Warrior Priest Of Dmon-Li Part 53

"It's still there and looks like they plan to stay for a while," he tells him. "An attempt was made yesterday to open the gate from within, but it was stopped and the enemy beaten back. Councilman Rillian is rumored to have had a hand in it."

"Councilman Rillian?" he questions.

"That's right," replies Illan. "Though Lord Pytherian doesn't think there's enough evidence to move against him, we know he was involved."

"We've heard rumors too," he says. "Though just vague things about possible dealings with the Empire before the war, things like that. As you say, not enough to do anything about."

Before Illan can say anything more, Kylun says, "Say h.e.l.lo to my family for me when you get there, okay? We're on our way to patrol this side of the river, making sure they haven't managed to cross over."

"Good to see you again," Illan says.

"You too, and good luck." Turning to his fellows, Kylun says, "Move out!"

Illan sits there a moment as he watches the patrol ride away before saying, "We grew up together in Seastar."

As they begin moving again, James says, "Seems like a nice enough fellow."

"He is," says Illan wistfully. Then, coming back to the present, he continues, "At least we have little to fear as far as running into the enemy between here and Seastar is concerned."

"That's rea.s.suring," comments Jiron from behind them.

Resuming their previous pace, they ride through the plains as the sun begins to peak over the horizon. As they ride, they see other patrols moving along the plains. Every once in a while, someone would holler a greeting to Illan as they pa.s.s.

"You seem well known here," comments Uther.

"Like I said, I grew up here," he reminds him.

When the sun has risen a ways above the horizon, they begin to see the glistening of the Sea ahead of them. James reflects back to the time when he was on the other side, now seeming so long ago. So much has happened since then.

Running north and south next to the sh.o.r.eline is a well maintained road. Refugees from the south are plodding away on it as they seek safety to the north. Some with carts and wagons loaded with what belongings they were able to bring, others only having a pack on their backs. Children walk beside parents, often as not carrying their belongings as well.

One mother had three children who were pulling a cart with a fourth child lying within. When James comes abreast of the wagon, he sees the poor boy sick with a fever of some sort. Reaching into his pouch, he pulls out two gold coins and hands them to the woman. "Here," he tells her, "use this to help your boy."

With tears in her eye, she looks up at him and takes the coins, "Thank you good sir!"

"You're welcome," he says as he kicks his horse to join the others who had begun to pull away from him as they continue following the road north.

When he catches up with them, Illan glances from him then back at the mother and says, "That was nice of you."

"We do what we can," he replies.

"True," agrees Illan. "Though most wouldn't even have bothered themselves that way."

"If you ride with James long enough," Miko pipes up, "you'll learn to get used to it."

James glances back at him and sees him there with a big grin on his face. He returns the grin, but not for the reason Miko thinks. It's because Miko is beginning to become more of his old self. It seems the effects of the Fire wear away after a while. Not the increase in size and muscle, but the effects it has on his spirit. It kind of dampens it, making him more solemn and serious. To see the adolescent side again gives James hope that Miko isn't too far gone.

"How much further?" he asks Illan.

"Another hour, maybe two," he replies.

Sure enough, a little over an hour later, they begin to see the outline of a city on the horizon. "Seastar," Illan informs them. Several merchant ships can be seen out on the water, one's pulling away from the docks and there are three others still moored there.

"Looks like we're in luck," Uther says when he sees the ships at the docks. "One of those should be able to ferry us over to the far side of the Sea."

"I hope so," says James.

Seastar has a defensive wall, though it's not very high or thick. The road travels to the southern edge of the wall and pa.s.ses through the gate there. Four guards are there, helping to keep the traffic of refugees and soldiers moving along quickly. Off to the east of the wall, a refugee camp can be seen. Hundreds, maybe thousands of displaced people mill around the makeshift camp. Soldiers can be seen in and around the area keeping order and generally helping the people. A couple wagons are unloading sacks and boxes of food to waiting people.

When they arrive at the gates, Illan hollers to one of the guards, "Shoen!"

Shoen looks up from where he's supervising the others and breaks into a smile when he sees who just addressed him. "Illan!" he cries as he moves toward him, extending his hand. "Didn't expect to see you for quite some time."

Illan takes his hand and gives it a firm shake before saying, "Can't stay and talk I'm afraid. We need to see about a ship to take us across the Sea."

"There's a couple at anchor, I know," he informs him. "But don't know whether they'll take you all the way to the other side?"

"We have a letter from Lord Pytherian requesting any and all to aid us," he explains.

Nodding, he smiles and says, "That should make some merchant happy." They both begin laughing hard at that, several others standing around who hear that join in as well. "Good luck!" wishes Shoen. "It was good to see you."

As Illan begins moving to pa.s.s through, he says, "You too, Shoen."

Shoen waves them on through, then goes back to making sure the traffic continues to flow smoothly through the gate.

Illan leads them through and once on the other side, takes the street heading down toward the docks. "Let's see about a ship first, before they have a chance to get away," he tells them. "Once we have one to agree to take us, we can find an inn should we have the time."

"Alright," agrees James.

You'd think Illan had returned a hero the way everyone greets him as he moves down the street. He handles it all well, only slowing when absolutely necessary. "He sure is popular around here," observes Miko as he watches Illan wave to the people on the streets.

"He's well liked by everyone who knows him," Uther comments when he hears Miko. "Never sure why he joined up with us, but I suppose he has his reasons." Lowering his voice, he continues, "Some of us believe he lost his wife during the war and wants revenge. But no one knows for sure."

Miko stares at Uther's back and nods.

Looking down to the end of the street, they can see the water of the Sea and the masts of the ships at dock. The few buildings bordering the docks have the look of warehouses and Illan continues on past and stops at a small building sitting at the entrance to the docks. "Dockmaster," he tells them as he dismounts. James and Jiron dismount as well, the others remain on their horses.

Illan steps up to the door with them right behind and pushes it open. Inside, they find a man sitting behind a desk covered in a disorganized pile of papers. He looks up from where he's making notations on one of them and a smile breaks across his face when he sees who it is.

Getting up, he says, "Illan! What brings you back here?" Moving around the desk, he gives Illan a big hug, careful not to get the ink on his fingers on the back of Illan's shirt.

"Marko," he says, returning the hug, "didn't know you were the new Dockmaster."

Releasing him, Marko says, "Have been for a year now, ever since Yeurn got married to that woman from the City." Stepping back two steps, he continues, "It's good to see you again."

"I'm afraid I can't stay long," he explains. "We have need to reach the other side of the Sea and were hoping to be able to get someone to take us."

His smile fades somewhat as he says, "Nothing serious I hope? The Empire isn't on its way here is it?"

Shaking his head, he says, "Nothing like that. Our forces still have them on the other side of the Etterling River."

"That's good news," he says with relief. "We haven't had much news lately about the war. Just what the refugees tell us as they pa.s.s through."

Gesturing to the ships at the dock outside, he asks, "Which one of those would be our best bet?"

"You might try the Sea Strider, it's the one all the way at the end," he says. "Derrin Nellix is the captain, and he's leaving shortly for the far side. Don't know if he'll take on pa.s.sengers, but you can try."

"Okay, we'll do that, thank you," he says as he holds out his hand to his friend.

Taking the hand, Marko shakes it vigorously and says, "You're welcome. If you'll be staying in town, I'd love it if you could come and have dinner with me and Pauline."

"We'll see," he replies. "Probably have to dine with my family first, though. They'd never let me hear about it if I didn't."

Marko laughs at that. "I think you're right. Well, good luck."

Illan nods his head and then turns to leave. James and Jiron back out, giving him room to pa.s.s through the door.

"Why didn't you tell him about Lord Pytherian's letter?" James asks. "Wouldn't that have expedited it better?"

"Why use it if we don't have to?" he asks. "Besides, he's not the one we have to convince."

Returning to where the others are waiting, he says, "Might be in luck, you just wait here while we go down to the ship to arrange things."

"Alright," Uther says for everyone. He gets down off his horse, the others following suit. "If we're to wait longer, I'm not going to do it on horseback."

"You got that right, man" agrees Jorry.

Illan leaves them behind as he, James and Jiron walk down to the end of the docks where sailors are busy transferring cargo from several wagons onto the ship resting against the dock.

Coming to the wagons, he catches the attention of one of the seaman returning from the ship for another box and asks, "Is Captain Nellix on board?"

The sailor doesn't even pause as he replies, "Yes he is." Grabbing another box, he starts to return to the gangplank.

"Can we speak with him?" Illan asks the sailor.

"I'll ask him," he says just before reaching the gangplank.

They watch as several other sailors leave the ship as they continue the transferring of cargo. The sailor they'd talked to returns to the top of the gangplank and begins walking down it to the dock. When he comes to where they're standing, he says, "The captain said for you to go ahead and come aboard. You'll find him at the cargo hatch going over the bills of lading."

"Thank you," Illan says.

He just nods and grunts before taking another box off the wagon.

Illan glances at James and asks, "Shall we?"

James nods and then follows Illan as he moves toward the gangplank. They pause at the bottom while two sailors leave the ship before walking up it to the ship's deck.

They see a man, obviously the captain in question, standing at the cargo hold hatch going over the bill of lading just as the sailor had told them. He glances over to them as they begin walking over to him. "Yes?" he asks. "You wanted to see me?"

"We were hoping to book pa.s.sage for us and our friends over to the other side of the Sea," Illan explains.

"Don't take on pa.s.sengers," the captain says. "They just get in the way." A sailor comes on board with a box and pauses a moment while the captain checks it off. He gives the sailor a nod who then carries it on down into the hold.

"But our need is great," insists Illan, "and we'd be willing to pay."

"Don't care," he says. "I hate having people on board. Now, if you'll get off my ship, I have work to do before we sail."

"But," James begins, "we have a..."

Illan shakes his head and waves for him to stop.

Confused, but willing to follow his lead, James doesn't finish.

"Let's go," he says to them as he makes for the gangplank.

James and Jiron follow right behind. When they're off the ship and have moved a short ways past the wagons, they stop. "Why didn't you want me to mention the letter?" asks James.

"That would've seemed to be the smart thing to do," adds Jiron.

"I don't think it would've made any difference," he explains. "We should try the other two ships and find out if they'll be more agreeable."

"Alright," James says as he glances to Jiron who just shrugs.

The next ship they come to is a single masted vessel and looks to be deserted. The gangplank is up so Illan hollers, "h.e.l.lo ship!"

When there's no answer, he hollers again, "h.e.l.lo ship!"

They wait a minute but no reply is forthcoming. He turns to the others and indicating the last ship says, "One more to try." Moving down to the other end of the docks, they come to a twin masted vessel where several sailors are sitting around on deck, looking bored.

"h.e.l.lo the ship!" Illan hollers.

One of the sailors looks over the rail and asks, "Yeah?"

"Request permission to come aboard and talk with the captain," he says.

"Captain's not here," the sailor tells him.

"Where could I find him?" he asks.

"City jail I'd imagine," the sailor replies.

"Jail?" asks Illan. "What's he doing there?"

"Cooling his heals for a few days," the sailor explains. Several other sailors come over and join him at the rail.

One of them says, "He got in a fight with the wrong man and was arrested. They said he'd be in there several more days."

"Thank you," Illan says to them. Turning away from the ship, he begins making his way back to where Uther and the others are waiting. "This is perfect!" he exclaims.