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“What?” he asks her, confused.

“I get off in an hour,” she explains, giving him a look that stirs his blood. “We could go somewhere if you like.”

“Sorry,” he says as he removes her hand from his arm. “But I really have to be going.” Turning back to the door, he leaves a very disappointed Celia behind as he exits the Cooked Hog. Untying his horse, he quickly mounts and gallops out of Osgrin. He’s got to return to The Ranch and warn James!

Three and a half hours later, the lane leading to The Ranch appears before him. In the moonlight he’s able to make out the recently erected guard shack next to where the lane begins. As he approaches, a shadow detaches itself from within the guard shack and suddenly, a lantern’s shutter is opened, bathing him in light.

“Miko!” he hears Uther’s voice exclaim as the lantern’s light turns away from him. “Didn’t think you would be returning till morning.”

“We’ve got trouble,” he tells him and then gives him a brief rundown of what he overheard back in Osgrin. “You’d better keep extra alert.”

“I will, and thanks,” he tells him.

Kicking his horse, he races down the lane to the house. Not bothering to tie his horse, he jumps down and rushes inside and slams open James’ bedroom door.

Startled awake, James wakes to find Miko framed in his doorway. Figuring him to be mad about having him ride for hours, he begins to say, “Miko, glad you made it back. “Sorry about…”

Interrupting him, Miko says, “James, there’re men from the Empire in Osgrin!”

Sitting up, all thoughts of having forgotten about Miko earlier vanish. “What?” he exclaims. “When?”

Roland comes to the door behind Miko and asks, “What’s going on?”

“Miko says there’re men from the Empire down in Osgrin,” he explains to him.

“Are you sure?” Roland asks.

“Absolutely,” he replies. “After the time I’ve spent around them, I can recognize their speech.”

About this time, Illan and the others show up with their weapons. “Uther just came and told us we’re about to be attacked,” he says.

“Everyone quiet!” James shouts. All talking ceases as they turn their attention to James. “Now,” he says to Miko, “tell us what happened?”

Miko runs through the whole story, trying not to leave out even the most insignificant detail. When he’s done, he glances from one face to another and then settles on James. “What are we going to do?” he asks.

“Illan?” James asks, looking at the veteran soldier.

“Since we know the are coming, we can be prepared,” he says. “That’s half the battle.” To Jorry he says, “Wake up the new recruits and send them out into the forest, tell them what’s going on and to keep their eyes open. After that, join Uther out by the road. One by the shack, and the other a little ways away so if they come down the road, they won’t see both of you.”

“Right!” he says as he bolts down the hallway to the front door.

Turning to Miko, he asks, “You say there were ten of them?”

“There were five at the table next to me,” he tells him. “I saw another five scattered throughout the inn.”

“So ten,” he says. “With the element of surprise gone, we should be able to take them on with no trouble.” To Jiron he says, “Take a horse into town, if you don’t find them on the road then head on into Osgrin and see if you can locate them. They probably haven’t left Osgrin yet and with any luck, they’ll stay the night there and not head out till morning.”

“They were at the Cooked Hog,” Miko tells him. “They may be staying the night there.”

“Thanks,” he says as he hurries out to the stable to get his horse.

“What should the rest of us do?” asks Roland.

“Nothing much else to do until we know where they are,” he says. “Go back to bed.”

“But how can I sleep knowing we could be attacked at any minute?”

Giving him an exasperated look, Illan turns to James and says, “You stay here, get some sleep if you can. You too Miko, you’re dead on your feet now. You’ll be no use in a fight if you’re too tired.”

“What about you?” James asks.

“I’ll be outside, keeping an eye on everything,” he tells