Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [138]
He begins nodding and says, “Gentlemen, it’s time to evacuate Olton…”
Head pounding, gasping from the effort, James almost swoons into unconsciousness. The effort to write that message had been harder than he’d thought. Must’ve been the distance. He holds the image until he sees Lord Pytherian nod and begin barking out orders.
When the image finally disappears, Captain Alerin says, “Do you think he understood the message?”
“He nodded, so I think he did,” James replies.
“Good,” he exclaims. He abruptly turns and leaves the tent. Outside, he hollers to one of his aides, “Get the men ready to march!” The man salutes and begins making the preparation.
“What do you plan to do?” asks James from the tent entrance.
“Harass that army, slow it down if I can,” he replies. “Give Lord Pytherian and the people in Colton a chance to flee before it arrives.” He looks to them and continues, “Could use your help, a mage would come in handy.”
Shaking his head, James replies, “We need to hurry north, stay ahead of the army as best we can.”
“I understand,” he says. He calls over one of his men, “Dorrin here will lead you through the forest to the north.” He glances to Dorrin who nods in understanding. “Now, we must hurry to catch this force before it draws close to Colton.”
James looks out at hundreds of men standing ready, each armed with a longbow. “Good luck,” he says to Captain Alerin.
“You too, James,” he replies. Then to his men he says, “Move out!”
He and his men begin melting into the forest and in no time at all, they’re gone.
“Grab your horses,” Dorrin says as he walks over and mounts the only horse left in the camp. “It’s not far to the northern edge of the forest, but we better hurry.”
They mount up and follow Dorrin as he leads them north through the forest. The trail he takes them on isn’t very noticeable and unlikely that they would’ve been able to follow it on their own. Without Dorrin’s help, it would’ve taken them twice as long to cover the same distance.
A half hour later, the trees begin to thin as they reach the northern edge of the forest. Dorrin stops them abruptly and signals for quiet. He points off to the east where the leading edge of the army heading for Colton can just be seen. They wait there a moment then horns begin to sound and they watch as the army suddenly turns and moves quickly back the way they’d come.
“The captain just let them have it!” Dorrin exclaims jubilantly. He turns back to the others, points to the north and says, “Colton lies a little over an hour north of here. Be careful, the Empire has patrols moving all along this area.”
“We will,” James assures him. Offering his hand, he says, “Thanks for your help.”
Taking the hand, he gives it a shake and says, “Glad to be of service.” Turning his horse back the way they’d just come, he kicks it in the sides and he bolts away, soon disappearing among the trees.
Looking out past the trees, they see open plains once again. The distant sounds of fighting can be heard coming from where Captain Alerin is attacking. “Almost there,” says James as he glances to Jiron.
“Never thought we’d even come this far,” he replies.
“We’re not there yet,” Miko adds.
“Come on!” Fifer urges. “This is not the time to be sitting and talking.” Kicking the sides of his horse, he breaks into a run as he leaves the shelter of the trees. The others get their horses moving quickly and catch up with him.
“Which way?” asks James when he comes abreast of him.
“There should be a road just ahead of us that runs east and west,” he explains. “It lies on that road, where a road from the north intersects with it.”
“Riders!” Miko yells.
Scanning the horizon, James sees a group coming toward them from the northeast. “Are they from Madoc?” he hollers to Fifer.
“Can’t tell,” he says, squinting in an attempt to see better.
“Should we wait to see?” asks Jiron as he watches the eight