"But don't be thinking you can stay here forever," the watchman tells them. "You better be out by sundown at the latest."

"We will," James a.s.sures him. "Rest a.s.sured, we will."

"Okay then," he grunts at them. Turning to the others of the watch, he says, "Let's go." They move toward the exit and are soon through it, the door shutting with a bang behind them.

"He's not going to give that money to any owner," Miko states.

"I know," James replies. "I just wanted to stay here a little longer. I a.s.sume the friend we're waiting for is Fifer?"

Jiron glances at him and says, "Yeah, it is. He went looking for someone from his unit that might help get us past the gate."

Nodding, James says, "Good idea. Though should he come back without finding anyone, we'll try the gate again. There'll probably be a different set of guards there and we might get lucky."

"Might," agrees Jiron.

They wait for over an hour before the door opens up and Fifer walks in. The smile on his face says he's got good news.

"You found someone?" asks Jiron hopefully.

"Ran into Shyn, he was with us when we found you that first time in the hills," he explains. "He said the rest of the group is out on patrol and that he'd taken an injury and is recuperating."

"Did he say if he could help us?" James asks him.

Fifer nods before replying, "He said to meet him at the gate in an hour and he could be there to vouch for us."

"Fantastic!" exclaims James. Then he turns to Jiron and says, "There's something I want you and Miko to do while I go to the castle."

"What?" Jiron asks.

"The last time I was in a city on the verge of attack," he explains, "things went bad fast and we couldn't get out." He glances to Miko who nods his head. "I would like you two to first get an idea where all the gates are, then see if there may be another way out in the event of an emergency."

"Think they're going to attack?" Miko asks.

"They're not sitting over there just to get a tan," replies James. "At some point, this city will be attacked. It's not a question of if, but when, and I want us to be prepared."

"I understand," Jiron tells him. He glances over to Miko and says, "Up for a ride?"

Miko nods his head and says, "Anything to get us out of here!"

James laughs at his enthusiasm. "What time is it anyway?" he asks.

"The sun's been up for several hours," replies Fifer. "Jiron thought it best if you slept as much as you could."

"Thanks, it really helped," he tells them. The headache and fatigue are still there, just not so bad.

"Where should we meet you?" asks Jiron.

"Let's say back here, a couple hours before sundown?" he suggests.

Jiron gets up and motions for Miko to join him, "Then we'll see you in several hours." They grab their horses and lead them over to the door.

"Good luck," wishes James.

"You too," replies Miko. They lead their horses through the door and once on the other side, mount up before heading down the street.

"Shall we go to the gate and wait there for your friend?" James asks.

"No point in staying here any longer than necessary," agrees Fifer.

Leaving their horses in the warehouse, they step out onto the street and make their way to the gate. For a city about to be attacked, there sure are a lot of people here. Maybe if there're enemy patrols out and about, they may not have much choice. With that army sitting on their front doorstep, the ones in charge probably don't want to provide soldiers to escort civilians. They'll be needed on the walls.

As they approach the gate, Fifer says, "Shyn's already here." He points to a man, vaguely familiar to James. Standing about five foot ten with red hair, Shyn waves a greeting at their approach.

He steps up to them and says, "Sorry about last night, lots of strange things been going on around here." He turns to the guards and says, "It's alright, these are the ones I told you about."

The guards just nod as they pa.s.s on through, Shyn in the lead.

"So you'll take us to see Lord Pytherian?" James asks him.

Shaking his head, Shyn says, "I don't have that kind of access."

"Then how did you arrange for us to get past the guards?" asks Fifer.

"It wasn't easy, let me tell you," he explains. "I tried unsuccessfully to convince the captain of the watch and he all but had me thrown out. Practically accused me of being party to the failed a.s.sa.s.sination attempt by that other man posing as you."

"I finally got an audience with one of the members of the council. You see, I have a cousin who is one of his a.s.sistants and ran into him as I was leaving the watch captain's office. He agreed to take me to the councilman where I convinced him of who you were and from that point on it was a whole lot easier."

"We appreciate your help," James tells him.

"Glad to do it," he replies. "Besides, Lord Pytherian wants to see you, the people around him must make sure it's the right you. You understand, I hope?"

"Oh yeah," agrees James. "I can see the need even if I don't like it."

"I'm glad you feel that way," he says.

They come to a large courtyard, at the end of which is the gates to the castle itself. Shyn doesn't lead them there as James at first expected. Instead, he takes them to the right of the castle where a large four story building borders the courtyard.

Before coming to the door, he pauses and says, "This is the offices of the councilman I was referring to. He said that you should wait in here until the meeting is over. Then he'd either bring Lord Pytherian here, or have you taken to him, depending on the wishes of his lordship."

"Very well," James says as they enter the building. Shyn leads them up to the second floor and down the hallway where he stops before a set of double doors on the right. He opens them and they walk into a room with several tables laid out with food. Plush chairs and a couple couches are situated around the room.

"You can stay here until the meeting is over," he says. "Help yourself to the food, it's here for your enjoyment. It's the least we could do for the ones who rescued his lordship."

"Thanks," James says as he goes over to a table laden with food. When he sees Shyn beginning to leave the room, he asks, "Aren't you going to stay?"

Shaking his head, he says, "I need to inform the councilman that you're here. I'll be back shortly."

"Okay," says James as he turns back to the food. His stomach begins to growl as he realizes just how hungry he is. He takes a plate and fills it with bread and meat, making sort of a sandwich.

"Not bad," Fifer says next to him through a mouth full of food.

Taking a bite, James nods and grunts in agreement. Then he sees on another table tarts, as well as other confectionary delights. Man, Miko would've loved this! Man, Miko would've loved this!

Chapter Twenty Five.

Upon leaving the warehouse, Jiron and Miko follow the street until they come to the west gate overlooking the bridge. The gate is shut with many archers and soldiers lining the walls above it.

"I think we can forget about leaving through here," Miko says.

"It might be a bit crowded," agrees Jiron, chuckling.

They turn to follow the main thoroughfare along the wall as they continue their reconnoitering. "What exactly are we looking for?" asks Miko.

"Oh, I'm not really sure," admits Jiron. "But getting an idea of where everything is, is usually a good idea."

"I suppose so," agrees Miko. "When the City of Light fell, James and I didn't know where anything was. We just kept running around, trying to find a way out. Eventually we got separated, and you know the rest."

"Yeah," states Jiron. "Let's hope this time things will work out better,"

All of a sudden Miko's stomach cramps when he catches the delicious aroma of fresh baked bread. Looking around, he spies a probable source. Several buildings down a side street sets an inn with a sign hanging outside which may indicate a restaurant within. His stomach lets out another growl as he indicates the inn and says, "I'm hungry, let's go get something to eat."

"Good idea. I'm hungry too," Jiron says as they turn down the side street and make for the inn. The odor of fresh baked bread gets stronger the nearer they get. As they near, they're able to see that the sign shows a satisfied fat man holding his stomach.

They secure their horses to the post outside before walking in. A large fat man, similar to the one on the sign outside comes over to them as they enter the inn. "Welcome sirs, how may we help you here at the Satisfied Gent?" he asks with a broad, friendly smile.

"The mouthwatering aroma has led us here," Jiron tells him.

"Ah, of course," the man says. He gestures to the crowded common room and says, "Just find a seat anywhere and someone will be along momentarily to see about your needs."

Jiron leads them into the room, and sighs when he finds the only table left unoccupied sits out in the middle of the crowded room. Really not wanting something out in the open like that, but not having any other choice, go over and take their seats.

A girl comes over, and after getting their order for the roasted beef and ale, returns to the kitchen. She returns shortly with their food and ale. "Enjoy," she says as she places the food before them on the table. She then promptly moves to another table where a man is signaling for her.

"...now that he's back, the alliance will stand firm..."

"...can't stand the waiting! Wish it would begin so it..."

They sit and listen to the conversations around them while they have their meal. For the most part, the people seem none too worried about the army sitting across the river. From what they hear, the people in Lythylla have great faith in Lord Pytherian and the alliance.

"Hate to think what would've happened if Lord Pytherian hadn't returned," remarks Miko between bites.

"I know," Jiron replies. "This city probably would've fallen already. From what we're hearing, he's their strength, their will to fight."

They continue to listen to the conversations around them until they've finished their lunch. Miko sits back with a contented look on his face. "Ready to go?" asks Jiron.

"Sure," says Miko just before letting go with a loud belch. He gives Jiron a grin, "That was good."

Outside the inn, they again mount their horses and continue their way along the street bordering the wall. They eventually come to another gate situated on the south side, the one they'd originally come through the day before. The stream of humanity coming in through the gates continues, the guards doing their best to keep the gates clear.

"I don't know if I would come here if I were them," Miko says.

"They may have no choice," Jiron replies. "A walled city with ample soldiers and a strong leader is preferable to being out there unprotected, even if the city is on the verge of being attacked."

"I suppose so," says Miko.

They move past the gate as they continue following the road. Some of the houses have been built against the wall and may afford a way out, providing of course that the enemy hasn't taken the walls yet.

The eastern gate, when they reach it, has a stream of people leaving the city. Some of the people have wagons and carts, while the greater majority carries bundles on their backs, holding what few possessions they can take with them.

"Jiron, over here," says Miko pointing to their right.

Looking over to where he's indicating, he sees a small grate set in the side of the street which allows excess water to flow into the sewers below. He dismounts and then moves over to inspect it. Kneeling down, he takes hold of the grate and then quickly looks around to see if anyone is watching. Once he's certain of not being observed, he tries to pull up the grate.

Straining as hard as he can, he's unable to budge it. "Not this way," he tells Miko. "I think it's bolted or secured in some fashion. It's not going to budge." Getting back on his horse, he leads them further down the street.

Now that they've seen one, they begin to see others of those grates positioned periodically along the side of the street.

"Too bad we can't look inside of a house," Miko says. "There could be an entrance to the sewers."

"Possibly," agrees Jiron. "But I don't think we'd want the kind of trouble that could bring right now."

"True," says Miko.

Suddenly, Miko exclaims, "Tarts!"

Jiron turns in his saddle and glances over to him, "What?"

"Look!" he says as he points to a boy walking down the street eating a berry filled tart. He moves his horse over to the boy and asks, "Where did you get that?"

The boy looks up at him, some of the filling smeared around his mouth, and says, "Nannie down the street sells them." He points back down the way he had come.

"Thanks," he says to him.

"What's that all about?" Jiron asks.

"I'm going to get me some tarts," he explains. "I'll get some for James too, he likes them."

Jiron just shakes his head but since the shop is on their way, doesn't argue. When they come to the shop with the tarts, he waits outside with the horses while Miko goes inside.

Several minutes later, the door to the shop opens and Miko walks out with a large bag stuffed with tarts. Smiling, Jiron asks, "Think you got enough?"

"Hope so," he replies not even realizing Jiron was being sarcastic. He puts the tarts in one of his saddlebags before remounting. Having a tart in one hand makes mounting difficult but he manages it.