• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

“What?” he exclaims. “How long ago did he leave?”

“About a half hour or so,” Miko tells him. “Said not to wake you, that he would be back shortly.”

“Damn!” curses James. He quickly moves around and gets everyone up, telling them that Qyrll has gone into town. “Get up and get ready, we’re going after him.”

“Why?” asks Dave. “He’s a big boy and can take care of himself.”

James glares at him and says, “Just get your horse ready.”

“Alright, fine,” he replies and then gets up to do just that.

It’s just a few minutes before they’re ready to ride. Moving away from the campsite, they head down the trail to town. As soon as they’re upon the main road, they hear coming from behind them several horses as the travelers from the plateau begin making their run through Ironhold.

The first one to reach them gives them an odd look, he knows they didn’t come from the area to the south as he and the others have. Not bothering to stop, he races on past in a hurry to get through Ironhold as quickly as possible.

One thing James has noticed is that those traveling through Ironhold don’t talk. It’s almost as if everyone is afraid to disturb the tranquility of this place. Or of disturbing what may lurk here.

“There he is,” Fifer says, pointing to a building not too far away.

James’ eyes follow where Fifer is pointing and finds Qyrll atop one of the tall buildings.

“I think that was one the spirit walked last night,” suggests Jiron.

Nodding, James says, “You may be right.” Moving through the streets toward the building Qyrll is on, he finds his horse tied to the rail before the front door and comes to a stop next to it. Dismounting, he hands his reins to Miko and says, “Hold this.”

Taking the reins, Miko says, “Okay.”

Jiron and Fifer dismount to accompany him to the roof. They make their way inside and take the stairs up to the third floor where they find a ladder leading to an open hatch. Climbing the ladder, James gains the roof to find Qyrll bending over and examining a section of the roof.

From the ladder he asks, “What do you think you’re doing?”

Qyrll glances up and sees him there in the hatch. Getting to his feet, he makes his way over to them. “Wanted to see if the ghost left any evidence of its passing.”

“Why?” asks James as he moves down the ladder to allow Qyrll room to descend.

“To know if it was real or not,” he replies. As he steps off the ladder and onto the floor of the third floor hallway, he adds, “Didn’t find anything though.”

“Spirits don’t leave footprints,” Jiron tells him.

Nodding, Qyrll says, “Now I know for sure.”

They make their way back down to where the others are waiting outside. On the way Fifer asks, “Why are you so interested in this anyway?”

Shrugging, Qyrll replies, “I don’t know. It fascinates me for some reason.”

“I can understand that,” says James. “Where I come from there are all manner of people who hunt for ghosts and such things. Why, there’re even tours you can take that will bring you to the most haunted areas.”

“Really?” asks Qyrll, intrigued. “I’d like to do that.”

“Most of them are just shams to get your money,” he admits. “Though there are a few that are legitimate I suppose. Never been on one myself.”

Returning to the others, they mount their horses and make their way through town to the last section they have yet to search. After a brief warning to be alert, they split off into their pairs again. James gives Jorry and Uther a stern gaze warning them not be up to any shenanigans today. They assure him they’ll behave, probably the sight of the spirit the night before had a sobering effect on them.

The morning goes by and still nothing is discovered. James is beginning to become discouraged at the lack of anything to do with Morcyth. Ellinwyrd had to have led him here for a reason and one to do with what he learned at Saragon.

At noon when they return for the noon meal, Fifer says, “I think I saw someone on a hill to the south watching us.”

“Probably one of the soldiers,” Qyrll says.

“I