Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [178]
“But he’s coming after me!” James exclaims. “What do they plan to do about that?”
“Nothing,” he says.
“Nothing!” he cries out. “How can they do nothing?”
“In their eyes, it’s a private matter, not one that affects Madoc as a whole,” he tells him. “Actually, if something should happen between you and Councilman Rillian, then it would fall to me to deal with it. So that’s what I’m doing.”
“What are you doing?” asks James.
“Letting you know about it so you can take measures against it,” he says. “We owe you that much. Though I’d suggest you leave Lythylla as soon as possible to avoid any such attempts.”
“But Jiron is still out there with the enemy,” he reminds him.
“I know,” Lord Pytherian says. “That’s not working in your favor either. True, Jiron stopped the Parvatis when we needed him to. But he also went with them to their camp, some see that as a questionable act.”
Seeing the look on James’ face, he says, “I know, but there are those who will always believe what they want to believe.”
Sighing, James nods his head. “What about Korgan? Has there been any word since the attack?”
“No one has seen him,” he tells him. “We think he’s left the city since they know we know about him. Councilman Rillian definitely doesn’t wish to be connected to him.”
“I suppose not,” agrees James.
“Where do you plan to go from here?” he asks.
“We’re heading to Cardri,” he replies. “Jiron’s sister and others are waiting for us there.”
“How do you plan to get there?” he asks.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought that far ahead,” admits James.
“Maybe I can help you out there,” Lord Pytherian says.
“How?” asks James.
“It would greatly speed your trip if you sailed across the Sea of the Gods rather than made your way around it,” he explains. “I’ll send a letter to the inn where you’re staying that you can take with you. It’ll request that whoever reads it to help you in any way possible. With it, you should be able to get someone to ferry you across to the other side.”
Nodding, James says, “That would be quite helpful, thank you.”
“Like I said,” he says, “it’s the least we can do. I’ll have it over there by nightfall.”
“I don’t plan to leave until Jiron returns, anyway” he says. “But once he does, we’ll be gone.”
“Good,” he states. “I would hate to have anything happen to you before then.”
“So would I,” replies James.
Getting up, Lord Pytherian extends his hand to James who stands as well, taking it. “I must be off, there’re still things I must take care of,” he says, indicating the meeting is over.
“Thank you again, milord,” James says.
“You’re welcome, and good luck.” He goes over to the door and opens it. Stepping out into the hallway, he turns to the right and the guards fall into step behind him.
The same page that had brought him here steps in through the open door and says, “If you’ll follow me sir, I’ll take you back.”
“Very well,” James says as he comes around the table and follows the page out the door. He’s led back through the castle along the same route that he’d been taken on his way in. It doesn’t take them long to return to the inn and at his door, the page says goodbye before promptly returning to the castle.
He opens the door a crack so he can peek in to make sure Miko is still there. When he sees him sleeping on the bed, he sighs in relief and closes the door. Moving down the hallway to the next door, he knocks and it’s opened again by Uther.
Opening the door wide, he steps aside to allow James to come in the room. Everyone’s there except Jiron and the ones on the wall watching for his return.
“What happened?” Illan asks.
James relates what Lord Pytherian had told him. He can see their faces get red when they find out nothing is going to be done about anything. “We should take care of this ourselves!” Uther shouts.
“They kill Miller and we’re just supposed to walk away?” Yern asks incredulously. “I don’t think so.”
He can see everyone there is thinking the same thing: Revenge!
“Can’t you look in that mirror thing of yours and find out where this Councilman Rillian is?” asks Jorry. “Or maybe Korgan, the