The Star of Morcyth_ Book Five of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [135]
“No tricks are going to save you this time,” Orlander says as he readies his sword and advances upon him. He takes three steps forward before he hears the thunder of the hooves approaching from behind. Turning, he sees Jiron and the rest bearing down fast. Lurching to the side, he moves out of their way a split second before they would’ve run over him.
Jiron reaches down a hand to James who swings up onto the horse behind him. Qyrll grabs Fifer and Uther takes Miko. They fly down the street away from Orlander. Glancing back, James sees him picking himself off the ground and staring at him, hate in his eyes.
At the next intersection, he signals Jiron to come to a stop. “I still need to talk to the Renlon’s.”
Nodding, he says to the others, “Go back and get their horses, James and I are going back.”
“Are you mad?” Dave asks from his position next to them. “They’ll kill you!”
“Not now Dave,” James tells him. To everyone he says, “Meet us east of town in half an hour or less.”
“We’ll be there,” Fifer tells him.
As the others begin leaving, Dave hesitates. “Go on Dave,” James tells him. “Stay with the others, I’ll be alright.”
Not happy about the situation, Dave turns his horse and gallops after the others.
“Let’s make this fast,” he tells Jiron.
Turning down a side street, they angle their way quickly around town until the complex of Renlon’s Iron appears before them. The whole place looks deserted for the evening save for a single light coming from the window of the office building where he met them the last time.
Coming to a stop before the door, James gets down and says, “Don’t go anywhere.”
Chuckling, Jiron replies, “That’s a dumb thing to say.”
James flashes him a grin and nods. Moving to the door, he opens it and passes through to the other side.
The older Renlon is sitting at the desk as he was the last time. Looking up, his eyes widen is surprise when he sees him come in. “James!” he exclaims coming to his feet. “What are you doing back here?”
Dispensing with the pleasantries, he asks, “Ever heard of a place called Ironhold?”
“Ironhold?” he asks. “What makes you ask about that?”
“I need to find it,” he explains. “Do you know where it is?”
“Sure,” he says. “Just follow the north road out of town and you’ll run right into it.”
“Thanks,” says James as he turns to leave.
“Just a minute,” the senior Renlon says.
Pausing, James turns back and says, “I haven’t much time.”
Nodding, he replies, “I heard about Orlander’s tavern, bad business that. You do that?”
“Yeah,” he says. “Didn’t mean to, things just sort of got out of hand.”
“Heard he wants you in a bad way.” Looking at him with a worried expression he asks, “He didn’t follow you here did he?”
Shaking his head, James says, “I don’t think so.”
“Good, we don’t need that headache,” he replies. Returning to his seat behind the desk he motions for James to sit in the chair opposite him. “About Ironhold,” he begins. “Just what takes you there?”
“Can’t really explain,” is all the answer he’s willing to give.
He looks at him for a moment before saying, “It’s the northern most town in Madoc, situated in the pass leading to the northern kingdoms. Used to be a mining town, been there for as long as I remember. They say it’s haunted.”
“Haunted?” James asks.
“That’s right,” he says, nodding. “Over the last century or so there have been those who have tried to bring those mines back in service. But every time something happens and the project fails.”
“Like what?” he asks.
“Last time the miners claimed apparitions of those who have died in the mines before appeared. Scared them bad and they left. Other times ore carts are found broken apart, things come up missing. I even heard one time several miners disappeared for several days only to be found wandering around in the forest days later.”
“The whole place is cursed,” he warns. “You might wish to reconsider going there.”
James sits there a moment as he digests what he just heard. Then he says, “Nevertheless, I have to go.”
Getting to his feet, the senior