The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [99]
It doesn’t take nearly as long to return to town as it had when he left in search of Perrilin. As the lights of the city begin to appear in the distance ahead, a groan comes from the bard. A glance reveals Perrilin is beginning to stir. Bringing the horses to a stop, he dismounts and goes over to discover Perrilin is once again conscious with eyes open. “Can you ride?” James asks. Perrilin nods affirmatively.
Taking a moment, he unties Perrilin and helps him upright into the saddle. Once he’s sure Perrilin is coherent enough to remain erect and isn’t likely to fall off, he remounts and they continue on into Cardri.
During their approach to the outskirts of Cardri, James realizes he’s in a dilemma. How will he get Perrilin into Cardri without anyone knowing? If the guards at the gate recognize Perrilin, or just report that someone in his condition passed through, then the hunt may be on.
He slows his horse’s pace as he ponders the situation. They reach the outlying buildings, and after traversing several blocks, the gate comes into view. It is well lit and two guards stand vigil.
Agonizing over how to get in, he suddenly hears the sound of drunken singing coming from the intersection of streets ahead of them. James reins up some distance away and waits to see what’s going on. Around the corner appear four rather drunken men, singing and sharing bottles as they stagger up the street. Their destination seems to be the gate into the city which gives him an idea.
“Oh my god, Reggie,” one of the guards says to his partner as he looks at the men coming up the road toward them. “Would you look at what’s coming down the street?”
“Looks like they had a good one tonight,” Reggie says.
“Yeah, so much so that one of them can’t even walk,” the first guard laughs.
The two guards look on in amusement as the six men, one who needs to be supported by two of his companions, come staggering up and then through the gate into the city. They watch as the group meanders away down the street and are soon out of sight but not out of hearing as their off key caterwauling echoes through the night.
Once past the guards and out of sight, James quickly disengages himself and Perrilin from the drunks. They make their way through the streets to the second gate, ducking into alleys whenever a patrol of the city watch comes by.
They finally reach the second gate and find two guards on duty. Both are looking rather bored but otherwise alert. James watches from the shadows of an alley for a while, but no opportunity presents itself they can take advantage of to get through the gate unnoticed. Perrilin rests with eyes closed against the wall of the alley, passing from being conscious to unconscious and back again as James considers his options.
Afraid of trying something like this, but unable to think of any other way, he scans the area to make sure no one is approaching before he begins. He concentrates on a visualization of the guards becoming tired, then drifting off to sleep. The power wells up and flows toward the men. The flow of power is small and subtle, taking a small amount of time to work its affect. Soon, the men begin yawning and their eyes start to blink. First one then the other slumps down and drift off to sleep.
Helping Perrilin up, James bears much of the bard’s weight as they make their way through the gate, passing within a foot of the sleeping guards. Once they are past and far enough from the gate so as not to be noticed, James stops the spell but the guards fail to reawaken. Not wanting them to get into trouble on his account, he leaves Perrilin sitting against the side of a candle maker’s shop while he returns to the gate. Stopping some distance away, he picks up a small rock and tosses it toward the sleeping guards. It bangs into the wall then ricochets off the head of one. Startled,