Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [7]
“So,” begins James, “are you two their girlfriends?”
Delia laughs and Cassie blushes slightly. “I grew up with Jiron,” Delia explains. “We are very good friends. When he realized the Empire’s soldiers were within the walls, he came and found me. Cassie just happened to be there with me, and I wouldn’t go unless she could come too. You see, she’s my best friend. He tried to locate his sister, but there were just too many soldiers on the streets. So we headed here as quickly as we could, occasionally having to hide and wait until the enemy passed by. When we got here, Tinok had already arrived and we’ve been here together ever since.”
“Do you think Jiron can actually lead us out of here?” James asks.
“If anyone can get us out,” she says confidently, “he can. That boy knows every street and hideaway in the whole city.”
“Let’s just hope they make it back,” he says wishfully.
“They will,” Delia says, “you can count on it.”
They sit and talk for a while until James begins to hear noises coming from the passage. All three look with both hope and trepidation to the entrance of the passage and hold their breath. Then, Jiron and Tinok step out into the room, carrying four backpacks filled with stuff.
“Told you,” Delia says to James. Then to Jiron she asks, “What took you so long? You had us scared to death you weren’t going to make it back!” She stares him down with hands on hip as he walks over to them.
“Sorry about that,” Jiron apologizes, as he hands her a backpack.
“Yeah,” Tinok says, “we had to lay low for a while. They brought in extra soldiers and are still in the process of searching houses.” He hands his extra pack to Cassie.
“Seems they know there’s a mage here somewhere, and they want him bad,” Jiron comments as he looks toward James. “We overheard some talk between soldiers about it.”
“Is this going to hamper our efforts to get out of here?” he asks.
“Shouldn’t think so,” Jiron explains. “I don’t think they’ve blocked the way I was planning for us to take.”
“And what way is that?” James asks.
“Can’t really explain it,” he says. “But trust me, the way should still be open.”
When Cassie puts on her backpack, she says, “Just what is in here that makes it so heavy?”
“Some dried beef, water bottle, and other essentials,” he explains. “There are also some extra clothes, just in case.”
Once everyone has their backpack on, Jiron leads the way through the passage, with James right behind. Tinok is taking up rear guard with the girls in between.
They all wait at the bottom of the stairs while Jiron goes to make sure it’s safe. “It’s clear,” he whispers back down after scanning the park, “come on up.”
James begins to climb the stairs with the girls close behind. He reaches the top and joins Jiron outside while they wait for everyone to exit.
“Now where?” James asks once everyone has joined them up top.
“Just follow me and stay close,” Jiron says. He has them hug the wall while they make their way toward the street at the end of the park. As they approach, marching feet can be heard coming toward them from further down the street.
“Now what?” James quietly asks.
Speaking to all of them, he whispers, “Stay silent and close to the wall, they should march right past us without even noticing we’re here.”
Standing still and quiet, they press themselves against the wall and wait. Soon the first soldiers appear from the left and continue marching down the street, past the park. Jiron’s plan is working, not one soldier even bother’s to look within the darkened park.
Aaachew!
They all look to Cassie in disbelief as a very loud sneeze escapes her.
Immediately the closest soldiers stop and turn at the sound. They see them there, partially illuminated by the few torches a couple of the soldiers hold. Both sides just stand and stare at one another for a brief second. Then James yells, “To the tunnel! Move!”
As if that is the catalyst everyone needed, all hell breaks