The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [26]
Nodding, Jiron says, “That’s right.”
“So they wanted in here for another reason,” reasons Brother Willim.
Dismounting, they pause momentarily at the gaping hole in the ground. “Could they have known about this being the place where the High Temple once stood?” asks Stig.
“Possibly,” answers James. “Would make sense considering the amount of manpower they used to clear the way down.”
Miko stands at the edge of the hole and gazes down into it. Jiron begins to move past when he reaches out and grabs his arm. “Wait,” he says.
“What’s wrong?” asks James, concerned.
“Remember the dream?” he asks. Turning his gaze to James he adds, “There could be something down there.”
“Maybe,” replies Brother Willim. “Maybe not.” When Miko turns to look at him he continues. “The fearful presence in your dream could have been there simply to prevent you from understanding what the dream was trying to tell you. You still don’t know if you learned everything you were suppose to.”
“Do you feel something?” asks James.
“No,” he says. “Nothing like that.” Pulling out the Star, he sees that it’s quiet. No glow of any kind is being emitted by it.
“That’s a good sign,” states James. “If there was trouble, it wouldn’t be still like that.”
Miko nods in agreement. “I think I should lead here,” he says. He glances to Jiron and receives a nod in reply.
“We’re right behind you,” Jiron says. Stepping aside, he waits for Miko to move into the opening.
Hesitantly at first, Miko steps into the opening. The stairs that once had extended down are now worn and broken from the excavation that took place. Step by step he descends into the ground until coming to the bottom. Here, the passage extending away from the stairs is rough and uneven. Sections of the walls and floor they pass by reveal the stonework from the original corridor that once moved through here.
Then they come to the section where the ceiling must have collapsed and the stone was removed. Timbers line the sides of the passage as well as across the ceiling. Feels more like they are walking through a mine than a passage leading to what may very well be the inner sanctum of the old High Temple of Morcyth.
Debris lines the passage, evidence that others have been here since the tunnel was excavated. Old blankets and other forms of refuse litter the floor from one end to the other. From the looks of it, no one has been here for some time.
Jiron picks up a blanket and looks questioningly to James.
Shrugging, he creates his orb for more light and says, “Maybe people holed up in here after the Empire was through.”
“Could be,” he replies and drops the blanket to the ground.
James follows closely behind Miko with his orb in hand. Then comes Brother Willim, a soft glow can be seen emanating from him as well. Next comes Jiron and Aleya, then Stig, Potbelly and Scar bring up the rear. Shorty had been left topside to keep an eye on the horses.
“It won’t be too much further,” Jiron says.
And indeed the light from the orb soon reveals where the secret door had stood during their last visit. Now, the door is gone. Signs of chisels and hammers mar the wall where the Empire had taken it out.
Miko comes to a stop as the light enters the room. Memory of his dreams haunt him, fear rises at what may lay within the room.
“It’s okay Miko,” says James reassuringly. He glances to Brother Willim questioningly who shakes his head no. “There’s nothing in there. We’re right behind you.”
He glances to where the Star rests in the palm of his hand. Not even the tiniest flicker of a glow can be seen in its depths. Gathering his courage, Miko steps forward and into the room…and nothing happens. Not even the soft glow that had appeared the last time James and the others were here. Releasing the breath he had been unconsciously holding, he looks around.
The pedestal from his dream stands in the center of the room. The crystal platform that had been sitting on top of it when James and the