Read Online Fires of Prophecy: The Morcyth Saga Book Two by Brian S. Pratt - Free Book Online

half mile away from the
river and find a spot near a hill that provides them some cover.
They keep watch for anyone coming and remain undisturbed until
night has fallen and they’re ready to make the attempt to cross the
river.
    Once night has deepened enough that the only
light is that of the stars, they mount up and ride back toward the
river. They follow it until the town’s lights appear and then come
to a stop. Jiron says, “I’ll go and scout the town, then we can
decide what to do.”
    “Alright,” James agrees, “but be
careful.”
    He gives James a look that says, ‘Of
course’, and then disappears in the night as he heads for town.
Twenty minutes go by before they hear his return.
    “Well?” James asks when he rejoins the
group.
    “Looks to be about twenty soldiers
garrisoned there,” he explains, “with four on duty at the bridge
and two walking patrol within the town itself. Most of the others
are gathered in a tavern located near the center of town.”
    “Is there a way to create a diversion that
would draw off the guards at the bridge?” Tinok asks.
    “Maybe setting fire to a building or two,”
he says, “that may do it. Unless the guards at the bridge have an
extraordinary sense of duty and remain there.”
    “Most likely they are bored and would leave
just to see what’s going on,” James suggests.
    “Probably,” Jiron says. Looking to Tinok, he
says, “Wanna come start some fires with me?”
    “Every boy’s dream,” Tinok replies with a
smile.
    “Now make sure it looks like it could’ve
been an accident, or the search may be on,” James cautions.
    “Do the best we can,” Jiron says. “When
we’re done, we’ll meet you back here.”
    “Good luck,” Delia says.
    “Be careful,” Cassie says with concern.
    “We will,” Jiron assures her, and then he
and Tinok run off toward town.
    James mounts his horse after some time
passes and advises the girls to do the same, “We may need to be
ready to move fast should they return with soldiers in
pursuit.”
    They sit on their horses and wait. “Where
are they?” Cassie asks after an hour has gone by, concern in her
voice.
    “Don’t worry,” Delia assures her, “they’re
just taking their time to make sure they are not caught.”
    “I hope so,” Cassie says.
    Me too, Delia says to herself as she watches
the town for their return.
    Suddenly, two shadows approach. “Get ready,”
they hear Jiron say as he mounts his horse. Tinok mounts his as
well.
    They all sit and wait, but nothing
happens.
    “What did you do?” James asks.
    “We found a stable where they had most of
their horses,” Jiron explains. “A guard was there sleeping in a
pile of hay, with a bottle of wine lying next to him.”
    “Yeah,” Tinok says, chuckling a little. “We
took one of the lanterns down, lit it and laid it beside him on the
hay. The hay was just beginning to smolder as we left.”
    “But he might burn to death!” Cassie
gasps.
    “Fortunes of war,” Jiron says, with little
feeling.
    “Besides, it’ll look like an accident,”
Tinok explains. “It’ll look like he got drunk and was
careless.”
    “And with their horses in danger,” Jiron
says, “they’ll want everyone to help with putting the fire out,
which should draw the men off the bridge.”
    “Let’s hope so,” James says.
    Suddenly, from the north side of town, a
reddish glow blossoms as the stable catches fire. Even from this
distance they can hear the horses neighing in terror. From within
the town, they hear the cry as the soldiers move to combat the fire
and save their horses.
    The men on the bridge turn and see the
flames reaching high in the sky as the fire roars to life. As one,
they race away from the bridge and head for the inferno at the
stables.
    “Now’s our chance,” James says, once the
guards have left the bridge. Getting their horses moving quickly,
they make their way toward the bridge and race across it to the
other side without anyone raising