Brian Pratt - Warrior priest of Dmon-Li

They take one more step before coming to a halt, which brings them into the circle of light. A woman screams and James can see they’re not Korgan and friend.

A middle aged lady and a gentleman who looks to have been a veteran of battle stand before him.

The man pulls out his sword and cries, “What’s the meaning of this.”

“My apologies,” James stammers, embarrassed. “I thought you were someone else.” Putting away his knife, he begins backing away from the couple.

The man keeps his sword out as they, too, begin backing away.

“The gate!” Uther cries out.

They all turn their attention to the gate as they watch Korgan and his friend run in through the gate. Korgan pauses momentarily as he looks in their direction, a grin upon his face. He says something to the guards, and one brings a horn to his lips and begins sounding the alarm.

“Move!” cries Jiron and they all begin running down the street past the couple James had accosted.

Ducking down a side alley, they try to lose any pursuit that may be forthcoming. They run to the end of the alley and break across another main thoroughfare to the alley on the other side.

Pausing a moment, they listen for any pursuit. When none is forthcoming, Jiron leads them further into the alley until the darkness within completely swallows them before coming to a stop.

“Now what?” he says as he turns to James.

“I don’t know,” he replies. “We might try to backtrack the way he’d come and see if we can find where that meeting was being held.”

“Whatever we do, we need to hurry,” Illan states. “When they come to get you out of the dungeon in the morning for the council meeting, they’ll know you’re not there.” Remembering the horn blast from the guard at the gate, he adds, “If they don’t know already. And dawn isn’t very far away.” They all glance at the sky that is beginning to lighten with the coming of the morn.

“Hopefully we can discover their plans before the army begins its attack,” Uther says. “Whatever they’re planning has to coincide with that.”

“I agree,” says James. “Do you remember the way?”

Indicating the direction with a nod of his head, he replies, “It’s this way.” He then leaves the alley and turns down the street in the general direction of where Korgan had been.

“How are we going to find out which house it is?” Jiron questions.

“Not sure, exactly,” replies James as they continue following Uther.

In the early morning hour, they’ve encountered relatively few people. No group has been greater than two or three and those were usually drunk. That’s why when he sees a group of twenty men coming their way from down a side street, James has them duck into a side alley to avoid being seen.

“What’s wrong?” Illan asks him when they’re within the shadows of the alley.

“Doesn’t it seem strange for such a large group to be about so early in the morning?” he asks.

“Now that you mention it, it does,” he replies.

“And the fact they’re in the area where all those weapons are leads me to think they may be going to retrieve those weapons,” explains James.

“Could be,” whispers Jiron.

They all remain quiet as the men turn onto the street James and the others had just recently vacated. As the men move away from them, James whispers, “My guess is, if we follow them, we’ll find that house.”

Several of the others nod their heads in understanding.

Letting the men move further down the street, James and the others quickly enter the street to follow them. They continue following the men at a discreet distance until they come to a large house. Turning off the street, the men approach the front door, open it, and then go in.

“That’s the house!” exclaims Jorry excitedly. “Has to be!”

“We need to get word to Henri at the north gate,” James says. “If they’re moving to get their weapons, then the attack is imminent.” He turns to Yern and says, “Tell him there are likely other spots around the city.”

Yern nods and quickly heads off down the street.

“How’d they get so many within the city?” asks Fifer.

“Remember all those refugees that were pouring into the city when we got here?” James asks. When Fifer nods, he continues, “That’s how. I bet they’ve been trickling in over the last several days, disguised as refugees.”

“Damn!” he exclaims. “No telling how many there are within the city now.”

James has them spread out around the building, staying within the shadows as best they can. He’s keeping Miko close to hand.

Suddenly the door to the house begins to open and the men start filing out. Where they’d gone in without swords and armor, they’re now coming out fully decked out for battle.

James takes several slugs from the pouch at his hip and sets them in his left hand. Taking one in his right, he let’s the magic flow as he throws it at one of the men exiting through the doorway.

The slug strikes him square in the middle of the chest and gore sprays on the man behind him as the slug exits his back. Still having momentum, the slug strikes the second man in the chest but its force had been greatly reduced by going through the first man, only knocking him back a step as the armor prevents it from punching through.

“Keep them in the house!” cries James.

The others spring into action as another slug flies toward the open doorway, this time taking out the gore coated man. They move to the exits and begin fighting with those attempting to leave.

James can see Miko next to him begin to slowly pull his sword out of his scabbard and says, “Not this time, Miko. They can handle this.”

Miko glances to him, his eyes regaining their focus as he nods and slides the sword back in the sheath.

The fighting going on around the house is becoming intense as those that were within begin to make their way out to engage Miller’s band.

Cries from the neighboring buildings fill the night as the residents take notice of the fighting going on around the house.

Suddenly, horns can be heard coming from the west as the Empire’s forces begin their assault.

James lets loose the power and…

Crumph!

…an explosion can be heard within the building. Windows shatter outward from the blast and all fighting ceases for a moment as the combatants stagger from the explosive concussion. The building begins to shake as the sides buckle and the entire structure collapses, burying those still inside.

The fighting resumes and the enemy that had made it out are soon dispatched. James does a quick survey and is pleased to note that all of them have survived. A few are bleeding from numerous cuts and Jorry has blood running down the side of his head.

“Come on!” he cries. “To the west wall, we can’t let them get a foothold inside the city!”

“How do we know that’s where they’ll make their move?” asks Uther.

“We don’t,” replies James, “but that’s where the horns are sounding.”

As one they turn and begin racing toward the western wall. Other soldiers can be seen running to the sound of the horns to aid in the defense. On their way, they meet up with Yern who decided to return once the horns began sounding. “I think Henri will know what’s going on now,” he says when he rejoins them. Running as fast as they can, they head to the west gate.

They find a battlefield at the base of the west wall. Dead and dying soldiers litter the area in front of it. A semicircle of men are holding off the defenders while several others are over at the gatehouse attempting to open the locking mechanism.

The men keeping the defenders from the gate house are falling fast and soon the way is clear. Soldiers of Madoc rush toward the gatehouse and begin beating upon the gatehouse door. James can see the door itself is beginning to buckle under the force of the pounding.