Shades of the Past_ Book Six of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [22]
Delia gasps and Miko asks, “How?”
Illan turns his gaze to James and says, “Things have gone ill in Seastar.”
Seastar. The last time they were in Seastar, they had freed a captain from jail in order to reach the far side of the Sea in short order. “It’s not because of the captain is it?” he asks.
Nodding, Illan replies, “Yes it is. Remember that man whom the captain hit, Lord Faetherton?” When James nods, he continues. “Seems he found out who it was that took the captain from the jail, nothing stays hidden in a small town. From what my friend said, it didn’t take him long to extract his revenge on the only ones available.”
“Your family,” says James in sorrow.
Illan nods. “That’s right. Through means legal and foul, he ousted Harlan from the Magistrate’s office and basically took over the town. From then it was fairly easy for him to jail my wife, my son and his family. He then took our lands and all our possessions as reparations for taking the captain.”
“How could he get away with all this?” Jiron asks, not believing what he’s hearing. “Shouldn’t the guards or even the townsfolk have done something?”
“With the war going on, all able bodied men are down south,” he explains. “There was no one left to stand against him but old men and young boys. He’s acquired a score or so of toughs who keep the people in line and none now dare gainsay his wishes.”
“Did he kill your wife?” Delia asks.
“Not directly, no,” he replies. “She languished in jail, as has my whole family, through the winter. She caught pneumonia and died. My son and his family are still being held.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” announces Jiron. Everyone turns to look at the murder in his eyes. “Seems we have some justice to dispense!”
“I agree,” says James, Delia and Miko both nod in agreement. “We can’t let this continue.” To Illan he says, “We’re with you, just tell us what you want to do.”
“I thank you all,” he says and then marches from the tent. “Jorry! Uther!” he hollers in the tone of voice all have come to know and at times fear.
“Yes, sir?” Jorry replies as he and Uther come running. The others move closer to see what’s going on.
“I’ve got some work for you two,” he says.
Late the following afternoon, Illan along with everyone else but Jorry and Uther, approach the outskirts of Seastar. The mood of the group is somber, the story of what happened to his family has been told to each and every member of their group. They are saddened by his loss while at the same time angered at the man who is behind it.
Jorry and Uther were sent ahead last night to scout the town. They were supposed to have met them on the road this morning but have yet to make an appearance.
“Do you think anything happened to them?” Jiron asks.
“Hope not,” replies Illan. He thought he would be feeling anger and rage at this point, but all that goes through his mind are the memories of his Alaina. They first met when he was but a lad and had just entered service with Madoc’s army. He was on leave and had journeyed to Seastar for no better reason than that he had never been there.
Riding through town, he saw a flash of auburn hair and a friendly smile and was smitten forevermore. Their son arrived three years after their wedding, the only child to have survived. There were two other pregnancies after that but one had been stillborn and the last, a girl, had died before reaching a year.
Memories of their time together wash over him as he passes through the first of the buildings. People upon the street see him riding into town and stop in their tracks. Several call to him but he ignores everyone, intent on his memories.
He leads the group through town and at first James thought he was heading for the magistrate’s office. But instead, leads them through town to the north and into the hills. Not far out of town an estate appears ahead of them, a grand estate with a large stone fence surrounding it. The manor house in the distance stands three stories tall and the road