holds still as a group of five men race
past. He waits there until they turn at the next junction and then
continues heading toward the inn.

In the dark of night with nothing but the
moon to light the way, he’s not entirely sure he’s kept his sense
of direction until he sees the inn coming up the road ahead.

Crumph!

From the back courtyard of the inn a loud
explosion can be heard. Between him and there are three men all
running with swords drawn toward the courtyard. Jiron leaves the
protection of the shadows and races behind the three men. With
knives in both hands, he comes up behind them and stabs two through
the back and as the third turns to face this threat, slices him
across the throat.

Leaving the dead and dying behind him, he
races to the side of the inn and enters the courtyard. He finds
James standing by the saddled horses holding off three men. A stone
flies from his hand and takes one out as the other two charge.

With a cry, Jiron races to intercept. The
men hear his cry and turn as he advances upon them. One moves to
intercept him as the other continues toward James. The man heading
to James suddenly cries out as he’s picked up and thrown across the
courtyard where he smashes into the side of the stables.

The cry of his partner distracts the
remaining man just enough for Jiron to get inside his defense and
slice open his belly. Then he kicks out with his foot and smashes
the man’s knee. As the man falls to the ground he yells to James,
“Get on the horse!”

Closing the distance to the horses, James
gets into the saddle just as Jiron catches the pommel of the saddle
of his horse and quickly swings himself up. Without a word, they
both kick their steeds into quick motion as they race for the way
out of the courtyard.

As they near, Orlander and his bunch show
up. “Don’t stop!” Jiron cries and they both hug their horses’ neck
as they ride through the group.

Orlander and the others have to dive out of
the way in order to avoid being trampled by the charging horses.
When he gets to his feet, Orlander yells “I’ll kill you both if
it’s the last thing I do!”

Leaving them behind, the two riders race
through town following the western road leading to the mountains.
“Let’s rejoin the others,” James tells him.

“I’m for that,” he replies. Behind them the
glow which was once Orlander’s tavern lights the night.

Once they are again within the beginnings of
the pass, they slow their speed. They don’t ride very far before
Jiron asks, “Do you think the Empire’s men are still around?”

“Never know,” James replies. “Best if we
kept an eye out.”

“Next time around should my horse become
skittish I’ll be more careful,” he says, remembering the creatures
they fought not too long ago.

Nodding, James says, “You got that
right.”

As they ride the sky begins to lighten with
the coming of the dawn.

Two hours after leaving the town behind, the
thunder of approaching riders begins to be heard coming from the
pass. Deciding discretion may be the wisest course at this time,
they edge off the road and hide within a copse of trees.

Just as they gain the cover of the trees,
the horsemen reach them and thunder past.

“Fifer!” James exclaims at the departing
riders as he quickly returns to the road.

The rider in the rear turns around to glance
back and cries out, “It’s James!” Miko stops his horse and turns
back, the others following suit.

“What the hell happened?” Uther asks as they
come close.

“A lot,” Jiron replies. “Sure am glad to see
you guys.”

“Where did you get the horses?” James asks
Fifer as he pulls up next to him.

Nodding back the way they came he says,
“Back a ways. We were hurrying to follow you when a couple soldiers
from the Empire suddenly appeared in the road ahead of us. Seems
they were coming from a hard to see trail and must not have seen
us. When they finally saw us, a cry went up and one of them fired a
crossbow but fortunately failed to hit.”

“Yeah,” interjects Uther, “after that we
charged and took them out. From the looks of them they had already
seen some action, bandaged as they were.”

Nodding, Fifer looks to James and says,
“Some were even sporting severe burns.”

“We saw the explosion,” Dave says, not
wishing to be left out of the conversation. “What happened?”

“Let’s find a spot off the road where we’ll
not be observed and I’ll tell you,” he says to them.

Turning off the road, they move through the
trees until they find a suitable clearing where they can rest
without those passing on the road finding them. Once settled in,
James and Jiron take turns in describing all the events which
transpired since they left the others.

At the description of the creatures, Dave
asks, “Hell hounds?”

“Possibly,” answers James. “Water and ice
affected them where cold iron didn’t.”

“That’s not good,” he says, worried.

“I know. If they have those, what else can
they have to throw at us?” James gives his friend a knowing look.
Dave nods silently.

“We should stay here and rest,” Qyrll
states. Everyone looks to him as he continues, “We haven’t had rest
for two days and you two look dead on your feet. If the Empire
should show up again, we’ll need to be at our best to survive.”

“Orlander’s bunch too,” adds Jiron.

“Exactly,” he agrees.

“It would probably be best to pass through
Illion at night anyway,” says James. “Orlander may have people
watching for us.”

Several heads, several tired heads nod in
agreement. Breaking out what little rations the Empire’s men had on
their horses, they have a quick, cold meal. Eating in silence, each
ponders the events of the last several days and wonders just what
may lie ahead for them.

After they’ve finished eating and Qyrll is
set to take first watch, Miko suddenly asks, “Did you find out
about Ironhold?”

“What?” asks James. Then understanding hits
and he says, “Damn! I was there and forgot to ask.” He glances to
Jiron who just shrugs with a slight grin.

“You going back?” Fifer asks.

“We have to know where it is,” he replies.
“If anyone around here would know, it’ll be the Renlon’s. I mean
they’re in the iron business and all.”

“True,” agrees Jorry.

“Do you think that’s wise?” asks Dave. At
that, grumbling can be heard and ‘coward’ is mentioned by more than
one. Giving them an annoyed glance, he looks to his friend.

“No,” James says, flashing the others a
looks saying to knock it off. “But I have to get to Ironhold. Since
we don’t know where it is, I have to go back and find out.”

“I see,” Dave replies with a worried
expression. To him things seem to be spiraling out of control and
he doesn’t wish to lose his only friend in this world.

“Let’s get some rest while we can,” Fifer
says and they all settle down for sleep. Qyrll takes first watch
and moves closer to the road where he can better keep an eye on
those using it.

An hour into his watch, Qyrll hears horses
coming up the road from the direction of Illion. Hunkering down
lower behind a large bush, he watches as seven horsemen gallop past
on their way up to the pass. From his vantage point, they don’t
look like soldiers from the Empire. He figures they may be part of
that bunch with Orlander James had told them about. They’re soon
out of sight and the sound of their hooves becomes fainter until
finally disappearing.

Securing their horses near the outskirts of
Illion they slowly make their way into town, all the while keeping
alert for any who may be looking for them.

James, Miko and Fifer walk at a steady pace
in an attempt to avoid attracting attention. The others are waiting
further from town along the road to the pass for their return. It
had been decided for James to take Miko and Fifer with him instead
of Jiron this time. Jiron had complained but Fifer told him that
Orlander will be looking for two men, not three. Also, Jiron may be
recognized which could only confound the situation.

James pulls the hood of the cloak tighter
around his head to keep his face from being seen clearly. Though
it’s dark he doesn’t want to take the chance. Before they left the
others, Qyrll had given him his cloak saying it would help him to
avoid being spotted.

As they pass through the streets, they take
notice of a crowd gathered around a man standing next to a building
ahead of them, bathed in the light of a nearby lantern.

“War is coming!” the man cries.

“We know that,” one man replies.

James slows as they come near the crowd. The
man looks like some crazy guy, like one of those who would stand on
the street corner in those old movies and hold signs saying
‘Repent!’

The crowd seems more amused by the man than
actually taking him seriously. “The Empire isn’t moving any further
until spring,” another says to him. “We have awhile before we need
worry about them.”