Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [180]
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Startled awake by someone at the door, James sits up in bed. The room is dark, night has already fallen. Glancing over to the other bed, he notices that Miko is no longer there.
Getting to his feet, he goes over to the door and finds Fifer there when he opens it. Suddenly excited, James asks, “Jiron’s back?”
“In a way,” he replies moving into the room. He goes over to the candle on the table and quickly lights it.
“In a way?” asks James, perplexed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sitting in a chair at the table, Fifer explains. “A group of Parvatis had escorted him back to the gates,” he begins, then starts to chuckle. “Apparently there was some disagreement about them doing that among the rest of their army. I thought they were going to begin fighting each other right then and there.”
“But the Parvatis are a sizeable part of their army so got their way in this. I’m sure there’ll be a reckoning at some time in the future about it. Anyway, as they were approaching, those of us on the wall began thinking they might be starting an attack. But then we realized the force approaching us was small and we could see Jiron among the ones in front.”
“Henri, who had been stationed on the wall just for this, hollers to open the gates and let Jiron in. Everyone was ready for a surprise attack or something like that, but Jiron walked toward the gate by himself and the Parvatis just turned around and walked back to their camp.”
“Where’s Jiron now?” asks James.
“Henri took him up to the castle to talk with Lord Pytherian about the enemy’s camp,” he replies. “Said he’d be back in a little bit.” Pulling out a letter with a seal at the bottom, he hands it to James and says, “This came from Lord Pytherian while you were sleeping, we didn’t want to wake you.”
Taking the letter, James says, “Thank you.”
“Uh, one more thing,” he says, looking a little embarrassed.
“What?” asks James as he puts the letter in his pouch.
“It’s Miko,” he begins.
“What? Is he gone?” James suddenly asks, worriedly.
“No, nothing like that,” he assures him. “It’s just that he makes us kind of, well, nervous.”
“In what way?” inquires James.
“It’s just that he is changing awfully fast, growing up quicker than normal,” he explains. “It’s kind of weird.”
“I know,” replies James, “it worries me too. But I assure you that he’s harmless. I know what’s going on but there’s nothing that can be done right now.”
“He fights way better than he aught to,” he says.
Nodding, James says, “I know, that’s a part of it as well. Just assure everyone that Miko is harmless, just as long as we keep him away from any fighting. Okay?”
“Yeah, sure,” he agrees, not sounding entirely reassured.
“By the way, where is he?” James asks.
Gesturing to the wall behind him, he says, “He’s in there with the others.”
Getting up, James says, “Well, we may as well all wait for Jiron’s return together.” Yern stands watch out in the hallway and nods to him as he leaves his room.
Fifer gets up as well and follows James out into the hallway and over to the other room. From outside the door, James can hear Miko’s voice. Opening the door, he finds Miko standing with his back to him as he’s talking to the others.
“…the torso came toward us and Jiron kept slicing it with his knives but nothing he did slowed it down. Then James holds up that medallion of his and a bright light shone from it. The light somehow caused the torso to die, how I haven’t a clue. Then…”
Noticing the looks of his audience, he glances around to see James standing there. “Oh, you’re awake?”
“Yes I am,” replies James as he enters the room. Fifer and Yern follow him in.
“I was just telling them about that place we found back in the swamp,” he explains.
“Yeah, I heard,” he says. Looking to all of the faces gazing at him, he says, “It’s called the Star of Morcyth.” Pulling the medallion out of his shirt, he shows it to