Shades of the Past: The Morcyth Saga Book Six (12 page)

“That’s right,” replies Lord Pytherian. “The
one who rescued me, who saved the forces from annihilation to the
south last summer, and who turned the tide after the Empire broke
through the gates. If he says he can do it, we should at least give
him the benefit of the doubt.”

“I want a temple built in the City of Light,”
he explains. “It has to be built on its previous site, no
other.”

“But that’s currently in the hands of the
Empire,” one man says. “And by all reports, they’ve strengthened
the garrison there and have all but rebuilt its outer wall. How do
you propose to do that?”

“How is my business,” he tells them. “If I
can do this, will you rebuild the temple?”

Lord Pytherian looks at each of the assembled
military leaders in turn. He can see their doubt and has to admit,
he has his own as well. “Yes,” he finally says. “If you drive the
Empire from Madoc, then we will build your temple.”

“What have we got to lose?” the youngest of
those gathered states. “Either he does it and a temple would be a
small price to pay, or he doesn’t and we’re out no troops.”

“When do you propose to begin?” medals and
ribbons asks.

Illan glances to James and says, “Why don’t I
stay here and get an idea of what we’re up against. You go on back
and I’ll meet up with you later.”

“Very well,” he says. Getting to his feet, he
gives Lord Pytherian a slight bow and says, “Good to meet you
again, milord.”

“You too James,” he replies. “We’ll talk more
about this later.”

James nods and then turns to leave the room.
Out in the hall, he shuts the door and makes his way out of the
castle and to the plaza where the others have set up camp. When he
gets there, he finds Jiron and Delia have already set up their
tents, Devin having just completed putting up his.

“Are we on?” Jiron asks.

Nodding, James says, “Yes. Illan’s still up
there with Lord Pytherian going over the layout of the enemy, troop
numbers, that sort of stuff.”

“When do we begin?” asks Miko. The others
from The Ranch gather around to hear his answer.

“Time for some payback!” exclaims Stig. Stig
was one of those from the fight pits in the City of Light and lost
many friends when the City fell.

“We’ll be able to determine our course of
action once Illan returns,” he says. “Until then, we should relax
as best we can and get some rest. Once this all begins we may not
have the opportunity for awhile.”

“Your tent is ready,” Devin says coming up to
him.

“Thank you,” he replies. “I’m going to rest
until he gets back. Let me know the instant he does.”

“I will sir,” Devin assures him.

Walking over to his tent, he sees Ceadric
already has his men bivouacked and a mess already established.
Entering his tent, he closes the flap and then lies down on his
cot. He feels bad he’s one of the few who has one. The others
insisted saying most of what’s to come will rest upon him and that
he needs his rest. Comfort always being important to him, he didn’t
argue the point too hard.

Lying down, he lets the cares of the day
drift away as he succumbs to sleep.

The smell of summer is in the air. All
around him the flowers are in bloom and the tall grass is like the
ocean as the refreshing breeze forms waves of bending stalks. The
rolling hills are alive with animals both small and large, birds
take flight and fill the air with their song.

He stops in his tracks when a familiar sound
comes to him, the music of a calliope. Excited, he hurries toward
it and finds a carnival nestled in among the hills. The tall Ferris
wheel stands majestically in the center with other rides extending
outward from it like spokes inside a wheel.

As he hurries down the hill, the smell of
scones and funnel cakes reaches him and his stomach growls. Aside
from cotton candy, those are the other two musts at any carnival or
fair.

Walking forward to purchase a funnel cake,
he can almost taste the powder sugar. Sure, they’re extremely messy
and he usually ends up coated in the white confectionary powder,
but he doesn’t care. It’s all part of the fair experience. Reaching
into his back pocket for his wallet, he’s shocked to find he’s left
it behind.

Standing there with mouth watering and a
feeling of extreme disappointment, he can only look at the freshly
made funnel cake on display before him. It takes an almost
insurmountable force of will to turn away, but he manages it.
Dejected, he walks away.

Refusing to let his lack of funds ruin his
day he puts it out of his mind and walks through the carnival.
Strangely enough, it seems as if except for the carnies, he’s the
only one there. Glancing from ride to ride, he sees that though
they’re in motion and functioning, no one is riding them. Decidedly
strange.

He reaches into his front pocket and
withdraws a ride ticket, how he came to possess it he hasn’t a
clue. But when fortune smiles upon you, don’t ask questions. Each
ride boasts a sign signifying a single ticket is all that’s
required to ride.

It’s hard to choose a single ride from so
many. He walks along gazing first one way and then another, trying
to make up his mind. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he
catches a glimpse of a golden haired girl.

When he turns to look, he sees her moving
away from him quickly down a side aisle, her flowing golden hair
bouncing with each step. Surprised and pleased to find another
person here besides himself, he rushes after her. Something about
her strikes a chord of remembrance, but what it is eludes him.

“
Wait a minute!” he hollers, hoping she
will pause long enough for him to reach her. But she fails to
respond to his plea in any way and continues toward a ride at the
edge of the carnival.

No matter how fast he runs, he’s unable to
close the distance before she reaches the ride. It’s the Tunnel of
Love. She hands her ride ticket over to the carnie and gets in one
of the boats which will take her through the entrance.

“
Hold that boat!” he yells, trying to
increase his speed. Then he watches in frustration as the boat
carrying the girl leaves the loading dock and sails upon the water
toward the entrance to the ride.

He reaches the loading dock and the carnie
asks, “Ticket?”

Holding out his hand, he realizes his ticket
is no longer there. Looking around in anxiety, he discovers the
ticket lying on the ground back the way he had come. He runs toward
it just as a gust of wind picks it up and blows it still further
away. Running, he finally reaches the ticket and grasps hold of
it.

Turning back to the Tunnel of Love, he sees
the boat bearing the golden haired girl has just passed through the
entrance. He hurries back to the loading dock and gives the carnie
his ticket.

“
Step carefully please,” the carnie says
as he takes the ticket and motions for him to step into the first
boat.

Moving into the boat quickly, he takes his
seat. The carnie pulls the lever releasing the boat and he begins
drifting along with the current toward the entrance. He peers
inside but is unable to make out the boat bearing the golden haired
girl, or anything else for that matter.

Upon reaching the entrance, he’s able to see
inside a little and upon the right side of the tunnel is a large,
heart shaped picture with two white lights shining forth. As he
passes through the entrance, he’s able to see the golden haired
girl far ahead of him.

“Excuse me sir.”

Feeling as if he’s being wrenched awake, he
yells, “No!” He glances around and sees Devin standing there at the
tent flap, a worried expression upon his face. The dream begins to
slip away though he tries to retain the memory.

“Are you okay sir?” asks Devin.

Trying to recall what it was that was so
important, all he’s left with is a feeling of loss. Looking to
Devin, he says, “Yeah.” Sitting up, he puts his head in his hands
and feels the last vestige of the dream slip from him.

“Illan’s returned,” he tells him.

“Thank you,” he replies.

Devin then steps back and closes the tent
flap, leaving him alone once more.

Sitting there in the darkened tent, he tries
to recall the dream and why he had cried out but the memory is
gone. Shaking his head, he gets to his feet and leaves his
tent.

Stepping from his tent he finds Illan
surrounded by the others, telling them in part what he’s learned.
When he sees James exit, he ceases his conversation and moves
toward him. “We should talk in your tent.”

Coming to a stop, James nods his head and
then returns inside. He’s followed in by Delia, Jiron, Miko and
Ceadric. Illan pauses a moment at the tent’s entrance and says to
Devin, “See that we’re not disturbed.”

“Yes, sir,” he replies as Illan enters the
tent.

They’re crammed inside the small tent which
had never been intended to include so many at one time. “We’re
going to have to get you a larger tent,” Jiron says with a
grin.

“Feel sorry for poor Devin if we do,” jokes
Miko.

“Enough of that,” Illan says. “There’s much
to talk about.” When he has everyone’s attention, he continues.
“From the reports gathered today, it would seem we face anywhere
from fifteen to twenty thousand troops.”

James’ face falls and Delia gasps.

“Can we handle that many?” Jiron asks.

They all look to James and the doubt crossing
his face tells them he doesn’t think so. “So many,” he says. “I
never thought to have to face so many right away.”

As James sinks into silence, Illan says,
“Their siege equipment arrived sometime today. Lord Pytherian
suspects an attack either late this evening or first thing tomorrow
morning. They have a dozen catapults and mobile bridges they plan
to use to ford the river in different places during the
assault.”

“Where are they kept?” James asks.

“The latest reports put them sitting at the
rear of their lines,” he says. “A thousand or so troops are
stationed in the area.”

“Is there any word whether they have a mage
with them?” Miko asks.

“None have been spotted, but that doesn’t
mean they aren’t there,” he replies. To James he asks, “Have you
felt anything?”

Shaking his head, he says, “Nothing. If there
is one, he’s not doing anything that I would be able to
detect.”

“Could you find out?” asks Delia.

“Not without alerting him to my presence,” he
says. “And that may prompt an immediate attack.” After a moment of
thought he asks, “If we took out their siege equipment, would that
delay their assault?”

“It would have to,” interjects Ceadric. They
all turn to gaze at him as he continues. “The catapults they could
probably do without, but those bridges they’ll absolutely have to
have in order to cross the river and would be integral to their
battle plan.”

James nods his head and remains quiet as he
considers different tactics.

“Lord Pytherian said he would keep us
apprised of any change in the enemy camp,” Illan says after a few
moments.

“Just blast them,” suggests Miko. “Do that
thing you did outside the City of Light. From what Jiron and the
others told me, it took out most of their army.”

“That would only work if they have a mage,”
he replies. “It may come to that. But keep in mind, I haven’t
worked on the finer points of that spell and the consequences may
prove disastrous for all.”

“What do you mean?” Delia asks.

How can he explain it to them? What in their
experience would compare with the detonation of an atomic bomb?
From the description Jiron supplied him with of the explosion, it
resembled an a-bomb more than anything else. There didn’t seem to
be any radiation fallout from that blast, but he would just assume
not tempt fate a second time.

“I can’t really explain it,” he tells them.
“Just take it on faith that it isn’t something that I’m willing to
do unless there are no other alternatives.”

“Very well,” Miko says, obviously
disappointed.

After a moment’s consideration, he says,
“Here’s what we do…”

Once James lays down what he plans to do. The
others offer their expert advice and together they work out a
strategy which should work. Ceadric selects fifty of his most
battle hardened and skilled fighters for the mission. Together with
Delia and the slingers, Errin and Aleya, and all the other fighters
from The Ranch but Jiron, they make their way through the darkened
city on horseback and exit through the north gate.

Each slinger has upon their back a pack that
has been carried by pack horse all the way from The Ranch. None
have yet been told what is contained within. Aleya and Errin have a
dozen specially modified arrows in their quiver along with another
containing regular arrows behind their saddles. Delia, after she
and James spent a few minutes near one of the pack horses, returned
with two small pouches secured to her belt.

Once they pass through the gates, they edge
away from the river so as not to reveal their presence to the enemy
sentries posted on the other side. An hour later finds them coming
to the section of the river which Lord Pytherian’s people said
would have the least likelihood of having patrols. Here the river
runs deep and swift making any attempt to cross extremely
dangerous.

“What do we do now?” Yern asks her
quietly.

“We wait,” Delia replies. She turns her gaze
to the glow of the enemy’s camp in the distance and hopes this
works.

“Ready?” Jiron asks him.

“No,” he replies. “I never will be for this
sort of thing.” Hanging from his belt are several small pouches.
When Jiron glances at them in question he says, “Just in case.”
Jiron nods his head and they get going.