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Illan glances across the table to James and after swallowing, says, “You know, if you go over there, there’ll probably be trouble.”

James sighs before replying. “I realize that. But how much more trouble will there be if I do nothing? She and her followers are a cancer which must be stopped before it has a chance to spread further.”

He takes a few more bites before replying, “Already we’ve seen one of her people heading south. Who knows why he left and what he plans to do?”

“Finding more people to come hear her?” offers Fifer.

“Probably,” agrees James. “If nothing else will just stir up mischief.”

Crash!

The sound of pots clattering on the floor can be heard coming from below.

“You can’t take him!”

Everyone comes alert when they hear the innkeeper cry out. Illan motions for Fifer to see what’s going on. Qyrll goes with him.

“What happened?” Miko asks.

“Think they came back?” Jiron asks as he moves toward the door Fifer and Qyrll left open when they left.

“It would seem so,” Illan says.

They begin moving out into the hallway, Illan turns to Dave and says, “Stay here and lock the door.”

Dave gives him a dark look but remains within the room.

From the stairs they hear footsteps running up them. In a moment they see Fifer and the innkeeper’s son reach the top.

“They’ve taken my father!” cries the boy, tears running down his face. A long cut is welling blood on his forearm. Jiron returns to the room and rips a section of sheet off and ties it around the wound to stop the flow of blood.

As Jiron ministers to him, the boy continues, “They came to take me but my father fought them and they took him instead.”

“Qyrll’s following them,” Fifer says.

“Damn!” curses James. “He might become like them.” Turning to Illan he says, “We have to move fast.”

“Agreed,” he says. To the innkeeper’s son, Illan indicates their room and says, “Stay in here. We’ll find your father.”

“Please hurry!” the boy says.

As the boy enters their room with Dave, James tells his friend, “You stay here and look after the boy.”

“Why do I always have to stay behind?” he asks, voice full of hurt.

“There could be fighting,” he tells his friend. “Just promise me to stay here?”

Nodding, Dave says, “Alright. But you come back!”

“I will,” he assures his friend. Closing the door he begins heading for the stairs. Jiron moves ahead of him and takes them two at a time. He then makes it to the door leading out to the main street first.

The door is standing open, the street on the other side deserted. After a nod from James, he leaves the inn and begins making his way toward the lights of the pavilion.

Hurrying along quickly, they move through streets strangely quiet. Usually there are people out and about even at this hour, the sun hasn’t been down all that long.

They come to a junction of streets and from out of the cross street to the right, a band of a dozen of her followers suddenly appear.

Jiron draws his dagger but James lays a hand on his arm and says quietly, “Not yet.”

They’re immediately noticed by the followers who move to intercept.

James steps to the fore and asks, “We heard about the lady and her message, would you know where we could find her?”

The band stops and one points to the lights of the pavilion before saying, “There you will find the lady.” His eyes are slightly wild and foam flecks the side of his mouth.

“Thank you,” replies James as he gives the band a nod and gestures to the others to continue toward the pavilion.

Miko glances backward repeatedly until her followers are out of sight behind. He keeps one hand on the pommel of his sword, just in case.

Jiron again takes the lead as they continue to make their way toward the lights. Twice more they’re intercepted by roving bands of her followers and each time he handles the situation just as James had. Once her followers are told they mean to go to the lady, they leave them alone.

“How far ahead do you think the innkeeper is?” asks Fifer.

“Can’t be too far,” Jiron states, “we’ve kept a good pace.”

They finally reach