James sags and almost falls to the floor before Jiron catches him with one hand. On the verge of passing out he says, “Help me up. We have to get out of here.”
As he helps James to his feet, he glances over at what’s left of the two bodies burning in the pool of fire on the floor. “What were those things?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” he replies. The memory of the warrior priest that he slammed with his magic before they came here is very much on his mind. Why he hasn’t made an appearance yet baffles him. “You remember the way out?”
“Yeah,” replies Jiron. “Let’s go.” He puts James’ arm around his shoulder for support before moving toward the double doors they had passed through during their previous visit. Kicking one of the doors open, he and James pass through to the corridor on the other side. James’ orb springs to life as they leave the light of the braziers behind them.
Turning down to the right, they walk quickly. Coming to the end they arrive at another corridor that runs perpendicular to theirs. Without hesitation they turn and follow it to the right. They soon come to the winding flight of stairs leading down.
On their previous visit, they had come up this way after crawling through a drainage pipe found in the side of the mountain. At the time they were being pursued by soldiers of the Empire and were just looking for a place to hide.
“Not that way,” says James as they come to the stairs. “Better leave the same way as last time.”
Jiron nods at that and continues down the corridor. They pass by another corridor extending into darkness on their right and shortly after that arrive at a small room. Standing in the room are two pedestals, upon each sits a statue of a demonic creature. They give them but a cursory glance as they pass through the room to the corridor on the right. Hurrying along, they pass three more corridors branching off to the right before entering the room at the end. So far there has been no telltale indication that the warrior priest has appeared on the dais.
Just as they remembered, they find the stairway leading to the room above them. The only exit from the room is an opening in the right wall where a corridor begins. At the top, James pauses and says, “Let’s rest a moment.”
“You sure?” asks Jiron. “There could be more coming.”
“I know, but I need to.” James leans against the wall by the stairwell and sags to the floor. “Just for a minute or two,” he tells him.
Seeing just how tired his friend is, Jiron nods and takes position at the top of the stairs to keep an eye out for anyone approaching from below. He’s not doing too great either. His chest throbs from where that dead creature blasted him, not to mention the multiple strikes of those small flying creatures that burn him like acid. Nothing would please him more right now than to lie down and fall asleep.
He turns his attention from the stairs to James and says, “You know, those dead creatures really weren’t that hard to defeat.”
“I know,” James replies. “I don’t know if you noticed, but a warrior priest appeared on the dais before we left.”
“I saw something but didn’t realize it was a warrior priest,” he admits. Getting a confused look on his face he asks, “Then why didn’t he come after us?”
“I don’t know.” Shrugging, James leans his head against the wall and adds, “I suppose we shouldn’t question our good fortune.”
Grinning, Jiron returns his attention to the stairs. “I suppose not,” he agrees. He absentmindedly rubs the arm that fell numb when the creature touched it.
“Arm okay?” James asks.
“The feeling is beginning to come back,” he says. “What would cause something like that to happen?”
Shrugging, James contemplates what happened a second before answering. “One of the theories that were kicked around back home was that the energy needed to keep a dead body ‘alive’ would have a detrimental effect on the living,” he explains. “When it touched you, the energy suffusing it entered your body and ‘shorted out’ your nervous system.”
“Shorted out?” he asks perplexed.
James gives him a grin. “Sorry, it’s a term from my world. It simply means it stopped your arm from communicating with your brain. If the contact had lasted for any length of time, the damage probably would have been permanent if it didn’t kill you outright.” He indicates the arm that’s numb and adds, “Since the feeling is coming back, it stands to reason nothing permanent was done.”
“That’s good to know,” he says.
Closing his eyes, James tries to relax a moment to quiet the headache that throbs painfully behind his eyes. His restless mind continues trying to make sense of the last few hours. First, Jiron and I are in a city buried by sand and are about to kill each other. Then we wind up in that other place where the little demonic flying creatures were trying to kill us. If the dais is some kind of magical transport device, why did we end up here? It makes no sense! It can’t be a random transporter, such a thing would be useless to the warrior priests. There has to be a way to control it.
Okay, suppose there is a rhyme or reason to it. How did Jiron and I trigger it the first time? Could it be set up to trigger for anyone who does magic? That wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense. The warrior priests have made many enemies over the years who can wield magic. They surely wouldn’t want anyone other than themselves to take advantage of their teleportation system. So the trigger must be something that has to do with them and that only they and their agents would have. Maybe some ability they posses or an aura or something?
“James?” questions Jiron softly.
Eyes opening he glances to where Jiron is still keeping an eye on the stairs. “Someone coming?” he asks.
Shaking his head he says, “No. I was thinking we might want to get out of here.” Grinning he adds, “Seeing as how you are awake and all.”
The headache has subsided to a dull throb. He feels a little bit rested and able to continue, though the thought of using magic makes his headache throb even more. “Doubt if I could do anything if we were to be attacked,” he says. Getting to his feet, he says, “But I am fit enough to walk without your support.”
“Good,” he says as he comes to him. “Then let’s get out of here.” He moves past James and crosses over to the corridor. There he pauses and glances back to make sure James is following before leaving the room.
He proceeds down the corridor until he comes to where another corridor crosses the one they’re in. Remembering the way from last time, he takes the corridor to the right. They don’t go far before coming to the three skeletons of the dead priests lying on the floor. The whole area of the corridor has been blackened as if by fire.
Jiron steps over the skeletons and continues down the corridor. He stops when he realizes James isn’t following him. Looking back he finds him standing before the skeletons, staring at them. He starts back toward him when he hears James exclaim, “I got it!”
“What?” Jiron asks as he rejoins him by the skeletons.
Reaching into his pouch, he removes the amulet he acquired here the last time. Emblazoned with the symbol of the warrior priest, he holds it up and shows it to Jiron.
“So?” he asks. Puzzled as to why James is standing there with a wide grin, he waits.
“Don’t you see,” he says as he shakes the amulet slightly, “this is the key!” He looks to Jiron as if that should explain it all. When Jiron shrugs that he isn’t following him, he adds, “The dais. This is what triggered the teleportation.”
“Still not sure I’m following you,” admits Jiron.
“Do you remember me telling you about my time in the City of Light before it fell?” he asks. When he sees Jiron nod he continues. “Ol’ One Eye was sure interested in this when he found it in my possession, said it ‘changed things’. I didn’t understand it at the time but it makes sense now.”
“Also, back in Mountainside when we were taken into the jail back when Tinok and Cassie were still with us, the officer there was mighty interested in it as
well. I think it’s no small coincidence that the dais sent us here. After all, this is where it belonged.”
“So…” Jiron begins as he tries to work this out. Shaking his head he says, “I still don’t understand.”
Holding the amulet up before him he says, “This is a portal key! It activates the magic in the dais. That’s why we ended up here, it’s keyed to the dais below. When we jumped on the dais back in that other place, it sensed this key and sent us here.”
“But, why didn’t we come here first then?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” he admits. There his reasoning breaks down. He considers it for a minute then says, “But the fact that I found the amulet here and that we were ultimately sent here has to be connected in some way. It could be that each key is set for a specific temple and will always return the wearer to that temple.”
He can see the doubt in Jiron’s eyes. “Of course,” he tells him, “the only way to test the theory is to take another ride through the portal.”
Jiron laughs at that. “I don’t think so,” he says shaking his head.
“I agree,” James states.
“Can we go now?” asks Jiron.
With a nod of his head, James indicates for him to lead on. As he follows Jiron, a memory of what he told Aleya during their last visit when she had asked about the amulet: “Maybe it was only given to a priest once they achieved a certain level of the temple hierarchy,” he had suggested. “Simply having one may have afforded them some privilege or it could’ve been a sign of rank or trust as well.” If that is the case, then only the higher ranking priests would have access to the portal, which would make sense.
Jiron continues to lead until they come to where another corridor converges with the one they’re in. James shines the light of the orb down the left to reveal the cave-in they ran across last time. Knowing they are on the right path, Jiron continues straight ahead.
Twenty feet or so they come to another cave-in. A space just large enough for a man to crawl through has been cleared at the top of the obstruction. The last time they were here, they had crawled through that hole and found themselves out among the trees on the mountainside. Taking a look at the ground on this side of the cave-in, they find impressions in the dirt from where they previously rested until it had grown dark outside.
Jiron immediately goes to the opening and crawls a short way through before stopping. He pauses a moment before coming back inside. “It’s dark,” he says.
“That’s fortunate,” comments James and indicates for Jiron to continue on through to the other side.
He cancels the orb before he follows Jiron through the hole. It takes his eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness before he’s able to see the moonlight filtering in through the opening. Making his way through he finds the half moon to be high overhead. Jiron offers him a hand as he crawls out and helps him to his feet.
“Now,” he says, “let’s see about finding our way back to the others.”
Chapter Twenty Six
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They work their way along the mountainside toward the south. Somewhere ahead in the dark lies the road running along the southern edge of the mountains which will take them toward Madoc. The last time they came this way, there was a sizeable presence of the enemy along the road.
It doesn’t take them long to reach the road leading down from the summit, appearing in the moonlight ahead of them. Carefully looking in both directions, they determine the road is empty. With Jiron in the lead they move onto the road.
Traveling upon the road affords them much better speed than forging their way through the forest. “We need to find a couple of horses,” James whispers.
“I know,” comes the all but silent reply.
The road takes them quickly down the mountainside. It isn’t long before the lights from the encampment of the Empire’s soldiers at the base of the mountain come into view. The number of campfires indicates there isn’t nearly the number of men there were the last time they passed this way. “Maybe they don’t feel a large presence is warranted here,” suggests Jiron.
“Could be,” agrees James. “Or they could have sent most of their force to deal with Illan and the others.”
“That would make sense,” he says with a nod.
They continue following the road until it begins to approach the perimeter of the enemy camp before moving into the shelter of the trees. Working their way through the hills at the base of the mountain, they make their way closer to the enemy lines. Pausing a moment upon the top of a hill overlooking the enemy camp, they have a commanding view of its layout. Off to their right they see where they have their horses kept.
A series of stables have been built to keep their steeds out of the elements. Six structures with corrals adjacent to each stand in an area to the rear of their lines. In the corrals, horses are visible in the moonlight.
They wait several minutes before descending the hill. Jiron points out four sentries as they make their way through toward the stable area. Two remain in and around the stables while the other two continue on toward the main camp. He waits for the two continuing on toward the camp to leave the area before making his move. When only one of the two remaining sentries is close, Jiron motions for James to stay on the hill. Receiving James’ nod, he makes his way down the hill and toward where the sentry is patrolling.
James watches as the shadow that is Jiron moves toward the closest sentry, covering the distance quickly. He gets in behind the sentry and is within a dozen yards of him when the man suddenly turns in his patrol and begins heading back in Jiron’s direction. Ducking behind a tree, Jiron waits for his approach. A glint of moonlight flashes from the knife in Jiron’s hand.
The sentry continues to approach, oblivious to the danger poising to strike behind the tree. His path doesn’t take him directly past the tree, rather five feet to one side. When the sentry draws even with the tree, Jiron slips around to the other side until he’s behind him once again. Moving fast, he closes the distance silently. Grabbing the sentry from behind, he strikes with his knife and then lowers the dying man to the ground, the whole incident happening without a sound.
Jiron wipes his knife off on the man’s clothes and then moves toward the second sentry. The nearest stable is twenty feet away with an open area easily twenty feet wide. Running quickly and silently, Jiron makes the side of the stable and then presses his back against it. Listening for the other sentry’s position, he hears the man’s footsteps approaching from the right side of the stable. Moving quietly, he works his way to the right.
The remaining sentry calls to the other as he nears the edge of the stable. Despite the fact the man is speaking in the Empire’s language, Jiron can tell by the inflection in his voice that he’s asking a question. As Jiron reaches the edge of the stable, the sentry again asks the question with a slight edge in his voice.
Quickening his steps, the sentry reaches the edge of the stable. Just after he passes, Jiron jumps him from behind. Clamping his hand over the man’s mouth to prevent him from alerting the rest of the camp, he runs the edge of his knife across the man’s throat. Tossing the dying man to the ground, he turns toward the hill where James waits and waves. A minute later James joins him.
“Let’s hurry,” urges James. Jiron gives him a nod.
Jiron moves around the edge of the stable to the entrance and peers through the doorway. When he finds it empty, he signals James to follow as he enters. A light springs to life as James’ orb appears on his hand. Not nearly as bright as it usually is, it’s just bright enough for them to find the tack and saddle for two horses.
Along the back wall they find all the items they need stacked on shelves. While Jiron gathers the tack, James removes two fine looking stallions from their stalls. One snickers and snorts as he brings them forth. “Easy boy,” he says reassuringly as he pats the nervous one’s neck.
Working quickly, they soon have the horses saddled. James swings into the saddle while
Jiron moves to the gate. He opens it a crack and looks out to be sure no other sentry is approaching. When he finds all is quiet, he swings the stable’s gate open and returns to the horses. Taking his horse’s reins, he leads him through the gate. Once James has left the stable, Jiron closes the gate and throws the bar to keep it closed. He then swings into the saddle. Unless someone stumbles upon the dead sentries, it’s unlikely anyone will realize something has happened before dawn. James cancels his orb before heading out.
Moving quickly away from the buildings, they head southeast. Angling through the hills, they keep their distance from the enemy camp while they make for the road that will take them toward Madoc.
When at last the road appears before them, Jiron dismounts and leaves his horse with James while he moves to the edge of the road. Last time there had been hidden sentries along this road, but then again, the last time the Empire had known they were on the way. He comes to a stop within the edge of the forest and gazes up and down the road. Scanning both directions for several minutes for any movement he is at last satisfied the road is deserted. He then returns back to his horse and mounts. “The road looks deserted,” he says in a whisper.
“Then let’s get going,” replies James just as quietly.
Jiron gets his horse moving and they’re soon out of the forest. They turn eastwards once they are on the road and quickly get their horses up to a canter. James casts glances back to the enemy camp in the distance as they ride but no shout arises or any other indication that they have been discovered. After awhile, the lights of the enemy’s encampment disappear in the dark.
They ride for an hour or two before the sky begins to lighten with dawn’s approach. So far they haven’t encountered anyone else traveling upon the road and with any luck they won’t for some time.
When the sun begins to peek over the horizon, Jiron examines the road closely. “I think horses passed this way recently,” he observes. When James glances to him he indicates the surface of the road.
Shades of the Past: The Morcyth Saga Book Six Page 37