The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [172]
Figuring the Empire’s forces are to the east and south of them, James bears even further to the north. The terrain slowly turns from hills to a rolling plain, tall grass waving in the summer breeze.
They make good time for several hours, when Miko suddenly yells “James, look!” as he points to the south.
James looks and they can barely make out column after column of soldiers marching toward the northeast. The dust they’re kicking up must be visible for miles away.
“They must be heading for the City of Light,” observes Miko. “Think it’s the same ones we saw earlier?”
“Doubt it,” states James. “We better hustle if we’re going to be able to reach the City of Light and still have time to get out before they arrive.”
James angles them now almost due north and they ride quickly until the soldiers are no longer visible on the horizon. They then go no more than a couple more miles when out of the north appear a score of horsemen heading south, right for them.
James immediately veers to the east and brings his horse to a gallop, trying to put distance between them, hoping to remain unobserved.
Looking over his shoulder at the riders, he sees them turning to give chase. From behind he hears Miko cry out, his horse has put a foot in a gopher hole and snapped its leg. Crashing to the ground, Miko is thrown off the horse and sails through the air before landing hard upon the ground.
James quickly turns and races back to where Miko is getting to his feet. Reaching down a hand, he swings the boy on the horse behind him. Looking northward again he sees the horsemen approaching fast. He kicks his horse in the side and they race toward the east, the riders continuing to follow.
“James!” Miko hollers. “They’re gaining.”
“I know,” he replies. “We’re not going to outrun them, not riding double.” Regardless, James continues to ride hard, prolonging the inevitable.
Miko starts shaking James’ shoulder, “James, I don’t think they’re the Empires’ soldiers.”
“Are you sure?” he asks.
“Yes,” Miko responds. “Their uniforms are different than the ones we saw marching earlier.”
“Madoc’s?” James asks over his shoulder.
“Could be,” he replies. “They’re not from Cardri.”
James slows his horse to a canter then turns to face the oncoming riders, finally bringing them to a stop. They both dismount to wait for the riders to approach.
Upon seeing them dismounted and waiting for their arrival, the riders slow their advance to a trot. When they reach James and Miko, they encircle them while two men with crossbows take aim and wait. One of the riders, an officer by the embroidery on his uniform, comes forward and asks, “Who are you and what business do you have in Madoc?”
“Then am I safe in assuming that you are not of the Empire?” James asks hopefully.
“That is correct,” the officer replies. “Now answer the question!”
“My name is James and this is my traveling companion Miko. We are on our way to the City of Light with a package to be delivered to the Great Library.”
“What package is so important that it requires you to pass through a war zone?” the officer asks.
Shrugging, James says, “I don’t know, only that the Custodian of the Royal Archives in Cardri requested that we deliver it.”
The officer signals for his men to stand down and the crossbowmen to lower their crossbows. “Let me see this package,” he demands.
James reaches into his backpack and brings out the package bearing the seal of the Archive Custodian. He hands it to the officer.
The officer takes it, examining the package as well as the seal and then hands it back. “Okay, so you have a package bearing the seal of the Royal Custodian, but there is no proof that you are the couriers.”
“Well, no, that’s true,” James admits. “But I assure you that we are.”
Miko nods agreement.
“I don’t have the time or the manpower to deal with you right now,” says the officer, “so I will take you at your word. A spy from the Empire would have a more plausible reason for being here than that. Now,” he continues, looking intently at James, “on your way from the Pass, did you