Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two

by Brian S. Pratt

  “I shall send Father Vickor in to town to see if he can learn anything.”

  Jiron’s expression softened somewhat. “I appreciate that.”

  Nodding, Miko rose to his feet and turned to the door. “Until the morning.”

  As he moved to leave, Father Keller said his goodbyes as well and followed him out.

  Once the door closed, Jiron settled upon his cot and turned to face James. “It’s a good thing we were there tonight.”

  James nodded. “If we hadn’t, Tinok would most likely be dead.”

  “Thank you for that.”

  “Hey, no problem. I’m surprised no one caught on to that mage’s interference before this.”

  Jiron chuckled. “I doubt if he will try again in this city.”

  “One never knows.”

  Giving a yawn, James rolled onto his back and closed his eyes.

  It took a bit longer for Jiron to succumb to sleep’s embrace, his mind running through the battle over and over. There were several errors that Tinok should never had made, ones that would have brought the battle to a much faster ending. But then, Tinok was playing for the crowd. An odd thing, that. He had never done anything like that before. All he could think of was perhaps Scar or Potbelly suggested him to do such when faced with a sure win. If that was the case, he’d have to have a talk with the new Masters of the Pit should their paths ever cross again. Those antics had almost cost Tinok his life.

  The room grew quiet as the grownups drifted off to sleep. Small ears lifted for the tell-tale sound of her father’s snores. Once they had continued unabated for five counts of a ten, Jira lifted her head and looked around. Upon seeing her father, uncle, and Kip fast asleep, she grinned.

  It was about time! It had been a struggle to feign sleep for so long, but now she could reap the rewards.

  From beneath her pillow, she took a small chunk of bread, a slice of cheese the size of her finger, and half an apple; bounties secreted away after her and Kip’s late-night snack. Also from beneath her pillow came the stub of a candle. She had snatched it when Kip replaced it earlier in the evening.

  Ever so gingerly, she sat up on the edge of her cot. After double-checking to ensure the others remained asleep, she took the candle stub and hopped onto the floor.

  Quiet feet raced across the coldness of the stone floor toward where the lone candle burned by the door. There she lit her stubby candle and returned to her cot. A noise from her uncle stopped her in her tracks. Fearing discovery, she quickly realized he had merely snorted.

  Moving around her cot, she set the candle stub against the wall, then ever so carefully, turned her cot on its side. For a girl of her age, it was quite a feat to do quietly, but she managed. Once it rested on its side, she rewarded herself with a grin, then sat in the sheltered space betwixt the wall and the cot.

  On the floor at one end of the cot, she arrayed the items of food in what she felt would be a pleasing pattern. She planned on seeing an earth spirit this night. Twice before they had taken her offerings; this time, she hoped to catch them in the act.

  She placed the candle in the center of the enclosed area before taking her place at the other end of the cot. It didn’t take long before the chilly stone floor made her bottom cold. Jira remedied this by folding her blanket in half and placing it beneath her.

  Time passed.

  The candle burned lower and still the Little Brothers had yet to appear. Her eyes drooped, but she refused to yield to sleep’s call. Singing helped. Of course, her singing was more of a whispered remembrance of an actual song since she didn’t wish to alert any of the adults as to what she was doing. They wouldn’t understand and she was certain their presence would keep the earth spirits away.

  Pausing in her song, Jira poked her head up over the edge of the cot and scanned the room. “Come on, Little Brothers. I have some goodies for you.”

  Returning to her place on the blanket, she began a little nonsensical, made-up song about a frog. As she sang, she slowly rocked back and forth. It wasn’t so much a conscious act, more of an unconscious one that worked to keep her awake. Sleep grew ever more insistent, and she hoped that the Little Brothers would appear soon.

  Tired of frogs, she sang of her mother. It was more spoken words with a backdrop of melody than an actual song. Her thoughts drifted along favored memories; thoughts of times with her mother, good times, created an influx of warmth and love that filled her. How she missed her mother. It would be soon, very soon, and they would be reunited again.

  A tear formed and tried to make its way down her cheek, but a quick swipe with the back of her hand brought a swift end to the liquid’s mission. She was a big girl! And big girls did not cry, or so her father had said.

  The barest hint of movement by the scraps of food snapped her out of her reverie. At first not sure that she had seen anything at all, she said, “It’s okay. The food is for you.”

  Excitement stilled her melody as she searched for further signs that an earth spirit was present. When after several minutes of wistful waiting, a small arm emerged from behind the end of the cot and reached for the cheese, an uncontrollable burst of eagerness caused her to vocalize a small squeal. Instantly, the arm shot back and disappeared.

  Fearing to have wrecked it all, she said in the most calming and soothing voice she could muster, “No. It’s okay. It’s okay Little Brother. I am your friend.”

  Heartbeats passed and the arm failed to return. But it had been there! All vestiges of sleep had fled. An earth spirit had come. Now, could she get it to return?

  Keeping as still as she could, gaze locked on the spot where the arm had previously appeared, Jira began to hum. Time passed, not a great deal in the grand scheme of things, but an eternity for a girl who never had much patience to begin with.

  When the arm reappeared, the same excitement once more threatened to undo everything. Willing it into oblivion, she remained still and quiet as the arm stretched farther toward the bit of cheese. Just before the outstretching digits connected with the offering, the earth spirit peered around the cot.

  Their eyes met and for a brief moment, Jira thought it would flee. She desperately wanted to assure it that she meant no harm, but feared any motion or sound would scare it away. Even her eyes remained motionless, locked onto those of the Little Brother as they were.

  Watching its timid movements, she noticed a dark patch in the shape of a crescent moon around the outer edge of its left eye. She smiled, but quickly returned her face to normal when her facial alteration caused it to freeze. Come on, Little Brother. It’s okay.

  It must have sensed no danger for it moved out from behind the cot, snatched the piece of cheese, and vanished.

  Unable to quell the urge, a squeal of delight escaped her. Clapping her hands together quietly, she moved to the far end of her hidden area between the cot and wall to move a piece of fruit closer to where the earth spirit had emerged.

  Returning to her position at the other end, she waited.

  “Jira!”

  Snapping awake, Jira discovered that she had fallen asleep on the floor behind her cot. Panic filled her and she looked up to see her father’s amused expression.

  “What, was your cot too soft for you?”

  She shook her head. “N…no.”

  Jiron reached down and picked up his daughter. “It’s time to eat.”

  Before her father carried her to the food-laden table, she snatched a quick glance toward the far end of her hidden area. The floor was bare. Every last crumb had been removed. She couldn’t help but grin.

  The rest of the day proceeded in boring monotony. Jira played Bones and Daggers with Kip, Jiron paced with worry about Tinok, and James wiled away the time searching for information via his farseeing spell.

  First order of business was to ensure the families were fine. Jira clapped happily when she saw her mother walking with Meliana and Kenny along the beach. Another two ladies walked with them, one of which James vaguely remembered from th
e one time he, Miko and Jiron had visited Corillian, possibly being a servant of Meliana’s family.

  From there, he sought Tinok. He was with the man from the Empire, the same one in whose company he had been when last they sought him. They sat at a table drinking ale, the remnants of a meal upon the table. Tinok looked relaxed and the other man appeared amused.

  There had yet been word from Father Tullin about what he may have learned at the Pits after James and Jiron left. Jiron was all for setting out in search of the priest, but Miko assured him that he would pass on any and all information upon Father Tullin’s return.

  Father Vickor had learned little on his foray into the streets. All he discovered was that the man was a caravan guard and that the caravan was due to depart in two days. They wondered what interest Tinok could have with a caravan guard. Everything they learned created more questions with little answers in return.

  Once Jiron had been satisfied, or at least realizing there was nothing else to learn by watching Tinok sit at a table and drink, James turned his attention to his island. The manor house remained quiet and undisturbed. Scanning the island turned up little that he hadn’t already learned.

  Canceling the image in the hand-held mirror Miko had given him, James lay back on his cot and closed his eyes. Why can’t people leave him alone? He left The Ranch because of lack of privacy. Now his island was attacked. What was he to do, make his name so infamous, so notorious for ill deeds that no one would dare wish to disturb him again?

  He could well understand how villains grew to become that way. Could it be because no one would leave them alone? That instead of live and let be, people kept at them until their only recourse was massive retaliation? Of course, such actions never brought about their desired ends. People only grew more afraid, and what people feared, they worked to destroy.

  A simple life on a remote island surrounded by waters infested with pirates. Where else could he go to avoid future complications? The moon? He chuckled for he knew that the moon would be a harsh mistress indeed.

  No, he wouldn’t go to the moon. He would instead find the source of the invaders. Discover who it was that prompted the invasion and deal with them. If Lord Cytok was in fact behind this, then there would be one less faction vying for Empirical dominance.

  There was precious little for him to go on; the invaders wore Empire armor, arrived on an Empire ship. Except for the mage, everything pointed to the Empire. The mage was the key, of that he was certain. The men could have been mercenaries. They had to have come from somewhere.

  But the mage. Now there was someone who had tremendous amounts of power at his beck and call. In his mind’s eye, he recalled the battle. Everything he tried, the mage had countered with ease. It didn’t even seem like he slowed the mage down at all. Find that mage, and he would have his answers. But how?

  Miko entered in the late afternoon with Father Tullin in tow. Eyes half-lidded and downcast, the priest appeared to suffer from one dilly of a hangover.

  Jiron hopped from where he sat watching his daughter’s disastrous attempt to win against Kip. The novice had a better head for the game, but she was a quick learner. Plus, Jiron made it known that trouncing his daughter unmercilessly would garner certain repercussions. “Let her win one or two,” he had said and Kip readily acquiesced.

  “What did you learn?”

  “Father Vickor was correct,” Miko said as he steered his priest to a chair next to James’ cot. “He is a caravan guard.”

  “But how does he know Tinok?” demanded Jiron.

  The priest gazed at him with bloodshot eyes. “He didn’t say. I did get the feeling that he and Tinok have known each other for some time.”

  “Could be a regular at the Pits,” James suggested.

  Father Tullin nodded. “That is possible. I tend to frequent the other Pits.” He glanced to Jiron. “The thirteenth can be a bit gruesome.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Ayem. It was his caravan master who brought the mage and fighter against Tinok. Seems they have been raking in the coins down south and heard about our Pits. Since Madoc has very few mages around, they thought it would be easy pickings.”

  Jiron glanced to James and laughed. “They thought wrong.”

  Father Tullin grinned. “I’m sure the last person they expected to find there was a real mage.”

  “Weren’t they fooled by the doppelganger?”

  He shook his head. “At first they were worried. After all, coming from the Empire as they had, The Dark Mage is a name that can still send women swooning and leave grown men quaking in their boots. From what Ayem said, they quickly deduced the man was a fake.”

  James nodded. “Any mage would be able to tell he did no magic. The man is nothing but show.”

  “Exactly. In fact, most of those who frequent the Pits on a regular basis know him as what he is. It’s just part of the show.”

  “Did you learn anything about the mage himself?”

  “Only that those of the caravan think he’s very powerful and not one to trifle with.”

  “Powerful? I think not. The man wasn’t able to keep his concentration very well and his spells lacked finesse.”

  Jiron looked to his friend. “Still, a mage, even one as inexperienced as you claim this one to be, should not be so easily dismissed.”

  James shook his head. “I hadn’t planned on doing any such thing. But unless he has more tricks up his sleeve, there isn’t much he can do. I will sense him if he’s close, and I’m faster.”

  “I have him under watch in any event,” Miko said. When James turned a quizzical gaze upon him, he added, “The caravan, too.”

  “Good. Probably nothing to worry about, but no sense taking any chances. We have less than a day before we leave.”

  “All the arrangements have been made.”

  Jiron turned to James. “I think we should see if Tinok will come with us.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “He already knows we’re here. And you have to admit, he’s pretty good in a fight.”

  Miko nodded. “Do not forget, he spent a great deal of time down there before being captured. His knowledge may come in handy.”

  James glanced to the High Priest. “Is that you talking, or Morcyth?”

  Miko shrugged and grinned. “Sometimes it is hard to tell. Either way, Tinok has over a year of experience upon which we could draw. With everything that has happened, and what may be on the horizon, we would be fools to not take advantage of every edge we can.”

  Jiron nodded. “I’m certain he would go. We are, after all, talking about an excursion into the Empire. He wouldn’t pass that up.”

  “He might,” James argued. “That would leave someone behind who knows of my whereabouts.”

  “He knows anyway.”

  “Better to have him with us,” Miko said.

  James didn’t like it. Tinok was unstable and still harbored a deep vengeance for what was done to his beloved Cassie. Dare he risk bringing along someone whose need for retribution may very well outweigh his sense of duty to friends? He knew Jiron was for it. Miko, too, by the way he had been arguing.

  “Fine.” Turning to Jiron, he said, “But I leave it to you to keep him in check.”

  “Not a problem.”

  To Father Tullin, Miko asked, “Find him and let him know what we plan. Tell him to meet us on the road south of the city just after dawn.”

  The priest gave out with a weary-filled sigh. He had hoped to crawl into bed. “As you wish.”

  Miko grinned and patted him on the back. “My thanks.”

  Father Tullin yawned, then quickly put hand to forehead when the gesture exacerbated his headache and left the room.

  “Why not have Tinok meet us here?” Jiron asked.

  “For one thing, you, James, Jira and Kip won’t be here at dawn. I plan to sneak you out tonight.” He glanced to James. “I figure if someone is keeping track of the goings-on here at the temple, then it would be best if
you were not in my company when I leave.”

  James merely nodded. “What do you plan?”

  “Tonight, we slip you in with those coming for the evening meal. Then you make your way out of the city. Keep to the river. Father Berron will be waiting with horses near a collapsed dock.” To Jiron he asked, “You know him, do you not?”

  Jiron nodded. “Rather portly fellow who’s more deadly to himself than to others with his sword?”

  “That’s him. He will return to the city while the three of you head south to Inna’s Bend. Know where that is?”

  “Yes,” Jiron replied. “Farther south and east of the river.”

  “That is correct. We will meet you at The Wayfarer’s Tavern.” Miko glanced to Kip. “You will be coming too.”

  His eyes lit up. “Me?”

  Miko nodded. “If I leave you behind, everyone will know of it before the sun rises.”

  A hurt look came over the young novice. “I would never violate your trust.”

  Patting him on the head, Miko grinned. “I know.”

  Jira appeared at her father’s side.

  “We shall soon be with your mother.”

  She didn’t reply, merely hugged her father and grinned at James.

  Coming to his feet, Miko said, “Well, there are things that need my attention before we leave. Father Keller will come when it is time for you to intermix with the hungry.” He then gave Jira a cheerful smile before heading for the door.

  Once he left, Jira squealed in delight. They were going to see her mother!

  While they waited for Father Keller’s return, James went through the items brought from Earth. Those deemed not vital would be left behind in Miko’s inner sanctum, such as the books purchased at the used book store. The rest would be sneaked out on the horses carrying the supplies Miko planned to bring along. The candy and cocoa pods James would take with him. Those items were of a greater personal value since the candy was for Meliana and Kenny, and of course the cocoa seeds would introduce chocolate to this world; he hoped.