“Let’s hurry,” urges James. Jiron gives him a nod.
Jiron moves around the edge of the stable to the entrance and peers through the doorway. When he finds it empty, he signals James to follow as he enters. A light springs to life as James’ orb appears on his hand. Not nearly as bright as it usually is, it’s just bright enough for them to find the tack and saddle for two horses.
Along the back wall they find all the items they need stacked on shelves. While Jiron gathers the tack, James removes two fine looking stallions from their stalls. One snickers and snorts as he brings them forth. “Easy boy,” he says reassuringly as he pats the nervous one’s neck.
Working quickly, they soon have the horses saddled. James swings into the saddle while Jiron moves to the gate. He opens it a crack and looks out to be sure no other sentry is approaching. When he finds all is quiet, he swings the stable’s gate open and returns to the horses. Taking his horse’s reins, he leads him through the gate. Once James has left the stable, Jiron closes the gate and throws the bar to keep it closed. He then swings into the saddle. Unless someone stumbles upon the dead sentries, it’s unlikely anyone will realize something has happened before dawn. James cancels his orb before heading out.
Moving quickly away from the buildings, they head southeast. Angling through the hills, they keep their distance from the enemy camp while they make for the road that will take them toward Madoc.
When at last the road appears before them, Jiron dismounts and leaves his horse with James while he moves to the edge of the road. Last time there had been hidden sentries along this road, but then again, the last time the Empire had known they were on the way. He comes to a stop within the edge of the forest and gazes up and down the road. Scanning both directions for several minutes for any movement he is at last satisfied the road is deserted. He then returns back to his horse and mounts. “The road looks deserted,” he says in a whisper.
“Then let’s get going,” replies James just as quietly.
Jiron gets his horse moving and they’re soon out of the forest. They turn eastwards once they are on the road and quickly get their horses up to a canter. James casts glances back to the enemy camp in the distance as they ride but no shout arises or any other indication that they have been discovered. After awhile, the lights of the enemy’s encampment disappear in the dark.
They ride for an hour or two before the sky begins to lighten with dawn’s approach. So far they haven’t encountered anyone else traveling upon the road and with any luck they won’t for some time.
When the sun begins to peek over the horizon, Jiron examines the road closely. “I think horses passed this way recently,” he observes. When James glances to him he indicates the surface of the road.
Even James’ untrained eye can see that hundreds of horses passed this way recently. The piles of dung the horses dropped when they passed don’t look more than two or three days old. His time of being around horses has given him plenty of experience to figure that out.
“Then they have sent men to engage Illan,” James states.
“Looks like it,” agrees Jiron. He points out several different tracks of wagon wheels as well as the footprints of foot soldiers. “Could be a sizeable force.”
“If this is the only one, Illan should have little trouble,” observes James. “Two days…” Picturing the map of the area in his mind he tries to estimate the position of Illan and the rest of their friends. If this army passed through here only two days ago, they may not have had the time to reach them yet.
Glancing to Jiron he sees he’s come to the same conclusion. They kick the sides of their horses and break into a gallop. Illan needs to be warned of this new threat.
Riding hard through the morning, they come to where the road ends at Bindles just after noon. Another road passes through the town going north and south. During their earlier sojourn on their way to find Miko, they had passed through here in the guise of merchants. Delia had even managed to secure additional cargo bound for Korazan to give them more legitimacy.
When the town appears before them, they slow down to look for any forces in the area. Not finding any, they continue to follow the road into town. Out of water and short on supplies they stop at the trader they visited on their last trip, the one Delia had acquired the cargo from. A sign hangs above the door depicting three barrels.
Dismounting, they head for the front door. Just as before, the people on the streets barely give them more than a cursory look. Jiron reaches the door first and opens it. Upon entering they find the same merchant they dealt with the time before.
The merchant looks up from where he was going over a ledger and sees them enter. “Good day to you sirs,” he says with a grin. Closing the ledger he comes over to them and asks, “How may I help you?”
James was worried that he would recognize them but looking into his eyes can tell he doesn’t. “Additional water bottles and several days’ worth of travel rations,” he tells him.
“And a mirror if you have one,” adds Jiron. Glancing at James he gets a nod of approval. He hadn’t thought to purchase a replacement for the one lost on the road.
“Very good,” the merchant replies. He then goes over to a table with water bottles. “How many would you require?”
“Two bottles each,” he says.
The merchant picks up four bottles and takes them over to the counter. He then moves to another table containing packages of dried beef and cheese. Picking up an armful, he brings them over to the counter. “Will this be sufficient?” he asks as he places the packages next to the water bottles. “I’m sorry I don’t have much of a selection to offer, the soldiers bought almost everything and the caravan carrying my goods is overdue.
Nodding, James says, “Yes, thank you.” He gives Jiron a knowing glance. The caravan in question may very well be one of the ones he secreted the explosive seeds in. The merchant may be waiting a long time before he sees his goods.
The merchant moves behind his counter and produces three mirrors of varying sizes. James selects one that is only six inches by three and has a plain bronze frame. The merchant replaces the other mirrors and then adds the one selected to the rest of their items.
“I heard that an army passed through here a day or two ago,” Jiron suddenly says.
“That’s right,” the merchant replies. “There’s a rumor going around that Black Hawk has returned. But that is hardly possible.” Finishing bundling the items together he quotes a price to James who then hands over the required coins.
“Oh?” asks James. “Why is that?”
“He and his men were slaughtered years ago,” he states.
Jiron casts a quick look to James who asks, “Are you sure?”
“Well, I wasn’t there of course but that was the story going around at the time,” he explains. “Supposedly his men were destroyed by the Empire’s armies after some battle or other.”
“Oh,” Jiron says with a barely concealed grin. “So what about the soldiers who passed through here?”
“Well like I said, a rumor had been going around town for some time that Black Hawk had returned. I never gave it much credence, rumors seldom being reliable and all. But when the men who had been stationed at Kern passed through, they said the same thing. Apparently they are on their way to take out whoever this is. Probably someone stirring up trouble and using Black Hawk as a rallying cry or some other such nonsense.”
“Yeah,” agrees James. Taking his newly bought goods from the counter, he turns for the door. “You wouldn’t happen to know which road they took out of town would you?”
“Why?” the merchant asks.
“We’re heading east and if there’s a battle about to be fought, we don’t want to be anywhere nearby when it does.”
Nodding, the merchant says, “They took the south road.”
“Thanks,” James says as he starts moving for the door. Jiron reaches the door first and opens it for him.