The Star of Morcyth_ Book Five of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [58]
“There he is!” breathes Fifer as they see James walking within the group of guards behind the Ambassador. His hands and feet are manacled and the short chain between his ankle restraints forces him to move in a shuffle.
“Now?” asks Miko, ready to extract his vengeance.
“No,” Illan says. “Let’s move a little bit closer.” As they move through the throng of people on the dock, he contemplates this foolhardy venture. They haven’t made any plans for escape should they even manage to get him free. How are they even going to get out of town? Events are simply moving along too rapidly.
By the time the Ambassador’s procession reaches the gangplank to the ship, they’ve managed to work their way down to the edge of the crowd. James lifts his head and sees them there. He can see in their eyes that they plan to do something foolish. Looking directly at Miko, he shakes his head. He does the same thing with Jiron.
“Is he telling us not to do anything?” Miko whispers to Illan.
“I think so,” he replies. “He knows if we do anything here, it’ll come to ruin. Too many people and guards.”
“Then what are we to do?” Jiron asks.
From behind them, a voice says, “I’d suggest keeping your hand’s away from your weapons.”
Turning around, they see Lord Colerain standing there, a smirk upon his face. Flanking him are four crossbowmen as well as a dozen armed men. “Now, we don’t want to make a scene here,” he tells them. “So if you’ll follow along quietly, no one will get hurt.”
The crowd around them begins backing away when they see what’s transpiring between the two groups. The Ambassador’s group, having already past their location doesn’t take notice of what’s going on.
Miko reaches for his sword when Illan grabs him and says, “No! He’ll kill us all.” Staring into the eyes of Lord Colerain, Miko’s anger and rage almost gets the better of him again. “Not now,” Illan insists.
Releasing his sword, Miko continues glaring at him.
Lord Colerain gives him a victorious grin and turns as he leads them away from the docks.
Miko glances over his shoulder to where Paul and the other kids are mingled in with the crowd. Paul stares in disbelief as they’re being led away. Then Miko sees him say something to another boy who begins running through the crowd toward one of the streets leading away from the docks.
Just before he’s led from the dock area completely, he casts one more look toward the ship and sees James as he’s led aboard.
Chapter Twelve
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“You’re not going to get away with this!” Illan tells him as they leave the dock area.
“And who is going to stop me?” he asks. “You? You’re wanted for murdering a visiting diplomat. We even have witnesses.”
“James’ retribution will be hard indeed when he learns of your involvement,” threatens Miko.
“I think I have little to fear from him,” he says. “It’s unlikely we’ll ever see him again.”
Miko’s anger turns to worry for his friend. If he is drugged and incapable of using his magic, just what can he do? In a fight he’s pretty useless, he can’t use a sword or anything. And then his mind turns to Gwynne and Daria, those sweet girls now in the hands of merciless men who only want to make a profit off them. He feels they’ll be safe until they’re auctioned off, girls who are untouched tend to go for more. But how long do they have until they stand upon the auction block?
Glancing back, he can see Paul and the rest of his group following along behind, keeping a discreet distance.
They proceed in silence as they’re lead through the streets. He’s pretty sure they’re being taken to the castle area though not entirely. Up ahead the street opens into a wide plaza with a large central fountain where several streets converge. Along the edges are many merchants selling a variety of goods to the people passing through.
“Thief!”
A cry from across the plaza draws their attention. “Guards! Thief!” a fat merchant selling loaves