if it didn’t break on impact, the arrow would shatter it an instant later achieving the same result. The entire stock that Urake had carried from Warton was ready for their intended purpose.
When he had figured that there were enough people in bed, he got confirmation from Emeck as to the exact location of the patrolling sentries. After getting the description of their location, he was able to see them chatting at a crossroads in the docks. Picking a ship that was in the middle of a cluster, he hefted one of the modified arrow. Taking aim a little higher than normal, he fired the arrow. In the immediate flash of light he saw that he had still undershot his target. The side of the ship was in flames instead of the deck like he had planned. There was also a film of flames floating on the water and spreading to the other ships in close proximity. The cries of the guards caught Urake’s attention as he readied another arrow. Waiting until they had run across the entire wharf, he loosed another projectile on a ship near where they had just been.
This time the arrow was true and the ship deck exploded into a ball of fire. Streamers flew off the explosion out and caught on several of the surrounding ships. Despite floating in water, the vessels were tinder dry this time of the year and readily fed the hungry flames. The sentries soon discovered the second fire and increased the amplitude of their calls for help. The army camp was soon stirring like a confused ant hill that had been trampled upon. People were rushing about with buckets of water, tossing them ineffectively on the roaring infernos that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Urake had lit the majority of the ships in the harbor when he picked up his last arrow. Not finding a good target he scanned the area. All the larger vessels were rapidly being reduced to charred hulks and infecting their neighbors with the insatiable inferno. The conflagration would take Urake’s ship in a few more minutes. It was when Urake spied a large warehouse on the dock that he made up his mind.
The flash of light illuminated the deck below allowing Urake to safely drop from his perch. Quickly grabbing a bucket he leaped to the dock and strode purposefully away from the chaotic fires. None of the soldiers that rushed to help paused to question the dark figure and no one noticed when he stepped between a couple dark buildings with the bucket rolling out of the alley a moment later. One of the frenzied soldiers scooped up the bucket and rushed into the mayhem.
“You sure know how to have fun.” Emeck appeared and the two quickly began moving east.
“That should set them back a little.” Urake paused to look back over the harbor that was engulfed in fire. The fire had begun interfering with the breeze and starting to swirl the smoke around. A large portion of the firefighters had withdrawn and were watching from a fair distance. Urake smirked as he recalled Tusul’s cautions concerning the effects of the smoke when his little machinations burned.
“I would say so. What is the hurry?” Emeck inquired as Urake stepped up the pace when the smoke swirled dangerously close.
“Tusul just said that the smoke was toxic. I would rather not test his assertion. Is everyone still back at Shienhin?” Urake paused again when he saw the consternation on Emeck’s face as he tried to look for the rest of their party.
“As usual, I can’t see Cero, but the others are also gone. Something is wrong. The entire city in in an uproar. There they are. Heading south east. They have horses and are moving fast. All six of them. No… seven. There is something else. Someone else. Someone old, but skilled. A tracker! He found me…!” Emeck convulsed and started falling to the ground. Urake moved fast enough to catch him before he hit the ground, but discovered that there was no sign of life. Recognizing the signs, Urake tossed him over a shoulder and grabbed the youth’s pack with his free hand and began trotting towards the foothills in the distance.
Chapter Eleven: Survival
“Are you awake?” Cero sat up dislodging a disgruntled Bani who moved to the warm spot Cero had just vacated.
“Aleest?” Cero pulled on the clothes he had discarded before climbing into bed and went to the door.