The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [113]
The leader of the squad hollers something back into the inn and is answered by someone inside. As the squad leaves the inn, the leader of the squad directs several other soldiers to move into position around the building, blending into the shadows. Once the men are positioned such that they can see the inn yet remain out of sight, the leader has the squad move out. They turn down the street and begin moving in the direction of the building where Aleya is being held.
“If we had been any later we would have fallen into their trap,” Miko says.
Jiron nods and watches as the squad comes closer.
They remain quiet and still in the shadows as the squad passes by. “We can’t let them reach that building,” James says once the soldiers have moved further down the street from their hiding place.
“Ambush?” questions Stig.
“You better believe it,” replies Jiron. “I’ll take Stig and get ahead of them. James, you and the rest follow close behind.”
“Okay,” James replies.
Jiron and Stig move into the alley and run to the other end where it opens onto the next street over. It runs parallel to the one the guards are taking and will allow them to get ahead of the squad without being seen. James takes the lead and enters the street behind the departing squad with Miko, Brother Willim, and Reilin right behind. A slug from his slug belt rests in his hand.
“Are you going to kill these men?” asks Brother Willim.
James glances to him and nods. “Afraid so. Our friends are in mortal danger, we don’t have time to play it safe.”
Brother Willim sighs and nods understanding. The death of any man is hard on the Priests of Asran.
James maintains a discreet distance and they follow the guards for a couple blocks. Then they notice that the street ahead of the squad is darker than it was when they passed through earlier. The streetlights are out. James grins and thinks, Smart thinking Jiron.
The squad appears not to be bothered by the fact that the street lights are no longer lit and continue to walk forward. Just before they enter the darkened area, James sends the magic forth and breaks the rope binding Shorty’s hands behind his back. Shorty’s pace falters a moment by the unexpected freedom and almost doesn’t recover in time to prevent his captors from realizing he’s no longer bound.
James can see him nod his head three times to let them know he’ll be ready. “Any time now,” he says under his breath and hears Miko say, “Yeah.”
Then ahead of the marching guards, a shadowy figure detaches itself from the greater darkness and approaches them. The guards, oblivious to the oncoming threat, continue to march.
“Now!” he hears Jiron holler and the shadow leaps toward the lead guard.
Throwing his slug, James takes out one of the rear guards as the one Jiron engages falls lifelessly to the ground.
Stig rushes in from the side and the battle is joined. Shorty tackles the guard to his left and wrestles him to the ground. Kneeing him in the stomach, Shorty struggles for possession of the man’s sword.
Another slug flies and takes out the remaining rear guard. Jiron has both knives out and is trading blows with one while Stig stuns the one he’s facing with a powerful blow of his mace to the side of the man’s head. Stig then follows through with another bone crushing blow to the head. Brains and bone shatter under the impact. Maces are brutal weapons in the hand of an expert.
Jiron dodges to the left to avoid a thrust by his opponent, then dodges back and sinks his knife in the man’s side. Lashing out with the pommel of his other knife, he knocks the man backward and to the ground.