Chapter Ten

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On the way back to the inn, Miko finds Dave sitting at an open air eatery. “What are you doing here?” he asks him. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the room?”

Dave looks up with an annoyed expression and replies, “Relax. All I’m doing is having a meal and getting some fresh air.”

The eatery is just down the street from the inn, he can see it from here. Not wanting to cause a scene in a public place, he says, “Very well. But return as soon as you’re done.”

Sighing, Dave says, “Alright, but you guys are really getting on my nerves.”

Wanting nothing more than to take out his anger and frustration on him, Miko instead turns and walks down to the inn. When he passes through the front door, he finds Illan sitting in the common room near a window.

At his approach, he nods for him to take a seat at his table. “You know where that friend of James’ is? He’s down the street at an eatery!”

“I know,” replies Illan as he glances out the window. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him for some time now. It was a mistake to have taken him with us.”

“So why did we?” Miko asks as he sinks into the chair. A serving girl comes over and he orders some ale.

“James wouldn’t leave him alone,” he explains. “Not after what he’s gone through. Plus, Jiron would’ve killed him if we had left him there with his sister.”

Nodding, Miko sees the girl returning with his ale. After he’s taken a sip, he asks, “Any word from Jiron and Fifer?”

Shaking his head, Illan says, “No, not yet.” In hushed tones, he goes on to relate what Ellinwyrd told him about James. When he’s done, he all but has to restrain Miko from rushing to the castle to rescue him.

“We can’t just sit here and do nothing!” he exclaims.

“I don’t plan to sit here and do nothing,” he states. “But we have a day, maybe two and we don’t want to act prematurely. I think it’s safe to say that they’re not planning on killing him here. Most likely they are going to return him to the Empire for interrogation first and find out what he knows.”

“About what?” he asks.

“About that certain something you all found and which we just recently put away somewhere,” he explains in a roundabout way in case they’re overheard.

“Oh right,” he says and then mouths ‘The Fire’.

“Exactly,” he says. “Our first priority has to be finding Jiron and Fifer. Once we have them back with us, we’ll be in a much better position to attempt a rescue.”

Miko then tells Illan about what he’s having those kids of his do, and about the connection between Lord Kindering and the Ambassador.

Nodding, Illan says, “That puts some things in perspective.”

“What do you mean?” asks Miko.

“Well, first of all it explains why he was summoned here,” Illan explains. “From what we’ve found out, Lord Kindering and Lord Colerain are bound together in some way. Could be simply trading partners, who knows? Lord Kindering might have gotten the idea that if he managed to get James here and to the Empire’s delegates, then they may give Cardri, and thus him, better terms in the negotiations.”

“So you’re saying they’re giving up James just to make more money on trade?” he asks.

“Something like that,” agrees Illan. “Though this is all just conjecture on my part, it does fit with what’s happening. The fact that it also enables Lord Colerain to extract revenge upon James is probably just an added bonus.”

Just then, Dave walks in through the front door. He sees them sitting at the table and simply nods to them as he makes his way to the stairs and up to his room.

“Hope he stays there,” grunts Miko.

“We’ve got more important things to worry about than him,” Illan says.

“You’re right,” agrees Miko.

Jiron comes awake and finds Qyrll sitting against the wall. He turns his head when he sees Jiron sit up. Nodding over to the candle sitting on the crate, he says, “We’re almost out of light.” Fifer remains asleep over against the far wall.

“Is it light out yet?” Jiron asks.

Shrugging, the Parvati says, “It’s hard to tell, but I think the sun’s been up for some time now.”

Worried, Jiron says, “I was sure James would’ve found us by now.”

“Maybe he’s otherwise occupied?” suggests Qyrll.

“Let’s hope not.” Getting up, he stretches and comes to sit next to the Parvati.

Voices can be heard coming from the other side of the door as footsteps approach and then continue on past. “People have been moving along the corridor outside for some time now,” Qyrll states. “Fortunately none have come in here.”

Gesturing to the room, Jiron says, “Do you blame them?”

Qyrll just gives him a grin at that as he shakes his head.

More footsteps approach and they become silent. This time instead of passing by, the footsteps stop at the door.

Glancing at one another, they get to their feet just as the door opens. Swinging wide, several girls in their late teens come in and stop with a gasp when they see them standing there.

Jiron is about ready to say they’re not going to hurt them when one gives out with a scream at the sight of the Parvati and his extensive tattooed skin.

Fifer starts awake and comes quickly to his feet.

The girls turn and flee out the door and down the hallway all the while screaming for help.

“That tears it!” says Jiron as he moves for the door. “Let’s go.”

He reaches the corridor on the other side just as a group of six thugs comes at them wielding clubs and swords. “Back in the room!” he hollers. Once they’ve returned to the room, he shuts the door and puts his shoulder against it.

Qyrll and Fifer lend their strength in holding the door closed as the thugs begin hammering on it from the other side. One of the thugs on the other side shouts for them to open the door but they pay him little attention.

“There’s no other way out!” Fifer exclaims.

To Jiron, Qyrll says, “Let them in. We have to face them some time, they block our only way out. We should do it now before more come, or the city guard is summoned.”

The incessant hammering on the door by the thugs has begun to produce cracks in the old door. Jiron realizes the truth in what Qyrll’s saying. “You guys ready?” he asks.

Standing back, Qyrll draws both swords and nods.

“Alright,” he says as he too stands back, knives appearing in both hands, “let’s do it.”

Fifer draws his sword and they wait.

They don’t have to wait long as the next strike upon the door by the thugs outside splits it down the middle. When they again strike the door, it completely comes apart and one of the thugs stumbles through only to be met by Qyrll and his swords. Off balanced, the man has no chance and falls to the floor as Qyrll removes his shortsword from the dead man’s chest.

As the thugs pour through the door, Jiron lashes out with his knives and another falls to the floor. The others press on through the shattered door and engage them.

Fifer faces off with one while Jiron and Qyrll each have two. Qyrll’s swords dance as they block the attacks from one and strike out at the other.

The thugs are hopelessly outclassed. One strikes out at Jiron with his club while the other strikes out with his sword. Easily parrying the club, Jiron twists to avoid the sword. At the same time, he strikes out with his elbow to the clubber and connects with his chest, sending him stumbling backward. The man with the sword strikes down hard with both hands in an attempt to cleave Jiron in two. Dancing to the side, the sword misses him by scant inches as he strikes out with one of his knives, thrusting it deep into his side.

The man cries out as he stumbles to the side, blood beginning to well from his mouth as his lung fills with blood from where the knife punctured it. Crashing to the floor, he coughs up blood in a vain attempt to clear his lungs and soon passes out.

Qyrll has already killed one of the thugs and is now facing off with another of the clubbers. His shortsword knocks the club to the side and he follows through with his longsword, connecting with the man’s neck and sending his head flying.

The torso stumbles around as blood fountains out of the severed neck. Crashing into the crate which had Qyrll’s candle resting upon it, it sends the candle flying into a heap of garbage which begins to smolder.

Fifer is having trouble with the man he’s facing and Qyrll comes up behind him and strikes him down. Glancing around, they find all the thugs dead. Smoke begins filling the room as the candle ignites the garbage and the flames start to spread rapidly.

“Move!” cries Jiron as he races for the door. A scream greets him as he enters the hallway. People congregating in the hallway to see what’s going on begin running away when they see him there with his knife dripping blood. Smoke from the fire behind him begins filling the hallway as well.

Moving in the direction they originally entered from the night before, he breaks into a run, the other two right behind. Those still in the hallway in the direction he’s running flee in a panicked run when they see him and his blood red knife coming at them.

Racing out into the alley, Jiron pauses only a moment to grab an old shirt off the ground to clean the blood from his knives before returning them to their scabbards. The smoke is beginning to billow through the doorway as the fire within consumes more of the old building.

Qyrll, hooded cloak once again hiding his features, is already moving down the alley away from the fire. Turning back to where Jiron and Fifer have paused to clean their weapons, he hollers, “Come on!”

Racing for the end of the alley, they collide with a squad of the city guard who were on their way to investigate the commotion. Screaming ‘fire’, Jiron points back the way they came to the guard captain as he and the others turn and race away down the street. Glancing behind them, he sees the guards moving into the alley to see about the fire. Soon, horns begin blowing as others come to help combat the spreading blaze.

Using the confusion the fire has created, they make their way to the nearest gate leading into the city and slip through at the same time that a fire team was coming out. Once inside, Jiron says to Qyrll, “Keep your hood close to your face. One look and anyone will know a Parvati is in the city.”

Nodding, he reaches up and holds the bottom of the hood secure under his chin. Now, only a very close examination will reveal what lies beneath.

Jiron leads them through the city to the gates leading past the inner wall. On the other side is the Silver Bells and hopefully where they’ll find James and the others.

As they near the gates, Jiron notices that the number of guards has been doubled. Probably due to the events of last night when the adjutant was killed. They move to a nearby alley and watch the gates for several minutes.

The guards are stopping everyone going in and out, asking them a few questions and then allowing them to continue along their way. Even the carts rolling through are given a cursory examination before they, too are allowed to pass.

“We’ll never get through there undetected,” he finally concludes.

“What are we to do?” Fifer asks.

“I’m not sure,” he says. “There’re not many places around here in which to adequately hide like there were outside the walls.”

As they stand there in the alley deliberating their next course of action, Jiron takes notice of a young boy staring at them. The boy couldn’t be more than fourteen and looks as if he’s one of the street kids they’ve seen roaming the streets. He’s sitting on a box further into the alley, eating some bread.

Hopping down off the box, the boy hesitantly makes his way over to them. By this time, both Fifer and Qyrll have noticed his approach and have turned their attention to him. “You guys in trouble?” he asks.

“Our business is none of yours,” Jiron tells the boy. “Run along.”

The boy just stands there staring at them as he takes another bite of the bread. “You’re the fighters they’re looking for aren’t you?” he asks. “The ones who killed that man last night.”

“No,” denies Fifer. “I’m sure you’ve gotten us mixed up with someone else.”

“Don’t think so,” the lad replies, sounding very sure of himself. “Was there. I saw how you took them out. Pretty good fight.”

Fifer glances to Jiron and sees him resting a hand on one of his knives. Giving him a shake of his head, Fifer turns back to the boy and asks, “What do you want?”

“Got someone who wants to meet you,” he says. “Was asked to keep an eye out in case I ran across you.”

“Who?” asks Jiron.

“A friend of mine,” he replies as he shoves the rest of the chunk of bread into his mouth.

“And why does he wish to meet us?” Fifer asks.

“Said he was a friend of yours,” answers the lad.

“This friend of ours have a name?” Jiron asks.

“Miko,” the boy says.

Fifer breathes an audible sigh of relief as Jiron asks, “Where is he?”

“Said at the Silver Bells,” replies the boy. “But don’t think you should try to get through the gate right now.”

“No, I wasn’t planning to,” states Jiron.

“You wait here and I’ll see if I can get him for you,” he suggests.

“Very well,” replies Fifer.

“Back in a few minutes,” the lad says as he strolls out of the alley and walks toward the gate. At the gate, he passes on through, the guards don’t even give him a second look.

“Who is this Miko?” Qyrll asks.

“A friend of ours,” replies Jiron. “Hopefully we can get ourselves out of this situation.”

“Well, well,” a voice says.

Cracking an eye open, James sees Lord Colerain and another individual standing next to him outside of his pen.

“Seems the circumstances of our meeting have greatly improved since our last encounter,” he continues. To his friend he says, “You have no idea how much satisfaction I have to see him here like this.”

“We’re getting some very good concessions from the Empire’s Ambassador for him,” his friend says. “Always pleasant when you can achieve two goals with but one action.”

James looks out through the drug induced fog, his mind barely able to even follow what the men are saying. Their voices sound as if they’re coming to him through water, probably a side effect of the drug they used on him.

Lord Colerain nods at his friend’s comment and then turns his attention back to where James is lying on his side on the bench. “The negotiations will be concluded by this evening and you’ll be happy to know that you’ll be able to leave these poor accommodations for others.”

His friend laughs and then says, “We must return. The negotiations will be starting again soon.”

“Very well,” Lord Colerain says. Taking one more satisfying look at James, he turns and follows his friend out of the cell area.

Through blurry eyes, he watches them go. When at last they’ve ascended the stairs out of sight, he slips back into unconsciousness again.

Miko and Illan are still sitting out in the common room when one of his street kids comes walking in the inn. Miss Gilena immediately moves to shoo him out but Miko sees him and says, “He’s here to see me.”

Eyeing the boy questioningly, she leaves him alone and returns to what she had been doing before he entered.

Coming over to Miko, the boy says, “I found them.”

“Where?” asks Illan before Miko has a chance to say anything.

The boy glances to Miko who gives him a nod and then says, “They’re out by the gate. I think they were trying to find a way through without being seen. Told them I’d come get you.”

“Great!” Miko says as he gets to his feet. Turning to Illan he asks, “What should they do?”

Thinking a moment, he says, “Find an inn close to where they are and have them stay put. Then come get me and we’ll figure out what to do.”

“Alright,” he says. To the boy he adds, “Let’s go.”

Leaving the inn, the boy takes him along the streets until they come to the gate near the spot Jiron and the others are waiting. Once through the gate, the boy leads him directly to the alley in which they’re hiding.

Before he gets to the entrance to the alley, Miko sees Jiron’s head poke out and break into a grin as he sees them approaching. He’s surprised when he finds not only Fifer there with Jiron but another man in a hood as well.

“Man, are we glad to see you,” Fifer tells him once he’s in the alleyway with them.

Miko holds up his hand to halt any further questions and then turns to the boy. “Round up everyone and tell them to meet me at our regular spot in an hour,” he says. “There’s something else I need you to do.”

“Alright, Miko,” the boy says and starts to walk out of the alley.

“Here,” Miko says to the boy. When he stops and turns back to him, he flips a silver over to him.

Snatching it out of the air, the boy smiles and says, “Thanks.” Then he turns back and continues out of the alley. He’s soon out of sight as he enters back onto the street and disappears around the corner.

“Now, what’s going on?” Jiron asks.

“I should ask you that question,” Miko replies. “Illan wants me to find an inn to stash you guys away for awhile until he’s able to come and talk with you.” Nodding to Qyrll, he asks, “Who’s your friend?”

“His name is Qyrll,” replies Jiron.

At that, Qyrll glances to Jiron who nods. Removing the hood, he reveals the fact that he’s a Parvati. Miko’s eyes widen and then turns his attention back to Jiron, “A Parvati? This just gets more and more interesting. We’ll talk after we get to the inn,” he tells them. “I know just the one.” As he begins moving toward the end of the alley, he glances back and says, “Follow me.”

Falling in behind, Jiron, Fifer and lastly Qyrll with his hood once more in place, follow him into the street. Several blocks down they come to an inn with a sign outside depicting a dancing squirrel. A yellow cat is lying on a nearby window sill and Miko goes over and scratches him on the back of the head. “Good girl, Furball.” Furball lets out with an answering purr, obviously enjoying the attention.

Around Furball’s neck is a rather plain collar with a small, circular metal disk hanging from it. Upon closer examination, Miko sees an exact duplicate of the dancing squirrel from the inn’s sign engraved on it. So, looks like Inius took James’ advice after all.

The last time they were there, Furball had gotten herself lost. When he and James had come across her and returned her to Inius, James had suggested a collar with something that would tell anyone who found Furball where to take her. Any local who found Furball would definitely know to return her to the Dancing Squirrel.

“Come on,” he says to the others as he goes through the open door. He sees Inius there behind the counter and waves to him as he enters.

Inius looks at him with a smile and comes over. “Can I help you gentlemen?” he asks.

Miko expected a more personal greeting and then again realizes he doesn’t look anything like he did when last here. Rather than going through what he did with Meliana and her father again, he just says, “I’d like a large room, if you have any. One with three beds maybe?”

“All I have available at the moment are rooms with two beds,” he says. “But they are quite large.” Looking on hopeful, he awaits their reply.

“Very well,” replies Miko. “A quiet one in the back would be nice.”

“We have just what you want,” he says as he returns to the counter. Reaching for the room key, he says, “It’s on the second floor. Only be two silvers and two coppers.”

Miko looks to Jiron who digs the money out of his pouch and hands it over. Taking the key, he says, “Thank you.”

“If there’s anything else you gentlemen require,” Inius says, “just let me or one of the servers know.”

“We will, thanks,” Miko says as they head to the stairs.

Once up to the second floor, they quickly find their room and file in. When the door shuts, Jiron says, “Okay. What’s going on?”

“James was arrested last night for the murder of the adjutant to the Empire’s Ambassador,” he explains. “Which I believe you had a hand in?” He looks from Jiron and Fifer and from their expression, knows he hit the mark.

For the next half hour, Jiron tells him of the fight and what’s happened since. Miko for his part, relates how James was arrested in the middle of the night, what Ellinwyrd had said to Illan, and of seeing Meliana and her father down at the docks.

When they’re at last done with catching each other up, Miko stands up and says, “Just sit tight until I return with Illan. Maybe by then he’ll better know what to do.”

“Alright,” Jiron says. “You be careful.”

Miko looks at him and says, “I’m not the one wanted for murder right now.” Turning to the door, he opens it and walks out. Shutting it behind him, he heads to the stairs and descends to the ground level. He’s soon out on the street and heading back to the Silver Bells.