Brian Pratt - Warrior priest of Dmon-Li

“Or they’re waiting for something,” states James.

“Like those armies to the south?” Fifer asks.

“Probably,” he replies. “If so, they’ve got a long wait.”

He hears Fifer give a chuckle at that, “Especially if Commander Eathan has anything to say about it.”

To the east of the city are hundreds of fires and tents of those allies who’ve come to help defend Lythylla. The wall of the city itself comes right to the water’s edge. Anyone trying to cross the bridge there will face a massive barrage from those defending the walls.

“Looks pretty defendable,” says Fifer.

“That’s what they thought back at the City of Light too,” counters James. “And we know how that turned out.”

The area around the city is well lit with torches and campfires. No one could possible sneak in or out without being seen.

James thought they’d at least stop them and ask them some questions, but the guards at the gate just wave them on through with the other refugees entering the city.

“Should we go in search of Lord Pytherian?” Fifer asks.

“Yeah,” replies James. “He’s probably up at the castle.”

Moving through the streets, it isn’t hard to find their way to the castle. It towers over every other building in the city and they’re able to follow the streets that head in its general direction. Eventually they make it to the curtain wall which surrounds the castle area.

The guards at the gate leading into the castle area are not nearly as lackadaisical as the ones at the outer wall. When they approach, one of the guards moves to block them. As they come to a stop, he says, “No one is allowed within the castle area.”

“We’re here to see Lord Pytherian,” James tells him.

The guard looks him up and down and then glances at the others, obviously questioning the voracity of what James is saying.

“And why would you be here to see Lord Pytherian?” the guard asks him. “In the middle of the night?”

“I don’t see how it could possibly be any of your business,” replies James. “Just send a runner up to the castle and inform Lord Pytherian that James is here to see him.”

“James huh?” the guard asks, the other guards get up and come over. “You’re the third ‘James’ that has been here to see him today. Are you claiming to be the one who helped to rescue him from the clutches of the Empire too?”

James glances at the others, and sees them mirror his doubt and confusion on their faces. Turning back to the guards, he starts to reply when the guard continues, “The first one was brought expeditiously to Lord Pytherian and was soon exposed as an imposter. The other ‘James’ tried to attack him and kill him, his body now lies in a garbage heap somewhere.” Giving him a suspicious look, the guard asks, “Now, why should I believe you? I’ll not disturb his lordship again until I am sure.”

“I don’t believe this,” complains James.

“What’re we going to do?” Jiron asks him.

“Well, we’re definitely not going to fight our way through,” says James. “They’ll need every ‘fool’ on the walls when the Empire attacks. I’m just too tired to do anything about it at the moment.”

Turning back to the guard, he says, “I am the real James. With me are Jiron, Miko and Fifer who’s a member of Miller’s band, the irregulars out of the City of Light. When someone asks you if we’ve shown up, please inform them that you turned us away.”

James turns his horse back toward the city and says to Jiron, “Let’s find a room somewhere and get some sleep. I’m about ready to fall off my horse. We’ll deal with that,” he says, indicating the guards behind them, “tomorrow morning.”

Moving away from the gates they head back into the city as they try to find an inn to spend the night. The first several they come across are all full, refugees have taken every available space.

They finally end up finding an empty warehouse with enough room for them and their horses. Bringing them inside, they shut the door and spread out their bedrolls.

“What do you think he meant when he said that two other ‘James’’ have been here?” asks Jiron.

“I don’t know,” replies James. “But it can’t be good.”

“Who would know?” Fifer asks. When the others turn their attention to him, he continues, “I mean, who besides us would know to come here and say that?”

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” says James from where he’s lying down. “But we’ll worry about that tomorrow.” Before he falls asleep, he glances over to where Jiron is looking out one of the windows. Glad he’s decided to take the first watch. Unbeknownst to him, the others are going to allow him to sleep through the night without a turn at watch.

The following morning, when everyone but James is awake, they sit on the other side of the warehouse from him as they talk quietly so as not to awaken him.

Jiron says to Fifer, “Think you could go and find someone from Miller’s band who could help us get in to see Lord Pytherian?”

“Maybe,” he replies. “I’m not sure if they’re even in the city.”

“I know,” says Jiron. “But it might be our only way without something spectacular.” He nods over to James, “If you know what I mean?”

Fifer flashes him a grin as he remembers the trip back and all the things James has done. “I understand,” he replies. “Better try to keep this low key unless we have no other option.”

“Exactly,” Jiron agrees.

“Need me to go with you?” asks Miko in the hopes of escaping the warehouse.

Shaking his head, Fifer says, “No, I better go alone. It’d be quicker that way.”

“Okay,” says Miko, disappointed.

Fifer gets up as he says, “I’ll meet you back here in a couple hours, whether I’ve found someone or not.”

“We’ll be here,” replies Jiron.

Fifer turns and walks over to the door and leaves the warehouse, closing it behind him.

“Now what?” asks Miko, sighing.

“Now, we wait,” replies Jiron who almost can’t stop himself from smiling at the despondent sigh Miko lets out.

An hour later the door to the warehouse bursts open and three members of the city watch come in.

The sound of the door slamming open startles James awake and he sits up groggily as they enter the warehouse.

“What?” he asks, still not completely awake.

Jiron moves over to meet them as the first guard asks in a surly tone of voice, “What are you doing here?”

“We couldn’t find any inn with space for us,” replies Jiron. “We had to stay somewhere and since this was empty, we came in here.”

“Damn refugees,” one of them says.

“Well, you can’t stay here,” the first watchman tells him.

“But we’re waiting for the return of a friend,” Miko blurts out. “If we leave, he’ll never find us!”

“Be that as it may,” the watchman says, “this is a private building and it ain’t yours. So you’ll have to go.”

Now completely awake, James gets up and comes over to join the conversation. “Surely there must be some way that we can stay here?” he asks as he digs in and pulls out three silvers. “Maybe you could find the owner and give him this for us. Three should be enough for a days rent, wouldn’t you say?”

The watchman gazes at the coins in James’ hand a moment before reaching out and taking them. “Alright, I’ll get these to the owner. I’m sure he won’t mind if you stay here a few more hours to wait for your friend.” He quickly puts the coins in the pouch at his waist.

“Thank you,” James says. “We do appreciate it.”

“But don’t be thinking you can stay here forever,” the watchman tells them. “You better be out by sundown at the latest.”