The men are saying something to Dave but Jiron can’t quite make it out. Suddenly, Dave looks toward the window and sees him there. “Jiron?” he asks.
The four men as one turn to see him there at the window and they draw their swords.
“Damn fool!” he exclaims as he backs away from the window and draws his knives.
“What?” asks Miko when he hears him curse and sees him draw his knives.
Jiron glances back to him for just a second and says, “Trouble.”
The door to the building crashes open as three of the four men rush out onto the street. Jiron moves to engage them and hears Miko’s sword leave its sheath as he too joins the fray. “They have Dave!” he tells him.
The first man to reach him tries to bull his way through his defenses as he hacks down with both hands on the hilt of his sword. Jiron easily sidesteps and lashes out with a return strike as the man passes and scores a deep cut on his left shoulder.
The second man comes at him with a thrust which he dodges backward to avoid. He hears the first man cry out as Miko takes him through the chest with his sword and moves to engage the third.
Now one on one, Jiron is able to block the man’s attacks. After three exchanges of attacks, he has the man’s measure. When the man thrusts as he knew he was going to, he sidesteps the sword and strikes out with an attack so fast it’s but a blur. His knife sinks into the man’s throat and severs the larynx. Choking on his own blood, the man is unable to properly defend himself and Jiron kicks out, connecting with his knee and shatters it. Falling to the ground, the man gurgles as blood fills his lungs.
Miko parries the third man’s attack and follows through with one of his own. His reflexes having been honed by his time with the Fire, his sword flies at the man horizontally and severs his leg at the hip. As the man topples forward, he strikes out one more time and runs his sword through his chest. His sword gets wedged in between the man’s ribs and is ripped from his hand.
After the man hits the ground, he puts his foot on his ribcage and draws out his sword. Looking around quickly, he sees Jiron wiping his blades on one of the dead men’s shirts.
“Dave!” Jiron says and moves toward the doorway. He stops suddenly when he sees Dave peering around the corner.
“Are they dead?” he asks, a tremor of fear in his voice.
“You can come out now,” Jiron tells him. “Where’s the other guy?”
“He ran out the back,” he says. Looking at the dead bodies, he can’t help but hide his revulsion at the sight.
“Let’s get back to the inn,” Jiron says.
“Yes,” he says, “I’d like that.”
“Who were they?” Miko asks as they begin moving back toward the inn.
“From the Empire, I think,” he says. “They said they were going to kill me if I didn’t tell them where the Fire is.”
Jiron glances to Miko who gives him a knowing look.
“Just what is the Fire?” he asks. “They knew I was his friend. How could they know that?”
“I don’t know, but we better hurry and tell James about it,” Jiron says. Picking up the pace, they make their way straight toward where the inn lies.
When they go upstairs they find Fifer and Qyrll have already returned, having no better luck in finding Serenna than they had.
James gets to his feet as Dave walks into the room ahead of Jiron and Miko. “Are you alright?” he asks.
“I’m fine,” Dave replies, sinking into one of the chairs by the table. Illan gets up so James can sit next to him.
James turns his attention to Jiron and asks, “What happened?”
“Found him in some old building on the outskirts of town,” he replies. “Looked like he was being questioned.”
Turning back to Dave, James says, “Tell me everything.”
“Several minutes after you left, more of those people showed up,” he tells them, a haunted look coming over him. “They demanded us to go with them and when we refused, they fell upon the boy and started killing him. I grabbed a chair and smashed open the window and climbed down to the street below. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. There were more of them on the streets so I just starting running, I was hoping to find you.”
“But instead, I ran into those other guys. They recognized me as being your friend,” he says, bringing his eyes to meet James’. “How could they know that?”
Startled at that, James glances around to the others in the room and then says, “I don’t know. It wouldn’t seem likely.”
“They’ve probably had spies on us for awhile now,” offers Illan. “It wouldn’t have been too difficult for them to find out who we all are and our relationship to you.”
Nodding, James says, “Possibly.”
Laying his hand on James’ arm, Dave says, “They wanted to know about something called ‘The Fire’. Do you know what they’re talking about?”
James sits back in his chair and contemplates what he just heard.
“They haven’t given up,” states Jiron.
“No they haven’t,” he replies. Looking to Dave, he can see the questions behind his eyes but can he afford to give him the answers? “The Fire is an artifact of power here in this world. I have it on good authority that should the wrong people acquire it, this world could end. Or at least those who live here would wish it had.”
“So you have it?” he asks.
“Not any more,” he answers. “It’s hidden away for all time.”
“Where?” he asks.
James looks to his friend for a minute as he considers his reply. Finally, he says, “I can’t tell you.”
“But I’m your friend!” he exclaims. “My life is in jeopardy because of it, I have a right to know!”
Shaking his head, James says, “Dave, you are my best friend. We’ve been through a lot together but I can’t tell you. I can’t tell anyone.”
Indicating the others, he asks, “Do they know?”
Shaking his head, James says, “No, they don’t. No one does but me and it’s going to stay that way.”
Somewhat mollified at knowing he isn’t the only one who doesn’t know, he calms down.
James hated to lie to his friend, but he’s too vulnerable. This latest escapade shows him that not only himself, but those around him are likely to be sought. And how did they know he was here. Something’s afoot and he needs to figure out what.
He gets to his feet, tired and exhausted. Looking at everyone in the room he says, “As much as we all need to rest, we better get out of here. If there are agents from the Empire here, there’s no telling what they may be planning next.”
“I agree,” Illan says. To Fifer and Qyrll he says, “Go down to the stables and get the horses ready for travel.” As they move to leave the room, he adds, “Be alert.”
“Count on it,” Fifer says. Then he and Qyrll pass into the hallway and move to the stairs.
Turning back to James, he says, “Now that they’ve tipped their hand, we’ll be on guard.”
“That’s something at least,” James replies. Getting up from the chair, he says to Miko, “Go down to the kitchen and fill several packs with food.”
Miko looks at him askance as he says, “Isn’t that stealing?”
“Stealing from whom?” Jiron asks. “The innkeeper and son are dead and we haven’t seen anyone else around the whole time we’ve been here. Likely as not, if we leave the food it’ll just spoil.”
“Right, I hadn’t thought of that.” Miko grabs his bag and heads down to the kitchen.
James glances to Jiron and says, “I hope there’re no tarts down there or that’s all he’ll get.”
Breaking out into a grin, he says, “I better go help him.” Taking his pack, Jiron leaves the room and follows Miko down to the kitchen.
James, Illan and Dave make their way down to the stables where they find all but two of the horses already saddled. Fifer and Qyrll are getting the saddles ready for the remaining two.
&n
bsp; Taking the reins of his horse, he leads him out into the inn’s courtyard as does Dave and Illan. They wait there a moment before Miko and Jiron exit the back door of the inn, each with two bulging sacks of food for their journey back. One small pouch hangs around Miko’s neck and Jiron nods toward it and mouths, ‘Tarts’.
James gives him a grin and by the time they have the food secured to the horses, Fifer and Qyrll come out with the others. Once mounted, they follow the north road through town.
Several townsfolk watch them as they ride by. Whether or not they realize they were the ones who took care of Serenna or not, they make no move toward them nor do they offer a greeting. It’s going to take some time before this town is back the way it was before all the unpleasantness.
They finally reach the outskirts and break into a fast trot as they leave Willimet behind.
Chapter Seventeen
_________________________
While he rides through the night, his mind continues going over the events during the battle with Serenna and her followers, mainly, the shadows which came from the globe. They were identical in look and feel as the ones he encountered that time Igor came to save his butt. He’s still not sure where he was. Whether it was another plane of existence, another world or maybe just a terrifying dream, he’s not sure. But after seeing the shadows appear from the globe, he’s convinced it wasn’t just a dream.
Since coming to this world, he’s encountered several forces, malignant in nature. By far the worst experience was the one on that other world. From the various books he’s read back home, he has a couple theories as to why these things may be happening, none of which will be pleasant if they’re true.
Two hours from Willimet, they come across another of the areas catering to travelers. This one has but an inn and one other building behind it which looks to be the innkeeper’s home. Both buildings are dark.
Illan brings them to a halt before coming very close. He sits there for a moment.
“What’s wrong?” James asks him.
“Doesn’t feel right,” he says. “There’s usually always a light of some kind at an inn.” To Jiron he says, “Go check it out.”
“Right,” he replies and then dismounts from his horse. While the others wait there in the road, he makes his way toward the inn.
The front door is ajar. Removing a knife from his belt, he steps toward the door. Pausing a few feet from the door, he looks inside but all he can see are shadows cast by the faint light of the moon shining in through the windows. Placing his hand against the door, he slowly pushes it open. The hinges of the door squeal slightly, giving an eerie feel to the place.
When the door is open far enough to allow him to enter, he releases the door and steps through. The stench from within hits him like a wall, death has been here. Moving inside, he tries to breathe through his mouth to minimize his reaction to the odor. On a nearby table he sees a candle silhouetted by the moonlight coming in through a window. Making his way over to it, he sets his knife on the table and removes his flint from his pouch. After two tries he manages to get the candle lit.
The candle’s light reveals a macabre scene. Several people lie dead on the floor, another is slumped across a table. A quick survey shows none of the people are still alive. “Hello?” he hollers. “Is anyone here?” Listening for a moment, he fails to hear anything and then makes his way back to the door.
Sticking his head out, he hollers to the others, “I think everyone here is dead!”
The others come to the inn where they dismount and secure their horses to the front hitching post. “James,” Jiron says from the front door, “you better come in here.”
Coming to the door with the others following, James sees the ghastly scene in the common room. “Looks like the work of Serenna’s followers,” he says. When the smell hits him, he takes out a cloth and puts it over his nose.
Suddenly from upstairs, they hear a floor board creak as if someone is walking around. Without hesitation, Jiron moves to the stairs and cautiously ascends to the second floor with Fifer and Qyrll right behind.
“Be careful,” offers James.
Jiron ignores him and continues up. At the top of the stairs is a hallway running the length of the second floor with doors lining both sides. The noise had to of come from either the first or second room on the left. The first door is open, the second one is closed.
Motioning for Fifer and Qyrll to follow, he edges toward the first door and glances through the doorway into the room. Standing in the middle of the room is a person, silhouetted by the light coming in through the window. The smell of death is in this room as well.
“Are you okay?” Jiron asks the person in the room.
Other than shifting its feet, the person makes no reply.
“Are you hurt?” When no reply is forthcoming, he hollers to those downstairs, “Bring up the candle, we need some light.”
Jiron stands there in the doorway and keeps an eye on the individual in the room as James brings the candle up from below. The others follow as well. When the light at last illuminates the room, they see the person is another of Serenna’s followers. The man looks emaciated and has the same lost, dazed look the others had when her hold over them was broken.
Illan comes behind James and when he sees the man, turns to the others and says, “Search all the rooms, there may be more.”
One by one they search the rooms and find five others in the same state as the first man. “What should we do with them?” Fifer asks.
They look to James who shrugs, “I don’t know what we can do. They may snap out of it, or they may not.”
“Are we just going to leave them here?” Jiron asks.
Nodding, James says, “I think that would be the prudent thing to do. At the next town up the road we’ll tell someone who can come back and take care of them.”
“You’re not still planning on staying here are you?” Dave asks from where he stands at the top of the stairs.
“Hardly,” he replies. “Let’s bury the dead and then get out of here.”
Dave stops him at the top of the stairs and asks, “Why?”
James looks him seriously in the eye and says, “I can’t believe you just asked me that.” Brushing past him, he goes downstairs to find a shovel.
They find several out back by the house and commence digging one large communal grave. Once it’s large enough, begin to fill it with the dead from the inn. During the process, the mind dead wander around aimlessly, one actually falling down the stairs and ends up breaking her neck. So they pick her up and add her to the grave.
When at last all the dead are buried, they have a moment of silence and then get mounted. They ride for an hour before pulling off the road and making camp near a small stream. Exhausted beyond measure, James finds a good spot to rest while the others volunteer to see to his horse. He no sooner gets his head on his pack than he falls asleep.
Early the next morning when the sun begins to rise, he wakes to find Fifer on watch. The others are sound asleep and snoring up a storm. He gets up and comes to the fire and sits down next to him.
They break out some of the food which was appropriated from the inn back in Willimet and have breakfast. It isn’t long before everyone is up and eating. Dave is the last one to rise.
“Are we heading home now?” Miko asks him.
Nodding, he says, “That’s the plan. Need to talk to Ceryn about something then may be going on another trip.”
“So soon?” he asks.
“Yes,” he replies. “Have to find out what Ironhold is and where. Ceryn’s been around so I’m hoping he may know something about it.”
“We’re probably two or three days from The Ranch,” interjects Illan.
“Can’t wait to get back,” Jiron says. “Tersa must be worried sick about me.”
Just then from the north, they see a dozen or so riders coming their way. When they get close enough, they see that they’re part of the Cardri cavalry. James comes to his
feet as they approach and the officer comes forward and says, “Heard there’s some strange happenings going on around here. Have you seen anything out of the ordinary?”
Nodding, James says, “An hour or so to the south is an inn. We found the occupants slaughtered and several mindless people wandering around. Buried the dead and left the mindless to continue wandering.”
“Slaughtered you say?” he asks.
“That’s right,” he replies. “Same thing was happening down in Willimet. Those people down there need some help that’s for sure.”
The officer waves over a subordinate and has a few quiet words with him which James cannot make out. When he’s done, he turns back to James and says, “Thanks for the information.”
“You’re welcome,” he says.
The officer then calls for his men to begin moving and they double time it down the road.
“Looks like those people are going to get help after all,” remarks Fifer.
“Maybe,” says James, “if they don’t just kill them.”
“True,” adds Illan. “At least it’s not our problem anymore.”
James nods his head as he returns to the campfire and finishes eating.
On the road again, they continue their northerly course, anxious to get home. Setting a quick pace they manage to reach the city of Guellin by the night of the second day. The sheep ranches come into view long before they see the skyline of the town. Shepherds are out among them, minding their flocks. Some wave a hello while others pointedly ignore them.
As the road enters town, a large three story building sits on their right with a sign of a sleeping sheep hanging by the front door.
“Looks like a good spot,” says James. The grounds are relatively free of debris and the inn has an overall look of having been well maintained.
“Shall I see if they have any rooms?” Jiron asks.
Getting down from his horse, James stretches his sore muscles and says, “Sure. See if they have four. I’d like one on at least the second floor.”
“You got it,” he says as he goes up and enters the door.
The Star of Morcyth: The Morcyth Saga Book Five Page 21