The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [168]
“No,” he replies. “It’s not natural.”
“Too bad,” states Reilin.
Another few minutes pass by and Jiron suddenly comes to a stop and peers intently into the mists ahead of them.
James stops next to him and asks, “What is it?” Looking forward into the mist, he tries to see what Jiron had.
“I’m not sure,” he replies. Not taking his eyes off the mist he adds, “Thought I saw something.”
From behind them Scar pipes up and says, “Could have been your imagination. This sort of stuff can do that to a man.”
“Maybe,” he says in a tone which tells the others he doesn’t think that’s what it was.
James continues staring into the fog but fails to see anything. “I don’t think there’s anything out there,” he says. Rarely though is Jiron wrong about something like this.
Aaaah!!!
Then suddenly Stig cries out as one of the hell hounds leaps from out of the mist and slams into his horse. The creature’s claws rake the side of the horse, ripping and tearing as it bowls them both over. Stig leaps from the saddle and hits the ground hard. Rolling, he comes up and faces the creature with mace and shield ready.
The creature looks up at him and charges just as Brother Willim throws something in the air. A tangle of vines bursts into being and ensnares the creature.
Light blazes forth as Miko holds aloft the Star and speaks in a language none can understand. The mist rolls backward until a wide clearing devoid of mist surrounds them. Another of the creatures is revealed when the mist rolls back. A beam of light surges from the Star and strikes the second creature. Rearing back, the creature lets out a primal scream of pain as the light from the Star lances through it.
The first creature struggles against the vines holding it. Smoke rises as the heat of the creature chars the constricting vines. In little time, the creature breaks free and leaps. James spies the creature leaping for Stig and lets the magic flow. A barrier forms around the creature in mid leap. Stig dodges to the side as the barrier encased creature hits the ground right where he had been standing.
Increasing the magic to the barrier, James changes its nature and turns it quickly colder. Inside, the creature struggles against the barrier but is unable to break free. Then, just as he had many times before, James begins shrinking the barrier in on the creature until its life force goes out and the barrier implodes.
By this time, Miko has the second creature all but destroyed. The light from the Star is still searing into it, extinguishing its life. Soon, the creature collapses completely and erupts in a cloud of noxious black smoke, leaving a charred area upon the ground where it was destroyed.
Jiron scans the area for more of the creatures then hollers, “Everyone okay?”
“I’m fine,” replies Stig. He walks over to his horse only to find what he already knew. It’s dead. The side where the creature attacked it has been ripped to shreds.
To Miko, Jiron asks, “Can you continue to keep the mist at bay?”
“Not a problem,” he replies.
Jiron then glances to James and says, “Seeing as how they know we’re here already and all.”
Nodding, James says, “Good thinking. Better pick up the pace a bit from here on out.”
“Are we sure we’re still going in the right direction?” asks Aleya. “I can no longer tell which way is which.”
Miko points off into the mists and says, “It’s that way.”
“How can you tell?” asks Potbelly.
“Ever since we entered the mist, I have felt something,” he explains. “I wasn’t sure what it was until just now. It’s the temple. It feels like a disease.”
“Then you take the lead from here,” Jiron says. “I haven’t been sure for awhile if we were even going in the right direction.”
With a nod, Miko takes the lead and they continue on.
Stig mounts behind Shorty, he being the lightest of the group. Thus their combined weight will tire his horse less than if Stig rode with another.
Aleya stares at the charred spot on the ground where the creature Miko killed