“Another enigmatic happening near the town of Gyr.” Azhan came abreast of James. “Dark forces have been at work here, Master.”
James silently eyed his apprentice a moment, then asked, “Do you know something about this?”
Azhan shook his head. “No, Master. But what else could have done such a thing?”
“Disease perhaps? Someone poisoned them? Who knows?”
“Poisoned?” Azhan asked.
Shrugging, James replied, “Maybe. They certainly did not die by sword or arrow.”
The air freshened once they left the field of carcasses behind; and by the time the outlying homes of Gyr came into view, a light drizzle had begun to fall. Shouting could be heard coming from the village.
Scar rode ahead to see what was going on while Potbelly waited for the others. He hadn’t gone much past the first couple houses before turning around and hurrying back. By this time the others had joined Potbelly.
“Something has the whole place in an uproar,” he explained.
“Any idea what?” James asked.
Shaking his head, Scar replied, “Couldn’t get a clear view but from the mob of people, I’d guess every resident in Gyr is involved.”
James scanned the sky for signs of the shimmering field. Not seeing any, he indicated for Scar to lead the way. “We still need to find that old woman. Keep our distance, we don’t want to get drawn into whatever is going on.”
“Right.”
Gathered before the largest building in Gyr; a modest two-storied structure that looked to be the village’s sole inn, were most if not all of Gyr’s inhabitants.. They encircled three people. One was an elderly man easily in his sixties. He bore an air of command and had to be the village mayor. The second was a much younger man who carried a cudgel in his right hand and held the arm of the third person with his left. Old and weathered would be the best way to describe the woman he held. Barely five feet in height, she stood bent and stooped as if the weight of the world had rested upon her shoulders far longer than nature had intended.
Even from the edge of the village James felt the angry tremor with undertones of rage that rippled through them. Shouts rang out from the crowd.
“What is going on?”
Azhan came next to his master and then concentrated on what the villagers were saying.
“They call for the death of the evil one,” he translated. “Enough is enough, another said.” Then there was a shout and the crowd erupted with angry exclamations. The older man in the center raised his hand and the crowd quieted.
James glanced to his apprentice.
“He says that the death of Eddra will not end the horrors, that she is not responsible.”
The crowd roared with angry fervor.
“They are in a lean and hungry mood,” Scar commented.
James nodded. “We need to get closer.”
He caught glimpses of the trio in the center as they made their way through the few outskirt buildings; his gaze settled upon the elderly woman. “Think she is who we are searching for?”
“Most likely,” Miko replied.
The crowed screamed and drowned out the words of the mayor.
“They mean to kill her, Master,” Azhan exclaimed.
“Want us to save her?”
James glanced to Jiron.
“Master!”
Azhan’s cry drew his attention back to the crowd and the trio they circled.
The younger man who held the woman’s arm had let go and moved from her. The older man’s cries intensified as he tried by sheer force of will to quell the anger of the people. His efforts were stilled when a rock struck his forehead and dropped him to the ground. A second rock followed the first and hit the old woman in the side of the head.
“Save her…”
Even before the first word had passed his lips, Miko’s horse leapt forward. Father’s Keller and Vickor raced after with the Pit Masters and the rest hot on his heels.
“Don’t kill anyone!” James yelled.
Blood trickled down the side of the old woman’s face. She raised her arms as a second stone hit her in the chest, then another in the arm. Her efforts bore little fruit, a barrage of a dozen missiles struck and knocked her thin, frail frame to the ground.
Miko reached the edge of the crowd and magic flared as the power of Morcyth parted those in his path, flinging them out of the way.
Indignant exclamations quickly turned to ones of fear and flight. Villagers fled upon seeing the armed, mounted men in their midst. Those who did not move fast enough felt an unseen force shove them mercilessly aside.
Miko hopped from his horse and rushed to the woman’s side.
She lay unmoving on the ground. Her face was red and swollen from where the rock had struck her. Already, her left eye had swollen shut.
“Protect the Reverend Father,” Father Vickor shouted.
He and Father Keller drew their weapons and stood to either side of Miko. But they needn’t have bothered. The villagers had all but vanished.
Scar appeared with the younger man who had held the old woman’s arm. Sword drawn and with its point pressed to the man’s back, he marched him forward. The older man who had tried to calm the crowd lay dead beside the old woman. The single blow to the head had done him in.
“Is she alive?” James asked as he came to stand next to Miko.
When Miko failed to reply, Father Keller said, “He is trying to keep her soul from departing.”
James glanced to his friend and the old woman. She looked bad; he didn’t have much hopes he would be successful. Then he turned to the man being brought forward by Scar.
“What happened here?”
“Ending the evil that has plagued our village for the last three years.” He indicated the woman with a nod of his head. “She is evil, and a witch, and has brought much misery to our village.”
“He didn’t think so,” James replied, pointing to the now-dead older man.
“He was a fool,” the younger man spat.
“What is your name?”
“Azki,” he replied.
Jira gasped upon seeing the old woman. “Is she dead, father?”
“Your uncle will not allow that.”
She glanced to Father Keller and received a nod.
“Kip,” Father Keller said, “why don’t you and Jira round up the horses and secure them to the inn.”
“Yes, Father.”
Faces peered from windows up and down the street. Some looked worried, others retained the anger displayed earlier. None, however, felt the need to confront these armed intruders.
“We’ll secure the area,” Scar said. When James nodded, he, Potbelly and Tinok fanned out and set up positions.
Just then the glow surrounding Miko faded and he sat back on his heels.
“Well?” James asked.
“She’ll live,” he replied.
“It would have been wisest to let her die.”
James turned on Azki. “Why do you say that?”
Sneering, the young man replied, “She will lay a hex on you and all who are with you.”
“I think we can deal with that should it happen.”
“She is a blight upon the land,” the young man insisted. “Keeping her alive will see an end to us all.”
Miko shook his head. “I do not think so,” he argued. “I sensed nothing malign about her. She is simply an old woman, nothing more.”
“When she blights you and all you love dies, forget not that I warned you.”
“I won’t,” James replied. Then to Miko asked, “How soon until we can talk to her?”
The high priest stood and considered it a moment. “Given her injuries and her advanced years, at least a day or two, perhaps longer.”
“Damn,” James exclaimed. “We can’t linger here.”
“No, we cannot,” Miko agreed.
“I’ll see about getting more supplies,” Shorty said and headed to the inn.
“We’ll hav
e to take her with us then.”
“Given her advanced age and injuries, any length of time on horseback will surely kill her.”
James scanned the area and his eyes settled on a wagon. “How about that?”
“It will be very slow,” Jiron warned. “What we need is a carriage.”
“Is there a carriage in Gyr?” James asked the young man. When Azki hesitated, he asked, “Where is it?”
Azki kept silent until Jiron produced a knife and gave him a look promising much pain.
“Back of the inn in the stable,” Azki said. He then gestured to the dead old man. “It was his.”
“Guess he won’t miss it,” James said. “Kip!”
“Yes, sir?” said the novice as he came from where he and Jira had secured the horses.
“There’s a carriage in the inn’s stable. Find it and bring it ‘round.”
“By myself?” he asked.
Just then Scar came forward. “We might want to get out of here if you wish to avoid bloodshed.” He pointed toward a group of men that had come out of hiding, each bore a weapon of some sort.
James sighed. “Does it ever end?” he mumbled under his breath then louder said, “Shorty’s at the inn. Take him and Kip and find the carriage back of the inn and make it ready to travel.”
“We’re on it,” Scar replied. “Come, Kip.”
“And find as many blankets and pillows you can,” Miko added. “She will need them to survive the journey.” To his priests he said, “Quickly gather supplies; food, water, and so forth.”
“Yes, Reverend Father,” Father Vickor replied
“Make haste.”
To Azki, James indicated the growing group of armed men and said, “Tell them that we are taking her from Gyr. If they try to prevent us, we’ll kill them all.”
“They may not listen to me.”
“But to me they will.”
Azhan had donned his mage robes.
Color drained from Azki’s face as he realized he stood in the presence of an Empirical mage.
“Follow me,” he told Azki and stepped off without looking back. James was surprised to see the villager follow without hesitation. When he reached the armed men, he spoke only briefly and they quickly dispersed.
“They do have a fearsome reputation.”
James turned to see Tinok standing at his elbow and arched an eyebrow questioningly.
“They are not known for their patience or tolerance,” he explained. “Heard about one that was accidentally knocked down by a child running at play and burnt the boy very badly out of spite. You just don’t mess with them.”
Azhan returned to James and said, “We shall have no further trouble, Master.”
“Thank you, Apprentice.”
Azhan beamed and then went to join his friend Hikai in readying their mounts.
Though the group of armed villagers had dispersed, pockets of men stood together in deep conversation. Many cast quick glances to the strangers in their midst. James wondered as to just how persuasive his apprentice had been. When moments later Scar drove the carriage around the side of the inn, James breathed a sigh of relief.
It was an open seat carriage, not suitable in the least for inclement weather. He eyed the clouds and though at the present the rain had stopped, they looked as if they could open up at any minute.
Miko took charge of seeing that the old woman, Eddra, was safely transferred to the carriage. The many blankets and pillows taken from the inn made her very comfortable. He had Father Keller accompany her in the carriage so as to keep an eye on her. By the time Miko announced that she was as comfortable as they could make her and that the odds of her surviving the trip were at least even, the others were in the saddle and ready to ride.
“Think I was recognized?”
Jiron shook his head. “I wouldn’t think so. If they had, I doubt if anyone would have been on the streets.”
“You have a point.”
Lowering his voice, Jiron said, “The Dark Mage is far more a fearsome figure than Azhan could ever be. Him, they would merely try to avoid. You…,” he paused and grinned, “they’d flee for their lives.”
Sighing, he nodded then glanced to the unconscious woman riding in the carriage. Would she have any answers? Was she even the right woman? Would she even survive the day? Miko seemed convinced she wouldn’t die on them any time soon. And with Father Keller at her side, James shared his friend’s optimism.
He’ll be glad to get the next part of this trip over. For once the Star is in hand, they can make all speed to Meliana and Kenny. But getting the Star may prove problematic. It was after all in a radioactive crater where once had stood Dmon-Li’s high temple. Five years have passed since the blast that closed the gate and prevented the god from crossing over. Would Godzilla be waiting? Or maybe C.H.U.D.’s? Eight legged freaks? Chuckling at being the product of having seen way too many B movies when younger, he drew forth memories of Meliana and got lost in the past.
Chapter Twenty-Six
From Gyr they headed southwest; directly toward the heart of the Waste. For a day and a half they covered terrain that transformed from scrub brush to desert. Every eye searched the horizon for indication that fell beasts from the Waste were about. Most did so with the hopes of never spying any; two on the other hand had high hopes of encountering beasts of terrifying aspect.
On the surface they were along to help out an old friend, one to whom they owed everything; but the real catalyst prompting their joining this venture was the hopes of finding, capturing, and returning alive some beast not of this world. From their time with James during the war, they knew he drew such creatures like moths to a flame.
And so they waited.
“Shouldn’t we have reached the boundary posts yet?” Scar asked James’ young apprentice.
Azhan shrugged. “Not having been the one to post them, I am in no position to tell you where they are. All I understand is that they are posted within sight of each other and that there is little chance of passing beyond the safe area without seeing them.”
Scar was little impressed. After all, what one man could put up, another could take down. Should James’ whereabouts been discovered, someone could quite easily have deduced their destination, especially after leaving Gyr. Then it would have been a simple task of getting ahead of them and remove a warning sign or two. But as was the case of most worrying, it was for naught. Late the second day, the crossed-spar sign bearing a human skeleton came into view.
“There it is,” Azhan announced.
“Hope that poor fellow was dead first,” muttered Kip.
“That would depend on who placed the warning here, and who that fellow nailed to it used to be,” Azhan replied. “As I understand it, mostly they used those who succumbed to the Waste.”
“I guess that would be fitting,” Shorty said. “Make their death mean something and all.”
James left them to their arguing and went to the carriage.
The priests had jury-rigged a canopy of sorts out of blankets and lengths of branches acquired along the way. Not the most fashionable, but it kept the sun, what there was of it, off Eddra.
She had yet to waken. Her injuries were on the mend and looked to make a full recovery.
“I would dearly love to speak with her before we part ways.”
Miko nodded. “As would I.”
“We’ll give it until sunup,” James decided. “If she’s not awake by then we will make for the ruins of Ith-Zirul.”
“And these suits of yours will protect us from this… uh… radiation.”
“Yes they will,” James assured him. “We shall don them before we depart and not take them off again until we return. I wish the Geiger Counter hadn’t broke.” When Miko arched an eyebrow questioningly, James said, “These suits weren’t designed to be worn for days on end.”
“I don’t see how that matters.”
“If we are in a high concentration of radiation…” he said leadingly, “a
nd we got to pee…”
Light dawned and Miko smiled. “Could be interesting.”
Scar and Potbelly laughed.
James glared at them. “Glad you think it’s so funny. I’ll have you clean them when we get back.”
Scar just laughed more.
A weak sound coming from the carriage stilled another retort. Father Keller bent low and the glow of Morcyth surrounded him and the woman. After a moment the glow faded and he said, “I think she may be coming round.”
Everyone crowded around the carriage until Miko shooed all but James and himself away. “We do not wish to scare her.”
“Then just send Potbelly away,” Scar quipped.
Potbelly swiped at his friend playfully and they went to check on their supplies.
First the muscles of her face moved a bit and then an arm twitched. A deep intake of breath and her good eye cracked open. Her face remained swollen around her other eye; it being puffy and all but closed.
“Eddra?” Miko said soothingly.
Her eye moved to and fro slowly and seemingly without purpose.
“Eddra,” he said again, “you are safe now.”
Lips cracked open and a small sound came out.
“Water,” Miko said and a flask was handed to him.
Placing the opening to her lips, he dribbled water into her mouth very slowly. First just to quench her tongue, then a little more when it looked like she would be able to swallow the liquid.
“Eddra,” Miko said yet again, “How are you feeling?” When she failed to respond, he gestured for Azhan to join them. “Ask her how she is doing?”
He spoke in the Empire’s tongue and received no more of a response.
Her eyes closed again and she drifted back into unconsciousness.
James looked worriedly to Miko.
“She is old and recovery from the stoning may require more time for someone of her advanced years,” he said. “Or she may never recover.”
“I understand.”
“Either way, it is in the gods’ hands now. It might be best to have Azhan and Hikai remain nearby in the event she regains consciousness.”
James turned to his apprentices and saw their nods.
Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two Page 34
