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“Completely,” replies James.

”Why?” he asks.

“That’s our business,” he says. “Can you?” James can see thoughts racing through his mind as he thinks about it.

“I may know someone who might be able to help,” he finally says. “I won’t know if he will until later tomorrow morning though.”

“Will he keep this secret?” James asks.

“Oh yes,” he replies. “This man holds no love for the temple or those who work for their god.” Glancing to James again he asks, “Are you planning mischief?”

James nods. “In a way,” he says. “I won’t say more than that.”

“If that’s your goal, I’m sure he’ll do what he can to aid you in your endeavor,” the young man tells him. He suddenly gets to his feet. “I have to go. I’ll come back sometime late tomorrow morning with word.”

James comes to his feet as well. “Would you like to see Aku before you go?” he asks. Gesturing to the room down the hall he says, “He’s asleep.”

Shaking his head, the young man says, “It would be best if I didn’t. You see he doesn’t know of me. I’ve been keeping an eye on him all his life but haven’t had contact with him.”

“Why?” he asks.

The slave grins and says, “Like you say, ‘It’s my business’.”

“As you wish,” concedes James.

The young man goes to the door and leaves without another word. James stares at the door and wonders if he did the right thing in trusting that information to a complete stranger. Only after the young man left does he realize that he doesn’t know for sure if the young man told the truth when he said he was Aku’s brother. Praying that he did the right thing, he turns in for the night.

Chapter Thirty Five

_________________________

The following morning when they all but Aleya and Aku gather in James’ room, he tells them of the visitor he had the night before. Their response was less than favorable.

“Are you out of your mind?” Scar asks.

“What were you thinking?” demands Jiron.

Raising his hands, he quiets their protests. “Calm down all of you,” he says. “If it was a mistake, the city guard would have already been here. Since they aren’t I can only assume that nothing will come of it from that quarter.”

“Do you think that this slave is going to help us enter the temple?” Stig asks. “Seems a rather untrustworthy individual to trust our lives to.”

“Right now we don’t know what may come of it,” he replies. Turning his gaze to Jiron he says, “I think we should continue with what we had planned. You take Reilin and Shorty to reconnoiter the place, see if there’s a way in.” He sees Jiron nods then adds to the others, “As far as Aku is concerned, I don’t think it would be wise to mention his ‘brother’ to him. Seeing as he knows nothing about him anyway.”

“You may be right,” Brother Willim says.

“Now I judge it to be about two days to the dark of the moon, so we have that amount of time to find a way into the temple. After that it will just be a matter of getting to the teleportation dais.”

“Still sure you can figure that thing out?” Jiron asks.

“To be honest, I don’t know,” he replies. “But I don’t see any other way to reach Tinok in time.”

“Go to sleep,” suggests Stig. “Maybe the gods will send you another dream to help you along.”

Brother Willim shakes his head. “You can’t look for these things,” he explains. “They come when they do.”

James nods his head. “I think we’ve received all the help we’re going to,” he says. “We know where we have to go and how to get there. We just need to do it.” To Jiron he says, “Perhaps you should get going.”

Jiron nods and gets to his feet. “Reilin, Shorty, let’s go,” he says before turning for the door. With them in tow, he opens the door. Pausing, he glances back to James and says, “If that guy should show up again, don’t commit to anything until I get back.”

“I don’t plan to,” he replies.

Jiron meets his gaze meaningfully then turns and leaves. Reilin and Shorty follow him out and then close the door behind. Those in the room hear their footsteps move down toward Aleya’s room and stop there for a moment, probably to let her know what