Shades of the Past: The Morcyth Saga Book Six (11 page)

Ceadric comes up next to him. “More may be on
the way, it’s hard to know for sure.”

James looks out over the mass of men and can
only look on in awe. Never had he thought he would have such a
force of men for what he plans to do. This may work out after
all.

A tall rider, well over six feet tall with
gray peppering his black hair, comes forward from the men awaiting
them and comes to a stop before Illan. “Sir!” he says with a
salute. After Illan returns the salute, the man says, “All are
ready. Each has three days of supplies and is eager to go.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Illan tells him. To
those riding with him, he says, “Stay here a moment.” Moving
forward alone, he addresses those in the Hollow. Raising his voice
to carry to the farthest man he says, “Madoc has been victimized
again by the Empire. Again, Black Hawk’s Raiders are summoned to
show them the error of their ways.”

A whoop and holler erupts from the men and
he’s forced to pause a moment until they’ve quieted back down
enough so they’ll be able to hear him. “Our goal is simple. Drive
them out or die to the last man!” Again, a cheer erupts, oaths are
sworn and the men rattle their swords in their sheathes.

When again the Hollow is quiet, Illan hollers
out, “This time, I do not lead.” A murmur runs through the men at
that. He holds up his hand for quiet. When he has it, he motions
James to come forward and stand next to him. Once he’s there, Illan
turns back to the assembled men and says, “This is James, a mage of
fearsome power who leads this company. I have sworn him my support
for the trials ahead. If you follow me, you follow him.” He glances
around at the assembled faces and then says, “What say you? Will
you follow?”

To a man they yell, “Yes!” The sound of their
voices rings out across the hills.

“Then, let’s go teach the Empire a lesson
they’ll never forget!” he hollers and turns around to face the
direction they just came from. To Ceadric he says, “Just as before,
you’re my second. Keep the chain of command the same as it was
before.”

“Aye sir,” he says and then moves toward
those waiting in the Hollow.

“Inspiring,” James says as they get underway
to return to town.

Illan gives him a grin and replies, “It’s
expected. Something for them to tell their grandkids about.”

“I think some already have their grandkids
with them,” Uther observes from behind.

“Well if you think about it,” Jorry begins,
“that wouldn’t make them all that old even if they did. Suppose
they had their first child when they were sixteen and then…”

All the way into town, they hear Uther and
Jorry argue the possibilities and circumstances about age,
grandkids and the men’s worthiness in battle. Finally, Illan turns
on them and tells them to stop, that it was getting on his nerves.
They actually had the temerity to look offended that he said what
he did. In any event, it got them to stop.

Once they reach town, James thought they
would have taken the road back the way they had come. But Illan
instead takes them to the southeast, cross country. “Why are we
going this way?” he asks him.

“The road adds another couple hours,” he
explains. “This way we should reach the walls of Lythylla before
night.”

Their column stretches back half a mile. At
the fore ride Illan and James. Behind them rides Ceadric with a
score of men as well as Jiron and Miko. The man who brought the
Black Hawk banner rides within that group, the flag proudly
flapping in the breeze.

Next comes Delia with the rest who set out
from The Ranch as well as all their pack horses. James didn’t want
them trailing along at the end, felt what they were carrying was
too important to take the risk.

At the end ride the men who flocked to
Illan’s call.

The mood of the various groups is for the
most part expectant and hopeful. The group from The Ranch feels
better now that they have a band of battle hardened men
accompanying them.

As they ride, more men from Illan’s old force
come and join their ranks. At one point after they stop briefly for
the noon meal, they encounter a patrol out of Lythylla.

When the officer in charge of the patrol sees
the banner bearing the Black Hawk he breaks into a gallop and races
toward them, his men following close behind.

Before he has a chance to make any sort of
declaration, Illan hollers, “What’s the news from Lythylla?” He
then brings his horse to a halt which signals the column behind him
to stop as well.

The officer hesitates a moment before
replying, his eyes moving from the banner, to Illan in his Black
Hawk attire and then the column of men stretching behind him. His
men come to a stop behind him, murmurs are heard as they come to
understand who it is before them. “The Empire has yet to attack,”
he explains. “So far they’ve been satisfied with probing
attacks.”

“What strength do they have?”

“Last word was close to ten thousand,” he
replies. “Looks like they’ve committed most of their reserves in
taking Lythylla.” When Illan doesn’t reply, he asks, “Do you mean
to go there then?”

“I do,” he says.

At that an excited murmur again comes from
the officer’s men.

“From here to the city is clear of enemy
patrols and agents,” the officer tells him.

“Thank you,” he says and then gets his horse
moving again. As they leave the patrol behind, James hears “Black
Hawk!” and other exclamations as the officer’s men can no longer
control themselves in their jubilation. If anyone can save Madoc in
its time of need, it’s him.

James had come to the decision before this
all began to leave the interaction with other military people to
Illan. He understands the subtle nuances to get what needs done far
better than he does. In those instances, he stays back and lets him
have his way, confident he will do nothing to compromise their
objective.

They reach the walls of Lythylla two hours
after leaving the patrol behind. During that time, they encounter
another three patrols, all telling them the same. Each time they
continue on, leaving behind men whose hope for the future has been
rekindled.

When the walls appear ahead of them, so does
the river. They’re able to take in the defenses of the enemy which
have sprung up over the winter. Nothing major, simply a wooden
palisade stretching to the horizon several hundred feet from the
river’s edge. Enemy patrols are seen in the area between the
palisade and the water. From their vantage point, it’s impossible
to see what lies on the other side of the palisade.

“Should we ride closer and let them see who
it is that’s come to join the fight?” asks Ceadric. The revelation
that Black Hawk has joined the fray would definitely send ripples
of uncertainty and perhaps a little bit of fear through the
soldiers.

Illan shakes his head and says, “No. Now is
not the time.”

“They’ll know before too much longer,” Jiron
says from his position behind them.

“When they do, they do,” he says and the tone
of his voice tells them this conversation is over.

As they draw close to the north gate, they
find it shut tight. Previously, it had been left open allowing
refugees the opportunity to escape the coming conflict. By this
time though, anyone who was going to flee would already have done
so.

A crowd gathers along the wall over the gate
as word spreads of the approaching force. When they’re finally able
to see the Black Hawk banner flying in the wind, a cheer goes up
from the defenders.

As they come within a couple hundred feet of
the gate, it begins to swing open and six men ride out to meet
them. In the center of the group is none other than Lord Pytherian
himself. His aide Henri rides beside him as well as four other
military officers.

“Greetings Black Hawk,” Lord Pytherian says
as the two parties come together and stop.

“Milord,” Illan replies back.

“It’s been awhile,” he says.

A chuckle can be heard from the helm. “You
could say that,” he replies.

Lord Pytherian finally glances at the others
riding with the famed Black Hawk and his eyes widen when he
discovers James there beside him. “As I live and breathe,” he says.
“Am I glad to see you.”

“Sounds like you are about to have your hands
full,” he says. “Good to see you again milord.”

“You too, James,” he replies and then turns
his attention back to Illan.

“There are many things which we need to
discuss,” Illan tells him.

“Indeed,” he replies as he turns back toward
the city.

Across the river, soldiers of the Empire are
taking a most interested look at the new arrivals. From their
vantage point across the river, it’s hard to tell whether or not
they have made out the banner. From the lack of excitement, James
figures they haven’t yet done so.

At the gate, soldiers and civilians who have
stayed behind to aid in Lythylla’s defense gather to greet the new
arrivals. Shouts of “Black Hawk” and other exclamations greet them
as they enter the city. The way they’re greeting him, you would
think Illan was a returning conquering hero. Thinking back on the
tales of his exploits, it may not be far from the truth.

James takes a good look at the walls of the
city as they continue along. Several catapults are stationed evenly
across the wall facing the river which will be able to rain stone
and fire upon those attempting to breach the walls. He almost feels
sorry for the enemy. Almost.

Lord Pytherian brings them to a plaza close
to the castle area that had at one time been an open air market.
Now the stalls lie closed and the whole area is deserted. “Your men
can have this area while you’re here,” he tells them.

To Ceadric, Illan says, “Get the men settled
in and wait for our return.”

“Aye sir,” he says and then begins barking
orders as he does as bidden.

To Delia and Jiron, James says, “You better
stay here too. Stay close to the others and watch for strangers.
You never know.”

“You got it,” Jiron tells him.

In the center of the plaza is a statue of a
rearing horse. The man with the Black Hawk banner goes to it and
manages to secure the banner there so it will fly free with the
breeze. Illan looks at it for a moment and then turns to go with
James as Lord Pytherian takes them to the castle.

“What’s the situation?” asks Illan.

“Let’s talk about that inside,” he
replies.

Illan looks to James with worry. Not wishing
to talk about it in public can only be a bad sign. James nods his
head in understanding.

After they enter the gates leading to the
castle area, they make their way across the courtyard. At the
castle entrance they dismount and then pass through the gates
leading into the castle proper. The pages in the hallway, as well
as the men-at-arms all stop in stunned silence when they see Black
Hawk among them.

The men accompanying Lord Pytherian continue
to walk with him. They reach a pair of double doors and Henri opens
one for his lord and waits while they all file through. Once the
last one is in, he enters as well and closes it.

Within the room is a large table with a map
laid out across its top. Upon closer examination, it’s revealed to
be a map of the surrounding countryside with figures sitting upon
it. It’s a map detailing the positions of the enemy’s forces on the
far side of the river.

Lord Pytherian takes the chair at the head of
the table, James and Illan sit across from him. The others take the
remaining chairs while Henri remains standing behind his lord.

Indicating the other men there with them, he
says, “These are the leaders of our forces. Whatever you have to
say to me you can say to them.”

Illan glances to James who gives him the go
ahead to talk. “Milord, we did not come to place our forces at your
disposal,” he says. “We, rather James here, has a proposition for
you.”

“A proposition?” asks Lord Pytherian. Two of
the other members of the group visibly frown at the statement.

“Yes,” replies Illan.

One member of the group, a gray haired man
with ribbons and medals adorning his uniform asks, “And what is
this proposition?”

Illan glances to James who stands. “It’s
simple,” he tells them. “I would like your help in constructing a
building.”

Shocked to say the least, this was the last
thing they expected to hear. “A building?” another of the men
asks.

“Are we to waste our time hearing this
balderdash?” still another says.

“In return,” James continues, ignoring the
outbursts, “we will drive the Empire out of Madoc.”

The man with the medals and ribbons breaks
out laughing, the others look angry at being played for fools. “Are
you serious?” he asks.

“Completely,” he replies.

“You and that band you brought in will drive
out the forces which the alliance has only been able to slow?” one
man asks. “I hardly doubt that young man.”

Lord Pytherian has remained quiet and
thoughtful throughout. He remembers the feats James and his band
did during the summer when the Empire all but broke through the
gates. Also, rumors have reached him of other events concerning
him, things which hardly seem credible.

“What building do you require and where is it
to be built?” he asks.

The general with medals and ribbons turns to
Lord Pytherian and asks, “You can’t be taking him serious?”

“Absolutely,” he assures him. “For a couple
reasons. One, Black Hawk here would hardly tie his fortune with a
losing enterprise. And two, I’ve seen what he can do. For those of
you who don’t know who he is, this is the mage James.”

Eyes widen in surprise at that. He hardly
looks the magical type. “This is the James we have been hearing so
much about?” one asks.