Shades Of The Past Part 5

"Yes, Miko," he admits. "In one way or another, I do."

They walk the rest of the way in silence until James' tent is before them. Pausing before the entrance, Miko says goodnight too. As he moves toward his tent, a smile comes to him and he absentmindedly rubs the Star where it rests in the pouch.

The following morning, with the sun breaking through fluffy, white clouds, they get underway with James and Illan in the lead. The group continues down the road as it meanders its way through the foothills, never straying very far from the mountains.

Refugees from the south stream past in intermittent groups, those fleeing the impending conflict when the Empire makes its push for Lythylla and the north. The few they do speak to tell them the Empire has already made probing attacks on the defenders at Lythylla but have yet to commit their entire force. One man tells them that before he left, the force outside the walls of Lythylla had grown to over five thousand with more arriving every day.

"Grim news indeed," Illan comments to James after the man continues on.

Nodding, James hopes what he brought can win the day against so many. He had thought to face perhaps a thousand, maybe two. But five thousand? But five thousand? "We can but do our best," he says with more confidence than he feels. The outcome will primarily depend upon how many mages they have. If but one or two, he should be fine. They have yet to put more than that with any force he's encountered so far and it isn't like they're expecting him to show up or anything. "We can but do our best," he says with more confidence than he feels. The outcome will primarily depend upon how many mages they have. If but one or two, he should be fine. They have yet to put more than that with any force he's encountered so far and it isn't like they're expecting him to show up or anything.

The end of the day finds them approaching a small town nestled in a small valley in the hills. "Yeln," Illion tells them as the town comes into view. They set up camp south of town in the lee of a hill.

While preparations are underway to set up the tents and get the horses settled in, a family is seen traveling from the south. Illan takes notice with keen interest and says to James, "Be right back."

James nods his head and watches Illan move to intercept them. When he's crossed half the distance, an older gentleman disengages himself from the others and moves quickly to meet him. "Looks like he knows them," he says.

Miko comes over and stands with him as he watches the two men. When they come together, they exchange a hearty handshake and then stand there in conversation for several minutes.

The man's family leaves the road and joins the two men. A woman places her hand on Illan's shoulder and he gives her a hug. Suddenly, Illan releases her and stands erect. A few more words are exchanged before he turns and returns to where they have all but finished settling in. Behind him, the family returns to the road and continues making their way north, eventually entering Yeln.

As Illan approaches, they begin to take note of the expression on his face. Many of the recruits have been on the receiving end of that expression through some infraction or other they had the misfortune to make during their training. All hope never to see it directed at them for it means dire consequences. The fact that he's wearing it now can only be bad.

James and Miko make their way to him and James asks, "What's wrong?"

When he nears them he comes to a stop. In a voice quivering in rage, he says, "My wife is dead."

"What?" exclaims Miko.

"How?" asks James. He glances over his shoulder and sees Devin already has his tent ready for him. Turning back to Illan he says, "Let's go to my tent and you can explain."

Illan nods and stalks forward toward James' tent. On the way James catches Jiron and Delia's eye and indicates for them to come along as well.

Devin comes forward, sees the expression on Illan's face and stops in his tracks. His heart begins beating again when he realizes it's not directed at him. He glances to James who says, "Make sure we're not disturbed for anything."

Nodding silently, Devin moves to the tent flap and holds it open for them to enter. Once they're all in, he closes it and takes position outside.

"What's going on?" Delia asks as she looks to James.

He nods to Illan and remains silent. All eyes turn to Illan as he stands there in silence for a full minute. Then in a voice cracking with sorrow and anger, he explains. "My wife is dead. Our son and his family taken. Everything my family has is gone!"

Delia gasps and Miko asks, "How?"

Illan turns his gaze to James and says, "Things have gone ill in Seastar."

Seastar. The last time they were in Seastar, they had freed a captain from jail in order to reach the far side of the Sea in short order. "It's not because of the captain is it?" he asks.

Nodding, Illan replies, "Yes it is. Remember that man whom the captain hit, Lord Faetherton?" When James nods, he continues. "Seems he found out who it was that took the captain from the jail, nothing stays hidden in a small town. From what my friend said, it didn't take him long to extract his revenge on the only ones available."

"Your family," says James in sorrow.

Illan nods. "That's right. Through means legal and foul, he ousted Harlan from the Magistrate's office and basically took over the town. From then it was fairly easy for him to jail my wife, my son and his family. He then took our lands and all our possessions as reparations for taking the captain."

"How could he get away with all this?" Jiron asks, not believing what he's hearing. "Shouldn't the guards or even the townsfolk have done something?"

"With the war going on, all able bodied men are down south," he explains. "There was no one left to stand against him but old men and young boys. He's acquired a score or so of toughs who keep the people in line and none now dare gainsay his wishes."

"Did he kill your wife?" Delia asks.

"Not directly, no," he replies. "She languished in jail, as has my whole family, through the winter. She caught pneumonia and died. My son and his family are still being held."

"Then what are we waiting for?" announces Jiron. Everyone turns to look at the murder in his eyes. "Seems we have some justice to dispense!"

"I agree," says James, Delia and Miko both nod in agreement. "We can't let this continue." To Illan he says, "We're with you, just tell us what you want to do."

"I thank you all," he says and then marches from the tent. "Jorry! Uther!" he hollers in the tone of voice all have come to know and at times fear.

"Yes, sir?" Jorry replies as he and Uther come running. The others move closer to see what's going on.

"I've got some work for you two," he says.

Late the following afternoon, Illan along with everyone else but Jorry and Uther, approach the outskirts of Seastar. The mood of the group is somber, the story of what happened to his family has been told to each and every member of their group. They are saddened by his loss while at the same time angered at the man who is behind it.

Jorry and Uther were sent ahead last night to scout the town. They were supposed to have met them on the road this morning but have yet to make an appearance.

"Do you think anything happened to them?" Jiron asks.

"Hope not," replies Illan. He thought he would be feeling anger and rage at this point, but all that goes through his mind are the memories of his Alaina. They first met when he was but a lad and had just entered service with Madoc's army. He was on leave and had journeyed to Seastar for no better reason than that he had never been there.

Riding through town, he saw a flash of auburn hair and a friendly smile and was smitten forevermore. Their son arrived three years after their wedding, the only child to have survived. There were two other pregnancies after that but one had been stillborn and the last, a girl, had died before reaching a year.

Memories of their time together wash over him as he pa.s.ses through the first of the buildings. People upon the street see him riding into town and stop in their tracks. Several call to him but he ignores everyone, intent on his memories.

He leads the group through town and at first James thought he was heading for the magistrate's office. But instead, leads them through town to the north and into the hills. Not far out of town an estate appears ahead of them, a grand estate with a large stone fence surrounding it. The manor house in the distance stands three stories tall and the road leading through the front gate to the house is cobblestone.

"Is this where you live?" Miko asks once it's become clear he means to go there.

Illan nods, "My family has lived here for six generations."

Half a mile from the gates of the estate, two men emerge from the surrounding trees. James sees it's Jorry and Uther.

"Well?" Illan asks once they've come near.

"Two guards stand at the gates," Uther tells him.

"Not sure how many are inside but we've seen four men enter and two leave," Jorry explains.

"Grab your horses," Illan says and kicks his horse to move toward the gate. They hurry into the trees and reemerge shortly riding their horses, then fall in line with the others.

He rides without hesitation and is shortly approaching the gate. The two men standing guard move to stand before the gate and one steps forward. Holding his hand up indicating for them to stop, he says, "No one is allowed to enter."

"On whose authority?" Illan asks, bringing his horse to a stop, scant inches from the man.

"By authority of Lord Faetherton," he replies.

Illan glares down at the man and asks, "Is this Faetherton here?"

"Lord Faetherton is currently in town," the man explains. Faetherton is currently in town," the man explains.

Illan glances to Jiron next to him and says, "Open the gate for me."

"Sure," Jiron replies. Hoping down from his horse, he moves toward the gate.

The man steps in front of him and actually puts his hand on Jiron's chest. "I said, no one is allowed to enter."

Jiron pauses only a moment before his takes the man's wrist and twists it painfully. With his other hand, he grabs the man by the back of the neck and throws him out of his way. He resumes his progress toward the gate and the other guard draws his sword, moving to bar his way.

"I wouldn't do that," a woman's voice says in the stillness. The guard glances to the others and sees Aleya with arrow knocked and aimed straight at him.

Jiron comes to him and takes his sword.

"Scar, Shorty," Illan says, "tie them up please." They immediately dismount and remove rope from their saddle bags.

Outnumbered, the guards remain docile while they're being tied. "How many more of you are there?" Illan asks.

One guard remains stoically silent but the other says, "Five."

"Shut up!" the other guard orders.

"What should we do with them?" James asks.

Illan glances at him and says, "No reason to kill them. It's not with them that I have a quarrel." He glances at the two men sitting on the ground and adds, "At least not yet." To Scar and Shorty he says, "You two stay here and keep an eye on them. Let us know if anyone comes."

"You got it," Scar a.s.sures him.

Jiron pulls the bar and draws the gate open. He pushes it so it swings around and slams into the inner wall where it remains. Returning to his horse, he joins the others as they move toward the manor house.

The inner grounds have been meticulously kept. Off to one side is a flowering garden of magnificent beauty. Stone paths work their way through the blossoms and two benches can be seen where people could take their ease while enjoying the beauty surrounding them. The sight of the gardens brings sadness to Illan. His Alaina had loved them and spent many sunny days among them. A smile comes to him when he remembers his son as a boy and how he once played in her flowers, ruining many young plants. Her anger at him was fierce but he never really learned to stay out of her plants.

As they move down the cobblestone road, the front door opens and a man emerges. Dressed finely with an air of command, he watches them approach. "How dare you forcibly enter Lord Faetherton's estate?" From windows on the second and third floor, three men have crossbows aimed at them.

"This is my house and I have no need to explain myself to you," Illan tells the man as he looks down at him from the back of his horse. "Tell those men with the crossbows to lower their weapons or we'll kill you all, right here, right now."

The man stands there a moment a.s.sessing the situation. That was definitely not the response he was expecting. Since coming here to Seastar, he's heard rumors of this Illan for this is who must be before him. Some of the rumors he didn't give much credence to. It only takes him a moment to decide he's woefully outnumbered and hollers up to the others, "Lower your weapons."

"And tell them to leave my house," he says.

"Everyone, out!" the man yells. The three men covering them with crossbows from above leave the windows and come join the man in front of Illan.

"Where's the other guy?" James asks.

"There is no other," he tells them.

"We were told to expect five here," Illan explains. "So where is he?"

"I a.s.sure you," the man says, his nervousness rising, "there is no one else here."

"Jiron, take Yern and Potbelly and search the house," he says.

Dismounting, Jiron says "You got it." With Yern and Potbelly beside him, he makes his way to the front door.

Raising his voice loudly, the man says, "I a.s.sure you, there is no one inside this house!"

Jiron pushes him out of the way and enters through the front door, the other two right behind.

"Miko, tie them up," Illan says.

Getting down from his horse, Miko removes a coil of rope and begins securing the hands and feet of the four men.

"Lord Faetherton will not take too kindly to this intrusion," the man warns Illan as Miko ties his hands behind his back.

"No, I suppose not," he replies. "And as far as Faetherton is concerned, where might I find him?" When the man fails to respond, he says, "No matter. I'll find him in due course."

Suddenly, from the back of the house, the sound of a horse reaches them just before a man appears riding hard toward the gate. "Don't let him leave!" orders Illan.

Aleya and Errin turn in the saddle and draw back their arrows. After taking aim, they let their arrows fly but the rider dodges and the arrows fly wide. A whine begins to be heard as several slingers twirl their slings before letting their slugs fly toward the fleeing man. One manages to strike him in the side and almost knocks him off his horse but he somehow keeps his balance.

"Shorty!" Jiron yells as he races from the back of the house.

At the gate, Shorty and Scar have been observing the events transpiring by the manor house. When they see the man racing toward them, Scar moves to close the gate while Shorty takes position in the road. Shorty removes a throwing knife and throws, catching the horse in the chest.

The horse stumbles and crashes to the ground, throwing the man several feet where he lands hard. Shorty runs over with another of his knives in hand but slows when he sees the man is not moving. As he draws close, he finds that the man broke his neck when he struck the ground.

Turning to the others at the manor house, he yells, "He's dead!"

"Get him and his horse out of the road and behind the wall," Illan hollers back to him.

Shorty nods and then he and Scar begin the gruesome job of dragging the dead man and horse to the wall.

"Who was that?" Illan asks, turning back to the man before him.

"n.o.body," he replies.

Illan eyes him a moment and then dismounts. To Caleb he says, "Go tell Shorty and Scar to continue keeping watch and to shut the gate." When he runs off to do as bid, Illan turns to Nerrin and Moyil. "Go down there and bring the two guards back here with the others."