Fires of prophesy ms-2 Read online

  About that time, Jiron and Tinok come back in through the collapsed hallway. Earlier, he took a look and found it choked with stone and wood from when the building above had collapsed some time in the past. A small space has been cleared through the debris, wide enough to allow people to pass through in single file.

  Several feet down the passage, a stone stairway extends up to the ground above, exiting in a corner of a park. From what Jiron told him, the opening is overgrown with bushes and grass, effectively hiding the entrance from anyone passing by.

  Several years ago, when he was younger, Jiron had been playing in the area and stumbled upon the opening. Excited about finding a secret place, he decided to keep the knowledge of it to himself. Later, when he and Tinok became close friends he brought him here. Only because the Empire had showed up had they allowed Cassie and Delia to come.

  Apparently, when Jiron had stumbled upon him during his battle with the soldiers, he was out trying to find his sister who had become separated from him earlier. When he saw James fighting the enemy and had actually driven them off, he decided to save him and bring him here. As far as Jiron knew, no one else has ever been down here in the years they’ve been using it for their secret clubhouse.

  Delia sees them first and gets up asking, “Any luck?” Cassie stands up with her and they go over to them as they enter the room.

  With a look of disappointment, Jiron replies, “No, and I looked everywhere.”

  “I’m sorry,” Cassie says.

  Jiron comes over to James and asks, “Can you help find her?”

  Shaking his head, James replies, “Not unless you have something of hers I can use?” The look on Jiron’s face tells him that he doesn’t.

  Feeling bad for the boy, but unable to help, he says, “She may still turn up.”

  “I doubt it,” says Jiron, “I went to everyplace that she would’ve gone and she wasn’t there. I can only assume that they found her and she’s one of the thousands of slaves they captured.”

  “Slaves?” James suddenly interrupts. “Where are they being kept?”

  “They had a big encampment outside of the walls for them,” Tinok says, “but sometime yesterday, they started marching them south.”

  “South?” James asks.

  “Yeah,” Tinok replies. “Looks like they are taking them back to the Empire. Your friend is most likely with them.” He looks over to Jiron and adds, “As Tersa may be as well.”

  “Can’t we do anything?” asks Cassie.

  “Like what?” asks Tinok, “Chase after and rescue them?” He looks at her incredulously, “They have hundreds of guards, not to mention their entire army occupying the city. It would be suicide!”

  Jiron had been studying James’ face while the others had been talking. When James glances over at him, he asks, “You’re planning on going after your friend aren’t you?”

  “Yeah,” James replies, nodding, “just as soon as I feel better. Miko is a smart kid, he knows I’ll find him. He’ll do what he needs to in order to survive until I get to him.”

  “You’re crazy!” Tinok exclaims. “You’re going to get yourself killed!”

  “Perhaps,” James says, “but I’ll not leave him to his fate. He wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for me.”

  “What do you mean?” Delia asks.

  “I came to the City of Light to find out all I could about Morcyth, a god that used to be popular around here a long time ago.” He looks at them and asks, “You wouldn’t by chance have ever heard of him, have you?”

  They all four shake their heads no.

  “Anyway,” he continues, “Miko tagged along despite my attempts to warn him of the dangers. I had found out some info from Ollinearn, the Keeper of the Great Library here in the City. We were on our way out when the Empire’s forces showed up and then things just went from bad to worse.”

  “The last thing I told him was, ‘Find a place to hide, I’ll find you.’” James finishes his bread and cheese then cups his hands together as he drinks water out of the bucket. Sitting back against the wall once more, he glances at the four faces staring at him.

  “I’ll go with you,” Jiron states.

  “What?” Tinok exclaims in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

  “You’ll be killed!” Cassie cries.

  “How can I leave her in the hands of slavers?” Jiron replies. “I’m all she has left in this world and I’ll not rest until either she’s free, or I’m dead!” Turning to James he says, “So, when do we leave?”

  James considers the request, and nods his head, “Alright, we’ll go tonight.” He turns his attention to Jiron and asks, “Can we get out of the City unobserved?”

  “I don’t know,” he admits, “there are hundreds of troops stationed within the walls and thousands more on the outside. It looks like they plan to defend and hold the City against attacks from our soldiers. Both inside and out, there are many patrols and they’ve been doing routine sweeps of the houses, looking for anyone else still hiding.”

  Delia lays her hand on Jiron’s arm and says softly, “So you truly intend to go after her?”

  He looks into her eyes and says, “I have to.”

  “Then I’ll go with you,” she says, emerald eyes revealing the fear she’s trying not to show.

  “That wouldn’t be wise,” Jiron tells her. “You’ll probably die or be taken as a slave if we fail.”

  “What chance do I have here?” she asks. “With all the Empire’s forces occupying the town, what chance do any of us have if we stay? It’s only a matter of time before they find us, we can’t hide out indefinitely.”

  “I’m coming too!” Cassie says.

  Tinok just looks at them like they are crazy, and then says, “Well, I’m not staying here by myself, better count me in as well.”

  James sits there thinking for a few seconds while they all stand there, staring at him. He looks at Jiron and asks, “Can you get us supplies? Like food?”

  Jiron nods his head and replies, “Food’s no problem, we have some stashed here as it is.”

  “We’re all going to need packs to carry it with us,” he says. “Can you get one for each of you?”

  “Should be able to,” he replies. “I’ll go out now and get ‘em.”

  Yawning, James says, “I’ve got to rest if we’re going to do this tonight. I’m still not over the effects of the magic I used during the battle.” He settles down on the ground and uses his backpack for a pillow.

  The others go to the far side of the room and confer among themselves quietly, allowing him some quiet so he can fall asleep. Not long after James falls asleep, Jiron and Tinok leave through the passage to attempt to acquire four travel packs. Delia and Cassie remain behind.

  A gentle shake awakens James and he opens his eyes to discover Delia kneeling beside him, shaking his shoulder. “James,” she’s saying, “wake up.”

  “What?” he asks, sitting up abruptly.

  “It’s night outside,” she says, “and they haven’t returned yet.”

  Coming awake quickly, he stands up and looks around, Jiron and Tinok are nowhere in the room. “How long have they been gone?” he asks worriedly.

  “Several hours,” Cassie replies from where she stands behind Delia. “He said they would be back before it got dark. I’m worried.”

  Concerned himself, James says, “Let me take a look outside and see if I can tell what’s going on.”

  “Be careful,” Cassie warns.

  “I will,” he assures her. “I’ll just stick my head out and see what the situation is like outside.”

  The girls accompany him over to the passage and watch as he makes his way through the rubble to the stairway.

  The passage is fairly choked with debris, he can’t believe they managed to drag him through here unconscious after the battle. At the stairs, he has to step carefully so as not to dislodge any of the rocks and stones, the entire area seems very unstable.

  Nearing
the top, he begins to see the starlight being filtered through the bushes that have overgrown the entrance. He reaches the top of the stairs and slowly and cautiously, peers through the bushes to see what’s going on outside.

  He looks around and discovers that the bushes are located within a corner of a city park, that’s wedged in among several buildings. It’s not much more than a small grassy area with trees, where the people could take their ease from the worries of the day.

  With only the stars above for light, James can’t make out much more than vague shadows, but it doesn’t look as if there’s anyone around. He remains there scanning the area for several minutes before returning back down to the room.

  “Didn’t see them out there,” he tells the girls as he leaves the passage.

  “What are we going to do?” Cassie asks, fear in her eyes.

  “I’m sure they’re okay,” Delia states with conviction. “They know the area and Jiron is good at evading people when he wants too. Besides, they may have had to take a longer route to get back, or hole up and wait until they can once again move without being seen.”

  “I hope so,” Cassie replies.

  “I doubt if we could make it out of here without him,” says James. “We’re going to have to wait until either he comes or we’re sure that he isn’t. So let’s just settle down and get comfortable, it could be a while.”

  The girls go back to their usual place, with James accompanying them. They break out some of their supplies and have a little snack while they are waiting for the boys to return.

  “So,” begins James, “are you two their girlfriends?”

  Delia laughs and Cassie blushes slightly. “I grew up with Jiron,” Delia explains. “We are very good friends. When he realized the Empire’s soldiers were within the walls, he came and found me. Cassie just happened to be there with me, and I wouldn’t go unless she could come too. You see, she’s my best friend. He tried to locate his sister, but there were just too many soldiers on the streets. So we headed here as quickly as we could, occasionally having to hide and wait until the enemy passed by. When we got here, Tinok had already arrived and we’ve been here together ever since.”

  “Do you think Jiron can actually lead us out of here?” James asks.

  “If anyone can get us out,” she says confidently, “he can. That boy knows every street and hideaway in the whole city.”

  “Let’s just hope they make it back,” he says wishfully.

  “They will,” Delia says, “you can count on it.”

  They sit and talk for a while until James begins to hear noises coming from the passage. All three look with both hope and trepidation to the entrance of the passage and hold their breath. Then, Jiron and Tinok step out into the room, carrying four backpacks filled with stuff.

  “Told you,” Delia says to James. Then to Jiron she asks, “What took you so long? You had us scared to death you weren’t going to make it back!” She stares him down with hands on hip as he walks over to them.

  “Sorry about that,” Jiron apologizes, as he hands her a backpack.

  “Yeah,” Tinok says, “we had to lay low for a while. They brought in extra soldiers and are still in the process of searching houses.” He hands his extra pack to Cassie.

  “Seems they know there’s a mage here somewhere, and they want him bad,” Jiron comments as he looks toward James. “We overheard some talk between soldiers about it.”

  “Is this going to hamper our efforts to get out of here?” he asks.

  “Shouldn’t think so,” Jiron explains. “I don’t think they’ve blocked the way I was planning for us to take.”

  “And what way is that?” James asks.

  “Can’t really explain it,” he says. “But trust me, the way should still be open.”

  When Cassie puts on her backpack, she says, “Just what is in here that makes it so heavy?”

  “Some dried beef, water bottle, and other essentials,” he explains. “There are also some extra clothes, just in case.”

  Once everyone has their backpack on, Jiron leads the way through the passage, with James right behind. Tinok is taking up rear guard with the girls in between.

  They all wait at the bottom of the stairs while Jiron goes to make sure it’s safe. “It’s clear,” he whispers back down after scanning the park, “come on up.”

  James begins to climb the stairs with the girls close behind. He reaches the top and joins Jiron outside while they wait for everyone to exit.

  “Now where?” James asks once everyone has joined them up top.

  “Just follow me and stay close,” Jiron says. He has them hug the wall while they make their way toward the street at the end of the park. As they approach, marching feet can be heard coming toward them from further down the street.

  “Now what?” James quietly asks.

  Speaking to all of them, he whispers, “Stay silent and close to the wall, they should march right past us without even noticing we’re here.”

  Standing still and quiet, they press themselves against the wall and wait. Soon the first soldiers appear from the left and continue marching down the street, past the park. Jiron’s plan is working, not one soldier even bother’s to look within the darkened park.

  Aaachew!

  They all look to Cassie in disbelief as a very loud sneeze escapes her.

  Immediately the closest soldiers stop and turn at the sound. They see them there, partially illuminated by the few torches a couple of the soldiers hold. Both sides just stand and stare at one another for a brief second. Then James yells, “To the tunnel! Move!”

  As if that is the catalyst everyone needed, all hell breaks loose. They turn and race back toward the stairs as the soldiers give chase.

  As everyone reaches the stairs, James turns and lets loose the power, attempting to slow the soldiers’ advance.

  Crumph!

  The ground explodes upward, tossing soldiers in the air and pelting them with dirt and other debris. Several soldiers had been in advance of the area that exploded and were now almost upon him.

  In a panic, James pushes out with the power, literally tossing the onrushing soldiers backward, where they collide with their comrades.

  “The mage!” he can hear coming from the street as more soldiers rush toward the park, starlight reflecting off their swords.

  “James! Come on!” he hears behind him. Turning, he sees that everyone has already made it inside the tunnel and Jiron is there motioning for him to follow.

  James runs over and enters, flying down the stairs. “What are we to do now?” he asks Jiron.

  “We’re trapped,” Jiron explains. “There’s no way out!”

  When James enters the room, Cassie is there in tears. She looks to James and cries, “I’m sorry!”

  “It’s okay,” he assures her, though in his own mind he’s not nearly as forgiving.

  Tinok is standing at the passage entrance, listening for pursuit. He turns and says, “They’re coming.” Suddenly two knives flash into his hands as he stands ready. Jiron takes up position next to him and two knives appear like magic in his hands as well, flashing in the reflected candle light.

  He looks to Tinok and says, “You ready?”

  “Yeah,” Tinok replies with an evil grin. “Let’s get it on!”

  They stand there to either side of the doorway, James and the girls stand a little ways back from them.

  Suddenly an enemy soldier comes into the room, sword out, and Tinok closes with him. The soldier sees him and strikes with his sword. Tinok easily deflects the blade with one knife while following through with a thrust with the other, piercing the man’s chest and puncturing his heart. The soldier slides lifelessly off his blade to the floor as another soldier comes through the doorway, into the room.

  Jiron takes this one and almost as fast as Tinok, dispatches him.

  “You’re getting slow, Jiron,” Tinok says as he closes with the next one to come in. Knives flash and another body sinks to the floor.<
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  The next soldier to come through is carrying a shield along with a sword and closes with Jiron. Jiron deflects the thrust of the sword with one knife as the shield comes and crashes into his chest, pushing him back further into the room. The soldier advances on him when all of a sudden one of his legs goes out and he crashes to the floor. Tinok had hamstrung him from behind as the soldier was closing in on Jiron. Jiron presses the soldier as he lies there on the ground, blocking a cut from the sword and avoiding the shield. He gets inside the man’s defenses and slits his throat. He looks up to see Tinok battling another one.

  “Don’t need any help,” Jiron says to Tinok with a grin.

  “Sorry,” Tinok replies, “I’ll try not to save your life next time.” His knives flash and another soldier falls to the floor.

  Suddenly there’s a pause as no more soldiers come through the opening. Tinok turns to James and says, “Alright Mr. Mage, you got any ideas?”

  James suddenly realizes that he had been watching the fighting, awestruck at the relative ease in which they’ve been taking out the soldiers and not thinking about the situation at all. Red faced, he begins pondering the situation instead of wool gathering.

  Another soldier enters, a veritable giant of a man. Standing easily a head taller than either Jiron or Tinok, covered in armor from head to toe, with a long shield on his left arm, he enters the room and immediately engages Jiron.

  The man’s sword is enormous and Jiron is unable to get inside his defense. The blows from his sword pack enormous power and when Jiron blocks a slash aimed at his midsection, his knife is knocked out of his hand, leaving it tingling.

  Tinok is unable to go to his aid as he is fighting with another soldier, this one of a more regular size but carrying a shield. The soldier begins pushing Tinok back as another soldier enters the room.

  James makes his mind up and releases the power. The ground begins to shake and from the passage leading from the room, they can hear a roar as the ceiling of the passage crashes down on those still within it. A cloud of dust fills the room as Tinok and Jiron battle the three soldiers that had made it in before the collapse.