The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [29]
Chapter Six
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Once they’ve returned to where Shorty waits with the horses, Scar and Potbelly tell him of what happened within. Also that Miko is now the High Priest of Morcyth. Shorty’s laugh bursts out when they tell him. But then he glances to the others and sees them nodding in agreement.
“You’re not kidding,” he says, his amusement dying. Turning to Miko he hesitates a moment and then bows his head respectfully.
Miko comes over to him and says, “None of that.” Slightly embarrassed, he lays his hand upon Shorty’s shoulder. “I am still the same person I was before I entered there.”
Shorty raises his head and says hesitantly, “Uh, yeah. Sure.”
“We still have a long way to go before we’re back with Illan,” Jiron says as he swings into the saddle. “Best if we don’t tarry too long.”
Miko takes the Book of Morcyth and slips it into a saddlebag, securing it tightly. The last into the saddle, he looks to Jiron and nods that he’s ready.
Before they start to get underway, James asks him, “Shouldn’t we hide the entrance or something?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Miko replies. “The place will be rebuilt, so whatever damage may happen in the interim won’t make any difference.”
With that, Jiron moves to take the lead and they return along the same route back to the gates that they took on their way in. The group is silent as each tries to come to grips with this new development, Miko as a High Priest. How are they to treat him? What should they call him? All this runs through their heads as they make their way through the streets of the City of Light.
“Father?” Scar asks Miko and is immediately cut off by the raising of Miko’s hand.
“Please,” Miko says, “don’t call me Father. Or priest, or High Priest.” He glances behind him where Scar rides and says, “I’m still Miko.”
“Alright, Miko,” replies Scar and then he goes silent.
“What were you going to ask me?” he asks.
“Oh, uh,” he begins then seems to lose track of what he was going to say. “Oh yeah, right. What is in the Book of Morcyth?”
“From what I saw in the brief glimpse I was able to take,” he begins, “it describes customs, rules and other things that makes the Priesthood of Morcyth a body.”
“Every god has a set of rules that his priests must abide by,” comments Brother Willim. “Each has certain mandates that those who follow him must adhere to in order for the god’s interests on this world to be accurately reflected.”
“Like what?” Potbelly asks.
“Take my lord Asran for instance,” Brother Willim says. “As a priest of Asran, one of the mandates for me is to not harm another living person except under the most strictest of exceptions. And let me tell you, there are very few of those.”
“I take it the Hand has more leeway than others in your order?” Jiron asks.
“Not as much as you would expect,” he says. “Weeds must be pulled, branches at times must be pruned for the tree’s ultimate health.” Brother Willim sighs and then adds, “But that doesn’t mean every blow we deal or death we cause won’t have an accounting later on. At the end when we stand before Asran, we will have to justify every hurt that we gave others. Those who are found to have caused pain and suffering during their time as a priest for no good reason…” He trails off into silence, leaving the sentence incomplete.
“I think I get the idea,” Potbelly says.
Turning to Miko, Brother Willim says, “You may find that having people call you ‘Miko’ will not be allowed. As High Priest, you now must cultivate the dignity and prestige that comes with the title.”
Setting his face into a stern expression, Miko pats the saddlebag wherein lies the Book of Morcyth and says, “I have yet read in this book that that is so. And until I do, I wish to remain just Miko.”
“But remember,” Brother Willim says, “You are no longer ‘just Miko’.”
James turns in his saddle and looks back to Brother Willim and Miko. He can see the stubborn look on Miko’s face and tries to hide a grin. “If the High Priest of Morcyth wants me to call him Miko, then I shall,” he says much