The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [27]
When the light from the orb reaches the far side, James isn’t surprised to see the secret door that had concealed the way they left the room torn from the wall and lying on the ground.
Moving to the pedestal itself, he finds the indentation that had been the Star of Morcyth ruined beyond recognition. It looks as if the entire top several inches of the pedestal had been chiseled off. If he hadn’t of known what it looked like before, he would never have been able to figure it out now.
Removing his medallion, James attempts to place it where the impression of the Star used to be to see what happens. After placing it there, he stands back and watches.
“What are you doing?” Scar asks.
Nodding over to the ruined secret door, he says, “The last time we were here, placing my medallion on the pedestal raised the secret door and allowed us to escape. Just seeing if anything would happen again.”
They wait for a full minute before Potbelly says, “Maybe we weren’t meant to come here. Could the dream have meant something else?”
When all eyes turn to Miko he shakes his head. “I know I am supposed to be here,” he states with conviction. ”I just don’t know why.”
Brother Willim comes to James and asks, “What did this place look like when you first entered?”
“Not much really different than it is now,” replies James. “The two doors were still attached and the pedestal was perfectly formed. On top of it was a crystal platform that had an inverted pyramid indentation in the top where I believe the Star could have rested. Looks like the Empire took that when they were here.” He glances around the room and adds, “Beneath the crystal platform was engraved the Star of Morcyth, and that’s where I placed the medallion to open the secret door. The walls and floor are still pretty much the same.”
Brother Willim takes in the room. The pedestal standing in the exact center and the octagonal shape to the room. How each wall is facing directly to the center, and the pedestal.
“Miko,” he says. “Place the Star upon the pedestal.”
“But it’s broken,” explains Miko.
“Be that as it may,” replies Brother Willim, “put the Star upon the pedestal.”
Miko looks to James who gives him an encouraging nod. Moving forward, he places the Star upon the pedestal’s center. Letting go, he takes several steps back.
They stare in anticipation at the Star, unsure what may or may not happen. “I don’t think…” begins Potbelly when the Star suddenly erupts into light, bathing the entire room with a strong, yet soothing radiance.
“Wow,” Stig mumbles in awe.
So entranced by what the Star is doing, James fails to see what is happening with Miko until Brother Willim takes him by the shoulder and brings it to his attention. Enveloped by a white glow, more intense than any that ever appeared when he was using the Star’s power to heal, Miko stands with his eyes closed and arms lax at his side.
“What’s going on?” he asks Bother Willim.
“Wait and see,” he says.
The sound of his voice causes James to glance toward him. Brother William stands there with a radiant expression on his face. Lips turned up in a smile, his eyes fixed upon Miko.
The others move back from Miko as they watch the event transpiring before their eyes. For a full five minutes they stand there in mute silence as the glow surrounds him. Then all of a sudden, it winks out. Miko opens his eyes as a grinding noise is heard coming from the pedestal.
Stepping forward, James asks, “Are you okay?”
“I am fine James,” he says. “I now understand why it is I must be here.” Stepping forward, he moves to the pedestal which is rising up out of the floor and removes the Star from its top.
Too astonished for words, the others stand there as the pedestal continues to rise from the floor. What they had