Trail of the Gods_ The Morcyth Saga Book Four - Brian S. Pratt [25]
The man glances over his shoulder and sees the gap between them narrowing quickly. He abruptly comes to a halt and drops James to the ground as he turns to engage Jiron. Seeing his other two partners already on the way, he worries more about defense, keeping him busy until help arrives.
Jiron closes with him, both knives at the ready. A quick glance at James shows him to still be alive, if unconscious.
He strikes out with his left knife which the man blocks with ease and then comes back in with his right which scores along the man’s side. Pressing the attack with vigor, he lays into him with a barrage of blinding attacks honed through hundreds of battles in the fight pits back in the City of Light.
The man quickly realizes he’s not going to win this fight and starts backing up, putting as much distance between himself and Jiron. Looking over Jiron’s shoulder, he realizes his partners are just about there.
Knowing what the man is doing, Jiron continues pressing him, not allowing him the opportunity. Closing again with him quickly, Jiron launches into a series of attacks and then suddenly kicks out with his foot, shattering the man’s kneecap.
With a cry of pain, he falls to the ground at Jiron’s feet.
Looking back, he sees the men are almost upon James and he rushes back toward them. All of a sudden, he feels a sharp, poking sensation on his arm and he sees a small needle dart embedded in his skin. Pulling it out, he throws it on the ground as he continues moving to defend James.
His mind begins to grow cloudy and the world starts to spin. Before he realizes it, he’s on the ground, not three feet from where James lies. Unable to move, he watches as the men approach, one’s leading his horse.
In a world that’s spinning and warping, he watches as they quickly load James up on a horse. His horse! He hears one say, “Take care of Corim, we’ll not be able to take him with us.”
“You can’t kill me!” the wounded man cries from the ground.
“Sorry,” the first man says. “But we can’t let you live to tell them where to find us.”
“No!” the man cries as his partner runs his sword through his chest. Quickly wiping his blade on the man’s clothes, he comes to Jiron and asks, “What about him?”
“He doesn’t matter,” the first man says from the back of the horse. “Come on and mount up, we’ve not much time.”
“We’ll not get far with the three of us on horseback,” the second man says as he swings up behind the first.
“Just need to get to our horses, then we’ll be fine,” he says.
As they start riding fast for the forest, Jiron hears more footsteps as Illan and the others approach. “Jorry, see about Jiron,” cries Illan. “Fifer, Yern! Go back and get our horses ready, fast!”
“Yes, sir!” replies Fifer as they race back to the barn.
“Uther, I want you to follow them as best you can,” he says. “Return here should they get away.”
Uther nods and then races after them.
“Damn!” he exclaims as the men are already out of sight in the forest.
Coming over to where Jorry is examining Jiron, he asks, “How is he?”
“Conscious, I think he’s been drugged,” Jorry replies. “His eyes aren’t focusing and he’s not responding to anything I say. At least he’s still breathing.”
“Take him back to the house,” Illan says. “Tell Tersa that I want to know when he regains the ability to talk.”
“Yes sir,” he says as he picks him up and starts carrying him back to the house.
“What about James?” cries Miko, staring at the forest where the men disappeared.
“We’ll find him lad,” Illan assures him. Going over to the dead man, he kneels down and begins going through his pockets.
“I know him,” Miko says.
Standing up abruptly, Illan turns to him and asks, “What?”
“I know him,” he says again, looking Illan in the eyes. “He’s from Bearn.”
“Bearn?” asks Illan incredulously. “What in god’s name would someone from Bearn be doing here? And what possible interest could they have in James?”
“Lord Colerain,” Miko explains. “He’s had it in for James ever since we were seen on his property.” When Illan looks askance at him at that, he adds, “We were there by accident, but