Brian Pratt - The unsuspecting mage

They make their way to the western side of the docks where a mass of people have gathered. A man stands upon a wagon and is addressing the crowd. “…are going to come and help evacuate the City. They will pull up to the dock and at that time, in an orderly fashion, those at the head of the line will board quickly. Anyone, and I do mean anyone, who causes trouble or becomes a nuisance will be dealt with severely.”

Looking behind him, the man on the wagon sees the first of the rescue boats pulling up to the docks. He raises his hands to get the crowds attention. When they’ve quieted down he says loudly, “The first boat is here and more are on the way.” He signals to a squad of guards on the docks and says, “Start loading.”

When the crowd hears that, they surge toward the docks, pushing and shoving to be first to get on the boat. “Do not push!” the man says to the crowd, “the boats will be coming all night long and as long as needed to get everyone out.”

One man pushes an old lady down and runs for the boat, a guard sees him and moves to intercept. The man starts to fight with the guard, but is soon clubbed senseless. “Take him away,” the man on the wagon yells to the guards. Raising his voice even further he yells, “He will be the Last one allowed on the boats!”

When the people hear that they become a bit more orderly and soon an orderly line is formed as they wait for the first boat to fill. Other boats are waiting their turn to approach the docks to help evacuate the populace.

“Let’s get in line,” James says. “Looks like we’ll make it out of here after all.”

The boats are those of private citizens from neighboring cities. None of them are able to carry a lot of people, but slowly and surely, the line continues to move.

The sun drops behind the horizon and torches are lit to provide light for the people and the arriving boats. At one point a boat loaded with evacuees sails from the docks and no new boat takes its place. Several minutes pass and still no other boat approaches to continue the evacuation. A low murmur can be heard developing within the waiting crowd.

The man gets back up on the wagon and addresses the increasingly restless people. “Do not worry!” he yells out over the crowd. “They will return when they have dropped off their passengers at a safe port. More boats than what you’ve already seen are on their way. They must travel from farther away, but they will come!”

The crowd quiets down and settles in to wait patiently. Several more hours pass and more boats appear to take on passengers and then quickly sail away, making room for the next one in line.

Ta-TOOOOO Ta-TOOOOO

The sounds of many horns can be heard coming from the eastern wall, as well as faint sounds of swords exchanging blows. The crowd around James and Miko begins growing restless and the look of fear can be seen on many of their faces.

A rider approaches at a gallop and halts near the man who addressed the crowd. “My lord!” the rider cries out to him, “they’re in the city!”

“How!” demands the man.

“Someone poisoned the guards at the gate and then released the lock!” he explains.

To the guards the man yells, “To the east gate!” as he jumps from the wagon and breaks into a run. The guards fall in behind.

When the crowd hears that the enemy is within the city, all thoughts of orderly evacuation vanishes. As one, the crowd surged forward toward the boat that’s currently loading passengers. They swarm over it, knocking each other out of the way and into the water. A knife flashes and a woman screams as she falls into the Sea. They overload the small pleasure craft past its limits. The mass of people upon the craft cause it to tip over, spilling everyone into the water as it sinks to the bottom.

The other captains waiting in line to pick up refugees, after having witnessed what just happened, turn their boats around and sail away, not willing to risk their boats or their lives with the panicked mob.

The people on the dock cry out for them to return but to no avail. Then absolute panic sets in as they realize that rescue is no longer forthcoming. People jump into the Sea and try to swim while the majority of the people just run in every direction, trampling to death many of their neighbors.

James and Miko flow with the mob until they can get away from it down a side alley. “What are we to do now?” Miko asks, fear evident in his voice.

“Maybe we can swim out around the walls and past the armies,” suggests James.

Miko brightens at the idea and says, “Let’s go!”

They slowly make their way through the press of the crowd until they come to the water’s edge. The Sea is full of swimming bodies, many having the same idea as James. They get ready to enter the water when screams begin coming from out in the water.

Crossbow bolts are flying into those in the water, striking all who are trying to escape. James can barely make out dozens of enemy crossbowmen lining the shores, firing at the helpless people in the water.

“Not this way,” he says and they race off into the city.

The sound of fighting increases as the enemy continues to gain more and more ground within the City. People are running every which way, no one seems to know where to go. James and Miko continue racing through the streets trying to stay clear of the fighting.

Several fires have broken out within the city casting an eerie glow to the night. James can see where the enemy has gained a foothold upon several sections of the walls, their crossbowmen beginning to rain bolts down upon the defenders from the height of the walls.

“This is going to be over soon,” he tells Miko as they pause for a moment to try to decide the best direction to go.

“How did they get inside the walls so fast?” Miko asks. “Everyone said that it would take them weeks to breach these walls, maybe longer.”

“Remember the rider who came up while we were waiting to board the boats?” James reminds him. “He said they were poisoned and I have a good idea who was behind it.”

“Who?” Miko asks.

“Ol’ One Eye,” James replies. “When we were looking through the window to the warehouse he was giving a vial and what looked to be sacks of coins to someone. My guess is that the vial contained the poison that was used on the guards at the gate.”

“Very good,” says a voice behind them.

Turning, they see ol’ One Eye standing there with a dozen enemy soldiers, three of whom have crossbows aimed straight at them.

“Greetings again, gentlemen,” he says. “Move wrong and you’ll have a bolt through you.”

“How did you find us?” Miko asks.

While his men tie their hands behind their backs, he says, “Fairly easy actually. I saw you in line at the docks waiting to board one of those damn boats. I set a man to watch in case you left the line. When the panic started, it was easy enough to follow and catch you.”

“Why bother with us?” James asks.

“I have my reasons,” he replies and then sets off with them in tow toward where the fighting is the fiercest. Heading for the east gate, they occasionally have to duck down alleys whenever soldiers of Cardri race past.

It was fairly easy for James to use magic as they walked to break the bindings holding their hands. When Miko felt his bonds part, he almost let the rope slip to the ground, but fast thinking kept him holding on to it to prolong the illusion that they were still bound.

Miko glances at James who winks at him and then continues following their captors. A group of defenders emerge at a run from a side street ahead with no effort in trying to maintain formation. It was a complete rout, enemy soldiers emerged behind them and gave chase.