The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [21]
“Keep an eye on them,” Jiron says to Brother Willim.
Sitting down next to them, he gives Jiron a nod.
“Now,” Jiron says as he turns back to Scar, “just where did you learn this little tidbit of information?”
Scar glances to Potbelly and licks his lips. Turning back to look into the intense gaze of Jiron, he says, “Back in the City of Light.” When Jiron doesn’t make any comment he licks his lips again and adds, “From Sorenta.”
“Sorenta?” he asks incredulously. From the way he said the name it’s obvious he knows of whom Scar is referring to.
“Who’s Sorenta?” asks Shorty.
“She’s a prostitute,” replies Potbelly. “Worked over in Mother Chlia’s place.”
“You risked his life based on a story a prostitute told you?” Shorty asks in disbelief.
“You don’t understand,” explains Scar. “She wasn’t just a prostitute. She had the ‘gift’. At least that’s what she called it.”
“That’s right,” agrees Potbelly. “There were times when we would visit her when it happened. She said it rarely came while someone else was around, and that since it did, it must mean something.”
“And when it happened, she told you to have James take Miko’s hand?” asks Jiron.
“Not exactly, no,” replies Potbelly.
“When I saw Miko there and heard what James and Brother Willim said to each other, I knew I had to tell you,” Scar states. “At the time she told us, she wasn’t sure why she felt she had to only that she did. Said the information could come in handy some day, though she was a bit vague about when.”
“Things happen for a reason,” Brother Willim says from where he sits next to James and Miko. “Who are we to judge their merits?”
“What should we do?” Stig asks.
“Wait,” he says. “All we can do is wait.”
“If something goes wrong,” Jiron says to Scar, “I’m holding you personally responsible.” He continues staring at Scar then flicks his eyes to Potbelly before returning to James’ side.
Several minutes pass while both Miko and James lie there quietly. Then they all of a sudden begin spasming and with a gasp, James opens his eyes as he sits up. Releasing Miko’s hand he gasps, “Oh my god.”
A fraction of a second later a scream is torn from Miko as he snaps awake as well.
James looks around with eyes wide. When he realizes he’s back in the camp with the others he visibly relaxes. Next to him Miko holds his arms around his chest and groans in pain.
Brother Willim arcs an eyebrow questioningly at James and he says, “Better check him out. I’m fine.” The pain which was so excruciating while in the dream with Miko is now quickly beginning to fade.
Nodding, Brother Willim moves closer to Miko and says, “Let me have a look.”
Miko removes his arms from his chest and Brother Willim pulls up his shirt. Beneath the shirt his chest is a mass of burns, boils have formed and some are oozing pus. “Get the Star,” he says to Jiron.
As Jiron removes the Star from Miko’s pouch, Scar asks, “What happened?”
Once the Star is in Jiron’s hand he gives it to Miko. No sooner does the Star rest in his palm than a glow envelopes him. They watch in awe as his chest begins to return to normal. The boils recede and the burns turn brown, eventually flaking off to reveal the new skin that has formed underneath.
When the glow from the Star vanishes, Miko is breathing much better.
“Now, what happened?” Jiron asks.
James begins to relate to them his experiences within Miko’s dream. When he’s done Miko has little to add, the memory of the dream has already begun to grow cloudy. “All I can remember is that I needed to get into that room, but was unable to,” he finally says.
“What was the room like?” Shorty asks. “Why did you need to get inside?”
Miko shakes his head. “I can’t remember,” he admits.
“I caught a quick glance within before the door slammed shut,” announces James. “The room was of average size and a pedestal stood in its center.”
Jiron has a