The mists of sorrow ms-7

by Brian S. Pratt

  “I know,” Aleya states. “But what choice do we have. I will not turn my back on him now that he’s our responsibility.”

  Jiron gazes to her and then back to James. “This is madness!”

  “Could be,” agrees James.

  Just then the light from the Star winks out and Miko gets up from where he was kneeling next to the boy. He looks to them then says, “He’s fine now, just needs some sleep.”

  “Good,” James says. Then to Aleya he says, “It might be best if you were to be the one to stay in here with him. He might not react badly with a woman.”

  She grins at him. “Of course,” he replies. Leaving her brother there, she crosses over to the other bed and throws her pack onto it. Then she sits on the bed next to the boy. “We’ll be fine. You might want to get him some regular clothes though. These slave rags have to go.”

  “We’ll get some for him,” James says then turns his attention to Jiron. “When you’re out, pick up some clothes for the lad.”

  “Fine!” he says. Not entirely happy about the whole thing, he grabs Reilin and tells him that they have shopping to do. With Reilin in tow he stalks out of the room and they can hear his feet upon the floorboards of the hallway all the way to the stairs.

  A second later Scar and the others join them from stabling the horses. “What’s wrong with Jiron?” he asks.

  “Yeah,” adds Potbelly. “He almost walked right into us on the stairs.”

  Once out onto the streets, Jiron begins calming down.

  “What’s wrong?” asks Reilin.

  “He is always doing something like that,” he replies. Bringing his voice down to a whisper he adds, “Knowing we are about to infiltrate the temple, here he is saddling us with some kid.”

  “I can see your point,” agrees Reilin.

  “It’s not that I don’t feel for the boy, it’s just that so much is riding on what we’re about to do.” Jiron then walks along in silence until they come across a clothier. He waits outside while Reilin goes within and purchases clothing the boy is going to require.

  When Reilin leaves the clothier’s shop, he has several packages in his arms.

  “How much do you think he’s going to need?” Jiron asks, surprised that he bought so much. “You must have enough there for several kids.”

  Shrugging, Reilin gives him a grin. “I didn’t know the kid’s size so bought several sets just in case,” he explains. “It’s James’ money anyway.”

  “Great.” Taking a couple of the packages from him, Jiron then turns and heads back to the inn.

  A block down from the inn, they see a large group of people gathering in the middle of the road. Several guards are there in the center of the group trying to get the crowd to move back.

  “I better see what’s going on,” Jiron tells him. Handing the packages back to Reilin he says, “Take these to James and let him know I’ll be along shortly.”

  “Okay,” he says with arms now full of packages.

  Jiron moves forward while Reilin angles to the side to avoid the crowd ahead of them. At the crowd’s edge, Jiron is unable to see what it is everyone is staring at. From the mood of the crowd, it isn’t good. He begins working his way through to the center by gently nudging and elbowing people aside.

  When he at last reaches the middle, he sees a dead man lying on the ground. One of the guards is examining the body and when he gets up, Jiron realizes he recognizes the man. He was the one who had been strapping the boy. Blood soaks the front of the man’s clothes from where his throat had been slit from ear to ear. Having seen enough, he starts working his way back out of the crowd. Once free of the crowd, he hurries back to the inn.

  At the room he finds the boy awake and eating some of their food. His eyes are wide as he gazes from face to face. Snuggled in next to Aleya who is softly stroking his hair, the boy shoves what’s left of a piece of cheese into his mouth. The packages Reilin brought are sitting on Aleya’s bed as yet unopened.

  “How is he?” he asks as he enters the room.

  “Fine for the most part,” Aleya says softly. “His name’s Aku.”

  “So what was going on outside?” James asks. “Reilin said there was a crowd in the street?”

  “There was,” he replies. “You know that man who was beating Aku?” When Jiron indicates he does, he adds, “He’s been murdered. Looks like someone slit his throat.”

  “Good,” states James. “He deserved it.”

  “More than you would know,” Reilin tells him. “From what little I’ve managed to get out of him, he has been abused for quite some time. Any little infraction and he would get a beating. He even said there was another boy when he first arrived at his master’s house that had died by his master’s hand.”

  “And no one did anything,” James says in disgust.

  “Slaves are property, like a chair,” Reilin explains. “No one thinks twice about what a person does to their slave. Except maybe if it was a public nuisance or indecent, then they would. But it wouldn’t be because of what they did to the slave, rather how the situation affected those nearby.”

  “I hate this place,” states James with great feeling. “I usually don’t like saying hate, but in this case I feel it’s justified.”

  “Just calm down,” Jiron says. “We still have to get in that temple and we need you focused.”

  James nods. “I know,” he says then sighs. “Can’t let it get to me.” He glances over to the boy and sees him take a proffered piece of dried meat and begin chewing on it. At least he was able to help one small child.

  “Supper is just beginning down below,” Scar says. “Maybe we should adjourn down there and leave Aleya alone with the boy?”

  “Might be a good idea,” agrees James. Then to Reilin he says, “Tell Aku to stay here in the room with Aleya. That we’ll take him with us when we leave.”

  Once Reilin informs the boy, he grins, nods and replies. “He’ll stay,” Reilin translates for them. “In fact he’s rather happy about the whole situation.”

  “I would be too if I were in his place,” comments Shorty.

  “Come on,” Potbelly urges. “I’m hungry.”

  “You’re always hungry,” Scar says as the pair leaves the room “Remember the time when you…”

  James grins to Jiron as Scar’s voice moves down the hallway. He motions to the rest of them and they follow Scar and Potbelly down to the common room.

  Jiron is the last to leave. “You going to be okay in here?” he asks.

  “We’ll be fine,” she says. “Go have fun.”

  “I will,” he tells her. Then he closes the door and hurries to catch the others.

  They only spend an hour down below before Jiron announces that he’s heading back up to check in on Aleya. Leaving her alone with the boy in the room has been worrying him. Ever since the incident at the Eye’s Court, he hasn’t wanted to let her out his sight for any length of time. He doesn’t know what he would do if something were to happen to her.

  James decides to call it a night too and accompanies him upstairs. The others remain in the common room for a little while longer.

  Back in the room they find Aleya and the boy asleep on the bed. The way she’s holding him protectively gives Jiron a warm feeling inside. He stands there with James a moment just staring at them before she cracks an eye open and waves him inside.

  “I’ll take her room,” James says. “You two can stay here with Aku.”

  “Thanks,” Jiron says appreciatively as he enters the room.

  James closes the door and grins. They’re not even married yet and already it looks like they may have an addition to the family. The thought of Jiron as a father figure to the boy makes him chuckle. He reaches the room that was supposed to be hers and opens the door.

  “Excuse me,” a voice says behind him, practically making him jump in startlement.

  Turning around, he sees a young man wearing slave cloth. He’s standing not more than three feet away. “You sp
eak my language?” James asks him.

  Nodding, the slave says, “Oh yes. My master has many dealings with your people and found it useful for me and others to be able to understand what they are talking about when he’s not around.”

  James could definitely see the benefit in that. “What can I do for you?” he asks.

  The slave moves closer and says quietly with head bowed in respect, “I wish to know how the boy fares?”

  “You mean Aku?” James asks.

  “Yes sir,” he replies.

  “Why?” James looks more closely at the young man before him. Couldn’t be more than seventeen or eighteen, he wonders what interest a small boy could hold for him.

  “He’s my brother,” the slave admits.

  James glances down the hallway and sees another slave at the head of the stairs watching them. He opens his door and says, “Why don’t we talk inside.”

  Nodding, the slave moves to follow him into the room. “Is he okay?” he asks.

  Once the door closes, James lights the candle on the table with magic. Either the slave didn’t notice or he chose not to comment on it. Sitting down, he indicates for the young man to take the seat across from him. Almost without pause, the young man moves and takes the seat.

  “He’s fine,” James tells him. He can almost see the young man visibly relax. “He was hurt pretty bad but we got him cleaned up.”

  The slave lifts his face to meet his eyes, something he’s rarely seen a slave do to a free person. “What are you going to do with him, if I may ask?” he asks.

  “We had planned on taking him with us,” James explains. “I didn’t want to save him only to have him become a slave again. Also, one of us has taken a liking to him.”

  “I’m glad,” the young man says.

  James leans back in his chair and stares at him a moment. “I don’t know if you heard but his last owner, the one that practically beat him to death, was murdered.”

  The young man doesn’t even flinch at the news.

  “I take it you know something about it then?” James asks. When he fails to respond, James says, “He deserved what he got if you ask me.” Still unresponsive, he asks, “You killed him didn’t you?”

  “Yes!” exclaims the young man. “He was a swine who treated poor Aku terribly.”

  “Good for you,” James tells him. At that the young man lifts his head and gives him a slight grin. “Now, what do you intend to do? Are you here to get your brother back?”

  Shaking his head, he says, “Hardly. Leaving with you would be the best thing that could happen to him. You and your friends seem a decent enough sort.” He then meets James’ gaze again and says, “If there’s anyway that I can be of service to you, don’t hesitate to ask. For all that you’ve done and hopefully will do for Aku.”

  James considers his offer. He sits there for a minute or two before saying, “Perhaps there is a way you can be of help.”

  “Anything,” he says.

  “Can you help us get into the temple here in Zixtyn?” he asks.

  The young man blinks twice but otherwise doesn’t react. Then he says, “You aren’t serious are you?”

  “Completely,” replies James.

  ”Why?” he asks.

  “That’s our business,” he says. “Can you?” James can see thoughts racing through his mind as he thinks about it.

  “I may know someone who might be able to help,” he finally says. “I won’t know if he will until later tomorrow morning though.”

  “Will he keep this secret?” James asks.

  “Oh yes,” he replies. “This man holds no love for the temple or those who work for their god.” Glancing to James again he asks, “Are you planning mischief?”

  James nods. “In a way,” he says. “I won’t say more than that.”

  “If that’s your goal, I’m sure he’ll do what he can to aid you in your endeavor,” the young man tells him. He suddenly gets to his feet. “I have to go. I’ll come back sometime late tomorrow morning with word.”

  James comes to his feet as well. “Would you like to see Aku before you go?” he asks. Gesturing to the room down the hall he says, “He’s asleep.”

  Shaking his head, the young man says, “It would be best if I didn’t. You see he doesn’t know of me. I’ve been keeping an eye on him all his life but haven’t had contact with him.”

  “Why?” he asks.

  The slave grins and says, “Like you say, ‘It’s my business’.”

  “As you wish,” concedes James.

  The young man goes to the door and leaves without another word. James stares at the door and wonders if he did the right thing in trusting that information to a complete stranger. Only after the young man left does he realize that he doesn’t know for sure if the young man told the truth when he said he was Aku’s brother. Praying that he did the right thing, he turns in for the night.

  Chapter Thirty Five

  The following morning when they all but Aleya and Aku gather in James’ room, he tells them of the visitor he had the night before. Their response was less than favorable.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Scar asks.

  “What were you thinking?” demands Jiron.

  Raising his hands, he quiets their protests. “Calm down all of you,” he says. “If it was a mistake, the city guard would have already been here. Since they aren’t I can only assume that nothing will come of it from that quarter.”

  “Do you think that this slave is going to help us enter the temple?” Stig asks. “Seems a rather untrustworthy individual to trust our lives to.”

  “Right now we don’t know what may come of it,” he replies. Turning his gaze to Jiron he says, “I think we should continue with what we had planned. You take Reilin and Shorty to reconnoiter the place, see if there’s a way in.” He sees Jiron nods then adds to the others, “As far as Aku is concerned, I don’t think it would be wise to mention his ‘brother’ to him. Seeing as he knows nothing about him anyway.”

  “You may be right,” Brother Willim says.

  “Now I judge it to be about two days to the dark of the moon, so we have that amount of time to find a way into the temple. After that it will just be a matter of getting to the teleportation dais.”

  “Still sure you can figure that thing out?” Jiron asks.

  “To be honest, I don’t know,” he replies. “But I don’t see any other way to reach Tinok in time.”

  “Go to sleep,” suggests Stig. “Maybe the gods will send you another dream to help you along.”

  Brother Willim shakes his head. “You can’t look for these things,” he explains. “They come when they do.”

  James nods his head. “I think we’ve received all the help we’re going to,” he says. “We know where we have to go and how to get there. We just need to do it.” To Jiron he says, “Perhaps you should get going.”

  Jiron nods and gets to his feet. “Reilin, Shorty, let’s go,” he says before turning for the door. With them in tow, he opens the door. Pausing, he glances back to James and says, “If that guy should show up again, don’t commit to anything until I get back.”

  “I don’t plan to,” he replies.

  Jiron meets his gaze meaningfully then turns and leaves. Reilin and Shorty follow him out and then close the door behind. Those in the room hear their footsteps move down toward Aleya’s room and stop there for a moment, probably to let her know what’s going on. Then they hear a door close and their footsteps continuing down the hallway.

  James turns to the others and says, “Now we wait.”

  Knock! Knock!

  After the others left, James had laid down on the bed. Fatigue from the previous two days of travel gets the better of him and he soon drifted off to sleep. The knocking on the door snaps him out of it.

  Getting up off the bed, he crosses to the door and cracks it open. Out in the hallway is the slave he talked with the night before. In his hand is a wadded piece of cloth. Opening the door wider, he gest
ures for him to enter. Once the young man crosses into his room, he sticks his head out and sees the same slave at the head of the stairs as had been there the night before.

  Then the door across the hall opens and Scar sticks his head out, probably having heard the knocking. He sees the slave in his room and looks questioningly to James. James gives him a sign saying it’s okay, then jerks his head toward the slave at the head of the stairs. Scar glances that way and sees him standing there. He turns back to James and nods.

  Closing the door, James moves to the table and takes the same seat he sat in the night before. The slave does the same. “Did you talk with the person you mentioned last night?” he asks.

  The slave nods. “Yes I did.”

  “And?”

  “And he thinks you’re a fool for seeking to enter the temple,” he explains. “But said that he might be willing to help you if you were to come and meet him.”

  “Why?” he asks.

  He shrugs. “I don’t know. If you want his help, you are going to have to come and meet with him.”

  James sits back and considers it. He recalls what Ceadric had said about the Empire offering a hundred thousand gold piece reward for his death. Could this be a ploy to cash in on it? “I suppose I would have to come with you alone? Couldn’t take someone with me could I?”

  “No,” the slave states. “He said for you to come alone.” He then tosses the wadded piece of cloth he holds in his hand onto the table. “He also said for you to be wearing this.”

  James picks up the cloth and sees it’s one of the loincloths the slaves wear. “Just this?” he asks, none too happy about parading around in such a thing.

  The young man can’t help but grin at the expression on James’ face. “Yes, just that.”

  “I can’t,” he says, replacing it back on the table.

  “You must if you are to meet with him,” he insists.

  “I understand that,” James assures him. Then he stands up and removes his own shirt. Underneath he’s very white and pale. Having never been one to walk around bare-chested, he never built up a tan. “I could never fool anyone in thinking I was a slave. Do I look like someone who’s spent time out in the sun in nothing but a slave’s loincloth?”