The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [75]
Hearing a groan from their captive, James goes over to the man and squats down next to him.
The captive opens his eyes and takes in James and Miko squatting next to him. He flashes Miko an ugly look and tries to move but finds that his arms and legs have been tied. Testing his bonds, he soon realizes he can’t get free so settles back down on the ground, all the while keeping an eye on his captors.
“Not sure what to do with you,” James tells the man.
“Not sure where to dump my body you mean,” the captive says with scorn.
“You’re not going to die today,” James reassures the man, “at least not by my hand.” The man doesn’t look convinced that he’ll be permitted to live.
“We know that Lord Colerain hired you and your friends to catch me, perhaps even kill me,” James informs him. Seeing no change in their captive’s expression, he continues, “Just what were you going to do to me if you would have caught me?”
“Why should I tell you anything?” their captive retorts.
“Your cooperation could mean the difference from being left where someone can easily find you, and being put somewhere…,” James pauses for effect before saying, “remote.”
“Come on Torin,” Miko says, “what difference could it make now? We know you’re after us and who hired you, so you might as well tell.”
Turning his attention to Miko his face turns grim. “I always knew you to be a squealer Miko, ever since you ratted out Harry’s bunch.”
Turning indignant, Miko replies, “I never ratted him out! I didn’t even know what was going down until the news hit the streets.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve been singing that tune just so Harry wouldn’t kill ya,” Torin says derisively.
Breaking in, James says, “It doesn’t matter anyway. Miko, secure our equipment on his horse and let’s get out of here before trouble comes back.”
Miko gets up and begins the process of securing their baggage onto the horse.
James takes out his knife and leans closer to Torin. Torin’s eyes widen in expectation of being stabbed or cut. James grabs the rope binding Torin’s legs, cuts the rope in two and then throws the pieces over to Miko who puts them in a bag on the horse.
“You’re going to have to walk,” James explains to Torin. When he makes no move to rise, James adds, “Unless you would rather to be dragged behind the horse? Your choice.” Torin nods and James helps him to his feet.
Removing another long rope from the saddle, James secures one end around the rope binding Torin’s wrists and the other end to the saddle. Miko takes up position behind Torin with the knife, just in case. Grabbing the reins, James leads the horse over to the road and they make their way south.
They don’t travel far before a small grove of trees appears off the road a ways to the east. Deciding this might be a good secluded place to leave Torin, he leaves the road and heads over to the grove. There he unties Torin from the horse and has him sit with his back to one of the trees, using the long rope to secure him to it. He tears off a strip of cloth from Torin’s shirt and uses it for a gag, securing it with another piece of rope.
Once Torin is secured to the tree, James tells him, “Don’t worry, I plan to let someone know that you are here, but not until nightfall, tomorrow at the latest. If I were you, I would hope your friends don’t ‘delay’ me. You should be free sometime tomorrow.”
Getting up, he says to Miko, “Let’s go.” James takes the reins again and leads the horse back to the road.
A little over an hour later, several buildings begin to appear over by the river. As they come closer they see where a thick rope spans the water where it ends at another set of buildings on the far side. In the middle of the river they see a flat ferry with four men and three horses. One man is pulling on the rope, slowly moving the ferry to their side of the river.
“James,” Miko says, “that’s Torin’s buddies. Your trick with the boat must not have fooled them, they’re coming back.”
Waiting near the cluster of buildings on the other side are the rest of their pursuers, awaiting their turn to cross. Sure that the men on