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Suddenly, his attention is drawn to the sphere as pulsation increases in intensity. Static electricity crackles and a bolt of lightning surges out of the altar, narrowly missing him as it flies past. Striking the pulsating sphere, a deafening boom resonates within the room and then a figure steps from the sphere.

Slipping the ring into his belt pouch, he moves to the edge of the altar and hunches down, hoping against hope that he won’t be discovered. It’s too far to make a dash unobserved to one of the doors.

As the first figure leaves the sphere, another emerges behind him, then one more after that. The first figure is an exact replication of the idol on the altar except it only has two arms. It’s wearing a robe and has the bearing of a priest. The second figure is a human male and has his arms tied behind his back. The third figure is another of the priests and is holding a tether tied to the human’s throat.

They walk across the room to the cells and the first one produces a key. Unlocking one of the cell doors, he steps aside while the man’s bonds are removed and is then pushed inside. When the cell door clangs shut, the man turns to grip the bars of the cell door and rests his forehead against them.

James’ heart freezes within his chest when the man turns around. His mind has a hard time crediting what his eyes are showing him. There in the cell stands his friend Dave. Looking the worse for wear, he’s still wearing the same clothes he last saw him in on that fateful trek from Ironhold.

The two priests turn to move toward the altar. Rage billows forth and James lashes out with a massive magical attack. Realizing their danger too late, the priests fail to react quickly enough and feel the full force of the blow. Picked up off the ground, they’re slammed into the wall. Falling to the ground, they hit the floor and remain motionless.

“James!” cries out Dave as the two priests hit the wall.

Rushing over to his friend, James states, “I thought you were dead.”

Dave stares into his eyes and asks, “Is that what Jiron told you?”

Shaking his head, he replies, “No. We interrogated one of the enemy soldiers and he told us what happened.”

“Whatever he told you was a lie,” he says.

“Obviously,” states James. Moving over to the dead priests, he searches their robes until he locates the key to the cell. Returning to the cell, he unlocks the door.

“Is Jiron with you?” Dave asks.

“He was. We got separated,” explains James. “Why?”

Dave remains silent for a moment before replying. “He’s one of them,” he finally says.

“What?” exclaims James. “That’s impossible. He’s saved my life on more than one occasion.”

“I know it may have appeared that way,” his friend says. “But when I left the cave with the Star, he came too. I saw him talking with the mage before returning to you and the others.”

“No,” argues James. Shaking his head, he says, “I can’t believe that.” Too many times has Jiron been there for him. For him to be an agent of the Empire is too mind-boggling for him to come to grips with.

“Believe it!” he says. “Look, I know you’re a very trusting person, but think about it. How do you think the enemy always knew where you were? Remember those times you said that while Jiron was away you got captured?”

James nods his head, “But he rescued me.”

“He’s the one who told them where you were!” Dave hollers. “He only rescued you to gain your undying trust.”

“Why would he do that?” James asks. Doubt begins to gnaw at him, as he begins to see the logic behind Dave’s words.

“There’s something you must do,” he explains. “I didn’t find out what but did hear them talking about it. He’s there to see to it that you are in the right place at the right time.”

“But…” he stammers as his foundation of what he thought to be true begins to erode away. Jiron the enemy? Though he fights the idea, things begin to fall into place. Then he says, “The Fire!”

“They already have that,” he replies. “They had it shortly after you and the others hid it under the mountain.