Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [102]
Looking where James is pointing, Jiron says, “You’re probably right, but how are we to get in there?”
“Haven’t a clue,” he tells him. “But that hasn’t stopped us before.”
Jiron just nods in response.
James turns to Miko and asks, “You ready?”
“Let’s do it,” he says with a startling eagerness. James gives him a sidelong look and then moves to follow Jiron as he walks out of the alley.
Upon entering the street, he follows the main flow of people down for several blocks before they come to another main road which crosses theirs. That road bears more toward the Keep than the one they’re on so Jiron turns and follows it.
As they continue toward the Keep, the amount of people on the street begins to steadily decrease. The street leads to the gate into the Keep area where two guards are standing watch. While they pause and observe those going through, they notice that the guards give comments and greeting to practically everyone who passes.
“Just about everyone who goes through that gate is probably known to them,” states James.
“I would think so,” agrees Miko.
“How are we to get through?” asks Jiron.
They move to another alley while they ponder the problem. When no answer is forthcoming, Miko says, “We could try the sewers.” When both Jiron and James look to him, he continues, “There has to be a spot where the sewers in the Keep and the sewers in the city intersect. If we can find it, we could walk under the walls.”
By the look on James’ face, he’s obviously not liking this idea. Jiron on the other hand, is nodding and giving Miko a grin.
Miko says, “If we look around a bit, we’re sure to find an access to the sewers.”
“Good idea,” says Jiron, patting him on the back.
“Alright,” James says with little enthusiasm. “Let’s see what we can find.”
They move down the alleyway and along several streets before finding a water runoff drain that they can use to gain access to the sewer. Making sure no one is watching, Jiron squeezes through and begins to descend down the rungs set into the wall to the bottom. James and Miko follow shortly afterwards.
As James begins to climb down the slime covered rungs embedded into the side of the sewer, the smell hits him. Trying not to gag, he continues down until he’s standing next to Jiron on a ledge running next to and slightly above the main flow of the sewer.
Suddenly, the orb springs to life, giving them light to see. James moves over to allow space for Miko as he reaches the bottom.
The ledge they are standing on is a foot wide and there is one running on both sides of the main flow of the sewer, allowing people to walk without having to step into the filth flowing by below. “Wish Bearn’s sewer would’ve had this,” Miko says.
“Me too,” agrees James. “The keep was to the north of here so we should try to head in that direction.”
“Follow me,” Jiron says as he begins moving north along the sewer’s ledge. They follow him for a hundred feet before coming to where the sewer tunnel splits, one going northwest and the other going northeast. Jiron glances back to James who indicates he should follow the northeast passage. Giving him a nod, Jiron turns to follow it.
They pass several more access ladders leading up into the dark, but they continue on past. Opening up on their left, another sewer passage connects to the one they’re in and is blocked by thick iron bars spaced half a foot apart.
“That’s got to be it,” says James. The iron bars would have been put there to prevent unauthorized access to the Keep.
“I would think so too,” agrees Jiron. “Now, how are we to get through?”
“Leave that to me,” James says as he looks for a way to get to the bars without having to step in the muck.
Miko sees him as he is looking around and smiles. Then he says, “I think there’s no other way but to step into the flow.”
Sighing, James replies, “I know.” Gritting his teeth, he steps off the ledge and into the main flow of the sewer. His leg sinks a foot