The Star of Morcyth: The Morcyth Saga Book Five

by Brian S. Pratt

  The few citizens still on the street hurry along as if they’re afraid to be out after dark. “There’s a definite uneasy feeling here,” observes Jiron.

  “I know,” agrees Fifer. Watching one fellow hurrying along, he sees him continuously darting nervous glances this way and that. When he notices Fifer looking at him, he stops in his tracks, then darts quickly down a side alley.

  “Wonder what has them all spooked?” Dave asks.

  “The answer is probably in that pavilion sitting outside of town,” replies James. “From the look of that one guy we ran into earlier, it isn’t surprising the townsfolk have grown wary.”

  They come to an inn and James has everyone wait by the horses while he and Illan go inside to see about getting some rooms. He dismounts and with Illan right behind him, goes through the front door.

  As he enters, a man behind the counter turns with a start, his eyes wide. When he sees them entering, his demeanor subtly relaxes and he asks, “Travelers?”

  James nods and says, “Yes we are. Just passing through on our way north.”

  At that, the man completely relaxes. Illan asks, “What has everyone around here so afraid?”

  The man’s eyes dart around for a moment, as if he’s looking to see if anyone is listening. Waving for them to come closer, he says in a soft voice, “It’s the woman out in the big tent in the center of the pavilion outside of town. She and her followers have everyone on edge.”

  “Why?” James asks. “What’s going on?”

  “Before summer, she had been a simple fortune teller who gave bad advice,” he says. “Everyone knew she was a fake but as she was very nice, we didn’t say anything. One day that all changed.”

  James glances to Illan as the man continues.

  “As the story goes, and let me tell you it’s different depending on who tells it to you, a man came to her and asked for a reading. He was a stranger in town so didn’t realize she was a fake. What happens next no one is sure about, but the next morning her crystal ball is shattered and she has this streak of white hair where the day before it had been black.”

  “She begins telling this story about how some demon showed up and tried to take his soul but that she fought him away. Now those of us who knew her didn’t believe it for an instance. I mean really? What a wild tale. But as time went on, she continued telling it and some came to believe in it. I think even after awhile she did too.”

  “Up until about a month ago things were fine. She had her little following and most of us were rather amused by the whole thing. Oh sure, for a lark we would at times go and listen to her but none took her serious. Most of us still don’t.”

  “What changed?” James asks.

  “Things started happening,” the man says. “People who went to hear her talk all of a sudden became ardent believers. Those who became believers would entice travelers passing through to go and listen to her. Then they too, became believers. Before we knew it, she had amassed hundreds of people and one day that large pavilion and the big tent sprung up.”

  “Interesting,” Illan comments.

  “This city is falling apart rapidly,” he tells them. “People are afraid to be on the streets for fear of being ‘asked’ to attend one of her talks.”

  “Why should that be a problem?” James asks.

  “If you refuse, sometimes they go away, sometimes not,” he replies. “One man refused and a pack of her believers fell on him and beat him to a pulp right here in the center of town.”

  “Didn’t the guard try to stop them?” Illan asks.

  “Some were in the vicinity, but word has it they’ve been bought off by someone, maybe her. Now they patrol the streets but do nothing to stop her people if they get violent.” Leaning closer and lowering his voice even more, he says, “I’ve even heard that some who spend too much time within the tent go mad.”

  “Really?” prompts Illan.

  “Really!” he says. “A friend of mine became a believer and spent a week straight within her tent, listening to her talk. When he came out, he wasn’t himself and all he could talk about was her and her mission to thwart the demon that walks the land.”

  James glances to Illan who nods. They both remember how that man who they encountered on the road here had acted.

  “Anyway,” he says. “Stay here in the inn, maybe in your rooms and don’t go out until dawn. Her people are most active at night though can be encountered anytime.”

  “Thanks for the information,” James says.

  “Do you still plan on staying?” the man asks.

  Nodding, James says, “We have to.”

  “It’ll be three coppers per room,” the man says. “How many will you require?”

  “Four,” he tells him as he counts out the coins. The man hands over the room keys and says, “If you’re hungry, I can send something up.”

  “That would be good,” Illan says. “Maybe in about a half hour, there are seven of us.”

  “Very good,” he says. “The stable is around back.”

  “Thank you,” James says as he and Illan turn to leave the inn.

  Stepping outside, he comes to a stop when he sees the others engaged in conversation with three other individuals.

  “…come, the wisdom of the lady is great.”

  Jiron hears him leaving the inn and turns toward him. Indicating the two men and woman standing next to him, he says, “They’ve just invited us to hear her speak at the pavilion.”

  The lady turns to him and says, “Yes, she welcomes all to hear her words of wisdom.”

  “All who come are filled with the knowledge to combat the evil walking the world,” one of the men says.

  After hearing what the innkeeper inside just said, the last thing he wants to do is expose any of his group to whatever is going on in the tent. “We need to get settled in right now,” he tells them. At that, the three become visibly agitated and the words of the innkeeper comes back to him. “If you refuse, sometimes they go away, sometimes not.”

  While not worried about what these three would do to his group, he’s more worried about what his group would do to them. Hoping to diffuse the situation, he says, “We may stop by later this evening after we have something to eat.”

  His words have a somewhat calming effect on them. “The lady’s words are greater than any food. Take not long in coming,” the lady says as they abruptly turn away and move down the road.

  Fifer glances to James and asks, “What was all that about?”

  “Are we going to hear her speak?” Miko asks.

  James glances at the departing trio and says quietly, “Not here. Let’s get our horses settled in first and we’ll talk where we won’t be overheard.”

  They all turn somber at that. Not exactly what they were expecting to hear. Fifer glances to Illan who nods his head gravely.

  Taking the horses around back, they find only one other horse in the stable. Visitors here must be few, with all that’s going on it isn’t too surprising. No stableman is around so they choose a set of stalls together and get their horses settled in. Then they take their packs with them and return to the inn where they head upstairs to their rooms.

  James has them all come into his room and they close the door. He gives the others a rundown of what he and Illan were told by the innkeeper. When he’s done, Qyrll asks, “Do you plan to go and listen to the lady’s words?”

  He sits back a moment and considers the question. “Maybe,” he finally says.

  “What?” asks Jiron. “You can’t be serious.”

  James looks to him and says, “I am. Something is going on here and it’s possible I could be the cause. Also, consider this. If she finds out where The Ranch is, she could send all her crazies there to ‘destroy the demon’ which would mean a bloodbath. No, I need to stop this now. She and her followers could become a veritable plague upon the land.”

  “So what do you propose to do?” Illan asks.

  “Later on, I’m going to go and see
what’s going on,” he says. “After I get a little rest and some food.”

  “We’re going with you,” Jiron says, several of the others nod their heads in agreement.

  “It wouldn’t be wise for you to go in there alone,” Illan agrees.

  James considers it for a moment and then says, “Very well.” To Miko he says, “Go downstairs and see if we can get our meal up here.” He hands him some coins to cover it.

  “Alright,” replies Miko, taking the coins. “I’ll be right back.” Leaving the room, they hear his footsteps going down the hallway to the stairs.

  “What are you planning to do there?” Fifer asks.

  “I don’t know, really,” he admits. “People don’t go mad such as we’ve seen in so short a time unless something is causing it.”

  “Magic?” suggests Fifer.

  Shrugging, James replies, “Maybe. Who knows?”

  “Have you felt anything since coming here?” Jiron asks.

  “No, but the pavilion isn’t exactly close either,” he replies, shaking his head. He sits in contemplation for several minutes until Miko returns saying their food will be up shortly.

  “What did I miss?” he asks.

  “Not much,” replies Jiron. He goes to the window and looks out onto the courtyard below. Nothing is stirring out there. The only thing which disturbs the night is the light coming from the pavilion area.

  It isn’t long before there’s a knock on the door and the innkeeper’s son arrives with their food and plates enough for all of them. James gives him a few coppers for a tip before he returns downstairs. Roasted chicken, bread and ale, not much variety but there’s a lot of it.

  Each of them fills a plate with a portion of the chicken and then finds a place to settle down to eat. James and Illan take the small table and the only two chairs in the room while everyone else makes do with either the bed or floor. Jiron just stands.

  Illan glances across the table to James and after swallowing, says, “You know, if you go over there, there’ll probably be trouble.”

  James sighs before replying. “I realize that. But how much more trouble will there be if I do nothing? She and her followers are a cancer which must be stopped before it has a chance to spread further.”

  He takes a few more bites before replying, “Already we’ve seen one of her people heading south. Who knows why he left and what he plans to do?”

  “Finding more people to come hear her?” offers Fifer.

  “Probably,” agrees James. “If nothing else will just stir up mischief.”

  Crash!

  The sound of pots clattering on the floor can be heard coming from below.

  “You can’t take him!”

  Everyone comes alert when they hear the innkeeper cry out. Illan motions for Fifer to see what’s going on. Qyrll goes with him.

  “What happened?” Miko asks.

  “Think they came back?” Jiron asks as he moves toward the door Fifer and Qyrll left open when they left.

  “It would seem so,” Illan says.

  They begin moving out into the hallway, Illan turns to Dave and says, “Stay here and lock the door.”

  Dave gives him a dark look but remains within the room.

  From the stairs they hear footsteps running up them. In a moment they see Fifer and the innkeeper’s son reach the top.

  “They’ve taken my father!” cries the boy, tears running down his face. A long cut is welling blood on his forearm. Jiron returns to the room and rips a section of sheet off and ties it around the wound to stop the flow of blood.

  As Jiron ministers to him, the boy continues, “They came to take me but my father fought them and they took him instead.”

  “Qyrll’s following them,” Fifer says.

  “Damn!” curses James. “He might become like them.” Turning to Illan he says, “We have to move fast.”

  “Agreed,” he says. To the innkeeper’s son, Illan indicates their room and says, “Stay in here. We’ll find your father.”

  “Please hurry!” the boy says.

  As the boy enters their room with Dave, James tells his friend, “You stay here and look after the boy.”

  “Why do I always have to stay behind?” he asks, voice full of hurt.

  “There could be fighting,” he tells his friend. “Just promise me to stay here?”

  Nodding, Dave says, “Alright. But you come back!”

  “I will,” he assures his friend. Closing the door he begins heading for the stairs. Jiron moves ahead of him and takes them two at a time. He then makes it to the door leading out to the main street first.

  The door is standing open, the street on the other side deserted. After a nod from James, he leaves the inn and begins making his way toward the lights of the pavilion.

  Hurrying along quickly, they move through streets strangely quiet. Usually there are people out and about even at this hour, the sun hasn’t been down all that long.

  They come to a junction of streets and from out of the cross street to the right, a band of a dozen of her followers suddenly appear.

  Jiron draws his dagger but James lays a hand on his arm and says quietly, “Not yet.”

  They’re immediately noticed by the followers who move to intercept.

  James steps to the fore and asks, “We heard about the lady and her message, would you know where we could find her?”

  The band stops and one points to the lights of the pavilion before saying, “There you will find the lady.” His eyes are slightly wild and foam flecks the side of his mouth.

  “Thank you,” replies James as he gives the band a nod and gestures to the others to continue toward the pavilion.

  Miko glances backward repeatedly until her followers are out of sight behind. He keeps one hand on the pommel of his sword, just in case.

  Jiron again takes the lead as they continue to make their way toward the lights. Twice more they’re intercepted by roving bands of her followers and each time he handles the situation just as James had. Once her followers are told they mean to go to the lady, they leave them alone.

  “How far ahead do you think the innkeeper is?” asks Fifer.

  “Can’t be too far,” Jiron states, “we’ve kept a good pace.”

  They finally reach the ramshackle area of lean-tos and hovels where her followers seem to live. The stench from this area is wretched, refuse having been deposited wherever convenient. This is the most deplorable state of sanitation James has yet to experience.

  When they pass the last building, they see the pavilion before them. A tingling sensation begins as they draw closer to it and James says to the others, “Magic.”

  Jiron nods as he resumes making his way to the pavilion. Her followers are more numerous here. Many eye them, but none try to hinder them in any way. After all, they’re going to go see the lady. If they were to turn around, that might be an altogether different situation.

  As they draw closer, the people begin to change subtly with more vacant eyes and emaciated appearances. It almost looks like they’ve done without food for quite some time. One group of individuals look as if they’re sleeping near one of the campfires but when they come near find they’re actually dead.

  “What’s going on here?” asks Illan.

  James glances to him and replies, “I don’t know. Whatever it is has to be stopped.”

  Nodding, Illan says, “I agree.”

  When they’re only a dozen yards from the entrance to the great tent in the center of the pavilion area, a large figure detaches itself from a group of onlookers at the opening and comes toward them.

  “Qyrll,” Fifer says with relief. “I was worried about you.”

  Giving him a smile, Qyrll replies, “No need to worry.” To Illan he gestures to the tent opening and says, “They took him in there.”

  “What’s going on in there?” James asks. The prickling sensation has continuously increased as his proximity with the tent decreases.

  “Bad things,” he says. />
  Murmuring can be heard coming from within. James darts a quick glance inside and sees the entire floor space of the tent covered with people. An aisle of sorts extends from the tent opening all the way to a central platform erected in the center. Standing at the base of the platform is the innkeeper and several followers. Two of them hold his arms and James can see him struggling to get away. Standing on the platform is Serenna, the fortune teller whom he had been so nice to on his last visit.

  “The lady awaits.”

  Startled, James turns to see several dozen of the faithful gathered around him and his party.

  “She grows impatient,” another says, though James isn’t sure just which one of them said it.

  Turning to the others, he says, “Watch each other and if any start acting weird, or if you feel yourself slipping away, tell me at once.” After he receives a nod from each, he turns to the opening. Taking a deep breath to calm his shaky nerves, he enters.

  Chapter Sixteen

  _________________________

  As he enters, the prickling sensation intensifies. The smell of unwashed bodies mingles with that of feces making the resulting odor nigh on unbearable.

  James looks at the surrounding mass of people and takes notice of motionless forms lying here and there about the floor. More of her followers who have died.

  Bringing his attention to bear upon the platform, he sees a dark globe sitting next to her on a pedestal looking to have been made of marble. A dark stone three feet high, it allows the globe to sit perfectly for her to rest her hand upon it.

  “Listen to my words,” she says and the crowd grows hushed. Laying her hand upon the globe, James feels a sudden spike in the tingling sensation. The globe must be the source of her power and control over these people.

  “It’s the globe,” he says to the others with him.

  Nodding, Jiron replies, “Can you destroy it?”

  “Need to be closer,” James tells him as they continue toward the platform.

  “Protect James,” he hears Illan say to the others. They then form a circle around him as he continues forward.