Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [188]
“How soon can you be ready to sail,” James asks.
“You get me out of here and we’ll sail within the hour,” he states.
“Alright,” Illan says, “we’ll see what we can do.” He begins to leave then glances back at the captain and adds, “We’ll be back shortly.”
“I hope so,” he says as they leave the cell area.
Illan walks over to the guard captain and asks, “How would we arrange his release?”
The guard captain laughs and says, “Man, from what I understand, he’s going to sit in there an awfully long time.” The guards over at the table can be heard chuckling as well.
“Still, who should we see?” persists Illan.
“Well, you could try Magistrate Harlan,” he explains. “He’s probably the only one who could arrange it.”
“Thank you,” Illan says as he makes ready to leave.
“But don’t get your hopes up,” he tells them.
Illan casts him a quick glance, gives him a nod and then they leave the jail.
Once they’re outside, James asks him, “Do you know this Magistrate Harlan?”
“Oh yes,” replies Illan. “He’s a good man and we should be able to get things arranged through him.”
“Good,” states James. He follows Illan as he leads him through town to the Magistrate’s offices.
They continue along, turning once down a main thoroughfare where they walk past several side streets before it opens up onto a large courtyard square. Setting on the far side of the courtyard is a large, imposing structure, obviously the home of the Magistrate’s offices.
There’s a wall separating the building from the rest of the courtyard. At the gate through the wall, a guard stands and smiles when he sees Illan approaching. Coming to attention, he salutes him as they pass through.
Illan returns the salute and the grin on his face is just as big as the guard’s is.
As they approach the front doors, James asks him, “What was all that about?”
Pausing, Illan explains, “He’s my son.”
“Oh, okay,” replies James. Looking back at the guard at the gate, he can see the resemblance between father and son.
Illan opens the door just as another man is leaving. The bandage on his face tells them this must be the man whose nose had been broken by the captain. Without so much as an ‘excuse me’, he walks through the door and they have to step back to allow him room.
The man walks straight toward the gate and passes through to the courtyard beyond. “Nice man,” James says.
“Yeah,” replies Illan. “No wonder he got his nose broken.”
James nods his head as they enter the building.
“His office is up on the third floor,” he tells him.
Leading the way like he’d been here a hundred times before, he follows the corridor to the stairs winding up. He climbs them until they reach the third floor and then follows a hallway down to a pair of ornate doors.
Opening them, he walks right in, James following close behind. They find themselves in a reception area with several tables and couches. Another set of double doors across the room from them must lead into the magistrate’s office.
Illan crosses the room and swings them both open at the same time revealing a man sitting behind a desk with his feet propped up on top of it, snoring.
James can hear a quiet chuckle coming from Illan as he enters the room and comes to stand before the desk behind which the man is sleeping.
“On your feet soldier!” Illan hollers in his most commanding voice.
The man behind the desk starts awake and comes to his feet, standing at attention. His eyes blink several times and James can see his body visibly relax as he begins to realize what happened and who it is standing before him.
“Illan you bastard!” the man shouts as he sits back down in his chair. He glares at him a moment before breaking out in an uncontrollable laughing fit. After a moment Illan joins in with him. Even James has a hard time remaining calm.
“Good to see you again, Harlan,” Illan says when he’s calmed down some.
“You too, Illan,” Magistrate Harlan replies as he, too gets his composure back. “Though you about gave me a heart attack,” he accuses.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist,” he says, grinning.