The Mists of Sorrow_ Book Seven of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [90]
Once they all are in a fresh change of clothes, James pulls out his mirror and brings an aerial view of the inn into focus. Finding everything calm, he then concentrates on Shorty to see how he’s making out. Casting a quick glance to Jiron he asks, “Do you really think that woman’s sister will help you now? After everything you did?”
Shrugging, he says, “I can but try. It’s the only thing that we have to go on now that your magic can no longer locate him.”
Turning his gaze back to the mirror, he finds Shorty shrouded by darkness. It looks like he’s just within some alley and is staring out across the street to a well-to-do building.
“She must be in there,” observes Jiron from where he’s looking over James’ shoulder at the mirror.
“Must be,” agrees James. Expanding the image to include a much wider area, he checks for any squads of guards that may be searching for them. The streets are quiet. Scrolling the image first in one direction then another, he fails to see any concerted search being conducted. “Doesn’t appear as if they are continuing the search.”
“A whole group of people dead, and they do nothing?” asks Brother Willim.
“Maybe the death of a bunch of potheads doesn’t really concern them too much,” James says. “Also consider this. The penalty of using or distributing biloci is death in the Empire. Who is going to come forward and say anything? Any who do will also have to admit their guilt.”
“That’s a good point,” nods Scar. “They’d be sticking their own neck out for the executioner.”
James abruptly stands up and says, “I don’t care if they are looking for you guys or not. We’re leaving Inziala right now.” To Scar and Potbelly he says, “Go take our things down to the stables and get the horses ready to ride.”
“What about that woman’s sister?” objects Jiron. “I’m not leaving until I talk to her.”
“Relax,” James tells him. “You and I are going to go find Shorty and this woman, talk to her and then get the heck out of here. The rest of you stay here. Better yet, go down to the stables and wait there so we won’t have to spend the time to come back up here for you.”
“As you will,” Brother Willim says.
“Let’s go,” urges Jiron.
James nods his head and indicates for him to leave the room. Following him into the hallway, he puts his mirror back in his belt pouch. Once down in the common room, they flag down Reilin who has taken a seat at a table near the door. He gets up and comes over to James who then quietly explains what they intend to do.
Jiron then leads James and Reilin out to the street through the front door and heads down in the general direction of the tavern. James pulls out his cloth and concentrates on Shorty. The cloth quickly rises and becomes rigid as it points to somewhere off to their right. He shows it to Jiron who allows him to take the lead. Following the direction indicated by the cloth, they are soon at the alley wherein Shorty watches.
As they come close, Shorty disengages from the shadows and steps forward. Waving for them to join him in the alleyway, he retreats back into its darkness. When they are there with him, he tells them what’s going on. “I followed that woman when she left the building,” he explains. “She came straight here and went in through that door.” Pointing across the street, he indicates a door in the building directly across from them.
“How do we know she’s still in there?” asks Jiron. “She could have left through a back door.”
“That’s always a possibility,” replies Reilin.
“Now what?” asks Shorty.
“We wait,” James says.
“Wait?” asks Jiron. “I say we go in there and find out what we need to know.”
“Look,” counters James, “We don’t need more trouble. I doubt if she would leave by a back door, unless she knew she had been followed.” Turning to Shorty he gives him a questioning look.
“She didn’t,” Shorty tells him. “Besides, if you start