The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [58]
“Miko is going to need to take a look at this,” Jiron states as he watches Brother William apply the ointment.
“Yes,” he agrees. “With the Star he can do a much better job of it.”
“Do you think it’s safe?” Jiron asks. “I mean, do you think he killed the grayness?”
“Possibly,” he replies. “I can no longer feel what he called the pulses of electricity which were evident earlier.”
Once Brother Willim finishes with James’ back, he begins on the other parts of his skin that had been in contact with the bottom of the barrier. Back of his arms, legs and even his head all bear burns. The hair where he was burned at the back of his head is all but gone, a small red bald spot is visible where the hair once had been.
When the slave within the jar runs out, Brother Willim replaces it back in the pocket within his robe. He and Jiron put James’ shirt back on him before they lay him down. Brother Willim then settles next to James and says, “He’s sleeping.”
Jiron gets up and inspects the barrier. “His barrier is down,” Brother Willim tells him. “It went down shortly after he lapsed into unconsciousness.”
Moving his finger toward the dome that surrounds them he hesitates an inch away from touching it. “Then what is this?” he asks.
“I’m not sure,” Brother Willim replies. “This might sound funny but I think it’s glass.”
“Glass?” asks Jiron incredulously. Placing his finger upon it, he rubs its surface. “It does feel like glass.”
“Not sure if it is though,” Brother Willim tells him. When he sees Jiron remove his knife to poke at it, he says, “I wouldn’t do that.”
Turning back toward Brother Willim, Jiron asks, “Why?”
“We still don’t know if it’s safe outside of here,” he replies. “Though I can’t sense it, I think it would be wise to wait until he wakes up.”
Taking a breath, Jiron says, “The air is getting pretty stale in here.”
“I know,” replies Brother Willim. “But we should wait.”
Trusting to the brother’s judgment, he returns his knife to its scabbard and comes to sit next to him. He then takes out his water bottle and upends it for a long drink while he waits for James to awaken, which from past experiences could be some time.
Crack! Pop!
From outside the dome the sound of heat escaping by breaking through the glass covering the ground comes to them. Not knowing what it is they can only sit and wonder.
Over time the sound of the heat escaping gradually becomes less frequent. Then another sound comes to them, this one sounds like someone walking through eggshells. “Jiron!” Aleya’s voice comes to him from outside the barrier. Then, movement can be seen through the opaque glass that is the dome.
“James!” Miko’s voice hollers as one of the shadows presses its face against the side.
“We’re here!” shouts Jiron.
“He’s alive!” exclaims Aleya in glee.
“Are all three of you alright?” Miko asks.
“Brother Willim and I are,” replies Jiron. “James got burned pretty badly.”
From the other side of the dome, Stig says, “We’ll have you out in a second.” Then a shadow raises its arm, the unmistakable outline of a mace clutched in its hand.
“Stop!” cries Brother Willim and the mace stops before smashing into the dome. “If you smash it, it’s going to shatter and cut us.”
The mace is lowered as Stig’s voice asks, “Then what should we do?”
Everyone is silent for a moment then Shorty says, “We can chip around the base and lift if off of them.”
“Good idea,” agrees Jiron. Taking out one of his knives, he moves to the edge as the shadows on the other side do the same. As they chip carefully at the bottom edge of the dome, holes begin to form on all sides. As they work to elongate the holes and separate the dome from the rest of the glass, fresh air makes its way within. Jiron takes a deep breath and feels much better.
When they have chipped all the way around the bottom, those on the outside space themselves evenly around its outer perimeter. Then Stig says, “On three.