"I don't know," he admits. There his reasoning breaks down. He considers it for a minute then says, "But the fact that I found the amulet here and that we were ultimately sent here has to be connected in some way. It could be that each key is set for a specific temple and will always return the wearer to that temple."

He can see the doubt in Jiron's eyes. "Of course," he tells him, "the only way to test the theory is to take another ride through the portal."

Jiron laughs at that. "I don't think so," he says shaking his head.

"I agree," James states.

"Can we go now?" asks Jiron.

With a nod of his head, James indicates for him to lead on. As he follows Jiron, a memory of what he told Aleya during their last visit when she had asked about the amulet: "Maybe it was only given to a priest once they achieved a certain level of the temple hierarchy," he had suggested. "Simply having one may have afforded them some privilege or it could've been a sign of rank or trust as well." "Maybe it was only given to a priest once they achieved a certain level of the temple hierarchy," he had suggested. "Simply having one may have afforded them some privilege or it could've been a sign of rank or trust as well." If that is the case, then only the higher ranking priests would have access to the portal, which would make sense. If that is the case, then only the higher ranking priests would have access to the portal, which would make sense.

Jiron continues to lead until they come to where another corridor converges with the one they're in. James shines the light of the orb down the left to reveal the cave-in they ran across last time. Knowing they are on the right path, Jiron continues straight ahead.

Twenty feet or so they come to another cave-in. A s.p.a.ce just large enough for a man to crawl through has been cleared at the top of the obstruction. The last time they were here, they had crawled through that hole and found themselves out among the trees on the mountainside. Taking a look at the ground on this side of the cave-in, they find impressions in the dirt from where they previously rested until it had grown dark outside.

Jiron immediately goes to the opening and crawls a short way through before stopping. He pauses a moment before coming back inside. "It's dark," he says.

"That's fortunate," comments James and indicates for Jiron to continue on through to the other side.

He cancels the orb before he follows Jiron through the hole. It takes his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness before he's able to see the moonlight filtering in through the opening. Making his way through he finds the half moon to be high overhead. Jiron offers him a hand as he crawls out and helps him to his feet.

"Now," he says, "let's see about finding our way back to the others."

Chapter Twenty Six.

They work their way along the mountainside toward the south. Somewhere ahead in the dark lies the road running along the southern edge of the mountains which will take them toward Madoc. The last time they came this way, there was a sizeable presence of the enemy along the road.

It doesn't take them long to reach the road leading down from the summit, appearing in the moonlight ahead of them. Carefully looking in both directions, they determine the road is empty. With Jiron in the lead they move onto the road.

Traveling upon the road affords them much better speed than forging their way through the forest. "We need to find a couple of horses," James whispers.

"I know," comes the all but silent reply.

The road takes them quickly down the mountainside. It isn't long before the lights from the encampment of the Empire's soldiers at the base of the mountain come into view. The number of campfires indicates there isn't nearly the number of men there were the last time they pa.s.sed this way. "Maybe they don't feel a large presence is warranted here," suggests Jiron.

"Could be," agrees James. "Or they could have sent most of their force to deal with Illan and the others."

"That would make sense," he says with a nod.

They continue following the road until it begins to approach the perimeter of the enemy camp before moving into the shelter of the trees. Working their way through the hills at the base of the mountain, they make their way closer to the enemy lines. Pausing a moment upon the top of a hill overlooking the enemy camp, they have a commanding view of its layout. Off to their right they see where they have their horses kept.

A series of stables have been built to keep their steeds out of the elements. Six structures with corrals adjacent to each stand in an area to the rear of their lines. In the corrals, horses are visible in the moonlight.

They wait several minutes before descending the hill. Jiron points out four sentries as they make their way through toward the stable area. Two remain in and around the stables while the other two continue on toward the main camp. He waits for the two continuing on toward the camp to leave the area before making his move. When only one of the two remaining sentries is close, Jiron motions for James to stay on the hill. Receiving James' nod, he makes his way down the hill and toward where the sentry is patrolling.

James watches as the shadow that is Jiron moves toward the closest sentry, covering the distance quickly. He gets in behind the sentry and is within a dozen yards of him when the man suddenly turns in his patrol and begins heading back in Jiron's direction. Ducking behind a tree, Jiron waits for his approach. A glint of moonlight flashes from the knife in Jiron's hand.

The sentry continues to approach, oblivious to the danger poising to strike behind the tree. His path doesn't take him directly past the tree, rather five feet to one side. When the sentry draws even with the tree, Jiron slips around to the other side until he's behind him once again. Moving fast, he closes the distance silently. Grabbing the sentry from behind, he strikes with his knife and then lowers the dying man to the ground, the whole incident happening without a sound.

Jiron wipes his knife off on the man's clothes and then moves toward the second sentry. The nearest stable is twenty feet away with an open area easily twenty feet wide. Running quickly and silently, Jiron makes the side of the stable and then presses his back against it. Listening for the other sentry's position, he hears the man's footsteps approaching from the right side of the stable. Moving quietly, he works his way to the right.

The remaining sentry calls to the other as he nears the edge of the stable. Despite the fact the man is speaking in the Empire's language, Jiron can tell by the inflection in his voice that he's asking a question. As Jiron reaches the edge of the stable, the sentry again asks the question with a slight edge in his voice.

Quickening his steps, the sentry reaches the edge of the stable. Just after he pa.s.ses, Jiron jumps him from behind. Clamping his hand over the man's mouth to prevent him from alerting the rest of the camp, he runs the edge of his knife across the man's throat. Tossing the dying man to the ground, he turns toward the hill where James waits and waves. A minute later James joins him.

"Let's hurry," urges James. Jiron gives him a nod.

Jiron moves around the edge of the stable to the entrance and peers through the doorway. When he finds it empty, he signals James to follow as he enters. A light springs to life as James' orb appears on his hand. Not nearly as bright as it usually is, it's just bright enough for them to find the tack and saddle for two horses.

Along the back wall they find all the items they need stacked on shelves. While Jiron gathers the tack, James removes two fine looking stallions from their stalls. One snickers and snorts as he brings them forth. "Easy boy," he says rea.s.suringly as he pats the nervous one's neck.

Working quickly, they soon have the horses saddled. James swings into the saddle while Jiron moves to the gate. He opens it a crack and looks out to be sure no other sentry is approaching. When he finds all is quiet, he swings the stable's gate open and returns to the horses. Taking his horse's reins, he leads him through the gate. Once James has left the stable, Jiron closes the gate and throws the bar to keep it closed. He then swings into the saddle. Unless someone stumbles upon the dead sentries, it's unlikely anyone will realize something has happened before dawn. James cancels his...o...b..before heading out.

Moving quickly away from the buildings, they head southeast. Angling through the hills, they keep their distance from the enemy camp while they make for the road that will take them toward Madoc.

When at last the road appears before them, Jiron dismounts and leaves his horse with James while he moves to the edge of the road. Last time there had been hidden sentries along this road, but then again, the last time the Empire had known they were on the way. He comes to a stop within the edge of the forest and gazes up and down the road. Scanning both directions for several minutes for any movement he is at last satisfied the road is deserted. He then returns back to his horse and mounts. "The road looks deserted," he says in a whisper.

"Then let's get going," replies James just as quietly.

Jiron gets his horse moving and they're soon out of the forest. They turn eastwards once they are on the road and quickly get their horses up to a canter. James casts glances back to the enemy camp in the distance as they ride but no shout arises or any other indication that they have been discovered. After awhile, the lights of the enemy's encampment disappear in the dark.

They ride for an hour or two before the sky begins to lighten with dawn's approach. So far they haven't encountered anyone else traveling upon the road and with any luck they won't for some time.

When the sun begins to peek over the horizon, Jiron examines the road closely. "I think horses pa.s.sed this way recently," he observes. When James glances to him he indicates the surface of the road.

Even James' untrained eye can see that hundreds of horses pa.s.sed this way recently. The piles of dung the horses dropped when they pa.s.sed don't look more than two or three days old. His time of being around horses has given him plenty of experience to figure that out.

"Then they have sent men to engage Illan," James states.

"Looks like it," agrees Jiron. He points out several different tracks of wagon wheels as well as the footprints of foot soldiers. "Could be a sizeable force."

"If this is the only one, Illan should have little trouble," observes James. "Two days..." Picturing the map of the area in his mind he tries to estimate the position of Illan and the rest of their friends. If this army pa.s.sed through here only two days ago, they may not have had the time to reach them yet.

Glancing to Jiron he sees he's come to the same conclusion. They kick the sides of their horses and break into a gallop. Illan needs to be warned of this new threat.

Riding hard through the morning, they come to where the road ends at Bindles just after noon. Another road pa.s.ses through the town going north and south. During their earlier sojourn on their way to find Miko, they had pa.s.sed through here in the guise of merchants. Delia had even managed to secure additional cargo bound for Korazan to give them more legitimacy.

When the town appears before them, they slow down to look for any forces in the area. Not finding any, they continue to follow the road into town. Out of water and short on supplies they stop at the trader they visited on their last trip, the one Delia had acquired the cargo from. A sign hangs above the door depicting three barrels.

Dismounting, they head for the front door. Just as before, the people on the streets barely give them more than a cursory look. Jiron reaches the door first and opens it. Upon entering they find the same merchant they dealt with the time before.

The merchant looks up from where he was going over a ledger and sees them enter. "Good day to you sirs," he says with a grin. Closing the ledger he comes over to them and asks, "How may I help you?"

James was worried that he would recognize them but looking into his eyes can tell he doesn't. "Additional water bottles and several days' worth of travel rations," he tells him.

"And a mirror if you have one," adds Jiron. Glancing at James he gets a nod of approval. He hadn't thought to purchase a replacement for the one lost on the road.

"Very good," the merchant replies. He then goes over to a table with water bottles. "How many would you require?"

"Two bottles each," he says.

The merchant picks up four bottles and takes them over to the counter. He then moves to another table containing packages of dried beef and cheese. Picking up an armful, he brings them over to the counter. "Will this be sufficient?" he asks as he places the packages next to the water bottles. "I'm sorry I don't have much of a selection to offer, the soldiers bought almost everything and the caravan carrying my goods is overdue.

Nodding, James says, "Yes, thank you." He gives Jiron a knowing glance. The caravan in question may very well be one of the ones he secreted the explosive seeds in. The merchant may be waiting a long time before he sees his goods.

The merchant moves behind his counter and produces three mirrors of varying sizes. James selects one that is only six inches by three and has a plain bronze frame. The merchant replaces the other mirrors and then adds the one selected to the rest of their items.

"I heard that an army pa.s.sed through here a day or two ago," Jiron suddenly says.

"That's right," the merchant replies. "There's a rumor going around that Black Hawk has returned. But that is hardly possible." Finishing bundling the items together he quotes a price to James who then hands over the required coins.

"Oh?" asks James. "Why is that?"

"He and his men were slaughtered years ago," he states.

Jiron casts a quick look to James who asks, "Are you sure?"

"Well, I wasn't there of course but that was the story going around at the time," he explains. "Supposedly his men were destroyed by the Empire's armies after some battle or other."

"Oh," Jiron says with a barely concealed grin. "So what about the soldiers who pa.s.sed through here?"

"Well like I said, a rumor had been going around town for some time that Black Hawk had returned. I never gave it much credence, rumors seldom being reliable and all. But when the men who had been stationed at Kern pa.s.sed through, they said the same thing. Apparently they are on their way to take out whoever this is. Probably someone stirring up trouble and using Black Hawk as a rallying cry or some other such nonsense."

"Yeah," agrees James. Taking his newly bought goods from the counter, he turns for the door. "You wouldn't happen to know which road they took out of town would you?"

"Why?" the merchant asks.

"We're heading east and if there's a battle about to be fought, we don't want to be anywhere nearby when it does."

Nodding, the merchant says, "They took the south road."

"Thanks," James says as he starts moving for the door. Jiron reaches the door first and opens it for him.

"May your travels be safe ones," offers the merchant.

"Thank you," Jiron replies. Stepping aside, he lets James leave the chandlery and then follows him out.

They secure the rations behind their saddles and James puts the new mirror into one of his belt pouches. Then taking the water bottles over to the rain barrel sitting against the building, they fill them up.

James says, "So they are indeed going after Illan."

"Hope he's faring all right," replies Jiron. Worries for his sister and friends have been a constant companion since he and James left them.

"With Miko and the Hand of Asran to take care of any magical foes," James says, "it would take a large force indeed to cause him any real problems."

Topping off his last bottle, Jiron secures the stopper in the bottle's neck. James finishes with his and they return to their horses to pack the extra bottles away. Mounting once more, they turn south to follow the road through town.

Once past the last building, they break into a fast gallop as they race down the road. Seeing as how the force of soldiers ahead has wagons traveling with them, they may be able to catch them before they attack Illan. Alternating between a fast gallop and at times dismounting to give the horses a break, they put many miles behind them. As they ride they keep an eye on the tracks of those they are pursuing to make sure the soldiers don't turn off the road unexpectedly.

By time they reach the town of Arakan, the sun has begun its descent to the horizon. Having bought sufficient supplies back in Bindles, they decide against stopping. Instead they hurry their way through town.

As they enter the outskirts, James eyes the building that the officer who had stopped and checked their papers exited from during their last visit. Since neither one can speak the language, any confrontation can only lead to disaster. Coming abreast of the building, he quickens the pace of his horse slightly and moves past. He breathes a sigh of relief when no one makes an appearance.

"Take it easy," Jiron says to him softly. James gives him a nod and brings his horse back to a normal gait. The last thing they want to do is attract attention. Continuously scanning the people on the streets for any potential problems, they make their way through town.

One thing James notices is the lack of guards or soldiers. Since entering Arakan, he's only seen one guard. Glancing to Jiron he sees that he's noticed that fact too. Last time they had more of a presence. Perhaps when the soldiers pa.s.sed through here they took most of the guards with them.

If that is the case, James is both elated and worried. Elated in that if they are forced to strip town garrisons and city guards to bolster their army, then they must be hurting for men. On the other hand, he's worried because that would mean more to face should there be a battle.

They reach the far side of town and leave the last building behind them without incident. Not far past the town they come across an area that looks like it could have been the bivouac area the army they're following used the night before. Piles of horse dung dot the area and there's evidence of over a dozen fire pits s.p.a.ced evenly throughout.

"We're gaining on them," Jiron says after examining a pile of horse dung.

"I hope so," replies James.

They push on for a couple more hours until the sun drops below the horizon and twilight has almost turned into full night. Pulling several hundred feet off the road, they make camp without a fire. Rolling out their bedrolls, they have a quick meal then James takes first watch while Jiron turns in. A little after midnight, James wakes Jiron for his turn at watch and then sleeps peacefully until dawn.

Up before first light, they're back on the road and put a mile behind them before the sun breaks over the horizon. Using the same alternating pace as the day before, they eat up the miles quickly.

Two hours before noon, date bearing trees appear ahead of them. It's the oasis where they rescued Jiron from the Commander of Ten when he was captured in that ill-fated mission to retrieve James' backpack from Mountainside. A caravan is currently watering their horses at the oasis' pool, ten wagons along with an accompanying guard of twenty.

"Better not get too close," cautions Jiron.

"I agree," replies James.

The road pa.s.ses alongside the oasis and it would be very suspicious if they were to leave the road and pa.s.s in the desert. Rather than raise their suspicions, they stay as far away from those at the oasis as the road will allow them without appearing to do so on purpose. They pick up their pace as they hurry past.

One of the guards offers them what sounds like a greeting in the Empire's tongue. Ignoring him, they continue on. When the guard realizes they aren't going to answer he shouts at them, obviously offended. James glances back and sees the guards staring at them with an expression of indignation. They lock eyes for a moment before the guard turns back to the others.

"I hate not understanding their language," comments James after the oasis has disappeared behind them.

"I know what you mean," agrees Jiron. "Would make life easier. Is there anything you can do with magic that might help?"

"Possibly," he replies, "though I'm not sure how to go about it. Foreign languages were never my forte."

Picking up speed, they once again race to catch the force ahead of them. It isn't long before the road begins turning to a more southerly direction. All of a sudden, Jiron stops in the middle of the road.

"What's the matter?" asks James coming to a stop as well.

Jiron is studying the ground intently. "I think they left the road already," he explains. The telltale signs of their pa.s.sing which have been evident since Bindles are no longer present.

"I think you're right," concurs James. Turning back to the north, they watch the road closely as they travel for the spot where the force turned off. A mile back, just after the road turned to the south, they find where the force moved eastward into the desert. Turning to follow, they break into a gallop.