The Star of Morcyth_ Book Five of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [56]
When it draws close to the time when he said he would meet them back at their rendezvous, he gets up from the table and makes his way outside to the street. He doesn’t get far before he sees the older boy running up the street toward him.
Upon seeing him, he hollers, “Miko!” and races straight for him. Looking distraught, he comes to a stop in front of him and says, “They’ve got them!”
“Got who?” he asks.
“Gwynne and little Daria,” he replies. When he sees Miko not understanding, he clarifies, “One of the older girls and the little one who took such a liking to you.”
Alarmed, he asks, “Who? Who has them?”
“The Empire’s men,” he explains. “They were down there keeping an eye on their camp while the rest of us met with you earlier. When me and Jerrick went down to join them in watching, they weren’t there.” Fear evident in his voice, he looks pleadingly to Miko.
“Calm down,” he says as he tries to keep his own emotions under control. “How do you know they have them?”
Taking a deep breath, he calms himself and then says, “Just after we got there and began looking for them, the camp started to break up. I think they’re getting ready to leave. A coach was sitting in front of one of their tents and I saw children hurriedly being put inside.” He pauses for just a second before exclaiming, “I saw Gwynne and Daria being put inside with the others. It looked like they were crying.”
Red hot anger begins burning inside him. The thought of those sweet girls going through what he had is more than he can bear. “Try to find out where they’re going and then return fast,” he says as he turns around to return to the inn and inform Illan what’s happening.
“Right!” the boy says. As the boy turns to leave one of the girls comes running down the street. “Miko!” she exclaims.
Turning to see the girl coming, he stops and waits a second for her to reach him. The older boy joins them as well. “They have a boat at the docks!” she tells him. “We saw some of them leave the castle area and followed them to the docks where they began boarding.”
The older boy says, “I bet that’s where they’re taking Gwynne and Daria!”
“Gwynne and Daria?” the girl asks.
To the boy, Miko says, “Send one to keep an eye on the camp to make sure they’re not going somewhere else. Round up everyone else and meet us at the docks.”
“Right!” the boy says as he takes the girl by the hand and they go racing down the street.
Bolting for the inn, he races through the door and takes the steps two at a time. Upon reaching the room, he opens the door and says, “They’re leaving!”
“What?” exclaims Illan as he comes to his feet.
“They have a boat at the docks and they’re leaving now!” he replies. “Their camp is being taken down and that’s not all. They’ve taken two of my kids. They’re going to make slaves out of them!”
“Damn!” curses Illan. “If they get away from the docks, we’ll never catch them.” To Fifer he says, “Go down to the docks and try to locate this ship.”
“Right,” he says as he runs out the door.
To the others he says, “If they try to move James to the ship, that will be our best chance to rescue him.” Moving toward the door, he says, “Let’s go.” Opening the door, he passes through to the hallway, the others following right behind. He glances behind him, glad to see Dave is among them and not being obstinate.
The Parvati is in the middle of their group, the hooded cloak hiding his features. Fortunately it’s autumn so relatively cool. If it was the middle of summer, he would attract attention like that.
Each walled section of the city has its own set of docks. It’s unlikely the Empire’s vessel would be docked outside in the poorer section. That dock is mainly used by simple merchants and fishing boats. The dock for the interior section by the castle is for the royalty and nobility of Cardri and the city. It’s possible the ship could be there but most likely it’s docked at the dock for the central section of the city where most of the