The mists of sorrow ms-7

by Brian S. Pratt

  Debris lines the passage, evidence that others have been here since the tunnel was excavated. Old blankets and other forms of refuse litter the floor from one end to the other. From the looks of it, no one has been here for some time.

  Jiron picks up a blanket and looks questioningly to James.

  Shrugging, he creates his orb for more light and says, “Maybe people holed up in here after the Empire was through.”

  “Could be,” he replies and drops the blanket to the ground.

  James follows closely behind Miko with his orb in hand. Then comes Brother Willim, a soft glow can be seen emanating from him as well. Next comes Jiron and Aleya, then Stig, Potbelly and Scar bring up the rear. Shorty had been left topside to keep an eye on the horses.

  “It won’t be too much further,” Jiron says.

  And indeed the light from the orb soon reveals where the secret door had stood during their last visit. Now, the door is gone. Signs of chisels and hammers mar the wall where the Empire had taken it out.

  Miko comes to a stop as the light enters the room. Memory of his dreams haunt him, fear rises at what may lay within the room.

  “It’s okay Miko,” says James reassuringly. He glances to Brother Willim questioningly who shakes his head no. “There’s nothing in there. We’re right behind you.”

  He glances to where the Star rests in the palm of his hand. Not even the tiniest flicker of a glow can be seen in its depths. Gathering his courage, Miko steps forward and into the room…and nothing happens. Not even the soft glow that had appeared the last time James and the others were here. Releasing the breath he had been unconsciously holding, he looks around.

  The pedestal from his dream stands in the center of the room. The crystal platform that had been sitting on top of it when James and the others fled down here is gone, no surprise there. The pedestal itself has been marred and defiled by hammers and chisels. Its surface shows many marks made by those who had come after James and the others had left. A sizeable chunk has even been broken off of one side, the missing piece resting on the floor by its base.

  When the light from the orb reaches the far side, James isn’t surprised to see the secret door that had concealed the way they left the room torn from the wall and lying on the ground.

  Moving to the pedestal itself, he finds the indentation that had been the Star of Morcyth ruined beyond recognition. It looks as if the entire top several inches of the pedestal had been chiseled off. If he hadn’t of known what it looked like before, he would never have been able to figure it out now.

  Removing his medallion, James attempts to place it where the impression of the Star used to be to see what happens. After placing it there, he stands back and watches.

  “What are you doing?” Scar asks.

  Nodding over to the ruined secret door, he says, “The last time we were here, placing my medallion on the pedestal raised the secret door and allowed us to escape. Just seeing if anything would happen again.”

  They wait for a full minute before Potbelly says, “Maybe we weren’t meant to come here. Could the dream have meant something else?”

  When all eyes turn to Miko he shakes his head. “I know I am supposed to be here,” he states with conviction. ”I just don’t know why.”

  Brother Willim comes to James and asks, “What did this place look like when you first entered?”

  “Not much really different than it is now,” replies James. “The two doors were still attached and the pedestal was perfectly formed. On top of it was a crystal platform that had an inverted pyramid indentation in the top where I believe the Star could have rested. Looks like the Empire took that when they were here.” He glances around the room and adds, “Beneath the crystal platform was engraved the Star of Morcyth, and that’s where I placed the medallion to open the secret door. The walls and floor are still pretty much the same.”

  Brother Willim takes in the room. The pedestal standing in the exact center and the octagonal shape to the room. How each wall is facing directly to the center, and the pedestal.

  “Miko,” he says. “Place the Star upon the pedestal.”

  “But it’s broken,” explains Miko.

  “Be that as it may,” replies Brother Willim, “put the Star upon the pedestal.”

  Miko looks to James who gives him an encouraging nod. Moving forward, he places the Star upon the pedestal’s center. Letting go, he takes several steps back.

  They stare in anticipation at the Star, unsure what may or may not happen. “I don’t think…” begins Potbelly when the Star suddenly erupts into light, bathing the entire room with a strong, yet soothing radiance.

  “Wow,” Stig mumbles in awe.

  So entranced by what the Star is doing, James fails to see what is happening with Miko until Brother Willim takes him by the shoulder and brings it to his attention. Enveloped by a white glow, more intense than any that ever appeared when he was using the Star’s power to heal, Miko stands with his eyes closed and arms lax at his side.

  “What’s going on?” he asks Bother Willim.

  “Wait and see,” he says.

  The sound of his voice causes James to glance toward him. Brother William stands there with a radiant expression on his face. Lips turned up in a smile, his eyes fixed upon Miko.

  The others move back from Miko as they watch the event transpiring before their eyes. For a full five minutes they stand there in mute silence as the glow surrounds him. Then all of a sudden, it winks out. Miko opens his eyes as a grinding noise is heard coming from the pedestal.

  Stepping forward, James asks, “Are you okay?”

  “I am fine James,” he says. “I now understand why it is I must be here.” Stepping forward, he moves to the pedestal which is rising up out of the floor and removes the Star from its top.

  Too astonished for words, the others stand there as the pedestal continues to rise from the floor. What they had took for a pedestal is in actuality the top section of a tall marble column. Before the top of the column comes to within a foot of the ceiling, it grinds to a halt.

  Miko moves around the column and then comes to a stop. James follows him as do the others and they discover engraved at the base of the column, the Star of Morcyth. Bending down, Miko takes the Star in his hand and places it against the Star engraved upon the base.

  An audible click is heard then a section of the base falls away revealing a hollow cavity. A bundle lies within the cavity and Miko reaches in and pulls it out. Wrapped in a velvet cloth bearing the sign of the Star, Miko holds the bundle reverently.

  “What is it?” asks Stig.

  “It’s the Book of Morcyth,” Miko replies. He places the Star once more in the pouch at his waist then picks up the section of the column that fell away and replaces it. Once it is pack in place, the column begins to slide back into the floor.

  James glances at Brother Willim questioningly. Giving James a jubilant smile, he says, “Few outside the inner circle of the temples have ever witnessed what you just did.”

  “And what is that?” asks Jiron from where he stands beside James.

  “The sanctifying of a High Priest,” he replies.

  “Miko?” Scar asks incredulously. “He’s the new High Priest of Morcyth?” Beside him Potbelly looks on in disbelief.

  “You can’t be serious,” exclaims Jiron. “He’s…Miko!”

  Brother Willim glances at the faces of the others and says, “Who are we to question the decision of a god?” He glances over to where Miko has the Book of Morcyth laid open on the pedestal and is turning the pages.

  Stig comes up behind Miko and glances over his shoulder at the pages of the book. “Ah!” he cries out as his head rocks backward and his hands fly up, covering his eyes.

  “Stig!” Potbelly cries out.

  Stumbling backward he yells, “I’m blind!”

  As Potbelly rushes to aid Stig, Miko closes the book and hurries to his side. “None but myself may look upon the holy pages,” he says. Removing the Sta
r, he silently prays to Morcyth and the glow suffuses him. Now stronger than it was before, it envelopes both Miko and Stig for a short time before going out.

  “Open your eyes,” he tells Stig once the glow dissipates.

  Everyone holds their breath in anticipation as he opens his eyes. Squinting, he glances at the others and says, “I can see again.”

  Sighs of relief escape them as Potbelly helps Stig back to his feet.

  Coming to Miko, James asks, “How do you feel?”

  Laying a hand on James’ shoulder he says, “I am fine. This is why I had to come here.” Glancing around at the other he adds, “And why the malignant presence tried to keep me away.”

  “To become the High Priest?” asks Jiron.

  Nodding, Miko replies, “Yes.” Returning to the pedestal he lays his hand upon the Book of Morcyth and says, “And to retrieve this.”

  “Why?” asks Scar. When everyone turns their attention to him he says, “I mean, he already had the Star, why was there an urgency for him to come here. Wasn’t he bound to come here at some point anyway?”

  “It was time,” explains Miko.

  “Also, consider this,” interjects Brother Willim. “Why did something work so hard to prevent him from understanding the dream? What did it have to gain for him to remain as plain Miko rather than the High Priest of Morcyth?”

  The others shake their heads, not entirely understanding what he’s trying to get at.

  “As a High Priest, he will now wield significantly more power, have greater understanding, and with the Book of Morcyth and the Star now in his possession, will be a force to be reckoned with.”

  “So now what happens?” James asks. Turning to his friend, he asks, “Will you be continuing with us? Or are you to stay here?”

  “Nothing has changed,” replies Miko. Putting the Book of Morcyth under his arm, he says, “I still travel with you. You’re my friend.”

  Smiling, James says, “I’m glad to hear it.” Then he sees Miko’s grin that has been so much a part of him. Returning it he asks, “Shall we leave now?”

  “Yes,” replies Miko with a nod. “We are finished here.” Turning toward the way they came in, he leads them back to the surface.

  Chapter Six

  Once they’ve returned to where Shorty waits with the horses, Scar and Potbelly tell him of what happened within. Also that Miko is now the High Priest of Morcyth. Shorty’s laugh bursts out when they tell him. But then he glances to the others and sees them nodding in agreement.

  “You’re not kidding,” he says, his amusement dying. Turning to Miko he hesitates a moment and then bows his head respectfully.

  Miko comes over to him and says, “None of that.” Slightly embarrassed, he lays his hand upon Shorty’s shoulder. “I am still the same person I was before I entered there.”

  Shorty raises his head and says hesitantly, “Uh, yeah. Sure.”

  “We still have a long way to go before we’re back with Illan,” Jiron says as he swings into the saddle. “Best if we don’t tarry too long.”

  Miko takes the Book of Morcyth and slips it into a saddlebag, securing it tightly. The last into the saddle, he looks to Jiron and nods that he’s ready.

  Before they start to get underway, James asks him, “Shouldn’t we hide the entrance or something?”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Miko replies. “The place will be rebuilt, so whatever damage may happen in the interim won’t make any difference.”

  With that, Jiron moves to take the lead and they return along the same route back to the gates that they took on their way in. The group is silent as each tries to come to grips with this new development, Miko as a High Priest. How are they to treat him? What should they call him? All this runs through their heads as they make their way through the streets of the City of Light.

  “Father?” Scar asks Miko and is immediately cut off by the raising of Miko’s hand.

  “Please,” Miko says, “don’t call me Father. Or priest, or High Priest.” He glances behind him where Scar rides and says, “I’m still Miko.”

  “Alright, Miko,” replies Scar and then he goes silent.

  “What were you going to ask me?” he asks.

  “Oh, uh,” he begins then seems to lose track of what he was going to say. “Oh yeah, right. What is in the Book of Morcyth?”

  “From what I saw in the brief glimpse I was able to take,” he begins, “it describes customs, rules and other things that makes the Priesthood of Morcyth a body.”

  “Every god has a set of rules that his priests must abide by,” comments Brother Willim. “Each has certain mandates that those who follow him must adhere to in order for the god’s interests on this world to be accurately reflected.”

  “Like what?” Potbelly asks.

  “Take my lord Asran for instance,” Brother Willim says. “As a priest of Asran, one of the mandates for me is to not harm another living person except under the most strictest of exceptions. And let me tell you, there are very few of those.”

  “I take it the Hand has more leeway than others in your order?” Jiron asks.

  “Not as much as you would expect,” he says. “Weeds must be pulled, branches at times must be pruned for the tree’s ultimate health.” Brother Willim sighs and then adds, “But that doesn’t mean every blow we deal or death we cause won’t have an accounting later on. At the end when we stand before Asran, we will have to justify every hurt that we gave others. Those who are found to have caused pain and suffering during their time as a priest for no good reason…” He trails off into silence, leaving the sentence incomplete.

  “I think I get the idea,” Potbelly says.

  Turning to Miko, Brother Willim says, “You may find that having people call you ‘Miko’ will not be allowed. As High Priest, you now must cultivate the dignity and prestige that comes with the title.”

  Setting his face into a stern expression, Miko pats the saddlebag wherein lies the Book of Morcyth and says, “I have yet read in this book that that is so. And until I do, I wish to remain just Miko.”

  “But remember,” Brother Willim says, “You are no longer ‘just Miko’.”

  James turns in his saddle and looks back to Brother Willim and Miko. He can see the stubborn look on Miko’s face and tries to hide a grin. “If the High Priest of Morcyth wants me to call him Miko, then I shall,” he says much to Miko’s relief.

  “So will I,” adds Jiron.

  They proceed down two more blocks in silence until Miko suddenly breaks into laughter.

  “What’s so funny?” asks Shorty.

  “I just got to thinking that Scar and Potbelly now have another fantastic story to tell that no one will believe,” he explains, then breaks out into another fit of laughter. And with that, the uncertain mood of the group is shattered and everyone joins in with their own laughter.

  “Yeah I can see it now, ‘It’s true! We were there when Miko the street brat became the High Priest of Morcyth!’” he says imitating Potbelly’s voice which only makes everyone laugh all the harder.

  “You got one now that Jorry and Uther aren’t going to be able to top!” laughs Stig.

  The few people they pass on the street pause in their work to watch the group of men riding down the street, laughing uproariously. A few of them simply shake their heads and return to their work.

  Still scanning those they pass in the hopes of seeing an old friend that managed to survive the fall of the City, they continue working their way to the gates. Face after face go by, yet none that any of them recognize. As the gates come into view ahead of them, they have all but given up hope of finding anyone they know.

  Then, when they reach the gates, a voice calls from the crowd congregating near the opening. “Shorty!” a woman’s voice cries out.

  Turning toward the sound of the voice, Shorty comes to a stop as he scans the crowd for the source of the voice. Then he sees auburn hair tied back with a green ribbon. “Millie!” he cries. Dismounting, he races throug
h the crowd toward her.

  The others have come to a stop and watch as he reaches her and envelopes her in a very friendly hug. James glances questioningly to Jiron who explains. “That’s Millie. Shorty and her had a thing before she married some shopkeeper.” Turning to Scar he asks, “Do you remember his name?”

  Shaking his head, Scar replies, “No. All I remember is the binge Shorty went on after she told him she was to wed someone else.”

  Breaking off the embrace, Shorty asks, “Did what’s his name make it too?”

  She gives him playful pat on the shoulder and says, “You know his name is Rulen. And yes, he made it. When we heard the Empire was being pushed back, he wanted to be one of the first to return and get the business up and running again.”

  Slightly saddened that she isn’t his, yet happy that she’s alive and in good spirits, he says, “I’m glad for you.”

  Reaching out, she gives him another big hug and then asks, “Can I see you later? Rulen could use help in getting the business back up and running.”

  Shaking his head, he says, “No.” Nodding back to where the others are waiting for him he adds, “We were about ready to leave town.”

  “I’m sorry,” she says. “Shorty, I’m glad you made it.”

  “As I am for you,” he replies. Emboldened by the fact that he’s leaving, he grips her in his arms and kisses her smack dab on the lips. “May be back someday,” he tells her as he releases his grip.

  “Come see us when you do,” she replies.

  “I will,” he assures her. Turning back to his friends, he says to her, “If I don’t see you again, I wish you all the happiness.”

  She follows him to his horse and waits while he mounts. “Fare you well, Shorty,” she tells him. “I missed you.”

  “Let’s go,” says Jiron as he begins moving once more toward the gates.

  As Shorty’s horse starts to follow the others, he turns in his saddle and waves goodbye. Millie stands there and waves back.