The Mists of Sorrow: The Morcyth Saga Book Seven (54 page)

“I would even guess it to be only those in
the temple hierarchy,” James says. “Which would mean they would be
quite powerful.”

“And you’re planning on forcing one of them
to help you?” he asks.

James nods. “I’m not sure how yet, or where,
but we’re running out of time.”

“Perrilin’s spent time down here,” Jiron
says. “He may know of something that would suit our purpose.”

“You’re right,” agrees James. “Bring him
over if you would.”

“Be right back,” he says then gets up and
heads over to where the others are beginning to fall asleep. In
little more than a minute, he returns with Perrilin.

James gives him a rundown of what they plan
and then asks him if there are any major temples nearby. “It needs
to be a fairly large one as I’m not sure if they are all equipped
with these teleportation daises.”

“They’re not going to help you,” he tells
them. “You better understand that right now.” He can see the
determination in their eyes and adds, “They will die before they
do.”

“What other choice do we have?” Jiron asks.
“Our time is beginning to run out.”

He glances from James to Jiron then back
again. Remaining silent while he searches their eyes, he finally
asks, “You seriously mean to go through with this?”

“Yes we are,” Jiron states with
finality.

“Very well then.” He then grins as he says,
“If we don’t get ourselves killed in the process, this will make
one unbelievable saga.”

Jiron chuckles, “You got that right. It
already has been.”

“Now Cyst, the town we left rather abruptly
had a temple, but it wasn’t what you would call a main one,” he
explains. “Further to the south is a larger town by the name of
Zixtyn. I’ve been there several times and the temple there trains
many of Dmon-Li’s new acolytes. It’s not just a single temple but a
complex of over a dozen large buildings and another score or more
of auxiliary structures. If there’s any place that would have one
of those teleportation daises, it’s there.”

“How far is it?” Jiron asks.

“Two, maybe three days,” he says. “There is
another city just over a day or so to the east that has a temple,
though it isn’t nearly as large as the one in Zixtyn. But if it
should prove not to have one, it could complicate things.”

Jiron nods, “Not to mention the fact that we
would waste time Tinok does not have.”

“I don’t think we have much choice,” James
tells the others. “In the morning, we’ll make for Zixtyn.” Getting
to his feet, he gives out with a yawn and says, “Best we get to
bed.”

“We all could use sleep after what we went
through today,” agrees Brother Willim.

They then return to where the others are
already mostly asleep and find their blankets. Except for Jiron who
has pulled the first watch, they are quickly asleep.

Early the next morning when they rise they
are alarmed to see the Mists of Sorrow visible to their west. “It’s
a good thing we rode as far as we did before we stopped,” Reilin
says.

James turns to him and then gestures to the
mist, “That’s why we did.” To Scar he asks, “How’s Stig doing?”

“Better,” he replies. Scar and Potbelly are
sitting with Stig and sharing a quick breakfast before they get
underway.

Stig looks up and says, “I’m sore. Those
creatures really pack a mean punch.”

“You know,” begins Scar, “if they ever get
the Pits open again, we could make a fortune if we could somehow
manage to get one of them and put it in there to fight.”

Eyes lighting up, Potbelly exclaims,
“Everyone would come to see it, and pay handsomely for the
opportunity!”

Jiron turns on them and says, “Now all you
have to do is go back into the mist and get one.”

Scar waves away the hand, “Details,
details.” He and Potbelly begin working on a way in which they
could make this venture a reality.

“They’ve got to be out of their minds,”
Reilin comments to James.

He grins and shrugs. “It gives them
something to do.”

They keep a constant watch on the Mists. It
makes no move to either come closer or pull back, and nothing
emerges from it. James was sure they would have kept up the
pursuit, after all they had him and the others almost taken out as
it was. The only explanation he’s been able to come up with is that
the foes they encountered had the duty to prevent anyone from
passing through the mist. And once they were out didn’t feel the
need to continue the pursuit. Still, it doesn’t feel right.

Once everyone is finished with their less
than satisfying meal, they get their horses ready for travel and
are soon on the road. “We’ll have to head more to the east on our
way to skirt around the other side of the Mists of Sorrow,”
Perrilin states. “There’s a major trade route over there that runs
from Cyst to Zixtyn.”

“But won’t they be looking for us after
yesterday?” cautions Aleya.

“Possibly,” replies James. Taking out his
mirror, he holds it up and adds, “I’ll be keeping a lookout for
anything that we may need to stay clear of.”

“Besides,” adds Stig, “a major trade route
will have heavy traffic traveling upon it which will enable us to
blend in.”

“Hadn’t thought of that,” admits James.
“Good thinking.” To Jiron he says, “You and Reilin take the lead.
Head due east until we come to the road.”

“You got it,” he says. Then with a nudge
into the sides of his horse, he takes the lead with Reilin right
beside him. The others fall in behind and they make their way
across the desert to the east.

It takes them three hours of riding before
the trade route leading to Zixtyn comes into sight. Periodically
during that time James uses his mirror to scan for hostiles in the
area only to find it clear. Long before they come to the road,
James finds it in his mirror. Many wagons, riders and people on
foot are upon the road traveling in both directions.

After he tells the other what he saw,
Perrilin nods and says, “It’s one of the main roads in the Empire.
It’s the most direct way from the Empire’s southern territories to
those in the north.”

“We shouldn’t have much problem getting lost
in the crowd then,” James states.

When those traveling upon the road finally
come into view, the others agree with his statement. Pressing
forward, James and Reilin lead the others over to the road. As they
approach, those upon the road give them curious looks. A group of
riders coming in out of the desert, two of the horses having two
riders upon their backs, all in all a rather odd occurrence for
this area. None of those traveling upon the road do more than look
however, and they soon leave them far behind.

During the rest of the day, Perrilin keeps
the hood of his cloak tight about his face. It’s unlikely that
anyone upon the road will recognize him, but you never know. When
they reach the town of Hyrryth a couple hours before sundown, he
tells them that they need to stop here for the night.

“Why?” asks Jiron. His anxiousness in
reaching Zixtyn is written plainly upon his face.

“I need to remove Kir and don another face,”
he says. “There is a shop here in Hyrryth where I can procure the
needed materials.”

“Very well,” decides James. “Aside from that
we can all use a rest.” Glancing to where Stig rides with Potbelly,
he can see him drooping in the saddle. Although it’s true the Star
healed him, such healing always takes a toll on the strength of the
one healed. The magic of the Star uses in part the energy of those
it heals, and only time and rest will replenish it.

Jiron acquiesces and when they reach the
walls of Hyrryth, Jiron leads them through the gates and into the
city.

“Best if I lead here,” Perrilin says. Moving
past Jiron, he takes the lead. He continues down the street leading
from the gate for several blocks before turning down a smaller side
street to the left. Not too far down this street he stops before a
two story building with a sign depicting a skewered scorpion.

Dismounting, Perrilin says “I’ll be right
back.” He then goes up the stairs and in through the front
doors.

“Shouldn’t he worry about someone inside
recognizing him?” Reilin asks in a whisper to James.

“I would think so,” he replies. “But I’m
sure he knows what he’s doing.”

A few minutes later, he emerges with another
man. Both are talking in hushed tones as they leave the inn. They
pause a moment just outside the door and Perrilin hands the man a
small pouch, which from the sound it makes when it exchanges hands
is filled with coins. The man glances to James and the others then
turns and begins walking down the street.

When James makes to ask Perrilin what’s
going on, Perrilin puts his finger to his lips and gives a slight
shake of his head. Then he says, “Stable’s around the back.” Taking
the reins of his horse, he leads the others down a side alley and
then into the rear courtyard. Once they have the horses settled in
for the night with a pail of oats the stableboy supplied for each,
they leave the stable and make for the rear door to the inn.

Inside, they pass through the common room
and then into a hallway leading to their rooms. “I was able to get
six rooms,” he says. “I hope that will be enough?”

“It will be fine,” James assures him.

They each get settled into their rooms and
then gather in James and Jiron’s room. “So who was the man you left
the inn with?” asks Shorty.

“Just someone whom I’ve dealt with before,”
he replies. “He went to get the items I need to remove Kir from the
world.”

“Been here before I take it?” Scar asks.

“My journeys have taken me many places,” he
tells him.

James looks at him and wonders just how far
flung his network extends. Though Perrilin has never come right out
and said it, he has to be a spy or something similar. After all he
uses disguises, Lord Cytok who is the right hand of the Emperor
wants him in a bad way, and things always seem to happen when he’s
around. Someday he hopes to discover who he really is and what his
agenda may be.

“Mind if we go down to the common room for a
drink?” Scar asks. When he sees that look come to him that usually
means an argument is pending, he adds, “We promise not to get into
any trouble.”

“Very well,” agrees James. “Just be sure you
don’t.”

Taking Reilin with them, the pit fighters
head down the hallway to the common room. James watches them go
then turns to Jiron, “You’re not going?” he asks.

Shaking his head, he says, “Aleya and I will
head down in a little bit.”

“Oh?” he asks.

Jiron gives him a grin and says, “Nothing
like that.”

“If you say so,” James tells him.

Then with Aleya on his arm, he leaves the
room and escorts her down to her room.

“They make a nice couple,” Brother Willim
states.

“That they do,” agrees James.

A short while later the man whom Perrilin
sent for the items he requires returns and gives him a package.
Perrilin thanks the man and then adjourns to his room where he will
begin to work on removing all traces of Kir. The man leaves once
Perrilin has the package and is heading for his room.

“I think I’ll stay here and read more of the
Book of Morcyth,” Miko says. Brother Willim offers to remain with
him and he accepts.

Having nothing else to do, James takes his
leave and makes his way out to the common room. Finding Scar and
the others at a table off to one side, he heads over and joins
them.

The food here at the Skewered Scorpion is
rather good and after they have finished with their meal one of the
traveling bards shows up. At first James thought this may be
Perrilin in disguise, but when he began singing his first song,
knew that it wasn’t. The man wasn’t even in the same league as
Perrilin where music is concerned. Still, the bard’s music was
enjoyable.

Two hours after James joined them, Perrilin
makes his appearance. His skin is again back to its normal color
and his hair is very dark, all in all looking quite different than
he did when he was Kir.

“Looking good,” he says as Perrilin sits
down.

“Yeah,” agrees Shorty. “Hardly look like you
did.”

“Well, let’s not talk about it if it’s all
the same,” he says.

James nods understandingly. He then looks
over to where the hallway down which their room lies opens onto the
common room. Jiron and Aleya should have been out here by now. Not
to mention Miko, he’s never been one to miss out on food.

“Sounds like you had a tough childhood,”
Aleya says to him as she lies in his arms. Ever since leaving the
others and coming to her room, they’ve lain on her bed. Doing
nothing more than holding one another and talking, they’ve
completely lost track of time.

“We did,” he replies. “If it wasn’t for the
Pits, I don’t know how Tersa and I would have survived.” Then his
stomach gives out with a loud growl, informing him of the lack of
sustenance it holds. Glancing to the window, he sees that night has
fallen outside.

A single candle burns on the room’s table,
just when it had been lit he can’t recall. “Maybe it’s time we go
join the others and get something to eat.”

She reaches her lips to his and gives him a
soft kiss. “Sounds like a good idea to me,” she says. Another
moment’s embrace then they get off the bed and leave the room.

The noise from the common room fills the
hallway with loud raucous laughter and conversation. As they close
the door to her room, Jiron notices light coming through the door
to James’ room. Stopping next to it, he puts an ear to the
door.

“…not sure I can do this,” he hears Miko
say.

“Who else is there?” responds Brother
Willim’s voice. “Do you think you are to be the only priest Morcyth
will require?”

“But, I don’t know the first thing about
training other priests,” he states.