Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [202]
“They’re ours,” says Illan when he can make them out. “Everyone alive?” he asks as he quickly takes stock of the situation. Coming over to where Hinney sits with Keril, he realizes Keril isn’t going to survive much longer. He kneels down as Keril turns his pain filled eyes to him.
“Did we win?” Keril asks.
“Yes, son,” Illan says to him soothingly, “we did. You fought bravely which saved the day.”
A smile spreads across his face.
When Hinney looks up at him, hope in his eyes, he shakes his head.
Illan gets back up, pats Hinney on the shoulder and goes over to see how James and Miko are doing, leaving him alone to share Keril’s last moments in peace.
Jiron sees him approaching and says, “They’re alive. Not sure if they will make it, though. James isn’t doing too well and Miko, well, I can’t even begin to guess about him. He doesn’t respond, though he only has minor cuts and bruises.”
“Keep an eye on them,” he says as he moves to greet the approaching riders, Jorry and Uther join him. He notices Uther has a blood soaked cloth tied around his arm and arcs an eyebrow in question.
“It’s not bad,” Uther tells him. “Just a minor cut.”
Nodding, Illan turns back to the riders. Once they’ve come close, he holds up his hand and says, “Thank you.”
The officer in charge says to his men, “Fan out and see if there’re any left alive.” As they move to comply, he gets down from his horse and greets Illan. “What the hell happened here?” The insignia on his uniform says he’s a Madoc cavalry captain.
“We were set upon as we were about to enter the pass,” Illan explains.
The officer gazes around at the hundreds of dead scattered about and the holes where the explosions had occurred. Then he turns his attention to Illan and his group. “You all there are?” he asks incredulously.
“Yes,” he replies.
“How did you manage to kill all these and only lose three?” he asks.
“Actually, we only lost one,” he tells him. Indicating James and Miko, he adds, “The other two are just unconscious.”
“I see,” the officer says. He holds out his hand and says, “Name’s Captain Herril.”
Taking the hand, Illan says, “Illan.”
“Now, how did you do it?” he asks.
“Can’t really explain it,” he says. Changing the subject, he asks, “How did you come to be here?”
“Yesterday, the Empire’s forces launched a major offensive against our line,” he says. “This group here was seen to pass by while we were engaged with the others. Once reinforcements arrived and the line stabilized again, I was sent to track them down.”
“Fortunate,” Illan comments.
“Yes, it seems so,” Captain Herril says. “You wouldn’t know anything about why they’re here would you?”
“I’m sure I don’t know,” Illan says, straight faced.
“Uh-huh,” he says, not sounding convinced.
One of his men rides up and salutes, “A couple are still alive.”
“Take them for questioning,” he tells the man.
Saluting, the rider returns and with others, begins rounding up the survivors.
“Where do you plan to go from here?” the captain asks.
“Through the pass into Cardri,” Illan says.
“And then?” he asks again.
“Who knows for sure?” replies Illan.
Illan notices that someone, probably Jiron, had covered up Abula-Mazki’s body to avoid any questions there. “We should be going,” he tells the captain. To Uther he says, “Go round up our horses, we’ll bury Keril first and then head into the pass.”
Jorry and Uther move away as they begin to round up their horses that had been scattered during the battle.
“I’d still like to know how you did this,” the captain demands, not going to be balked further in this.
Illan turns to where Jiron is sitting by James and hollers, “Get the letter.”
Nodding, Jiron searches through James’ pouch, finally pulling out the letter. Getting up, he brings it over and hands it to Illan who then hands it to the captain.
The captain opens it and begins reading the words written upon it. His eyes widen when he realizes whose signature