Quest's End: The Broken Key #3 (26 page)

“Then why must we leave?” demanded Chyfe.

“They’ve begun searching the city,” he stated. With everyone looking on, he explained. “I was in the plaza keeping an eye on the gates when they suddenly opened, and squads of guards began coming through. I followed one of the groups to try and discover what was going on.”

“They went to an inn and while two remained outside, eight men entered. A short time later they emerged with two men from Byrdlon. One was unconscious and being carried by two of the guards. The other had a black eye and blood was flowing from his nose. Both were bound.”

“What are they doing?” asked Chyfe though he was afraid he already knew the answer.

“I asked one of the guards who said they were rounding up people to question about the disturbance at the castle,” he explained. “It’s only a matter of time before they come here.”

Chyfe raced for the window and looked out at the street. “No guards yet,” he told the others. “Grab your stuff. We’re leaving.”

“What about Bart?” objected Riyan.

Chyfe rounded on him and asked, “What good are we going to do him if we’re thrown into a cell beneath the castle?”

“He’s right,” agreed Chad. Racing for the door, he said, “Meet you in the stables.” He was soon out the door and heading for his room to retrieve his pack. The others began doing the same.

It didn’t take long before they were in the stables setting a speed record in saddling their horses. Chyfe was the first to have his mount saddled. With reins in hand, he led his horse over to the stable door. Looking out, he saw a city guard exiting from the back of the inn. The guard glanced around the courtyard then his eyes settled onto the stable.

“Trouble,” Chyfe whispered to the others. He mouthed the word ‘guard’ and pointed to the courtyard.

“Damn!” he heard Riyan curse as he worked to cinch the final straps tight.

Chyfe was soon joined by Seth and Kevik and they watched the guard begin walking across the courtyard toward the stable. Thus far, he was the only person in sight.

“What are we to do?” asked Kevik.

“We can’t let them take us,” Seth said.

“I’m well aware of that fact,” stated Chyfe.

The guard had now covered half the distance. He paused a moment and glanced back to the inn when another guard emerged through the door and said, “They’re not in their rooms.”

“Did they take their belongings?” asked the guard in the courtyard.

The guard at the door nodded his head. “Yes they did,” he replied.

“Question everyone,” the guard in the courtyard told the other. “And have Caleb and Benn search the neighboring streets. They may not have gone far.”

“Yes sir,” the guard at the inn’s door replied. As the guard ducked back within the inn, the one in the courtyard turned back toward the stable and resumed his progress.

“Everyone back!” whispered Chyfe urgently. He and the others moved away from the door. Then Chyfe turned to Kevik. “As soon as he passes through the door, hit him with your goo spell.”

Kevik kept his eyes on the door and nodded.

The guard’s footsteps could be heard as he neared the door. Then, the door swung open and the guard stepped through. No sooner had the guard’s foot hit the ground inside the stable, than he was encased in goo. Shocked by the unexpectedness of the attack, he remained still for a second before commencing to struggle and shout. The goo covered him to such an extent that the only sounds he could make were indistinct gruntings.

“Let’s go,” Chyfe said as he mounted his horse.

Chad held the reins to Bart’s horse in hand as he swung into the saddle. Soth took up the rear with the two pack mules.

Chyfe turned to Seth, “Take the lead.”

Seth nodded. “You got it,” he replied as he began moving toward the exit.

“Make it quick,” Chad said as Seth emerged into the courtyard and headed quickly for the gate leading to the street.

The courtyard was clear of any other guards at the moment. First Seth, then Chyfe crossed the courtyard and passed to the street beyond. Then came Riyan and Chad. When Kevik’s horse was but two feet from the gate, a shout rang out from the inn. Kevik and Soth glanced to the inn and saw a guard framed in a second story window. The very window to the room Kevik had stayed in the night before.

“Stop!” the guard yelled. When he saw Kevik and Soth kick their horses to quicken their pace, he yelled, “they’re getting away.” In a flash, they were through the gate.

The commotion the guard was making drew stares toward them as they fled. Soth led the others down the street toward the city gate furthest from the castle. It was his hope that the squads of guards which had issued forth from the castle area may not have yet made it that far.

A quarter of the city lay between their inn and the gate. They were quickly forced to slow as the street was congested with people going about their day to day business. Behind them, guards emerged from the inn’s courtyard in pursuit, and began closing the distance.

“We have to move faster,” Riyan hollered at Seth and Chyfe. “They’re gaining!” Hampered as they were with trying to make their way through the crowd on horseback, they were unable to quicken their pace.

Seth looked at the sea of people before them and realized he’d have to trample women and children under his horse’s hooves to accomplish a greater speed. He maintained his pace, agonizing over the knowledge that there was nothing he could do without risking the innocent. And that was something he wouldn’t do.

“Start yelling!” hollered Kevik.

“What?” asked Chad.

“Start yelling like you’re insane!” he replied.

“But we’ll attract attention,” argued Riyan.

Kevik gave him a look of annoyance and indicated the guards rapidly closing the distance behind them. “It no longer matters,” he said. “Now yell!” Raising his hands, Kevik spoke arcane words and a massive spray of sparks flew into the air from his fingertips.

Riyan and the others quickly got the idea and started to yell. Loud, incoherent gibberish it may have been, but the crowd quickly took notice and grew fearful. Then, energy missiles flew over the heads of the crowd and struck buildings bordering the street as Kevik began casting them in rapid succession.

Screaming, the people on the streets ran for their lives. Seth glanced back at Kevik, nodded, then kicked his horse into motion.

The display they put on would only work for a block or two. Then they would reach an area where people had heard the commotion, yet hadn’t recognized it as a possible threat. So Kevik and the others would be forced to repeat the ‘disturbance’ every so often to keep the street ahead of them cleared of pedestrians.

“My lord,” the magic user said excitedly.

“Did you find him?” the River Man asked.

“No,” came the reply. The purplish ball in his hand was spitting out micro bursts of lightning in a frenzy. Moving to the nearest window, the magic user pointed toward the heart of the city. “But magic is being cast out there.”

“Well, well,” his lord said. “Seems we’ve flushed out the intruder’s accomplices.”

“Perhaps,” agreed the magic user. Though they were below the level of the wall surrounding the castle area, they could still see the occasional energy missile arc up into the sky.

Turning to the captain of his guard, the Warlord of the Orack Tribe said, “You know what to do.”

The captain nodded and patted the satchel hanging at his side. Giving his lord a brief bow, he turned and rushed down to the score of horsemen waiting by the castle gates. Once mounted, he led his men from the castle area. He had no sooner exited through the gate than a spray of sparks arced into the sky followed shortly by a series of energy bolts. Thinking it was nice of them to let him know where they were, the captain raced through the streets.

Word quickly spread ahead of them of their approach and the streets began to grow clearer. They could see the wall where it rose above the buildings and knew they were close.

Archers upon the wall were racing toward the gate area. Already there were half a dozen stationed there with more on the way. When the gate area finally came into view, they saw the gates were closed and two score guards stood before them.

“Now what?” asked Riyan. With the archers above and the guards below, not to mention an unknown number following in their wake, he didn’t like their odds should they attempt to fight their way out.

Kevik moved to the fore as the others slowed. “Keep close,” he said as he moved toward the gate.

“We’ll never make it though there,” Chad said to him.

“Just stay close,” Kevik told him. “And don’t move until I say so.”

“Okay,” replied Chad. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Silently, Kevik said to himself, So do I. As he drew nearer, one of the archers atop the wall released an arrow which fell short. Kevik spoke arcane words and a shimmering field appeared before him. Not slowing, he kept a steady pace as he approached the gate.

Ping!

Another arrow launched from the wall hit the shimmering field and was deflected to the side. Kevik inwardly smiled at the effectiveness of the shield.

“Behind us!” hollered Soth from the rear.

Kevik glanced back and saw a swarm of guards coming down the street toward them. There had to be at least fifty or more. Another stream of arcane words and a yellowish fog filled the street behind them.

Riyan watched as guards entered the fog and succumbed to its power. One after another they entered the fog only to fall shortly afterward. “Are they dead?” he asked.

“No,” replied Kevik. “Just asleep. Let me know if any make it through.”

“Alright,” Riyan assured him.

Turning back to the men at the gate, Kevik readied himself for his next series of spells. He was growing fatigued at casting so many spells in so short a time. What his master had explained as his ‘magical reserve’ was rapidly being depleted. He was confident, however, that he could still do what needed to be done.

“They’re dropping like flies,” observed Soth.

Kevik turned a deaf ear to the comments of his friends as he began his first spell.

Arrows were coming at them rapidly as they were now within range. His shield continued to deflect the majority of them, but the shield was only so large. A couple did manage to get through, though they failed to find a target.

Speaking arcane words, Kevik caused another yellow fog to appear among those before the gate. Before they even realized what was happening, the guards succumbed and fell to the ground. A few seconds later, another yellow fog appeared among the archers atop the wall. In short order, the defenders at the gate were unconscious.

Kevik pointed over to the gatehouse where a section of the yellow fog still held a presence. “I’ll have to dispel it before you can release the locks,” he explained.

“Then do it,” Chyfe said. “We haven’t much time.”

“But when I do, those affected by the spell will begin to regain consciousness,” he warned. “You’ll have to move fast.”

“Understood,” he said, then turned to Riyan. “You and Chad open the gate as soon as I get it unlocked.”

Riyan nodded.

“Let’s move,” Chyfe said. Riding toward the gatehouse, he scanned the area for any guards, but all he saw were locals staring out from windows and behind doors. Then just before he reached the edge of the spell, the fog disappeared. Once it was gone, he dismounted and ran the rest of the way to the gatehouse.

“Soth!” Seth hollered to his brother as he vaulted from his horse.

Soth turned and saw Seth running toward three guards emerging from a side street. Dismounting, he drew his sword and raced to join his brother. The clash of swords rang out as the twins engaged the three guards. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they held them at bay while the others worked to get the gate open.

Kevik remained in the saddle, staff clutched in his hands. He kept watch on the area, ready to give aid or cast a spell as the situation warranted. Seeing that Seth and Soth were holding their own, he turned his attention to the gatehouse just as Chyfe reached it.

Guards who had previously been laid out by his spell were beginning to come around now that he had dispelled it. Chyfe was forced to take the time to drag one semi-conscious body out from before the gatehouse door before he could open it. Once he had the guard out of the way, he was quickly inside.

Shouts could be heard in the adjoining streets as more guards worked to get by the area of fog in the street that blocked their way.

Clack-Bang!

“I got it!” yelled Chyfe as the wheels turned and the gate’s lock disengaged. Emerging from the gatehouse, he raced back to his horse. Suddenly, he saw bolts of energy leap from Kevik’s outstretched hand straight toward him. Throwing himself to the ground, he narrowly avoided being struck. A gasp and cry behind him drew his attention just as two guards were flung backwards from the missiles’ impact.

A creaking sound could be heard as Riyan and Chad began pulling open the gate. Guards in the area grew ever more aware of what was going on around them as the effects of the spell wore off. When they realized the gate was being opened, they moved to prevent it. But their coordination was still a bit off and the best they could do was a stumbling shamble.

Riyan and Chad pulled with all their might as the gate continued swinging open. From the corner of his eye, Riyan saw one of the guards coming toward him. Kicking out, he connected with the man’s chest and sent him sprawling backwards into the others.

“Seth, Soth!” hollered Kevik. “It’s open!”

Seth glanced back to the gate which almost proved fatal. The guard he was facing thrust at his midsection and almost didn’t see it coming. Twisting in the nick of time, he prevented the sword from skewering him but still received a cut along his side.

He was about to strike again when he was grabbed from behind by one of the recovering guards. Next to him, Soth cried out as others took hold of him.

The guards before them quickly removed the twins’ swords from their hands as those holding them immobilized their arms. “Now…” one guard started to say when a yellow fog materialized at his feet. He only had a moment to be surprised before consciousness left him.