"Could they be members of the alliance?" asks Fifer.

"Maybe," he says. "It's been a while since I've been out of these woods."

"Is Colton well fortified?" asks Jiron suddenly. "Could it withstand an attack?"

Shaking his head, he says, "Hardly, it's not that big of a town. If anyone were to attack, it wouldn't be able to last very long. Why?"

"We saw a large force of foot soldiers moving around this forest," explains James, indicating the position on the map. "If they were to surround and hit Colton, would they be able to hold them off?"

Looking worried, Captain Alerin says, "Not a chance. It would fall in a day." Moving to the tent entrance he hollers for one of his men. When the man comes close, he says, "Send someone to Colton, warn of immediate attack by a large band of men moving from the east around the forest."

"Wait," he hears James say. When he glances back to him, James says, "There may be a quicker way."

"Have someone stand by," he tells the man who runs off to carry out his orders. He turns and comes back over to James, "How?"

"I'm not sure if it'll work, but I might be able to give him a message," James explains.

Looking skeptical, Captain Alerin says, "Alright, let's see if it works."

"First, let me see where exactly that army is now," he says as the image shifts. Suddenly, they see the forest and the image quickly scrolls to the east. When it reaches the edge of the forest, James moves it first southward and when he fails to find the army, he moves it north.

"There!" Captain Alerin exclaims when the army of foot appears in the mirror.

"Do you know where that is?" asks James.

"It's near the northern edge of the forest," he tells him. "It's several hours away from Colton."

"Alright," James says as he concentrates. Again, the mirror refocuses on Lord Pytherian and they hear him mumble, "Now to get his attention."

"We have got to get word to the others in the Alliance that I'm back," Lord Pytherian says. "We must remain united if we're to stop the Empire. How long do you suppose the rest of Madoc will last if we fail here?"

Suddenly, one of the men he's talking to gasps. There on the table before Lord Pytherian sits a round glowing orb.

Astonished cries begin erupting in the room. Lord Pytherian raises his arms and shouts, "Quiet!" The room becomes quiet as he stares at the orb, something strangely familiar about it. "James!" he whispers in sudden understanding. He glances around the room expecting to see him there.

The orb suddenly winks out, eliciting another round of murmuring. Where the orb had sat there begins to appear a black mark. Lord Pytherian again calls for silence as he leans closer to see what is happening.

The black mark begins moving until it forms the letter 'T'. Awed, he continues watching as the black mark continues writing. When it's finished, he reads aloud what it says, "There's an army three hours to the south, heading for you. Advise you leave!"

He begins nodding and says, "Gentlemen, it's time to evacuate Olton..."

Head pounding, gasping from the effort, James almost swoons into unconsciousness. The effort to write that message had been harder than he'd thought. Must've been the distance. Must've been the distance. He holds the image until he sees Lord Pytherian nod and begin barking out orders. He holds the image until he sees Lord Pytherian nod and begin barking out orders.

When the image finally disappears, Captain Alerin says, "Do you think he understood the message?"

"He nodded, so I think he did," James replies.

"Good," he exclaims. He abruptly turns and leaves the tent. Outside, he hollers to one of his aides, "Get the men ready to march!" The man salutes and begins making the preparation.

"What do you plan to do?" asks James from the tent entrance.

"Hara.s.s that army, slow it down if I can," he replies. "Give Lord Pytherian and the people in Colton a chance to flee before it arrives." He looks to them and continues, "Could use your help, a mage would come in handy."

Shaking his head, James replies, "We need to hurry north, stay ahead of the army as best we can."

"I understand," he says. He calls over one of his men, "Dorrin here will lead you through the forest to the north." He glances to Dorrin who nods in understanding. "Now, we must hurry to catch this force before it draws close to Colton."

James looks out at hundreds of men standing ready, each armed with a longbow. "Good luck," he says to Captain Alerin.

"You too, James," he replies. Then to his men he says, "Move out!"

He and his men begin melting into the forest and in no time at all, they're gone.

"Grab your horses," Dorrin says as he walks over and mounts the only horse left in the camp. "It's not far to the northern edge of the forest, but we better hurry."

They mount up and follow Dorrin as he leads them north through the forest. The trail he takes them on isn't very noticeable and unlikely that they would've been able to follow it on their own. Without Dorrin's help, it would've taken them twice as long to cover the same distance.

A half hour later, the trees begin to thin as they reach the northern edge of the forest. Dorrin stops them abruptly and signals for quiet. He points off to the east where the leading edge of the army heading for Colton can just be seen. They wait there a moment then horns begin to sound and they watch as the army suddenly turns and moves quickly back the way they'd come.

"The captain just let them have it!" Dorrin exclaims jubilantly. He turns back to the others, points to the north and says, "Colton lies a little over an hour north of here. Be careful, the Empire has patrols moving all along this area."

"We will," James a.s.sures him. Offering his hand, he says, "Thanks for your help."

Taking the hand, he gives it a shake and says, "Glad to be of service." Turning his horse back the way they'd just come, he kicks it in the sides and he bolts away, soon disappearing among the trees.

Looking out past the trees, they see open plains once again. The distant sounds of fighting can be heard coming from where Captain Alerin is attacking. "Almost there," says James as he glances to Jiron.

"Never thought we'd even come this far," he replies.

"We're not there yet," Miko adds.

"Come on!" Fifer urges. "This is not the time to be sitting and talking." Kicking the sides of his horse, he breaks into a run as he leaves the shelter of the trees. The others get their horses moving quickly and catch up with him.

"Which way?" asks James when he comes abreast of him.

"There should be a road just ahead of us that runs east and west," he explains. "It lies on that road, where a road from the north intersects with it."

"Riders!" Miko yells.

Scanning the horizon, James sees a group coming toward them from the northeast. "Are they from Madoc?" he hollers to Fifer.

"Can't tell," he says, squinting in an attempt to see better.

"Should we wait to see?" asks Jiron as he watches the eight riders approaching quickly.

A moment later, Fifer exclaims, "No! They're the Empire's men!"

"d.a.m.n!" swears Jiron as they turn to the west and ride hard to keep ahead of them.

Riding fast, they maintain their lead but aren't successful in widening it. "A road!" Miko cries as he sees it appear ahead of them.

"Which way to Colton?" James asks Fifer.

Pointing east he replies, "That way, I think."

If they moved down the road to the east, the riders behind them would easily move and close with them. Giving up on that idea, they take the road to the west.

As they race westward, a river begins to come into view. A rather large army stands on this side of the river, facing to the west. Easily a thousand men strong, they stand before a bridge spanning the river.

On the other side of the bridge is another army, one from the Empire.

Horns begin sounding from both sides as the Empire's troops move forward to claim the bridge, a hail of arrows flies from the defenders, mowing down the first line.

They slow their horses, James glances back at the riders behind them. When the riders see the army ahead of them, they come to a stop and then quickly turn around. No longer threatened from behind, they pause and take in the situation ahead of them at the bridge.

Bolts and arrows fly from one side to the other, bringing men down. The crossbowmen of the Empire outnumber their counterparts on the other side to devastating effect. Half of them appear to be targeting Madoc's bowmen while the others are being more selective, helping to clear the bridge so their footmen can advance further across.

"I don't think they're going to keep them on the other side of the river for long," Jiron says.

"They should've destroyed the bridge," James adds.

"Probably didn't have the equipment nor time before they showed up," reasons Fifer. He glances to James and asks, "Can you do it?"

"Probably, but that would kill everyone from both sides who're on it," he replies.

From the rear section of the defending army, they see men begin pointing to where they're sitting, watching the battle. A squad detaches itself and makes its way toward them.

"Recognize any of them?" James asks Fifer.

Shaking his head, he replies, "No, I don't think so."

Sighing, James says, "Let's go meet them and hope they won't immediately attack us." He takes the lead, Fifer next to him as they move forward.

The leader of the approaching group comes close then raises a hand, indicating they should stop. "What's your business here?" he asks.

"Busy?" asks James as the sound of the fighting by the river intensifies. The amount of arrows striking the attackers is beginning to decrease as the Empire's crossbowmen continue taking out Madoc's archers.

"Sort of," the man replies. "Now, what're you doing here?"

"We're here to help," Fifer explains, causing the man to gaze in his direction.

"Help?" the man laughs at them. "How can you possibly help?"

"If that bridge was gone," Fifer asks as he points over to it, "would they be able to cross?"

Shaking his head, the man replies, "They'd not be able to ford the river for several more miles down stream." He gives them a closer inspection and continues, "But I don't see how that can happen."

Fifer glances to James who resignedly nods his head and says, "You get us close and we'll take it out."

He points back to the bridge and says, "Look! They're almost on this side. We would've pulled out long ago but we got word they're evacuating Colton and need time to get everyone out."

"Nevertheless," James tells him. "You get me close and that bridge is history."

"Do you even need to be close?" asks Jiron.

Looking surprised like the thought had never even occurred to him, he gives him a weary grin and replies, "I guess not, but the closer I am the easier it will be."

"Then let's move closer," Jiron says as he starts to move forward past the squad of men.

James follows him and the squad joins them as they move toward the river. When they reach the rear guard of the defenders, a place where the bolts of the Empire can't reach, he stops.

"Now what?" asks the squad leader.

"Just wait," says Jiron with a smile, "and watch."

The squad leader looks to James as he closes his eyes. A cry erupts back at the bridge, he turns his attention to the river and sees that the attackers have reached this side and more are pouring across the bridge.

The defenders are being mowed down by the bolts sailing through the air and the swords of the men. What's left of the order and discipline the defenders had is now gone as they turn and begin to flee the battlefield.

Crumph!

Suddenly, the bridge explodes. A ma.s.s of men and stones sail through the air before landing among the soldiers on both sides.

The fighting halts momentarily as both sides stare in startled shock at what remains of the bridge. Then, the defenders who had been in a complete, panicked rout, erupt in a cheer as they see the enemy's route cut off. The once routed defenders turn on the enemy who'd made it to this side of the river and begin attacking them with renewed determination.

Jiron looks to James and is glad to see him not slumping over or pa.s.sing out as he usually does after such a display.

The squad next to them stares at James in awe and Jiron can hear "A mage!" being whispered among them.

Eyes still closed, James again concentrates...

Crumph! Crumph! Crumph!