A man watches from a doorway across the street as they leave the horse trader's shop. When they're out of sight, he crosses the street and enters through the door they just came out of. The horse trader turns to look at who's entered and his face turns slightly pale when he sees the sign on the medallion the man is showing him.
The man asks, "Those people just sold you several horses?"
"Yes, sir," the trader replies, nervously. "Eight."
"Did they say why they had needed to sell so many at once?" he asks as he looks at the trader closely.
Beginning to sweat as he stands before one of the Eye's of the Empire, a secretive group that seeks out those who would jeopardize or challenge the rule of the Emperor, he replies, "They just said that they needed to leave town and wouldn't be taking the horses with them."
Staring at the trader, the Eye says, "Now, just where would they be going that they wouldn't need horses?"
"I...I don't know," the trader says, beginning to get the shakes. No good ever comes from being questioned by an Eye.
Without so much as a thank you, the Eye turns and walks out of the horse trader's shop. He ponders the question for a moment when his eye catches sight of sails out on the ocean. Nodding his head and smiling he hurries along, there's not much time.
Chapter Twenty One.
That night at the inn was one of the longest James can ever remember. Doing his best to try to sleep, he just ends up tossing and turning all night as he worries about the next day. Sometime during the night, Jiron gets up and heads to the door. "Where are you going?" James asks.
Pausing in the dark, he replies, "Down to the docks. Want to look around before morning."
"Be careful," cautions James, "and be back an hour before sunup."
"I will," he assures him. "Try to get some sleep." He then turns back toward the door and quickly makes his way out of the room, closing it behind him.
James listens to his soft tread in the silence of the night as he walks down the hallway to the stairs as he lays there for awhile. After no longer being able to hear his footsteps he must've managed to fall asleep for the shutting of the door startles him awake when Jiron returns.
"Just me," he hears Jiron say as he walks over to where he's lying on the bed. "We got trouble."
"What?" he asks, coming the rest of the way awake.
"There are twenty or more guards stationed at the docks with more patrols on the streets than there were yesterday," he explains.
"Did you find out why?" James asks.
"No," he replies. "It was all I could do just to avoid being seen."
"How are we going to get the others to the Crashing Wave with all the guards everywhere?" James asks, worried.
"I don't know, but we better think of something fast," he says. "Dawn's about an hour away."
James sits there and contemplates the situation when Jiron says, "Maybe we could draw them off?"
"What do you mean?" he asks.
"I mean, we get the others close to the docks, then you and I go to another part of town and create a diversion," he explains.
Nodding, James says, "That might work. Can we get them close enough to the docks without being seen?"
"I think so," Jiron replies.
"Let's wake up the others and let them know what's going on," he says as he gets out of bed.
Going to the other rooms, they soon have everyone awake and back in James' room for a quick meeting. As soon as everyone's there, they tell them about the guards at the dock and what they plan to do.
"Selling the horses," Delia announces. "That must have tipped them off something was going on."
"Could've been," James agrees, "but we had little choice."
He has them take out the money and makes sure that Roland has the fifty golds for their passage. Then he takes ten golds apiece for Jiron and himself, the rest they divide among everyone else. He turns to Roland and says, "Have Ezra keep Arkie quiet. If he starts crying, it's all over."
Roland nods his head and communicates that to Ezra, who indicates she understands. "Alright," he says, "let's go."
They quietly make their way down to the main floor and leave out the back way near the stables. "We better leave our two horses here and try to get back to them when we're ready to leave town," he suggests to Jiron.
"If we're able," he replies. "We might be a little too busy to make it back here."
Jiron takes the lead and follows a roundabout way through the streets toward the docks. Twice they have to duck into side alleys when they encounter roving patrols. Both times they wait silently until they pass before continuing once more to the docks.
When they're within a couple blocks of the docks, Jiron stops before a door in the side of a darkened warehouse and places his ear against it, listening. Then he turns the handle and opens the door as he motions for everyone to file inside. The warehouse is empty but for a few boxes that look like they have been abandoned here. "You should be able to wait here until you make the run for the ship."
"How will we know when it's time?" Tersa asks.
Jiron looks to James and says, "I think you'll know."
James nods his head.
Tersa gives her brother a hug and says, "You be careful."
He hugs her back and sees the tears in her eyes, "Don't worry, I'll see you in Trendle." Trying to stop his own tears from falling at having to leave her again, he says to James, "We better get going."
"Good luck," Delia says to them before they leave. The others offer their 'goodbyes' and 'see you laters' as well.
With a final look toward the pit fighters, Jiron says, "You keep her safe!"
Scar says, "You can count on us," the others nod their heads in agreement.
With a slight nod of his head, Jiron leaves the warehouse with James right behind and closes the door behind them. Turning to James he says, "Let's go cause some trouble!"
"Right behind you," he says, not nearly as eager as Jiron seems to be.
Jiron leads him through back streets as they avoid the patrols until they've put most of the city between them and where the others wait. Hiding in the shadows of an alley, they watch as a patrol of five guards approach from down the street.
"You ready?" Jiron asks James.
"No," James replies, sighing slightly, "but I never will be. So let's just do it."
They wait for the guards to march pass and then Jiron runs out of the alley and tackles the one in the rear while James causes a light to burst overhead.
His knives strike out, killing the rear guard while James takes out another with a slug. Cries begin sounding in the night and horns start to sound. Jiron quickly gains his feet as the remaining three turn around, momentarily blinded by the light bursting overhead.
Jiron closes with the next one and quickly takes him out. "Let's get out of here!" he hollers to James as they run, leaving the remaining two guards to sound the alarm.
"Think that did it?" James asks as they dash through a side alley to get away from the scene of the attack.
"Probably not enough to draw them from the docks," he says. "We need something a bit more spectacular."
"Alright," James says as they race around a corner.
"Nothing yet," Shorty announces from where he's looking out the window for the signal.
"It's only been a couple minutes," Delia says. "Give them time."
Tersa comes over near Delia and asks, "Do you think they'll be able to draw off the guards at the docks?"
Delia nods her head as she remembers the massive explosion James had produced back at the City of Light, "I'm sure they can manage it."
Suddenly a bright light comes in through the window and everyone runs over to look. A starburst explodes in the sky near the far side of Al-Kur. "Was that them?" asks Tersa.
"Has to be," Delia replies just as horns begin to sound off in the distance.
Shorty runs over to a window that has a good view of the docks and the men stationed there. After a brief look he turns back to them and says, "They're still there."
"What are they doing?" Scar asks as he moves to join him.
"They're looking at the light but otherwise not moving," he says.
"Come on guys," Stig says as he looks out the window toward the starburst that's beginning to fade, "you've got to do better than that."
They can see other guards running toward the commotion off in the distance, but the ones at the docks remain where they are.
"I don't think..." Yorn starts to say when...
Crumph!
A massive explosion rips through the night, fireballs shooting into the air as well as chunks of stone from whatever building had blown up.
"Way to go, James!" Scar exclaims jubilantly.
"Some are leaving!" Shorty shouts from where he's watching the docks.
"How many?" asks Stig.
"It looks like all but about ten," Scar replies.
Potbelly says, "That's better than twenty."
"It's unlikely any more will leave if they haven't already," adds Stig.
"I agree," Scar says. "Shorty, can you take out a few before we get there?"
"Three or four," he replies. "I'm running out of knives."
"That will do," he says. "We can take care of the rest." Drawing one of his swords, he opens the door and takes the lead as they begin making their way slowly toward the docks. The rest of the fighters follow him closely with Roland and the girls at the end along with Potbelly, who's doing better but still not up to his best.
When they reach the docks, they pause briefly before passing from the cover afforded by the last of the warehouses. Shorty readies his knives and with a nod from Scar, begins throwing them in rapid succession. The others break into a run toward the guards as the second knife flies by.
They watch as his first knife flies and strikes one of the guards. As the man falls to the ground, the second sinks into the man standing next to him. The rest of the guards become aware of the threat and begin scanning for the source of the flying knives. One of them shouts a warning when he spots them running toward them, weapons out.
A third knife takes out another guard and then Shorty's final knife hits the foremost guard in the shoulder. As he staggers from the blow Scar reaches him and quickly finishes him off with a thrust through the middle.
Potbelly stays behind to guard the women and Roland, his sword and knife ready for any who somehow make it around the others. He keeps an eye out behind them as well for any who may come from within Al-Kur.
Stig faces off with a guard bearing a sword and shield, his mace smashing through the man's shield and breaking the bone of his arm in two. He deflects the guard's sword with his shield while following through with his mace. Connecting with the man's helmet, he caves it in and crushes the skull beneath. As the guard falls lifelessly to the ground, he turns and engages another.
Shorty's fighting knives dance as he joins the fray, blocking the attacks of two guards. Unable to go on the offensive, he's at least able to put up a good defense and keep these two busy while the others deal with the rest.
Suddenly a cry splits the night and Scar turns to see Yorn fall, a guards' sword wedged between his ribs. "Yorn!" he cries, as he strikes out at his opponent severing the man's head from his shoulders. He runs over to where Yorn lies and engages the guard who has his foot on Yorn's chest as he attempts to dislodge his sword. With his sword wedged in between Yorn's ribs, he's unable to defend himself and falls quickly to Scar's swords. Scar looks down to Yorn but knows there's no hope when he sees his lifeless eyes staring out.
Having killed his opponent, Stig moves to help Shorty who's being hard pressed by the two guards he's fighting. Coming up behind one, he cuts deeply into the man's neck, practically severing his head from his shoulder. As the man falls, Shorty is able to utilize both knives in his fight with the remaining man and soon has him on the ground next to his partner.
Swearing at the loss of Yorn, Scar looks around and sees the rest of the guards lying dead on the docks. "Come on!" he yells as he waves to where Potbelly waits with the others.
From across town, another massive explosion rocks the morning. They look and see a large fireball reaching up toward the sky.
The morning is beginning to lighten as the sun peaks over the horizon. Scar looks to the ship, second from the end and sees movement upon the rigging where the sailors are preparing to get under way.
Once Potbelly and the others join them, they begin running toward the Crashing Wave. Reaching the gangplank, Roland hollers up to the ship, "Permission to come aboard?"
The captain comes to the rail and looks down at them. Glancing over to the dead guards lying on the docks he replies, "Permission granted."
"Come on!" Roland says to the others as he starts crossing the gangway.
When they're all on board they stop abruptly as four crossbowmen aim their crossbows at them. From behind the captain, the Eye comes forward and says, "Thank you captain, you've been most helpful."
James is growing quite tired, especially after that last spell which took out the guardhouse. "Do you think that's enough yet?" he asks Jiron.
Grinning back at him, Jiron says, "That should be enough to get their attention in a bad way."