The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [71]
“We can’t stay here,” another responds.
“Rolin,” the first one says, “tell the boys at the stables we’re out of here.”
“Right,” James hears the reply. One of the shadows detaches itself from the others and makes its way out the back door.
“Let’s go,” the first voice says, “we’ll find him eventually.” The shadows then turn and walk quietly out the front door.
James waits for several minutes to be sure they will not be coming back before he emerges out from under the table. “Check the front door,” he says quietly to Miko.
Miko gets up and goes over to peer through a window by the front door while James checks the back.
James doesn’t see anybody out in the courtyard by the stables so he quietly goes and checks with Miko.
“Anything?” he whispers when he reaches Miko’s side.
“They left in two parties, one to the right and another to the left,” replies Miko. “I think two of them went into that alley across the street. They may be there as a lookout to see if we show up.”
“Probably,” James agrees as he stares out into the street.
“How are we going to get out of here?” asks Miko, nervousness evident in his voice.
“I’m thinking,” he says. Considering the situation for a moment he comes up with a plan.
Pulling Miko close so his voice won’t carry far, he says, “When I tell you to, I want you to close your eyes tight and keep them closed until I tell you to open them again. Do you understand?”
“Why?” Miko asks.
Sounding impatient, he says “Just do it! I don’t have time to explain, okay?”
“Alright,” agrees Miko, though he doesn’t sound very sure that he does.
James begins casting a spell and directs Miko to look down the street. A small, dimly glowing ball, appears. It rolls down the street toward the alley where the men are waiting and comes to rest in front of the alley. They see the two men detach themselves from the darkness of the alley as they come to inspect it.
“Close your eyes,” James whispers. James silently counts to himself, “One, two, three��” and then closes his own eyes, turning his head away. The glowing ball suddenly flashes into a blinding brilliance, lasting only a second.
“I’m blind!” can be heard coming from the ally.
When the light disappears, James says, “You can open your eyes now, let’s go.” They hurry through the front door and leave the inn, turning down the lane to the right. Even though their eyes were closed, spots still swim in their vision.
The two men who were across the street continue to cry out and one has even fallen to the ground, holding his eyes.
“What did you do to them?” asks Miko, a slightly awed tone to his voice.
“I just ruined their night vision is all,” chuckles James. “Maybe given them a headache as well, I’m not sure. They should realize that nothing serious was done to them when their vision readjusts again to the dark. I don’t think I did anything permanent, though it’s possible.” Pausing for a moment he asks, “Now, what’s the best way out of town at night?”
“The main gates will most likely be watched,” Miko tells him. “Maybe the river. We could take a boat and drift downstream till we were out of sight of the walls.”
“I don’t like stealing but we may have no choice,” James says. “To the river then.”
Miko leads the way quickly with James close on his heels. It isn’t long before they hear the sound of several men coming up quickly behind them. Picking up their speed, James and Miko break into a run, making with all speed for the river.
The pursuit is gaining but they still have a lead over them. Miko cuts across one street and then quickly darts down another. Glancing back over his shoulder, James sees that the men are gaining. The outlines of those in the lead are now more pronounced. A glint of metal reveals a naked blade in the hands of one.
From up ahead Miko shouts, “Come on, I found a boat.”
Looking forward to where Miko called, he sees moonlight reflecting off the water. Near a shack situated close to the river’s edge, Miko stands beside a small boat. As James approaches the boat where Miko waits,