Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [39]
“Maybe it’s no ordinary medallion,” Jiron says from where he’s turning the spits over the fire. “Just where did you get it, anyway.” When James hesitates to answer, he says, “I think we have a right to know, after what we’ve been through.”
So James relates the events after he’d come to this world. Miko is astounded that James claims to be from another world and has had dealings with gods or whatever Igor is.
“He had said not to lose it, that I might need it,” he tells them. “I guess he was right.”
“Incredible,” Jiron says. “And you still don’t know why you were brought here or what you should do?”
Shaking his head, he says, “No, but I’m figuring it to have something to do with the god Morcyth.”
“That makes sense, since you were given his medallion,” Jiron says as he nods his head. “And that’s why you were in the City of Light?”
“Yeah, I was there looking for the last high temple to Morcyth, which we found as we fled,” he says. “But that didn’t answer any of my questions. When I talked with Ollinearn, he’d said that the last high priest had been born in Saragon. I had thought maybe to go there next, but it’s currently in the hands of the Empire. So I’m not really sure what I’ll be doing next.”
“I’m sure something will come up to tell you,” Jiron assures him. “They’re not going to have brought you here just to let you cool your heels.”
Smiling, James says, “Probably not.”
“Well anyway, breakfast is ready,” he announces as he hands each of them a skewer. As they take the offered food, James sits back and relaxes, unable to get the events of the last few days out of his mind.
They sit in silence as they eat, just happy to be out of the complex and on their way again. Jiron wonders what’s going on with his sister and the others they’d left back at Al-Kur. He’s anxious to meet up with them when they reach Trendle, and is sure she’ll make it there safe. The pit fighters had given their word to see her safely there.
As he eats, he also contemplates James and what he’d just been told. Fantastic to say the least, the story would hardly seem plausible but for the events he’d been party to since joining with him. What happened back in the underground complex lends credence to it all.
“What are we to do now?” he asks James.
“Remember that mural we saw back in the ruins?” he responds. “The one showing the countryside?”
Jiron and Miko both nod their heads, and Jiron says, “Yeah, I remember.”
“It looked like the main waterway that flowed near here will lead to a lake nestled up in the mountains,” he says. “I figure if we go that way, we might avoid any Empire forces which may be on the lookout for us.”
“Maybe,” he replies. “At least it’s going north.”
James nods, “That’s what I was figuring too. Since the swamp has been free of their patrols thus far, if we stay within it then we should be able to make it north without detection.”
“Then what?” he asks.
“Then we just see what our choices are as they present themselves,” James says. “Not much else we can do.”
Miko sets his skewer and what’s left of the carcass on the ground as he gives out a large belch.
James glances to him and smiles, “Ready to go?”
Patting his stomach, Miko says, “Yeah.”
Jiron takes a few more bites of his and then tosses it off to the side as well. Standing up, he begins kicking dirt upon the fire until it’s smothered.
James looks to him and says, “Lead on.” Grabbing his walking stick for support, he shuffles along after Jiron with Miko right beside him. His leg and side still hurt considerably but he manages to maintain a quick pace.
They begin to head toward where the waterway flows past the complex and shortly arrive next to its bank. Jiron turns to follow it as he leads them north, keeping the river to their left.
As they move north, the state of the vegetation quickly improves until there’re no signs of the withering that had been evident nearer the complex, much to everyone’s relief. Having to forge their way through the undergrowth, not to mention maneuvering around stagnant pools of water, doesn