Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [80]
“James…” Miko begins to say as he tugs at his arm.
More curious than fearful, James continues to watch as the light turns into a ghostly apparition.
The ghost is a man in robes, hovering there next to the sarcophagus, and upon its breast is a medallion similar to the one James is holding. It’s face, hard to make out but looks human, is facing them.
James steps forward and says, “Greetings.”
The ghost nods its head and replies in a far off sounding voice, “Greetings, fellow priest of Morcyth.”
James glances at the medallion he’s holding and replies, “I’m not a priest.”
The apparition reaches out, almost touching the medallion he’s wearing. “The glow only comes from his priests, it manifests for no others,” the ghostly voice says.
“Who are you?” James asks.
“I am no longer,” the ghost explains. “I wish no longer to be.”
“Why are you here?” he asks the ghost.
“To guard, to watch, to bar, to wait,” the ghost replies.
“Guard what?” James asks.
“That which must not be found,” he says. “That which must never leave.”
“What must never leave?” he asks.
“The fire, the scourge, the ending,” moans the ghost.
“I don’t understand,” James says.
“Stolen it was,” the apparition says. “Stolen by us, never to leave. No, it must not be found!”
James glances back to his friends who look back at him nervously. Returning his attention to the ghost, he says, “Who did you steal it from?”
“The name that shall not be spoken,” the ghost wails with great anxiety.
“What would happen if it is found?” James asks.
“Death! Much death at the hands of his followers,” cries the ghost.
Suddenly, the ghost begins wailing. The wailing increases to such intensity that they’re forced to cover their ears. When the wailing stops, the ghost cries, “One has come!” Again the intense wailing.
“Hope is lost!” it wails and begins moving in an agitated manner.
“What?” yells out James. “Who has come?”
“One who belongs to him that shall not be named,” cries the ghost. “He shall find it!”
Suddenly, in his mind, he understands. Abula-Mazki has entered the catacomb.
The ghost moves suddenly and comes to stand but inches from James. “You must take it!” it wails to him. “Take it and hide it!”
“Where is it?” James cries out to the ghost.
“Above us,” the ghost replies. “You must find the Room of Stars.” He moves to the side of his sarcophagus and placing a hand upon it, says, “Within here, is the key.” Beginning to wail again, the ghost begins shimmering until finally dissolving into nothingness.
When the apparition is gone, they glance at each other.
James walks over to the side of the sarcophagus and tries to remove the stone slab covering it. “Help me!” he hollers back to the others.
Moving closer, they both grab a hold of the stone slab and with all three working together, manage to raise one side. Pushing the slab away from them, they begin to slide it across the sarcophagus where it drops over the other side, smashing into the floor.
Within, they see the body of the priest whose ghost had just spoken to them. Upon his breast is a golden key, three inches in length with a large diamond at one end. Reaching in, James picks it up.
“Come on!” he says as he runs from the room.
“What’s going on?” Miko asks him as he follows.
“Didn’t you hear what the ghost told us?” he asks.
“All we heard was wailing,” Jiron explains.
“He said that there is something here that the priests of Morcyth had been hiding from someone,” he tells them. “He also said that a follower of that someone is now here. I think Abula-Mazki has found the entrance to the catacomb and is now within it, hunting for us.”
“The priest told me I must find the ‘fire’ and keep it from him. It’s above us in the ‘Room of Stars’, whatever that means.”
“What happens if he should get it?” Jiron asks.
“The priest said ‘Death! Much death at the hands of his followers’. I don’t think we have much choice.” James hurries back to the junction