Brian Pratt - Warrior priest of Dmon-Li

Suddenly, to the south, more horns can be heard. Jiron looks and sees dozens of riders riding fast toward them. Damn! More reinforcements!

The horns sound again and an answering horn can be heard coming from the pass. The riders engaging the defenders suddenly break off and race to their awaiting horses. Leaping atop them, they join the riders coming fast from the pass.

Jiron can see the clan chiefs giving them an ugly look that says this isn’t over before they race off to the west. The large group of riders coming from the south breaks into two groups, the larger of the two turn to follow the clan chiefs. The smaller group approaches the scene of the battle.

“They’re ours,” says Illan when he can make them out. “Everyone alive?” he asks as he quickly takes stock of the situation. Coming over to where Hinney sits with Keril, he realizes Keril isn’t going to survive much longer. He kneels down as Keril turns his pain filled eyes to him.

“Did we win?” Keril asks.

“Yes, son,” Illan says to him soothingly, “we did. You fought bravely which saved the day.”

A smile spreads across his face.

When Hinney looks up at him, hope in his eyes, he shakes his head.

Illan gets back up, pats Hinney on the shoulder and goes over to see how James and Miko are doing, leaving him alone to share Keril’s last moments in peace.

Jiron sees him approaching and says, “They’re alive. Not sure if they will make it, though. James isn’t doing too well and Miko, well, I can’t even begin to guess about him. He doesn’t respond, though he only has minor cuts and bruises.”

“Keep an eye on them,” he says as he moves to greet the approaching riders, Jorry and Uther join him. He notices Uther has a blood soaked cloth tied around his arm and arcs an eyebrow in question.

“It’s not bad,” Uther tells him. “Just a minor cut.”

Nodding, Illan turns back to the riders. Once they’ve come close, he holds up his hand and says, “Thank you.”

The officer in charge says to his men, “Fan out and see if there’re any left alive.” As they move to comply, he gets down from his horse and greets Illan. “What the hell happened here?” The insignia on his uniform says he’s a Madoc cavalry captain.

“We were set upon as we were about to enter the pass,” Illan explains.

The officer gazes around at the hundreds of dead scattered about and the holes where the explosions had occurred. Then he turns his attention to Illan and his group. “You all there are?” he asks incredulously.

“Yes,” he replies.

“How did you manage to kill all these and only lose three?” he asks.

“Actually, we only lost one,” he tells him. Indicating James and Miko, he adds, “The other two are just unconscious.”

“I see,” the officer says. He holds out his hand and says, “Name’s Captain Herril.”

Taking the hand, Illan says, “Illan.”

“Now, how did you do it?” he asks.

“Can’t really explain it,” he says. Changing the subject, he asks, “How did you come to be here?”

“Yesterday, the Empire’s forces launched a major offensive against our line,” he says. “This group here was seen to pass by while we were engaged with the others. Once reinforcements arrived and the line stabilized again, I was sent to track them down.”

“Fortunate,” Illan comments.

“Yes, it seems so,” Captain Herril says. “You wouldn’t know anything about why they’re here would you?”

“I’m sure I don’t know,” Illan says, straight faced.

“Uh-huh,” he says, not sounding convinced.

One of his men rides up and salutes, “A couple are still alive.”

“Take them for questioning,” he tells the man.

Saluting, the rider returns and with others, begins rounding up the survivors.

“Where do you plan to go from here?” the captain asks.

“Through the pass into Cardri,” Illan says.

“And then?” he asks again.

“Who knows for sure?” replies Illan.

Illan notices that someone, probably Jiron, had covered up Abula-Mazki’s body to avoid any questions there. “We should be going,” he tells the captain. To Uther he says, “Go round up our horses, we’ll bury Keril first and then head into the pass.”

Jorry and Uther move away as they begin to round up their horses that had been scattered during the battle.

“I’d still like to know how you did this,” the captain demands, not going to be balked further in this.

Illan turns to where Jiron is sitting by James and hollers, “Get the letter.”

Nodding, Jiron searches through James’ pouch, finally pulling out the letter. Getting up, he brings it over and hands it to Illan who then hands it to the captain.

The captain opens it and begins reading the words written upon it. His eyes widen when he realizes whose signature is at the bottom. Finished, he returns the letter to Illan. “Okay then,” he says. “I’ll not press you further.”

“Lieutenant!” he shouts to one of his men.

A rider comes over and says, “Yes sir.”

“Get the men and the prisoners ready to ride,” he tells him.

Saluting, the lieutenant says, “Yes sir.” Then he turns back to the rest of the men and begins shouting orders.

Once his men are ready to ride, the captain mounts and says, “Good luck to you.”

“You too, captain,” Illan says.

Turning his horse south, the captain rides out with his men falling in behind. A string of horses in the middle of his men hold ten wounded clan riders.

As they ride away, Illan moves to where Hinney is still cradling Keril’s head in his lap. Even before he reaches them, he knows Keril is dead. “We have one more service to perform for Keril,” he says to him gently.

Looking up with tears running down his face, Hinney says, “He was a good friend.”

“Yes he was,” agrees Illan. “But it’s time we let him go.”

Nodding, Hinney comes to his feet and then picks up his friend. Over to the side, Jorry and Uther have already dug a grave for him. When Hinney gets closer, they gently remove Keril from his arms and place him within.

They fill in the grave and everyone gathers around as each tells of some experience they’d had with Keril.

When they’re done, they secure James and Miko to their horses. Mounting, Illan gets them moving toward the pass, and Cardri.

The first thing he becomes aware of is the fact that he’s lying in a bed. Odd, he doesn’t remember there being a bed by the Pass. He cracks his eyes open then closes them quickly when the light strikes his eyes like red hot daggers. Moaning, he brings his arm up and lays it over his face to block out the painful light.

“He’s awake,” he hears a voice say.

“Get Jiron,” another voice says and he hears a door open and close.

“James,” a soft, female voice says soothingly. He feels someone sitting on the bed next to him. Then a hand is placed on his chest as the voice speaks again, “James?”

He parts his lips to say something but is unable to speak.

“Here,” the voice says again, “try to drink some of this.”

Opening his mouth, he feels a cup being placed to his lips. Then, cool water slowly enters his mouth, soothing the parchedness. And when he swallows, the liquid eases the tightness of his throat. After the cup is pulled away, he’s able to croak out, “Where am I?”

“You are in Trendle, James,” the voice says and then he recognizes that it’s Mary who’s tending him. “You have been here several days. We were worried about you.”

“Miko?” he asks.

“Your friend is doing well,” she replies. “He is in Devin’s room and still very weak. We will let him know you’re awake.”