Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two

by Brian S. Pratt

  “It’s Brother Willim,” James announced. The priest of Asran was an old and good friend from the war. Many an adventure had they shared. He and the other members of the Hand of Asran had proven invaluable in their efforts against the Empire during the war,

  “What does he want with Jira,” Jiron questioned. His knives remained out and would continue to be so until that question had been answered to his satisfaction.

  “I don’t know,” James replied. “But I’m glad to see him.”

  “Father!” Jira exclaimed when she saw him emerge from the darkness. She let go of Brother Willim’s hand and hurried toward him.

  He grabbed her in a big hug. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded vigorously. “Yes, Father.” Jira then pointed to Brother Willim who was walking to join them. “He saved me.”

  It was then that Jiron saw the vine-entwined, bloody remains of the creature that had taken her. He set her down and sheathed his knives. “Thank you,” he said to the priest when Brother Willim reached them.

  “Glad to do it.”

  James stepped forward and held out his hand. “So good to see you again.”

  Brother Willim took it and gave it a shake. “I’m glad I was in the area.” He tousled Jira’s hair. “She was in a pretty pickle.”

  That’s when Jiron’s joy at finding his daughter subsided and a father’s irritation at her having even been in that predicament took its place. “And just what were you doing away from camp that you could be taken?”

  She looked up to her father, then glanced to Brother Willim. The priest gave her a nod of encouragement.

  “I…”

  “Yes?” Jiron said when she paused.

  Swallowing hard, she lowered her eyes to the ground. “I was trying to find the Little Brothers.”

  It took a moment for that to sink in. “You were what?”

  She sank into herself at his roar.

  Jiron turned toward Brother Willim. “What part do you have to play in this?”

  “My part began when she was taken by the beast,” the priest of Asran replied.

  His hand went to his knife hilt.

  “She is a rare spirit,” Brother Willim said. “Very few mortals ever see one, least of all befriend one.”

  “Befriend…?”

  Jiron turned back to his daughter, then cast James an accusing look.

  “Hey,” James said, “It’s not my fault.”

  Miko stepped in between them. “I do not think it is anyone’s fault, other than Jira’s herself.” He stared meaningfully at Jiron until the knifer’s eyes relaxed ever so slightly. “After all that the three of you have been through recently, it is no wonder she would seek to interact with your saviors.

  “If it had not been for them, you three would be dead right now. Frankly, I would have been surprised if she had held little curiosity about the Little Brothers.” He turned to Brother Willim. “Am I correct in assuming from what you have said that she has actually befriended one of the little creatures?”

  Brother Willim nodded. “Yes. I’ve known for some time that a burgeoning bond was developing between them, and had planned on speaking to her about it when next we met.”

  “How did you know?”

  The priest turned to Jiron. “The priests of Asran are the few mortals with whom they have contact. I have an affinity with them and as such, hear things they feel strongly about.”

  Jiron appeared to be mellowing.

  “You should be proud to have a daughter such as Jira.”

  Jira looked up at her father.

  He gazed into her eyes and saw them twinkle. The crook of her mouth edged upward in a half-smile. “I am proud of her.”

  She leapt into his arms and gave him a big hug which he returned wholeheartedly.

  “I was so worried about you,” he said.

  “I was too, but knew you would find me. You will always find me.”

  “He’d move the entire world to get to you.”

  She glanced back at her Uncle.

  “Move?” asked Scar. “Say rather lay waste.”

  Potbelly chuckled. “I would hate to be the one standing in his way.”

  “I told her that she needs to find a safer environment in which to interact with the earth spirits. Doing so on the fringe of the Waste…” he paused a moment before adding, “would be inadvisable.”

  “Agreed,” Jiron said. He set Jira down and gave her a stern gaze. “Right?”

  She nodded. “Yes, Father. I promise not to again seek the Little Brothers until we are in a safe place.”

  “And I will let you know when that will be.”

  She nodded again. “Yes, Father.”

  “Okay, then.”

  “We should get back to camp,” James announced. Then to Brother Willim, “Would you care to share our campfire this evening?”

  “I would be delighted.”

  Glancing back at the beast, he asked, “Find many like that around here?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. They have been coming out of the Waste in ever increasing numbers. This particular one shoots poisonous barbs from its tail.” Seeing Jiron’s sudden concern, he added, “They are not deadly, she is in no danger. Rather they paralyze those they strike. This way their victims remain conscious, yet nonresponsive.”

  “You seem to know a lot about the Waste, Brother,” James said.

  “Yes. I have been here for some time. Shortly after the war ended, we received word that the land here was killing travelers and that beasts of nightmare were emerging. I and others were sent to assess the situation and see if reparation would be feasible.”

  “Is the rest of the Hand here?”

  He glanced to James and shook his head. “I am no longer one of the Hand; another leads. No, I am here to do what can be done to restore the health of this land.”

  “It’s going to take a very long time before the Waste will be safe for travelers again.”

  “This is true,” Brother Willim agreed, then laid a hand on James’ shoulder. “Do not feel guilt about the part you played in this. Far better a sickness that can be cured, than a disease that would have inevitably led to death. If the god Dmon-Li had crossed over, there would have been nothing left to save.”

  James nodded and sighed. “I know.”

  “Are you planning on entering the Waste?”

  “What makes you ask that?”

  Brother Willim smiled. “Why else would you be where you are? And there is a power lying dormant at the heart of the sickness.”

  James turned to him and Brother Willim arched an eyebrow questioningly.

  “The Star of Morcyth,” James admitted. “I utilized its power to close the gate and as a result, produced an explosion that not only destroyed the gate but nearly all of Dmon-Li’s temples. I believe the explosion left this area contaminated with high levels of radiation. That is what is killing people; and most likely mutating the wildlife into beasts like the one that took Jira.”

  “And you are planning to brave that, uh, radiation to retrieve it?”

  “That’s the plan,” James explained.

  “I know you are a powerful mage,” Brother Willim said, “but I doubt even your prowess will stay the hand of death should you venture much deeper into the Waste.”

  “I have two suits of specialized clothing that will protect us from the radiation. They are lined with lead, and lead blocks radiation.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “Where I come from, we have issues with radiation and have learned to deal with it. Even had a little gadget that would tell us where radiation was at its deadliest levels, but it was destroyed not too long ago.”

  “That is too bad,” Brother Willim said. “Such a, uh, gadget would have proven beneficial.”

  “How long would it take to reach the Star from here?”

  The priest of Asran contemplated the question for several moments then said, “At least a solid day by horse, two …possibly three if on foot.”
/>   “We’ll be walking.”

  “The first half day shouldn’t be much of a problem. It wouldn’t be until then that you reach where animals begin to die.”

  “Any idea how to know when that is?”

  Scar chuckled. “That’s easy. Look for the dead animals.”

  James glanced to Brother Willim who nodded.

  “He is correct. Once you reach the first dead animal, it would be best to don your special clothing.”

  “Or before that,” advised Miko. “Some animals may get poisoned by the radiation then wander farther into the deadly area before succumbing to it.”

  “The Reverend Father has a point,” Father Keller added.

  James sighed then nodded. “Best not to take chances.”

  Once back at the camp they checked in on Eddra and found her sleeping.

  “She hasn’t stirred,” Shorty said. “Mumbled some, but Azhan could not make out what she said.”

  “That is correct, Master,” his apprentice said.

  “Master?”

  James rolled his eyes and turned to Brother Willim. “Seems I have picked up a couple apprentices.” He then introduced Azhan and Hikai.

  “Interesting.”

  “Tell me about it,” James said with less than a full measure of enthusiasm.

  “Are they going with you into the Waste?”

  Shaking his head, James replied, “No. Just me and Miko.”

  “Who is she?” Brother Willim asked as he gazed at Eddra.

  “Well, her village was going to stone her for being an evil witch who had brought horrors and disasters upon them. We stopped them.”

  Brother Willim nodded. “Understandable.”

  “And, we believe she may have some insight as to the odd shimmering disturbance we witnessed in the sky a few days back. Have you seen it?”

  “Large expanse of what appears to be heat radiating from the ground yet it is among the clouds?”

  “Sounds about right.”

  “Twice it has passed over,” Brother Willim said.

  “Did anything happen when it did?”

  “Not that I noticed.”

  “We believe it may in some way affect the workings of magic,” James explained. “Or maybe even be magical in nature.”

  “I do not know.

  Jiron came forward. “Have the earth spirits mentioned it?”

  Brother Willim shook his head. “No. Their interests lie in other directions and rarely coincide with what we mortals would consider important.” He gazed into the carriage where Eddra slept. “You think she might know something about it?”

  “We hope so.”

  “It’s a curious thing to be sure,” Brother Willim said.

  James gazed at Eddra a moment longer, watched her chest rise and fall and hear the softness of her breath going in and out. “But we will need to worry about that another day. For in the morning, Miko and I are forging on into the Waste.”

  He then went to the pack horse and got the radiation suits. They were packed in plastic and easily removed.

  Kip picked up the helmet and eyed it critically.

  “Put it down,” Father Keller commanded. “It is not for you.”

  “Just looking at it, Father,” he replied, but put it down.

  “They are not very comfortable,” Miko said.

  “They aren’t meant to be,” James replied. “Just supposed to keep us alive.”

  “Two days in these?” Miko groaned.

  In that groan, James heard the boy who the High Priest used to be.

  “Not just two,” Potbelly said. “If it’s two days in, it’s two days out.”

  Miko prayed for Morcyth to give him strength.

  “You shouldn’t have to wear these all the time,” Brother Willim said.

  “Yes we do,” James replied. “If we get out of these and the radiation levels are high, we don’t stand a chance.”

  “I understand that,” he said. “But as I said earlier, my fellow Brothers and I have been here for years working to heal this land.” He reached into his shirt and pulled forth a leafy vine bearing a white flower with three yellow stalks growing from the center.

  “Our first night here, we prayed to Asran for guidance. In the morning, we woke to find these vines growing throughout our campsite.”

  “Pretty,” Shorty said. “But I don’t see how that helps?”

  “Vines do not grow and flower overnight,” Brother Willim explained. “Not unless a god wills it. Asran sent these to aid us in our mission.” He held up the flowering vine. “Where these grow, the land becomes healthy again.”

  “They absorb the radiation?” James asked

  The priest of Asran nodded. “Or feeds on it. We are not exactly sure. What we do know for certain is that wherever you find these, the land will be safe. And in those places you could take off your suits for a time without fear of dying.”

  James eyed them skeptically. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. Once the radiation is gone, the vines wither and die.” He handed the vine to James. “It has been four years since the vines first came to us. I and the others have worked to spread them throughout the fringe. Wind and animals have carried them toward the heart of the sickness. The Little Brothers tell of large swaths growing deep within the Waste. Based on what they have told us on the areas already healed by the vines and the rate of their propagation, we estimate the Waste should become livable again in little more than ten years. Or at the very least a place where men can pass without fear of dying.”

  “Incredible. Those of my world would give anything to have these vines.”

  “Now, I would suggest taking the suits off in areas where the vines have already died,” Brother Willim warned. “Where they remain green and in bloom indicates the presence of the radiation upon which they are currently feeding.”

  Nodding, James said, “That would make sense.” He turned to Miko. “Could wait ten years…”

  “No,” the high priest replied, “Morcyth has indicated now is the time to retrieve the Star.”

  “Best to get it done since we are here,” James agreed. He looked at the thick, rubbery mask. “This is going to be a long two, I mean four days.”

  “We’ll have a hot bath waiting for you.”

  James chuckled and turned to Jiron. “You better.”

  “When you leave here in the morning,” Brother Willim explained, “keep vigilant. Though ones like what took Jira are most common, there have been stories of creatures even more fearsome than what took Jira that wander the Waste.”

  “Really? Like what?”

  Scar and Potbelly were fairly frothing at the mouth in anticipation.

  Brother Willim glanced to James.

  “They have this idiotic plan to capture one and showcase it back in the City of Light.”

  “Idiotic?” cried Potbelly.

  “We have powerful magical items crafted for the sole purpose of capturing these creatures.” Scar looked most offended.

  When Brother Willim glanced to James, the Dark Mage shook his head. “I have nothing to do with this.”

  “There are other mages in the world,” Scar insisted. “Powerful ones that lead a life of seclusion and research who sell to select customers that can afford their items. It was from one such as that which we acquired our magical equipment.”

  James wasn’t convinced. “Well, since you are not coming with us, it’s unlikely you will have the opportunity to test them.”

  “Never know,” Potbelly argued. “Like the good brother here said, creatures wander forth all the time.”

  James just rolled his eyes and sighed.

  “While that may be true,” Brother Willim said, “the times when they actually travel beyond the deadly sands are quite few. You would be fortunate indeed to encounter another.” He turned to Jiron. “Or unfortunate depending on how you look at it.”

  “Indeed.” Jiron shot the two Pit Masters a look that left little doubt as to how he would be lo
oking at it. Clearing his throat and assuming an expression saying this line of conversation had come to its end, he asked Brother Willim, “Is there anything you can tell us about the area immediately surrounding the Star?”

  “Very little I’m afraid other than that we believe the creatures are spawned there somehow. How many, how it happens, and for how long we can expect it to continue are all questions to which we wish we had the answers.”

  “Perhaps we will be able to shed some light for you,” Miko said.

  “We would be most appreciative for any help you can give.”

  “Not a problem,” James said. “If we can figure it out, we’ll send word.”

  “Where will you go after retrieving the Star?”

  “Jiron will take the others around the eastern edge of the Waste and we will meet up again at Zixtyn.”

  “Then if you would, seek out Brother Martin when you get there and provide him with any information you receive. He may not be there as like myself, he wanders the fringe of the Waste working to heal the land.”

  “Where would we find him if he is?” James asked.

  “He does like his pubs,” Brother Willim explained. “A bit too much at times.”

  Father Vickor laughed. “A man after my own heart.”

  “He’ll be in one after dark if he’s in town.”

  James nodded. “We will see if we can find him.”

  “Thank you.”

  From the campfire the smell of simmering stew made his belly growl. Jira was there with Tinok helping to put the evening meal together. “Let’s eat, I’m starved.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The morning dawned cloudy with only a slim chance of precipitation. A large bank of clouds looming on the horizon might change all that if they wandered their way; but for the present, travel would be pleasant.

  James and Miko were ready to head out before dawn. Their radiation suits remained in their packs for the present. Miko prayed about it and decided they could trust to Brother Willim’s advice concerning it being safe for the first few hours. Both he and James didn’t relish wearing the suits any longer than needed.