Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [169]
The men begin cursing and Jiron shushes them up while James tries to locate Miko.
Fearing the worst, James let’s the image of Miller go and another one begins to form in its place. He sees Miko walking as if dazed down a street, bloody sword in hand. He widens the image and sighs with relief when he fails to see anyone around him.
“Does anyone know where this is?” he asks. “It should be fairly close to where the inn was.”
He slowly scrolls the image until one of the men says, “Yeah, I recognize this place. It’s not too far away.”
James cancels the image and glances to Illan, an older man graying at the temples, and asks, “Can you take us there?”
Illan nods, “Sure, this way.”
Putting the mirror away, James follows Illan as he leads them down a side street. They cross two more streets before turning down another side street. “He should be somewhere around here,” he says.
They move quickly down the street and sure enough, find Miko walking away from them. “You guys stay here,” James tells them.
He moves forward alone, and as he nears Miko, says, “Miko, you okay?”
Miko stops but doesn’t turn around. James says softly, “Miko, it’s James.”
Turning around slowly, Miko gazes at James with red rimmed eyes.
James suddenly realizes that Miko is several inches taller than he had been earlier, and broader as well. The Fire is having a dramatic effect on him. “You okay?” James asks him.
“What’s happening to me?” Miko whispers as he begins to move toward him. He can see tear tracks through the soot covering his face.
“I don’t know,” replies James. “But we’ll figure it out.”
When he comes near, James gives him a smile. Miko returns the smile with a small sad one of his own. Putting his arm around him, he walks him back to where the others are waiting.
Jiron’s eyes widen when he sees the changes in Miko. He glances to James, who only shrugs.
“James!” Miko exclaims, as he suddenly comes more alive. “Korgan is in the city!”
“Yes, I know,” he replies. “Now that you’re safely back with me, we can go take care of him.”
Chapter Twenty Eight
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To what’s left of Miller’s band, James asks, “What’re you guys going to do now?”
“There’s a lot to be answered for,” replies Illan. “Fifer here says you’re going after the ones who did this to Miller?”
“That’s right,” states James.
“In that case, we’d like to come along with you,” he says. The others nod their heads, adding their agreements.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he says gratefully. Turning to Fifer, he says, “Let them know what’s going on while I try to locate Korgan.”
“Sure thing,” he replies, then huddles with his comrades as he fills them in.
James, Jiron and Miko move a little ways away from the group to give them time to talk while James locates Korgan. Taking out the mirror once more, he releases the magic as he gazes upon the surface.
The image begins to come into focus and they see Korgan’s unmistakable patch and scar. He widens the image and sees that he’s talking to another man in what looks to be a basement. What really surprises them is that the basement contains tables and racks filled with weapons.
“Looks like they could arm an army from what they have there,” remarks Jiron.
“Probably what they plan to do,” he says. “I wish this thing had sound!”
He scrolls the image around the basement where they see five others there with Korgan as well as the other guy he’s talking to. “Wonder what they’re saying?” Jiron asks.
“My guess is they’re making plans for the fall of Lythylla,” replies James.
“Then we better find them quickly,” Miko says from over James’ shoulder.
“I think you’re right,” agrees James.
He’s about ready to cancel the image when they see the meeting breaking up and all the men there begin to climb the stairs out of the basement. “Where’re they going?” asks Miko.
James suddenly turns and stares at Miko and says, “Say that again!”
“Where’re they going?” repeats Miko, confused at James’ request.
Miko’s voice has deepened, become