The Star of Morcyth_ Book Five of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [48]
What makes him the most angry is that this fool of an agent isn’t killing in the poor quarters where such things are almost taken as a matter of course. But he’s leaving the bodies in the better sections of the city where such things are given more notice. Fool!
The trail leads him past the outer walls and ultimately through the middle walls into the more affluent areas of the city. He follows the main thoroughfare until the ring indicates to go down an alley.
It’s a dead end alley with many shadows and full of garbage. One of the shadows detaches itself from the others and moves forward. What light there is in the alley glints off a long dagger the shadow is holding.
“Just give me your money,” a voice comes from the shadow, “and I’ll not harm you.”
“Of course,” the Eye says as he reaches into his tunic. Instead of removing his money pouch, he pulls out a small thin tube and points it at the thief. Depressing the release, a small needle flies out and strikes the man.
“What the hell?” he exclaims as the needle embeds itself in his cheek. His hand brushes his face, dislodging the needle but the damage has already been done. The fast working poison which was delivered by the needle brings dizziness which causes him to begin staggering and then to fall to the ground. In a matter of seconds, he’s dead.
Replacing the tube within his tunic, he steps over the dead man barely giving him a second thought. At the end of the alley, a doorway stands open and the ring directs him to enter.
On the other side of the door is a long, dimly lit hallway. He moves into it and follows it down past several closed doors. At the fourth door, the ring tells him he’s very close, possibly on the other side of the door.
Opening it, he finds a gruesome sight. A small room, with but a bed and chest. On the floor is a dead girl, bending over her is he who the Eye has been searching for. “You fool!” he exclaims as he closes the door and enters the room.
Chapter Ten
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On the way back to the inn, Miko finds Dave sitting at an open air eatery. “What are you doing here?” he asks him. “Didn’t I tell you to stay in the room?”
Dave looks up with an annoyed expression and replies, “Relax. All I’m doing is having a meal and getting some fresh air.”
The eatery is just down the street from the inn, he can see it from here. Not wanting to cause a scene in a public place, he says, “Very well. But return as soon as you’re done.”
Sighing, Dave says, “Alright, but you guys are really getting on my nerves.”
Wanting nothing more than to take out his anger and frustration on him, Miko instead turns and walks down to the inn. When he passes through the front door, he finds Illan sitting in the common room near a window.
At his approach, he nods for him to take a seat at his table. “You know where that friend of James’ is? He’s down the street at an eatery!”
“I know,” replies Illan as he glances out the window. “I’ve been keeping an eye on him for some time now. It was a mistake to have taken him with us.”
“So why did we?” Miko asks as he sinks into the chair. A serving girl comes over and he orders some ale.
“James wouldn’t leave him alone,” he explains. “Not after what he’s gone through. Plus, Jiron would’ve killed him if we had left him there with his sister.”
Nodding, Miko sees the girl returning with his ale. After he’s taken a sip, he asks, “Any word from Jiron and Fifer?”
Shaking his head, Illan says, “No, not yet.” In hushed tones, he goes on to relate what Ellinwyrd told him about James. When he’s done, he all but has to restrain Miko from rushing to the castle to rescue him.
“We can’t just sit here and do nothing!” he exclaims.
“I don’t plan to sit here and do nothing,” he states. “But we have a day, maybe two and we don’t want to act prematurely. I think it’s safe to say that they’re not planning on killing him here. Most