Brian Pratt - Fires of prophesy

They make quick time, alternating between galloping and trotting to keep the horses strength up as best they can. Jiron looks over to James who is checking the mirror again and asks, “Well?”

“They’re still behind us, though they’re not gaining very fast,” he replies. “To the south is another road, or rather a continuation of the coast road we followed previously. There doesn’t appear to be any soldiers on it, just regular travelers.”

“Wait!” he cries out.

“What?” asks Jiron.

“Oh man,” he says. “A large force containing men and cavalry is coming from the south along the road, there must be over a thousand of them.” He scans the mirror some more and says, “To the southeast is another band of horse coming in this direction too.”

“You mean they’ve got us encircled?” Jiron asks.

“Yeah,” he replies. “It looks like the only way to go is toward the coast but that’s a dead end.”

“Unless we find ourselves a boat!” states Jiron. “Is there a town to the west?”

“Let me check,” he says as he scrolls the view further west. Excitedly, he exclaims, “Yes, there is and it looks like it’s a port city.”

“Any ships at the docks?” Jiron asks, hopefully.

“Four,” he replies.

Turning his horse westward, Jiron says, “Then let’s go get ourselves a boat.”

“But,” James says, “it’s going to be broad daylight. How are we going to sneak aboard and take a boat?”

Giving James a slightly evil grin, Jiron replies, “Who said we were going to sneak!”

Riding hard, they come to the road and move to follow it as it continues along the coast westward to the port city. Fellow travelers they pass along the road just stare at them as they fly by. Some holler words at them as they rush past but are soon left far behind.

Knowing they’ve not much time, James and Jiron race down the road weaving around those upon it, until the town begins to appear on the horizon ahead of them. The town appears rather large with no wall surrounding it, for which James is extremely grateful.

They slow down as they reach the outskirts of town so as not to attract undue attention. Heading straight down the main thoroughfare toward the docks, James fears that at anytime someone is going to challenge them.

But, acting like you belong is often the surest way of remaining unnoticed. Riding with a purpose, they make their way through the crowded streets and no one even gives them a second look. When they draw near to the docks, they stop in front of an inn and dismount, tying their horses to the post out front.

They quickly remove what they’re going to need from their horses before continuing on foot. Before they reach the docks, Jiron motions for James to follow him into a side alley. Once within the alley he asks, “Can you see if any of our pursuers are getting close to the city?”

Taking out his mirror, James looks and after locating the armies approaching, shakes his head, saying, “It looks like they’re all at least several miles away. We should have an hour, maybe more, before they arrive.”

“Alright then,” says Jiron, “let’s go find us a boat.”

They leave the alley and continue on their way toward the docks. When they get there, they see a dozen or more soldiers stationed in and around the dock area.

“Think they’re there for us?” Jiron asks.

“Probably,” replies James. “Looks like they’re covering all their bases.”

“Bases?” Jiron asks, confused at the term.

“Sorry,” says James. “I just mean they’re watching every avenue that we may take to get away.”

“Oh.”

They pause near the entrance to the docks as they look at the ships tied there. One is a massive, deep sea cargo ship and the others are smaller, but all are clearly too big for their needs. Shaking his head, Jiron says, “I don’t think these are going to help us any.”

“I don’t think so either,” agrees James. Then he grabs Jiron’s arm and directs his attention further down, away from the docks where a small, private ship is just pulling up to a small dock. “That will do fine, don’t you think?” he asks.

“Perfect!”

They leave the dock area and head over toward the estate where the ship just docked. The estate has a protective wall around it and the gate is closed with a guard posted on the outside. They walk around the estate, doing their best not to attract attention as they look to see if there’s another way in. The wall is high, too high to jump and grab the top. The only way in is through the gate.

They return to a spot near the gate and James asks, “Now what?”

“We gotta get through that gate,” he replies. “I don’t see any other way in.”

The street passing in front of the estate is well traveled and any attempt to take out the guard will be readily seen by those passing by.

“We need a diversion so everyone will be looking away from the guard at the gate,” he says as he looks to James.

“You want me to blow up the town again?” asks James, not entirely enthused with the idea.

“Not necessarily,” he replies. “Just something that the people on the street will turn their attention to.”

“Anything I do will announce that we’re here,” he says.

“They’re going to know that soon enough anyway,” Jiron explains. “As soon as those approaching forces meet up, they’ll know we’re here. A few minutes earlier really won’t make that much of a difference.”

“I suppose you’re right,” James says, resigned to the plan. “Let’s go further into town and see what opportunity presents itself, I don’t want to hurt innocents.”

“Alright,” says Jiron, understanding. “I’m sure there’s something you can do that won’t hurt anyone.”

As they walk, James ponders different ideas, trying to come up with something that will distract but not hurt. “I think I have an idea,” he tells Jiron after they’ve walked several blocks.

“What?” he asks.

“Well, you see…”

After getting everything ready, they return back to the gate. Jiron glances over at James where he’s standing, silently counting. Three…Two…One…

From further into town, they begin to hear people screaming and running. The people on the street outside of the gate turn their attention toward the center of town and away from the gate to see what’s going on.

“It’s working,” Jiron says as he begins edging slowly toward the gate.

James just nods in satisfaction with his solution and follows him.

When they near the gate, the guard is looking toward the center of town as well, fear evident on his face. James glances toward where he’s looking and smiles when he sees the fifteen foot giant walking through town, a flaming sword gripped in its hand.

Jiron comes to the guard and places a knife to his throat as he says, “Open the gate!”

The guard suddenly realizes they’re there and starts to draw his sword. Jiron presses the knife harder against his neck, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” When the guard relaxes his grip on his sword Jiron turns him so he’s facing the gate. “Now, open it” he orders the man one more time. Despite the language barrier, the guard understands what Jiron is asking.

Shaken, the guard withdraws a key and places it in the lock, opening the gate. James looks at the passersby who are staring at the giant walking through town, many begin running for their lives.

“Come on, James!” urges Jiron.

Turning back to the gate, he sees that it’s already open and follows Jiron and the guard inside. After the guard shuts and locks the gate, Jiron takes the key from him and says to James, “Let’s get the boat and sail to Cardri as fast as we can.” Then he hits the man in the head and knocks him out.