“If he is in Zixtyn.”
“True enough.”
They dressed and James reveled in the feel of freshly laundered clothes. Slinging their packs over their shoulders, they headed downstairs and informed the staff they would stay another night. Once outside, they made the rounds of the local taverns and inns to both discover if Jiron and the others had arrived, and if any were the haunt of the priest of Asran.
As noon rolled around, they figured Jiron’s group had yet to arrive. No one had heard of them. As for Brother Martin, every barkeep knew of Asran’s priest. Seemed he was a regular at several.
“Yeah, I know Brother Martin,” the barkeep of the Cracked Flagon said. “He comes in here a couple times a week and drinks three ales, no more-no less, then leaves.”
“Think he will be here tonight?” Miko asked.
The barkeep shrugged. “He hasn’t been for several nights, so maybe.”
“Any idea where he might be now?”
Eyeing him meaningfully, the barkeep said, “Might.”
James knew when someone was fishing for a bribe; he pulled out four coppers and laid them on the counter.
The barkeep looked less than pleased.
He added a silver.
“Try The Blooming Hedge,” the barkeep said as he scooped up the coins. “It’s one of those flowery places women and gardeners go. He’s mentioned it a time or two.”
“Where can we find it?”
Jerking a thumb toward the back of the tavern, he said, “Three streets that way. Can’t miss it. Look for all the flowers.”
“My thanks,” Miko replied.
“If you want to thank me, come back in tonight. Business has been bad.”
They left without replying.
“A flowery place, huh?” James mused. “Seems the kind of place a priest of Asran would hang out in.”
“Most definitely.”
Heading in the direction the barkeep indicated, they came to the third street and didn’t immediately spy the shop. Then a lady leading two porters burdened by potted plants approached from the right.
“Must be that way,” James said and turned in that direction.
Two blocks later and a flowering, vine covered doorway appeared across the street.
“See anything familiar?” James asked.
Miko nodded. “The vines from the Waste.” Tendrils of leafy vines bearing a white flower with three yellow stalks growing from the center hung thickly along the doorframe and trailed along the walls adjoining it.
Starting for the door, James suddenly paused.
“What is it?” Miko asked.
“How are they growing?” He turned to Miko. “If they feed on radiation, and die in its absence, how can they prosper here in a place without radiation?”
“There may be more to them than Brother Willim let on.”
“Or knew,” James added. “Either way, I really don’t care. Let’s find this priest, tell him what we know, and get back to the inn.”
They entered The Blooming Hedge. Several ladies stood in a semi-circle around a man holding a potted plant with beautiful red blossoms.
“…sure to keep the soil moist, but not damp,” the man was saying. “Also, keep in mind that as it grows you will need to trim it regularly or it will stop blossoming on its lower branches. Once that happens, it is very hard to get them back.”
“Are you sure this will grow in a partly shaded area?”
“It does best in an area that gets sun either in the afternoon or morning but not both. All day sun will cause it to wilt during the hotter days.”
The man glanced up as they entered. He set the plant down on a nearby counter. “If you will excuse me ladies, I have others in need of my help.”
“Thank you for all your advice, Brother Martin.”
Taking the lady’s hand, he saluted it as a gentleman should, then said, “It was my pleasure.”
“Will you be back tomorrow?” another asked.
“Quite possibly. Until then, I bid you a fond farewell.”
Leaving the ladies to chat among themselves, he approached James and Miko.
“So, you’re a Gardener, aren’t you?” he asked, gazing directly at James.
“I’ve been told that,” James replied, then asked, “You know who I am?”
The priest nodded. “A mutual friend sent word you might drop by.”
“How?”
“We have our ways. Now, let’s go somewhere we can talk comfortably, preferably over a noon meal.”
“Okay.”
“Excellent. I know a place not far from here where they serve the most delectable duck.”
James gestured for him to lead the way. “Sounds good.”
Brother Martin grinned. “Tastes good, too.”
He took them nearly halfway across town before coming to The Saucy Saucer. A cut above the other eateries in town, it catered to a much more distinguished clientele.
“This place must be expensive,” James mused as he took in how the servers were dressed in fine clothes and art adorned the walls. Cloth covered the tables, and those at the tables, were not the average riff-raff one finds in a public tavern. Instead, they were tradesmen, nobility, and others of means.
“Ah, Brother Martin,” a sharp dressed man greeted as he approached. “I see we have friends today.”
“That I do,” he replied. “I do beg your pardon for such short notice, but is my table available?”
“As it happens, it is. If you will follow me?”
The table in question sat near the back of the room in a corner next to a large window, perfect for viewing the hustle and bustle of city life. As they sat, the man asked, “Can I interest any of you in a glass of wine?”
“Do you still have more of the Wynhym pressings?” Brother Martin asked.
“Several bottles yet.”
“We’ll take one.”
“Very good. And for your meal?”
“My usual, and make it for three.”
“Roast Duck it is.” He took in James and Miko. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
“No,” James replied. “The wine and food will be fine.”
“I shall be back in a moment, please excuse me.”
James watched him leave. “Nice fellow.”
“Yes he is. I come here often.”
“I can see why,” Miko said, picking up the linen napkin sitting before him.
Brother Martin nodded then turned to James. “So, tell me about the Waste. Did you really make it to the heart?”
“Yes, to the very ruins of Ith-Zirul itself.”
“Fascinating. Wish I could have been there.”
James related their experience with the stalkers, the transportation tubes, and finally the creature in the pit itself. Brother Martin asked many questions and they answered as best they could. He was most interested in the radiation suits and the fact that lead blocks radiation.
“I did not know that. Such information will assuredly be helpful.”
He also mentioned the shimmering field and asked Brother Martin if he had seen it.
“Once. It scared me something awful.”
“How so?” Miko asked.
“It traveled across the sky, like you said, and encountered a flock of birds.”
At that time the wine arrived with three glasses. Their server opened the bottle, offered Brother Martin the cork for his approval. When the priest nodded, the server poured a little in each of the glasses.
“The duck will be ready in not too long.”
“Very good,” the priest said.
When the server left, James said, “You mentioned birds?”
“That’s right. That shimmering field as you call it moved speedily across the sky. A flock of birds flew straight into it.”
“And?”
“And as soon as the birds entered it, they seemed to grow confused. Instead of moving as one, they flew in all directions; some colliding. Then almost as one, they pl
ummeted to the ground.”
He paused to sip his wine and gauge how his tale was being taken by those listening. When it looked like he was being believed, he continued.
“I hurried over to where the birds fell. The field was long gone by the time I arrived. Birds by the hundred flapped upon the ground.”
“What happened to them?”
Brother Martin turned to James. “I don’t know. I tried to help them, truly I did but something was wrong with them, something I had never encountered before.” He took another sip. “Despite my efforts, the birds grew still and they soon died. All of them.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that before. Nor has there been an affliction in beast or bird that I could not overcome…until now.”
“That is terrible,” Miko said sadly.
“Yes,” Brother Martin agreed. “It is.” His gaze settled on the wine glass in his hand as his mind went back to that day.
“We’ve been hounded by the shimmering field for a while now,” James said. Then when the priest raised his gaze from the glass to him, he added, “It would seem it is attracted to magic.”
“But it did nothing when I tried to save the birds.”
“It is not attracted to priestly magic,” Miko explained. “Only that of a mage.”
“Curious.”
“Indeed.”
“Priestly magic comes from the gods,” Brother Martin said. “A mage gets his from the world around him.”
“Exactly,” James agreed. “Yet we haven’t figured out why it makes that distinction.”
“I shall pass on this information and perhaps an answer can be found. But until then,” he pulled off a leg and took a bite, “let us enjoy this duck.”
After the meal they said goodbye to Brother Martin and headed back to their inn via a bakery where they bought a dozen fresh-from-the-oven tarts. Once there, they settled in and waited for the others to arrive.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
It wasn’t until late afternoon of the next day that the others finally arrived.
James was perched by the window overlooking the road when he saw them approach the outskirts.
“Finally,” he said.
Miko popped up from the bed where he had been lying and hurried to the window. “Looks like they are all there.”
“I was worried about that,” James said.
They went downstairs and stood on the front porch of the inn. Though Tinok and Shorty were in the lead, it was Jira who first saw them.
“Uncle!” she hollered and then kicked her horse to go faster.
Jiron reached over and caught her reins, bringing her impending gallop to a halt. “No you don’t, young lady,” he said. “You stay by me.”
“How did they get here so fast?”
Potbelly turned to Scar, “Beats me. But if anyone can travel fast, it would be those two.”
Jiron moved ahead and was the first to reach the inn.
“How did it go?”
“All according to plan,” James replied.
Jiron eyed them both up and down and didn’t see any injuries. Of course, if there had been any, Miko would have just healed them.
“Scar ran into trouble when they went hunting a creature to capture.”
James looked toward the duo and could see Scar was a little paler than normal. “Nothing serious I hope?”
“It was for a bit,” he replied then turned to Miko, “but your priests took care of it.”
“Glad we could be of service.”
“Let’s get you rooms,” James said. Then his gaze went to Eddra in the carriage. “How is she doing?”
“Fine for the most part,” Jiron explained. “The damage done her body from the stoning is healing well, Father Keller has seen to her needs. Her eye is still a bit swollen and won’t open, but that’s not the problem.”
“What is?”
“Her mind. It’s gone or something. She mumbles all the time, mostly incoherently. When she appears awake and of her right mind, she talks to people who aren’t there.”
Miko grew thoughtful as he gazed at where she sat in the carriage. “It could simply be that age has ravaged her capacities. It happens, have seen it many times.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, that is something no amount of priestly magic can heal. It is an aspect of the natural order of life.”
“Well, let’s get her inside. We’re on the third floor, but we’ll get her one here off the common room.”
Father Keller and Kip helped Eddra from the carriage while James, Miko and Jiron went inside to see about rooms. The others took the horses around back to the stables before joining them inside.
A room was procured near the back that would be quiet. Father Keller offered to stay with Eddra and see to her needs. Everyone else paired up.
“I’ll go with Shorty,” Kip offered magnanimously.
“No you won’t,” Father Vickor announced. “You and I shall share a room.”
Kip’s face fell slightly.
“Will give you a chance to catch up on your studies.”
His face fell even further.
Shorty slapped him on the back and said with poorly hidden mirth, “My condolences.”
Kip turned to Miko in the hopes he would intercede, but was disappointed. “You are still a Novice, Kip,” his High Priest said. “Did you think this to be a holiday?”
The look he gave Miko said that he had.
Giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder Miko said, “It is not so bad.”
“No, Reverend Father.”
James handed everyone their keys then said “Get settled into your rooms and we’ll gather in mine a little bit before dinner.”
As Scar passed him, he asked, “How are you?”
“Good as new.”
Behind him, Potbelly mouthed “no” and shook his head.
James nodded. “Glad to hear it. Meet you upstairs.”
Scar paused, “Upstairs?”
“Yep, third floor.”
The look on his face said he wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of climbing so many stairs.
“Not to worry,” Potbelly chimed in, “He’s good as new don’t you know.”
Scar whacked at him. “We’ll be there.”
“Not terribly important if you think you would be better served resting and recovering.”
Scar’s face hardened. “We’ll be there.”
“Okay.”
James went up to his room while Miko remained downstairs to confer with his priests. Once there he removed his mirror from his pack and set it on the table near the window. He concentrated on Meliana and in a moment, her face appeared. She sat at her father’s dinner table with a big spread of food before her. Kenny sat to her left. Both were somber.
He wished he dared inform them magically that he lived, but feared to alert those who attacked the island should they still be keeping an eye out for such activity. Also, he knew that working too much magic for too long would surely bring the shimmering field. Panning back, the others at the table came into view. Aleya sat across from her and Kendrick, her father, sat at the table’s head. A few of the others he knew as family or close friends.
How he wished he could be there. Sighing, he ran his finger along Meliana’s image for a moment before letting go the magic and allowing the image to fade.
No sooner had he put the mirror away than Jiron and Jira arrived followed soon after by Shorty and his two apprentices.
“Master,” Azhan greeted with a bow. Hikai merely bowed.
“Good to see you boys.” James glanced to Jiron. “Been behaving themselves?”
“I found no fault with their actions.”
“Indeed, Master,” Azhan said. “We wish to only serve the great Dark Mage in any way he should see fit.”
“Well, keep doing what you have been and I will be pleased.”
Hikai grinned and Azhan said, “We will.”
He motioned for them to take a seat on his bed.
“The familie
s are safe,” he told Jiron. “Just checked and they are having dinner.”
“Can I see Mother?” Jira asked.
“Okay, just a quick check.”
James got his mirror out and soon had Aleya’s image in view.
Jira reached out to touch the image but Jiron stayed her hand.
“She looks sad,” she said.
“She is,” her father replied. “But think how happy she will be when we arrive.”
“Me too!” she squealed. “I’ll even wear a dress if that will make her happy.”
Jiron grinned at James. “I’m sure it will.”
“But,” she said, turning to her father, “not until we get there, right?”
Laughing, Jiron shook his head. “What you have on now will do fine.”
About to cancel the image, he noticed his two apprentices sanding just behind him looking over his shoulders.
“How do you do that, Master?” Hikai asked.
“That is truly amazing,” added Azhan.
“It’s a little spell I picked up in a faraway land,” he explained.
Azhan nodded. “Can you teach us?”
“Perhaps someday,” he said. “But we have not the time right now.”
The image faded back to the normal reflective image and Jira sighed. James retuned it to his pack. “At least we know they are doing well.”
“That is something, at least,” Jiron agreed.
“I don’t dare do that too often, or it will attract the shimmering field.”
“The one that caused such problems in Tapu?” asked Azhan.
“The very same.” He glanced to Jiron. “It’s attracted to a mage’s magic. Not priestly magic for some reason. The longer and stronger the spell, the sooner it arrives.”
“So,” Azhan said, “Spells should be of short duration or only of a minor nature.”
“For now at least,” James replied.
Scar and Potbelly arrived, each with a leg of mutton and a large mug of ale.
“Did you bring enough for everyone?”
In the midst of a bite, Scar paused and looked at James in confusion. “What?”
He chuckled. “Nothing.”
Tinok arrived with Shorty and Father Vickor. Father Keller remained in the room with Eddra.
James filled them in on what they found in the Waste, as well as what they had thus far figured out about the shimmering field. He refrained from mentioning the Star as his two apprentices were in the room and despite their assurances of loyalty, didn’t feel it prudent to extend them his full confidence.
Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two Page 50
