The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [147]
Down this way the number of lit street lights gradually diminishes until all they have is moonlight overhead. They continue to follow him for several more minutes when he all of a sudden moves off the street and toward the doorway of the building on his right. Going up to the door, he knocks twice hard then one time softly.
From the other side, the sound of a bolt sliding open can be heard. Then the door opens a crack and a man peers through the opening. “Kir!” he exclaims throwing the door open wide.
“I may have been followed,” he says and the man nods. Then as soon as they are inside the small room, the man closes the door and bolts it. Perrilin tells the man, “Have your people take a look around out there just to be sure.”
“Don’t worry,” he says as he eyes James, Jiron and Reilin suspiciously, “it’ll be done.”
“These are friends,” Perrilin tells him.
The man gives them a quick nod then moves into the next room.
“Who is that?” Jiron asks. “And who is following you?”
“Not here,” he says and then motions for them to follow. He leads them through the door that the other man had passed through and into the room on the other side. A woman and two children sit on a bed pushed against one wall and eye them as they pass through. Neither they nor Perrilin say anything. From a table near the bed, Perrilin picks up one of the candles burning there and takes it with him.
Once they’ve passed through into the hallway, he leads them down to a doorway on the left. Opening it up, he indicates for them to precede him inside. The doorway is twice as thick as the average door and made of solid wood. As James and the others move inside and Perrilin shuts the door, he notices that all noise from outside of the room is gone.
“Quiet room?” he asks.
Perrilin nods as he takes a seat at one of the chairs sitting around a lone table. The others take seats as well. “We found that such a room comes in handy when you wish not to be overheard,” he explains.
“Is it magical?” asks Reilin.
Shaking his head, Perrilin says, “No. Just built very thickly.”
“Now what is going on around here?” Jiron asks.
“Let’s just say that some of my associates and me don’t exactly have the good will of the powers that be,” he says.
“What do you mean?” Jiron asks, obviously not satisfied with the answer.
Perrilin gestures to the Empire type clothes Jiron is wearing and says, “As someone who himself is trying to not draw attention, I’m sure you’ll understand if I decline to say more.”
“Your business is your own,” says James. “Though I would like to know why you gave us the note.”
“Earlier I saw you going into the slaver compound,” he tells them. “And then later when I saw you leave, you had the look of someone with a great deal on their minds. So I had a boy I knew give you the note and hoped you would take the chance and come.”
“Why?” asks Jiron. “Sounds as if you have enough troubles without getting yourself involved with ours.”
Perrilin gazes at him a moment and says, “There was a time when I was in trouble and someone came to my aid. Can I do less to repay the debt I owe?”
“You don’t owe me any debt,” James tells him. “Your help in introducing me to Ellinwyrd was payment enough.”
“Nevertheless,” he replies, “I still feel onus to help you now.”
“Maybe he can help,” suggests Reilin.
Jiron looks to James who nods. “It can’t hurt and I definitely trust him,” James says. Then turning to Perrilin, he adds, “We need to talk with the slaver named Buka.”
Perrilin grows quiet at that. “Why?” he finally asks. “Do you plan to kill him?”
Shaking his head, James says, “No. All we want is some information.” He then goes briefly into the final dream he had of Cassie and Tinok, what she said about the fate hanging over him, and of the trail they’ve followed thus far in search of their friend. When he finishes, he has Jiron take out the necklace and show