Medice Ceres

Chapter 26

All eyes swung toward Waithe and Ceres as they burst into the cottage. Waithe placed two books in Jenn's hands. "These will bolster your charges against Reverend Quar." He took a deep breath, trying to recover from the sprint they made to arrive here. "We were found out. It may not be long until the remaining Medice Guard comes to this door."

Jenn turned to the soldier beside her. "Captain!"

He nodded and ran to muster his men. Within a few minutes, the horses were assembled and mounted. Ceres stuffed the books she carried into the saddlebags of her packhorse. They galloped toward the front gate in the pre-dawn darkness.

Two guards lay on the ground snoring on each side of the front gate, the Spirit Lun's Magic still held. Two of Jenn's soldiers jumped from their horses and turned the winch that raised the gate, a heavy wood and iron grid portcullis that stood between massive stone gatehouses with pointed roofs. Tall stone walls with top walkways extended on either side, surrounding the compound within its protection.

Waithe turned his head back to sounds of shouts and horses in the distance. The Medice Guards would soon be in pursuit. He waved everyone else through the open gate, then leaped from his horse and sent it through riderless. He reached back and pulled his sword, holding it aloft.

A fearful look came over Ceres' face and she called out. "Waithe, No!"

Alden came up beside her. "Fear not, Ceres. I think I understand what he tries to do."

Alden jumped from his horse as he passed the gate. 

Waithe came to the gate winch and swung his sword to chop at the thick rope that held the gate up. After three swings the rope severed and the heavy gate slid down its track. But too fast it slammed down, well before Waithe could slide beneath it. A feeling of panic rose in him, he had not intended to end up on this side of the gate. But then something caught his eye: a log jammed under the gate, leaving a gap just enough for Waithe to crawl under. Once through, he and Alden together kicked the log away and allowed the gate to fully slide down. For good measure, Alden jammed a rock in the gate guide slot.

Waithe turned to Alden. "This be your doing?" Alden nodded with a grin. Waithe patted him on the back. "Well done, Alden! I believe you saved me from a rather inconvenient turn of events."

The group galloped off into the early morning twilight as three Medice Guards on horseback reached the disabled gate.

As he crested a hill on the road, Waithe turned his horse around and scanned behind them. Thus far there was no sign of pursuit, but they would come soon. He galloped up beside Jenn. "My Lady, which way would you go? They will soon come after us."

"We continue south." She pointed ahead. "Just past those hills, we turn east. I know a way through the desert that would soon take us into my land of Woest. They dare not follow us there."

At Jenn's direction, the group turned off the road on a narrow path that wound between large trees and patches of thorny briars beside a dry rocky wash. The winding path and the exhaustion of the horses slowed their progress. The Captain sent two of his soldiers ahead to scout the way.

Waithe urged his horse to the top of a flat hill that viewed the road from which they came. Alden followed him. Dust rose in the distance illuminated by the rising sun, but he could not tell what caused it.

Alden pulled out a metallic tube from his saddlebag and put it to his eye. "Medice Guard riders come at full gallop, a dozen, perhaps more."

Waithe raised an eyebrow. "How know you that?"

Alden held aloft the metal tube. "A scope which brings things far away into closer view. I made it myself."

Waithe took the scope and put it to his eye, mimicking Alden's earlier action. A grin came to his face. "Amazing, my dear Alden. You be full of pleasant surprises." He gave the scope back to Alden. "They be not far behind."