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“How long do you expect them to give us?” James asks.

“Don’t know,” he replies. “But the longer it takes, the more time Delia and the others will have to get into position.

Five minutes go by before the man runs out of patience. A command is given and the crossbowmen move to the fore and take aim on the two men standing alone before them. “I guess time has run out,” observes Jiron.

“It would seem so,” he replies. “I hope this works.”

“So do I,” admits Jiron quietly.

Another command and the crossbowmen release their volley of bolts toward the pair. The soldiers watch in amazement as the two men stand their ground despite the bolts flying toward them. Just before the bolts connect, a shimmering shield springs to life surrounding them. The bolts are deflected to the side.

A gasp ensues from the gathered soldiers as they realize a mage stands before them. Another command and a second volley speeds toward them. Just as the first had, the second volley strikes the shield and is deflected away.

From the defenders manning Lythylla’s wall behind them, a cheer erupts and James glances backward to see the battlement from one end to the other packed tight with observers. Seems the entire garrison and most of the civilians are up there to observe the encounter.

“My turn,” James says, more to himself than anything else. He brings his hands close together and then slowly brings them apart. A myriad of small red orbs flow outwards from between his hands toward the enemy soldiers. The orbs dance and zoom all the while emitting white sparks that sizzle through the air.

Moving quickly, the orbs soon near the assembled Empire soldiers. Before the orbs have a chance to reach them, panic erupts within their ranks and the men begin moving quickly back through the gate to avoid the oncoming orbs. Another cheer erupts from the defenders atop the walls, as well as a little bit of laughter.

As the orbs reach the fleeing men, they begin zinging them with small shocks. Each one doing little harm, but extremely irritating. “Are they going to kill them?” asks Jiron.

“Hardly,” James says with a grin. “It’s just to get their attention.”

“I think it did that,” he agrees.

Suddenly, James causes a starburst of immense proportions to spring into being overhead, bathing the entire countryside in light. It begins descending toward the enemy camp and before it has a chance to descend very far, James feels the tingling sensation which always accompanies another doing magic. Then just as quickly as the glowing orb appears, it winks out.

He turns to Jiron and says, “I guess that ends the question of whether or not they have a mage with them. They do.”

Jiron nods his head in understanding. The orbs don’t last very long once they encounter the soldiers and quickly dissipate.

Then, from within the palisade, the man who had greeted them before once more makes an appearance. James maintains his shield around himself and Jiron as they await his approach.

The man stops several feet from the edge of the shimmering field and says, “The commander has agreed to your proposal for a meeting.”

“Thought he might,” James tells the man.

“Are we to be granted safe passage?” asks Jiron.

“Of course,” he replies. “Feel free to lower your shield at any time should you so desire.”

Jiron snorts at the idea and James says, “If it’s all the same, I would just as soon not.”

Shrugging the man says, “Suit yourself. If you’ll follow me?”

As they move to follow the man, Jiron lets go the pole bearing the white flag letting it fall to the ground. No point in carrying that any longer, both he and James know they’ll not be let go so easily. The man pauses but a moment when the pole hits the ground, then casts a quick glance at the flag lying in the dirt before he resumes his progress toward the palisade.

James follows along behind, Jiron at his side. When at last they pass through the gate, it shuts behind them.

“That’s the signal,” Delia says when the starburst lights