Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [21]
“Can we sneak across?” Cassie asks.
“Won’t know until tonight,” James replies. “Let’s find a spot away from the river where we can have a bite to eat unobserved while we wait for dark.”
“Why do we have to move away from the river?” Cassie asks.
Sighing, James explains, “In the event that someone is traveling down the river, we don’t want them to alert those in the town as to our presence.”
“Oh,” she says.
They move about a half mile away from the river and find a spot near a hill that provides them some cover. They keep watch for anyone coming and remain undisturbed until night has fallen and they’re ready to make the attempt to cross the river.
Once night has deepened enough that the only light is that of the stars, they mount up and ride back toward the river. They follow it until the town’s lights appear and then come to a stop. Jiron says, “I’ll go and scout the town, then we can decide what to do.”
“Alright,” James agrees, “but be careful.”
He gives James a look that says, ‘Of course’, and then disappears in the night as he heads for town. Twenty minutes go by before they hear his return.
“Well?” James asks when he rejoins the group.
“Looks to be about twenty soldiers garrisoned there,” he explains, “with four on duty at the bridge and two walking patrol within the town itself. Most of the others are gathered in a tavern located near the center of town.”
“Is there a way to create a diversion that would draw off the guards at the bridge?” Tinok asks.
“Maybe setting fire to a building or two,” he says, “that may do it. Unless the guards at the bridge have an extraordinary sense of duty and remain there.”
“Most likely they are bored and would leave just to see what’s going on,” James suggests.
“Probably,” Jiron says. Looking to Tinok, he says, “Wanna come start some fires with me?”
“Every boy’s dream,” Tinok replies with a smile.
“Now make sure it looks like it could’ve been an accident, or the search may be on,” James cautions.
“Do the best we can,” Jiron says. “When we’re done, we’ll meet you back here.”
“Good luck,” Delia says.
“Be careful,” Cassie says with concern.
“We will,” Jiron assures her, and then he and Tinok run off toward town.
James mounts his horse after some time passes and advises the girls to do the same, “We may need to be ready to move fast should they return with soldiers in pursuit.”
They sit on their horses and wait. “Where are they?” Cassie asks after an hour has gone by, concern in her voice.
“Don’t worry,” Delia assures her, “they’re just taking their time to make sure they are not caught.”
“I hope so,” Cassie says.
Me too, Delia says to herself as she watches the town for their return.
Suddenly, two shadows approach. “Get ready,” they hear Jiron say as he mounts his horse. Tinok mounts his as well.
They all sit and wait, but nothing happens.
“What did you do?” James asks.
“We found a stable where they had most of their horses,” Jiron explains. “A guard was there sleeping in a pile of hay, with a bottle of wine lying next to him.”
“Yeah,” Tinok says, chuckling a little. “We took one of the lanterns down, lit it and laid it beside him on the hay. The hay was just beginning to smolder as we left.”
“But he might burn to death!” Cassie gasps.
“Fortunes of war,” Jiron says, with little feeling.
“Besides, it’ll look like an accident,” Tinok explains. “It’ll look like he got drunk and was careless.”
“And with their horses in danger,” Jiron says, “they’ll want everyone to help with putting the fire out, which should draw the men off the bridge.”
“Let’s hope so,” James says.
Suddenly, from the north side of town, a reddish glow blossoms as the stable catches fire. Even from this distance they can hear the horses neighing in terror. From within the town, they hear the cry as the soldiers move to combat the fire and save their horses.