Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [182]
“Back at the gates I was wondering if they’d even let me in with a force of Parvatis standing next to me. I was sure surprised when the gates actually opened up and saw Fifer standing there.”
“Then Henri showed up and said that Lord Pytherian requested my presence at the castle. I told Fifer to come back here and let you know what’s going on while I was meeting with him.”
“Basically, he asked me about troops, the makeup, how many, stuff like that. When he was satisfied I’d told him everything I knew, he had that page bring me here.”
“What’s a Shynti?” asks Uther.
“A very special person to the Parvati,” he replies. “It basically means I’m one of them and that honor is seldom, if ever, given.” Turning his attention to James, he asks, “What now?”
“Now we leave Lythylla,” he replies. “Councilman Rillian, we hear, is making plans against us and I want to be out of here before he executes them.” He brings out the letter Lord Pytherian had given him and continues, “Lord Pytherian wrote this letter for any and all to render us what aid we may require in getting to Cardri. He said to go to a city on the Sea of the Gods and get someone there to ferry us across to the other side. From there we should be able to make it to Dragon’s Pass in no time. Trendle isn’t far from there, I understand.”
“Good!” exclaims Jiron. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen Tersa.”
“I suggest we leave first thing in the morning,” says James. “Let’s post a watch in the hallway against unwelcome visitors.”
Just then, they hear a floorboard squeak outside their door. Everyone becomes silent for a moment and then they hear it again.
Uther gets up and slams through the door. A grunt is heard from the other side as the door knocks a man against the far wall. “Get him!” Jorry cries as everyone springs into action.
The man rolls and comes to his feet fast. Without pausing, the man shoulders Uther out of the way as he races for the stairs, Uther and the rest hot on his heals.
He takes the stairs four at a time and at the bottom, makes with all speed for the front door to the inn. Ramming the closed door with his shoulder, he bursts his way through. Once outside, he dodges down a side alley and quickly loses his pursuers in the dark.
They hunt for him for several minutes before they finally give up and return to their room. “Do you think he heard everything?” Jiron asks.
“I don’t know,” replies James. “Maybe.”
“That tears it!” Uther exclaims. “Now they’re going to know our plans.”
“Perhaps, but if we move quickly enough, it might not make any difference,” states James. “Forget about waiting until morning, we leave now. Get your stuff together, we meet at the stables in five minutes.”
Having all of his things already on him, he waits while they gather their packs. Then they go down to the stables where they begin saddling their horses. Once they’re all saddled and everyone is mounted, they move out and head for the northern gate. The streets are fairly empty this late at night enabling them to reach the gate in no time at all.
The gates are closed for the night and a squad of guards is stationed there. When they approach, one of the guards comes forward and says, “Gates are closed for the night, you’ll have to leave in the morning.”
James produces the letter form Lord Pytherian and shows it to him. “We have urgent business and need to leave tonight.”
The guard takes the letter and gazes at it for a moment then nods his head. Shouting to someone in the gatehouse, he says, “Open it up!”
When the gates begin to swing open, he hands the letter back to James and says, “Good evening to you sir.”
Returning the letter to his pouch, James replies, “You too.”
Once the gate has opened wide enough to allow them to pass through, they leave the city. After the last rider has passed through, the guards close the gate behind them with a thud.
Chapter Thirty