The star of Morcyth ms-5

by Brian S. Pratt

  “Very well,” Lord Colerain says. Taking one more satisfying look at James, he turns and follows his friend out of the cell area.

  Through blurry eyes, he watches them go. When at last they’ve ascended the stairs out of sight, he slips back into unconsciousness again.

  Miko and Illan are still sitting out in the common room when one of his street kids comes walking in the inn. Miss Gilena immediately moves to shoo him out but Miko sees him and says, “He’s here to see me.”

  Eyeing the boy questioningly, she leaves him alone and returns to what she had been doing before he entered.

  Coming over to Miko, the boy says, “I found them.”

  “Where?” asks Illan before Miko has a chance to say anything.

  The boy glances to Miko who gives him a nod and then says, “They’re out by the gate. I think they were trying to find a way through without being seen. Told them I’d come get you.”

  “Great!” Miko says as he gets to his feet. Turning to Illan he asks, “What should they do?”

  Thinking a moment, he says, “Find an inn close to where they are and have them stay put. Then come get me and we’ll figure out what to do.”

  “Alright,” he says. To the boy he adds, “Let’s go.”

  Leaving the inn, the boy takes him along the streets until they come to the gate near the spot Jiron and the others are waiting. Once through the gate, the boy leads him directly to the alley in which they’re hiding.

  Before he gets to the entrance to the alley, Miko sees Jiron’s head poke out and break into a grin as he sees them approaching. He’s surprised when he finds not only Fifer there with Jiron but another man in a hood as well.

  “Man, are we glad to see you,” Fifer tells him once he’s in the alleyway with them.

  Miko holds up his hand to halt any further questions and then turns to the boy. “Round up everyone and tell them to meet me at our regular spot in an hour,” he says. “There’s something else I need you to do.”

  “Alright, Miko,” the boy says and starts to walk out of the alley.

  “Here,” Miko says to the boy. When he stops and turns back to him, he flips a silver over to him.

  Snatching it out of the air, the boy smiles and says, “Thanks.” Then he turns back and continues out of the alley. He’s soon out of sight as he enters back onto the street and disappears around the corner.

  “Now, what’s going on?” Jiron asks.

  “I should ask you that question,” Miko replies. “Illan wants me to find an inn to stash you guys away for awhile until he’s able to come and talk with you.” Nodding to Qyrll, he asks, “Who’s your friend?”

  “His name is Qyrll,” replies Jiron.

  At that, Qyrll glances to Jiron who nods. Removing the hood, he reveals the fact that he’s a Parvati. Miko’s eyes widen and then turns his attention back to Jiron, “A Parvati? This just gets more and more interesting. We’ll talk after we get to the inn,” he tells them. “I know just the one.” As he begins moving toward the end of the alley, he glances back and says, “Follow me.”

  Falling in behind, Jiron, Fifer and lastly Qyrll with his hood once more in place, follow him into the street. Several blocks down they come to an inn with a sign outside depicting a dancing squirrel. A yellow cat is lying on a nearby window sill and Miko goes over and scratches him on the back of the head. “Good girl, Furball.” Furball lets out with an answering purr, obviously enjoying the attention.

  Around Furball’s neck is a rather plain collar with a small, circular metal disk hanging from it. Upon closer examination, Miko sees an exact duplicate of the dancing squirrel from the inn’s sign engraved on it. So, looks like Inius took James’ advice after all.

  The last time they were there, Furball had gotten herself lost. When he and James had come across her and returned her to Inius, James had suggested a collar with something that would tell anyone who found Furball where to take her. Any local who found Furball would definitely know to return her to the Dancing Squirrel.

  “Come on,” he says to the others as he goes through the open door. He sees Inius there behind the counter and waves to him as he enters.

  Inius looks at him with a smile and comes over. “Can I help you gentlemen?” he asks.

  Miko expected a more personal greeting and then again realizes he doesn’t look anything like he did when last here. Rather than going through what he did with Meliana and her father again, he just says, “I’d like a large room, if you have any. One with three beds maybe?”

  “All I have available at the moment are rooms with two beds,” he says. “But they are quite large.” Looking on hopeful, he awaits their reply.

  “Very well,” replies Miko. “A quiet one in the back would be nice.”

  “We have just what you want,” he says as he returns to the counter. Reaching for the room key, he says, “It’s on the second floor. Only be two silvers and two coppers.”

  Miko looks to Jiron who digs the money out of his pouch and hands it over. Taking the key, he says, “Thank you.”

  “If there’s anything else you gentlemen require,” Inius says, “just let me or one of the servers know.”

  “We will, thanks,” Miko says as they head to the stairs.

  Once up to the second floor, they quickly find their room and file in. When the door shuts, Jiron says, “Okay. What’s going on?”

  “James was arrested last night for the murder of the adjutant to the Empire’s Ambassador,” he explains. “Which I believe you had a hand in?” He looks from Jiron and Fifer and from their expression, knows he hit the mark.

  For the next half hour, Jiron tells him of the fight and what’s happened since. Miko for his part, relates how James was arrested in the middle of the night, what Ellinwyrd had said to Illan, and of seeing Meliana and her father down at the docks.

  When they’re at last done with catching each other up, Miko stands up and says, “Just sit tight until I return with Illan. Maybe by then he’ll better know what to do.”

  “Alright,” Jiron says. “You be careful.”

  Miko looks at him and says, “I’m not the one wanted for murder right now.” Turning to the door, he opens it and walks out. Shutting it behind him, he heads to the stairs and descends to the ground level. He’s soon out on the street and heading back to the Silver Bells.

  Chapter Eleven

  “What was he thinking!” exclaims Illan after Miko relates to him what he learned from Jiron. Pacing back and forth, his mind furiously tries to figure out what they need to do next.

  Dave sits on one of the beds and asks, “How are we going to get James out of the castle’s dungeon?”

  “We’re not,” replies Illan. “To do that would be all but impossible. We’ll have to tackle a rescue operation once James is in the hands of the Empire’s men and are on their way back to the Empire.”

  “But isn’t that taking a big chance?” he asks, not liking the idea.

  “We have little choice right now,” he says. “We no longer have a mage on our side so we’re going to have to move cautiously. It will do James little good if we act prematurely and wind up getting killed or thrown in jail.”

  Dave just glares at them. He doesn’t like the idea of letting the Empire’s men leave with his friend.

  “You have a better idea?” Illan asks him. At that, Dave just shakes his head. “Alright then.” He paces for another few moments before turning to Miko, “Take us to the Dancing Squirrel first. Then see if your kids can keep an eye on the Empire’s camp outside the walls and possibly the gates leading from the castle. Have them find us if they attempt to move him.”

  Coming to his feet, Illan says, “Let’s go.” Moving to the door, he glances back and sees Dave still sitting on the bed. “I said let’s go,” he repeats himself, an edge coming into his voice.

  “You’re not the boss of me and I wish you would just stop acting like you are,” Dave says defiantly.

  Illan’s eyes narrow as he begins to head back
to Dave to teach this upstart a lesson. Miko intercepts him and says, “It won’t do any good.” Coming to a stop, Illan just stares at Dave and seethes in anger.

  Turning to Dave, Miko asks with barely controlled contempt, “Will you please come with us?”

  Giving them both a sardonic smile, he says, “I’d be glad to.” Hopping off the bed, he moves to follow them.

  Illan gives him a look full of anger before he turns to follow Miko from the room. All the way to the Dancing Squirrel, Dave whistles an off tune merry little ditty which does nothing to quell the anger burning within him. Only Miko’s sudden intervention and the fact that he’s James’ friend kept him from beating the living hell out of him.

  At the Dancing Squirrel, they find Jiron and the others still in their room on the second floor. When the door opens and Illan sees Jiron standing there, the pent up rage Dave had instilled within him erupts.

  “Just what did you think you were doing?” he yells as he and the others move into the room. Miko hastily closes the door so their neighbors along the hall won’t be able to hear the interchange. Or at least not as well, Illan can summon quite a loud voice when he wants to.

  Jiron has the good sense to blush. “Sorry Illan,” he says. “But when I was offered the chance for a fight, I just couldn’t pass it up.”

  “So because of your indiscretion,” Illan rages, “James is in jail, you’re hiding out and the whole city is looking for you.” Then he turns to Fifer, “Why didn’t you stop him?”

  “I didn’t think…” he begins when Illan cuts him off with a wave.

  “Of course you didn’t,” he states. “If either of you had half a brain we wouldn’t be in this mess.” He glares at both of them and has the satisfaction of seeing them divert their eyes first.

  He glances at the Parvati and says, “We have things to discuss which are best said in private.”

  “He’s coming with us,” Jiron pipes up.

  “What?” Illan asks. “How can you even think that? He’s one of them!”

  “No longer,” asserts Qyrll. “I owe my allegiance to the Shynti. He restored my honor and now I must remain with him until the debt can be repaid.”

  Illan glances to Jiron who nods. “Great,” he says, not very happy about the whole situation. “How are we going to get James with a Parvati? We’re not going to be able to remain unnoticed with him along.”

  “Regardless,” Jiron says. “He’s coming with us.”

  “He’s good in a fight,” adds Fifer.

  “I know he’s good in a fight,” states Illan, “he’s a Parvati.”

  “I’ll be back,” Miko says as he opens the door.

  “Try to return in an hour,” Illan tells him. “Sooner if you learn anything.”

  Miko gives him a nod as he leaves the room, shutting the door behind. While Illan and Jiron begin discussing different strategies for rescuing James, Miko heads for the rendezvous with the kids.

  Coming to the open market, he sees most of them congregating around the eatery where they ate before. When he approaches, the boy who was to round them up says, “I couldn’t find them all.”

  “That’s alright,” he says. Only two of them aren’t there, one of the older girls and that cute one that always gives him hugs. “Hungry?” he asks though of course he already knew the answer.

  So after buying them each a meal, he lays down what he wants them to do while they’re eating. “My other friend is still in the castle dungeon,” he begins. “Now it’s come to my attention that the Empire’s men plan on taking him out of the city and back to their country. I want to stop that.”

  They perk up at that. To them it sounds like the beginnings to one of the tales of daring do that the bards are always telling. “How?” one boy asks.

  “I would like you to keep an eye on their camp outside the city and on the gates to the castle,” he tells them. “At some point they’re going to be moving him and I want to know when and where.”

  “Is that when you’ll be hitting them?” another boy asks.

  “That will be decided when we know exactly what they plan to do,” he says. “If you see anything that indicates they are moving my friend, I want one of you to come get me at the Dancing Squirrel. You know where that is?”

  “Oh sure,” one girl says. “Isn’t that the place with the yellow cat?”

  Smiling, Miko nods and says, “Yes, that’s the one.” Getting up from the table, he says, “Just be careful, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. I’ll be back here in a couple of hours if I haven’t heard from you first.”

  “We’ll be careful,” the older boy assures him.

  Nodding, Miko leaves the eatery and makes his way back to the inn. It suddenly occurs to him that he doesn’t know any of their names. Inwardly smiling, he recalls how it was to be on the streets. Not too trusting and you never volunteer anything to anyone.

  Back at the inn, he finds everyone still in the room. The remnants of the noon meal still sit upon several platters lying on the table. He tells Illan that his kids are going to keep an eye on the doings of the Empire’s men and report back to him here.

  The fog clouding his mind has slowly been dissipating over the last several hours. Still unable to fully concentrate enough to summon the magic, he’s at least regained his equilibrium and the room isn’t spinning nearly as bad. Sitting on the floor next to him is a tray of food which was brought in some time ago. Unwilling to trust it, it lies untouched. Still not sure how they managed to drug him, he’s not willing to take the chance on a recurrence by eating doctored food.

  When all the torches had begun to burn low, a different servant entered and put a single torch in the sconce near his pen. Now, only the light from that one torch is all he has to keep the darkness at bay.

  Sitting alone in the cell, he feels the hard round object his magic had formed resting in his pants pocket. It was just a theory, never really had a chance to test it. If his situation worsens, he may try it, but until then he’ll let it lie dormant. He’s not even sure if it’s going to work or not.

  Footsteps coming down the stairs herald another visitor on the way. When the man exits the stairwell and begins walking across the floor, he can tell the man comes from the Empire. He’s spent enough time down there to readily recognize one of them, even if the man is wearing local clothes.

  “Awake I see,” the man says as he draws close.

  James stays seated on his bench and does nothing more than look at him.

  “You should eat,” the man tells him. “You have a long trip ahead of you and we must ensure you have the strength to survive it.”

  “Where?” he asks, breaking his silence.

  “To someone who greatly desires to talk with you,” the man says.

  “Torture and interrogate you mean,” replies James. “I hardly think it’s going to be a social call.”

  Breaking into a grin, the man says, “I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

  “Do I know you?” James asks.

  “I don’t think so,” the man says. “Our paths haven’t crossed until now.”

  “Who are you?” he asks.

  “Just a loyal servant of the Empire,” he replies.

  “I see,” says James as he leans his head back against the wall behind him.

  Gesturing to the food, the man asks, “Are you worried about what may be in your food? Is that why you don’t eat?” He waits for a response and when none is forthcoming, he adds, “You needn’t be worried, there is nothing contained within other than food. No drugs or anything like that.”

  James simply stares at him, not believing him in the least.

  “We should be leaving in a couple hours,” the man says. “The negotiations have been concluded most favorably for all parties. Trade between the Empire and Cardri shall continue.”

  “Good for you,” says James. After a few moments of silence while the man simply stares at him, he asks, “So why are you down here?”

  �
��Just wanted to see you for myself,” he explains. “From all that I’ve heard, I thought you would be more impressive.”

  James starts laughing.

  Turning to leave, the man says, “I shall return when we are ready to leave.”

  “I can hardly wait,” James says, sobering up quickly. He watches as the man walks to the stairs and then ascends to the upper level. Absentmindedly, he rubs the object in his pocket and waits.

  Shortly after he arrived at the Dancing Squirrel, Miko set himself in the common room drinking ale. He wanted to be quickly available should the need arise. He worries about James, imagining the worst possible things happening to him and would like nothing better than to storm the castle and rescue him. But like Illan said, that would be foolhardy.

  When it draws close to the time when he said he would meet them back at their rendezvous, he gets up from the table and makes his way outside to the street. He doesn’t get far before he sees the older boy running up the street toward him.

  Upon seeing him, he hollers, “Miko!” and races straight for him. Looking distraught, he comes to a stop in front of him and says, “They’ve got them!”

  “Got who?” he asks.

  “Gwynne and little Daria,” he replies. When he sees Miko not understanding, he clarifies, “One of the older girls and the little one who took such a liking to you.”

  Alarmed, he asks, “Who? Who has them?”

  “The Empire’s men,” he explains. “They were down there keeping an eye on their camp while the rest of us met with you earlier. When me and Jerrick went down to join them in watching, they weren’t there.” Fear evident in his voice, he looks pleadingly to Miko.

  “Calm down,” he says as he tries to keep his own emotions under control. “How do you know they have them?”

  Taking a deep breath, he calms himself and then says, “Just after we got there and began looking for them, the camp started to break up. I think they’re getting ready to leave. A coach was sitting in front of one of their tents and I saw children hurriedly being put inside.” He pauses for just a second before exclaiming, “I saw Gwynne and Daria being put inside with the others. It looked like they were crying.”