The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [112]
“There’s an Eye in the city too,” Jiron says and gives him the gist of what Azku told him.
“That may complicate things,” he says.
“Not if we leave town as soon as possible,” states Jiron.
When Stig and the other two are seen crossing the street, Jiron suddenly notices that they are one person short. “Where’s Aleya?” he asks.
“What?” replies James. “She’s right…” he trials off when he realizes she is not among them. “Aleya?” he calls out in a hushed voice.
When no answer is forthcoming, Jiron hollers very loudly “Aleya!” Again, no reply. “Fan out and find her,” he says and moves toward the area where she had stalked off just before he and Stig went to talk to Azku. Worried and fearful, Jiron’s pace quickens. About to call her name again, his eyes catch sight of something on the ground. Stopping fast, his heart skips a beat when he sees her bow and quiver of arrows lying on the ground. Two of the arrows have spilled out of the quiver and lie next to it on the ground.
“Oh no,” he says as he reaches down to pick them up. “Aleya!” he hollers again. Turning to the others he says in a voice filled with anguish, “He’s got her.”
“Who?” asks Miko.
“The Eye!” he exclaims.
Chapter Twenty
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“We have to find her!” Jiron exclaims as he turns to James.
“Maybe she took off on her own,” Potbelly suggests. “She was pretty mad.”
“Are you insane?” asks Jiron as he rounds on him. “All alone in a hostile city where she doesn’t speak the language? I don’t think so.”
James pulls forth his cloth, not for the first time he wishes for something better with which to work with, and says “Okay, let’s find her.” Sending out the magic, they watch the cloth rise and point the way.
Moving out quickly, they walk as fast as they can without drawing unwanted attention. It doesn’t take them long to figure out where the cloth is indicating. On the south side of town sits one of the largest buildings in Morac.
Easily five stories tall and built like a fortress, the place is massive. No windows on the first two floors, only a very sturdy wooden door in front for an entrance. Two heavily armed men stand watch outside the door and several windows hold men with crossbows. Everyone is looking outward and scanning the area.
“Think they’re expecting someone?” asks Scar.
“Yes,” replies Jiron. “Us. Wait here,” he tells them. Then he stays in the shadows as he makes a circuit around the building to see about another way in. He finds what could be another door, there’s a large square wooden section in the rear stone wall. It could be a door but there’s no handle or anything else that might be used to open it from the outside. Men are stationed at windows on the other sides as well, making it impossible for anyone to sneak up to the building without being seen.
Returning to the others, he tells them what he’s discovered. “If we storm the place,” Stig says after he’s done, “they will probably kill her.”
Jiron nods, pain in his eyes. “Then how are we to get in there?”
James gazes at the building and shakes his head. “I don’t know,” he admits.
“Maybe this Orrin fellow you saw leaving Azku’s house might know?” suggests Potbelly. “From what you’ve told us, it sounds like they have their fingers in many different pots.”
“Could be there’s no love lost between the Order of the Scarlet Sword and the Eyes of the Empire,” adds Scar. “Might be worth a shot to go see what he can do.”
“If we do, it’s got to be quick,” states Jiron. “No telling what they could be doing to her in there.”
“Very well,” James says. Then to Scar and Potbelly he says, “You two stay here and keep an eye on the place. See if you can figure out a way we can breach its defenses.”
“You got it,” affirms Scar.
“Shorty was to meet us back at the inn once he found out where Orrin is staying,” James says to the others. “Be best if we try there first.”
“Okay, but let’s hurry,” urges Jiron.
Leaving Scar and Potbelly there to keep an