The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [175]
The man looks up at James with a face totally lacking in hope or joy, “The City of Light,” the man replies despondently.
“It’s fallen already?” James asks him in shock.
Shaking his head, the man says, “No, at least not when I left. But those you see here didn’t want to stay and be there when the Empire besieges it.”
“It’s certain then that they are heading to the City?” he asks.
“That’s the rumor,” the man replies.
“Then the Empire hasn’t reached the City yet?” James asks anxiously.
“I don’t think so,” he says. “They said our army was going to engage them in the field before they can reach the city. With our allies and mercenaries, they hope to stop them before they get that far.”
“How far is the City from here?” James inquires.
“It’ll probably take you a day with your horse,” he replies. “I’ve been on the road two days, heading for relatives up north.”
“Thank you for your help,” James tells the man.
The man nods and then continues on his way.
“Still a ways to go,” Miko says.
James nods and turns his head to say, “But at least we’re close, and unlikely to run into the Empire’s forces along the way. Unless they are already besieging the City of Light by the time we get there.”
“Let’s get as much distance behind us as we can before dark,” Miko suggests.
“Good idea,” James replies. He looks at the sinking sun and says, “We probably only have a couple of hours left anyway.”
Bringing the horse to a canter, they quickly make their way down the road. The other travelers on the road are all going in the opposite direction, they are the only ones foolish enough to be going south. James and Miko have little trouble making their way through the people, most move aside when they see them coming.
Once the sun is close to the horizon they stop and make camp near the water’s edge amidst a group of trees. James takes a long stick found near a tree and wades out into the lake and returns with a fish for dinner.
Both are ravenous as they haven’t had anything to eat since the rabbit the night before. Once the fire is going well and the fish is cooking over the flames, they sit back and in the fading light watch the people on the road as they pass by. A few glance in their direction but none approach.
After they eat, James has Miko take first watch tonight. When asked why he replies, “Maybe you’ll stay awake better if you take first watch.”
Miko sits with his back against a tree and sets his mind to not falling asleep again this night.
Seeing that Miko understands he continues, “Wake me around midnight, sooner if you think someone is approaching.”
Nodding his head, Miko says, “You can count on me.”
“I hope so,” James says. “Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t,” he replies. “You just get some sleep. I’ll stay alert and keep the fire going.”
Lying down, James contemplates again the wisdom of going to a city that will most likely be under siege shortly. He feels that this is something he must do, though it scares him to death. Get in, get out, he tells himself as he drifts off to sleep.
“James! Wake up!”
Startled out of sleep, he bolts upright and quickly looks around the campsite. Miko is sitting by the tree where two men are holding him, one with a knife to his throat. A third man is coming toward him, a longsword in hand.
“Stay right there,” the man approaching him says, “and your friend won’t get hurt.”
James sits still and the man slows his pace once he sees that he is cooperating.
“Lim, get the horse,” he says to one of the two men holding Miko, while still continuing to approach James.
Lim releases Miko and walks over to the horse. The other man remains with Miko, his knife held to the boy’s throat.
The man with the longsword comes toward James and raises the point of his sword to rest against James’ chest. He then says, “Give me all your gold.”
James removes his coin pouch and hands it over to the man who opens it and looks inside. Smiling at the coins and gems he sees in there, he says over to his partners in glee, “Looks like we hit the jackpot this time!”
They both grin and laugh at their good