The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [173]
“Why aren’t they pursuing?” Shorty asks.
“Who cares,” Scar says. Then to Miko he adds, “You better take a look at Stig.”
Miko sees him tied across the back of his horse and says, “Get him down.” As Scar and Potbelly remove him and lay him upon the ground, Miko says to Jiron, “Let me know instantly if anything comes out of the mist.”
“You got it,” he assures him.
Miko then goes over to Stig and with the Star begins working to revive him.
Jiron dismounts and goes over to where James is all but falling out of the saddle. “Here,” he says as he reaches his side. “Let me help you.”
Allowing him to help him down, James is soon sitting on the ground. “Shorty, keep an eye on the mist will you?” he asks.
“Already doing that,” he says. “What are we to do now?”
James looks up to see Perrilin coming over to sit next to him. “I don’t know,” he replies.
Perrilin looks him up and down with a worried look on his face. “You look tired,” he says.
“I am,” James replies. Sighing, he puts his head in his hands and closes his eyes in an attempt to stop the world from spinning.
“Are we to camp here?” Jiron asks.
“I don’t think doing so within sight of the mist is a good idea,” he replies. “It does move you know.”
“We all need a break,” Jiron says. “I wouldn’t push it more than another hour or so.”
“James!” Shorty exclaims as he gets to his feet and looks back the way they came.
They turn and see two figures emerging from within the mist. They stand there a moment, obviously looking toward where they have stopped, then return back into the mist.
“They mean not to follow?” asks Shorty.
“Looks that way,” replies James. “At least not at the moment.”
“Could be they’re gathering their forces before coming after us,” suggests Reilin.
“If that’s the case,” Jiron says, “we best not be anywhere near here when they do.” Glancing over to where Miko is working on Stig, he says, “As soon as Stig is ready to travel, we leave.”
The others nod their heads. James glances back to the mist and the temple hidden within. But how are they to get inside?
Chapter Thirty
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Several minutes later, the glow surrounding Miko and Stig disappears. Miko comes to his feet and turns to the others. “He’ll live,” he says. “The creature’s blow cracked some ribs, and being tied across his horse’s back didn’t do much to help the injuries either. They’re fine now but he needs rest.”
“Can he take a couple hours in the saddle?” Jiron asks.
When Miko looks skeptical, James adds, “We really should try to get as far away from the mist as we can before stopping for the night.”
“The journey won’t be good for him,” he tells him. “But what must be, must be.”
“Alright then,” James announces. To Scar and Potbelly he says, “You two be in charge of helping Stig. The rest of us get ready to ride.”
As Scar and Potbelly assist a weak and wobbly Stig onto his horse, Jiron goes over to Aleya where she’s staring off toward mist. “You alright?” he asks.
Shrugging, she continues staring at the mist. “Is that what happens?” she asks.
“I’m not sure I understand what you are asking,” he tells her.
“When you and James go on your adventures,” she says then turns to gaze into his eyes. Pointing back to the mist she adds, “Do you get into situations like what we just went through?”
Nodding, he places his hand on her shoulder and says, “Sometimes. But not always.”
“I had no idea,” she admits. “Oh sure, we’ve been in scrapes since this summer began. But nothing like what we just went through.”
He can see the fear in her eyes, worry for what the future may hold. “I understand how you feel,” he tells her. “Back there, I was scared to death let me tell you. For a while I thought we were through.”
“What about next time?” she asks. “Suppose we don’t survive it? I’ve been thinking about what is going to happen should we somehow manage to find a way into the temple. I…I just don’t want to lose you.”
“Nor I you,” he says.
“Ahem.”
Looking over his shoulder, Jiron sees James and the others are already in the saddle. He turns