Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li: The Morcyth Saga Book Three (60 page)

The sails come down and the breeze begins to
fill them as the ship begins pulling away from the docks.

“James, look!” Jiron says, pointing to the
dockmaster’s office.

A group of men led by one with bandages on
his face are running down the street toward the dockmaster’s
office. “It would seem they’ve discovered the guards,” says
Jorry.

“Looks that way,” agrees James.

As the ship pulls further away from the
docks, the men come running and stop at the edge. The man with the
bandage glares at them across the widening gap between the dock and
the ship.

“He doesn’t look happy,” observes Uther.

“No, I’d say not,” agrees Jorry.

The men on the dock turn around and run for
the merchant ship at the other end, probably hoping to commandeer
it to follow them.

The captain of the merchant must have been
aware of the events transpiring on the docks, for his men hurry to
pull in the gangplank before the men are able to reach the ship. A
heated discussion ensues between the bandaged man and the captain.
Obviously the captain is reluctant to have his ship used for such a
purpose.

“He knows that his ship, fully loaded as it
is, could never catch us,” Captain Hawls explains. “He might get in
some trouble for refusing but there’s really nothing that guy can
do about it.”

“That’s good to know,” James says.

“Just get yourselves settled in and we’ll be
in Fairview sometime tomorrow,” the captain tells him.

“Very well,” James says as he moves back
over to where the others are still gathered watching the spectacle
on the docks. The merchant ship’s captain is standing defiant
before the men on the docks. He’s even put two of his men with bows
beside him to prevent anyone from coming aboard.

Miko sees him coming and meets him halfway
with a small sack in his hands. Reaching in, he pulls out a tart
and with a grin offers it to James.

Taking it, he asks, “Where’d you get
these?”

“Back in Lythylla,” he replies. Taking out
another, he begins eating it. “They’re a bit stale now.”

Taking a bite, James agrees. “But still
good. Thank you Miko.”

“You’re welcome,” he says, pleased to have
made his friend happy.

Late afternoon the following day, they spy
Fairview on the horizon. An hour after that, Captain Hawls settles
his ship against the dock. Two of his crew tosses the guide ropes
to waiting dockhands who secure them to the dock.

When the ship has come to a stop and the
gangplank has been secured in place, James comes to Captain Hawls
and says, “We appreciate the ride, captain.”

“Anytime, James,” he replies. “I still owe
you for getting me out of that jail. If you’re ever in these parts
and need a ride, just let me know.”

“I will, thank you,” he says to him.

Illan leads them off the gangplank and says,
“There’s a horse trader not too far from here.”

“Perfect,” says James. “Lead on.”

They follow Illan down the streets until
they come to a large corral containing dozens of horses. A large,
rambling building curves around one side, and that’s where Illan
leads them.

Before they get to the building, a man is
seen in the corral as he puts a horse through its paces. He holds
the tether in one hand as he has the horse run around in a
circle.

Illan stops them at the edge of the corral
just as the man takes notice of them. The man walks with the horse
over to the side of corral and asks, “Can I help you
gentlemen?”

“We’re looking to purchase ten horses,”
explains Illan.

The man’s face lights up when he hears that.
Gesturing to the horses within the corral, he says, “We have many
horses here, I’m sure we can find ones to fit your need.”

“It looks like it,” agrees James. “How much
for ten?”

“You can have your pick for seven hundred,”
the man replies.

James looks to Illan who shakes his head
negatively, indicating he doesn’t have that much. Letting Illan do
the haggling, James casts his gaze out over the corralled horses,
he can see many fine animals there.

Illan works the man down to six hundred and
twenty two, which is only five gold pieces less than what they
have. Fortunately, the price also includes saddles and all the gear
they’ll need.

They move into the building, where they
empty the bags of gold they received from the sale of their other
horses onto a table. Everyone also had to empty their own pouches
in order to come up with the required sum.

Once the gold had been counted, they return
to the corral where ten horses are rounded up. Sterrin, the horse
trader, has his apprentices saddle the horses for them while they
wait.

“Is Dragon’s Pass still in friendly hands?”
Illan asks the horse trader.

Nodding, he replies, “Last I heard. There
have been incursions of the Empire’s men in the area when they can
sneak past our patrols. Mostly, though, it’s safe.”

“Good,” states Uther. “Hope it stays that
way.”

“Me too,” Hinney adds.

“How far is it to the Dragon’s Pass?” James
asks Sterrin.

“About two days,” he tells him.

One of the apprentices comes and informs
them the horses are ready. Once everyone is mounted, they wave
goodbye to Sterrin and his apprentices before they leave the corral
area.

“Better get some rations before we head
out,” Illan tells them as he pulls up outside of a shop that deals
in travel supplies. He takes Uther, Jorry and the rest of their
money into the shop while everyone else waits outside on their
horses. They return shortly with several pouches bulging with food
and secure them behind their saddles.

After they get back in the saddle, Illan
leads them westward along the road out of town. “If we follow this
road,” he explains to them, “it will take us directly to Dragon’s
Pass. And from there, I think it’s perhaps another day to
Trendle.”

Jiron glances to James and says, “I hope
everyone made it there alright.”

“I’m sure they have,” he assures him. “With
Scar, Potbelly and the rest, what could possibly have
happened?”

“True,” he says.

Moving quickly, they cover many miles before
the sun begins to dip near the horizon. “Perhaps we should make
camp now?” suggests Illan. “No need to push it hard.”

“Sure,” agrees James.

They find a good spot off the road and make
camp. A fire is quickly built and enough wood is gathered to allow
it to burn all night. Even though they’re in friendly territory,
the words of warning from Sterrin convince them to post a watch. As
Uther says, “You never know.”

The night passes without incident and
they’re quickly underway shortly after the sky begins to lighten.
James rides in the lead with Jiron on one side and Miko on the
other. To Jiron he asks, “How’s the shoulder?”

Rubbing it, Jiron replies, “Hurts, but it’s
getting better. At least it’s not oozing blood anymore. Another
week or two and I’ll be able to use it again.”

“I’m glad,” says James. “I was worried it
might’ve been injured permanently.”

“Won’t really know until it heals more,”
Jiron says. “It doesn’t feel as if anything major is wrong with
it.”

“What’s Trendle like?” asks Miko.

“Just a small farming community, really,”
explains James. “Good people.”

“What’re we going to do there?” he asks.

“First of all,” James tells him, “I think we
should all take a much deserved rest for a while. Give us time to
fully recover from all that’s happened to us.”

“What about you?” Jiron asks. “Are you still
going to search for more on Morcyth?”

“I intend to,” answers James. “But I need to
rest and think about some things first. I want to be better
prepared than I have been.”

“Makes sense,” nods Jiron.

“I have some ideas I’ve been thinking on the
last week or so,” he says to them. “Ever since we left that complex
in the swamp, I’ve been thinking about those crystals we found
there.”

“Oh?” asks Miko. “Like what?”

“Not really sure, but I think I may be able
to use them to harness and store magical energy,” he explains. “If
I can, then there is really no limit to what I might be able to
do.”

“How are you going to do that?” Jiron
asks.

Shrugging, he replies, “I haven’t a clue.
But I believe it’s possible so I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it
out. Remember that large crystal above that lake?”

They nod their heads, and then Jiron says,
“Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, that one had magic in it, or at least
passing through it,” he tells them. “I just need to figure out how
they did that.”

“I see,” comments Jiron.

James also remembers an encounter with that
little creature, Igor. It always had seemed odd that they’d gone
for pizza that time, but after seeing those crystals, he remembered
how Mama had been watching Star Trek. It didn’t register at the
time, but she had said how the episode was the one where they’d had
to recharge the dilitium crystals.

Perhaps that was why he’d been taken there,
to have him think in that direction. If so, why Igor didn’t just
come out and say it remains a mystery.

The mountains to the west continue growing
in size as the day progresses and near the end of the day they can
see where the road enters the mountain range.

“Should be there by nightfall,” Illan
announces to everyone.

“Are we going to make camp before entering
the mountains?” asks Yern.

“That would probably be advisable,” Illan
says. “I think it would be best to take the pass in the daylight,
less chance of taking a misstep in the dark.”

“I was hoping we would,” says a tired Keril
from the rear. He and Hinney had been back there all day and were
tired of eating everyone’s dust. Those two had been friends long
before joining Miller’s band and tended to stay together for the
most part.

The grasslands stay fairly flat all the way
to where the mountains begin rising up to the sky. They find a good
spot to camp about a half mile from the pass entrance. As the sun
sets, they go about finding enough wood to last the night and
settle down to eat the rations they bought in Fairview.

A shadow, some distance away, watches their
camp as the night deepens. Once he realizes they are staying put
for the night, the scout remounts his horse and rides back to the
main party, some miles to the south.

As the eastern sky begins to dawn, they have
a quick bite to eat before saddling the horses. “Should make
Trendle sometime tomorrow,” Illan tells the rest of them.

He takes the lead as they move toward the
pass entrance. Appearing out of the pass entrance before them are
about twenty horsemen. One of the riders brings a horn to his lips
and blares forth three quick notes. Answering horns can be heard
sounding from all around them. Illan brings them to a stop.

“James,” Miko says as he brings his horse
closer to his, “what’s happening?”

From all sides, horsemen appear. Jiron’s
knife leaps into his good hand as he takes in the hundreds of
approaching horsemen who’re moving to surround them.

Suddenly, a familiar tingling sensation
begins to make itself known to James. He looks to the pass and sees
four horsemen detach themselves from the others. They begin moving
down to where James and the others wait. One of them is dressed in
armor and a shudder goes through him when he recognizes him.

“Abula-Mazki!” he breathes.

“What?” Jiron asks.

Pointing to the riders coming from the pass,
James says, “Abula-Mazki. It seems he didn’t die when the catacombs
collapsed.”

“Who is he?” asks Jorry.

“A warrior priest of Dmon-Li,” he replies.
“I thought we’d rid ourselves of him some time ago.”

The surrounding riders move to within a
hundred yards before coming to a stop. James recognizes the Wolf
Clan, as well as patterns of two other clans from the
Gathering.

“How did they know to be here?” Miko
asks.

“I don’t know,” replies James as he keeps
his eye on the approaching warrior priest. The others with him look
to be the chiefs of the clans, James recognizes them from when he’d
been questioned before the council.

“It looks as if they wish to parley,” Illan
says as he glances to James.

“Should we?” Jiron asks him. “I don’t trust
him to be honorable.”

“No, I don’t either,” agrees James. “But if
it holds off an immediate attack, perhaps I should go and see what
he has to say.” Turning to Miko, he says, “You stay here.”

“Okay, James,” replies Miko.

As he moves out to meet with Abula-Mazki,
Illan and Jiron join him. He can see that the warrior priest did
not come away unscathed from his ordeal in the catacombs. His face
is horribly marred and his armor looks to have been crushed and
then reshaped. Strong indeed must the magic of Dmon-Li be to allow
him to survive such punishment.

Both parties come to a stop once they’re ten
feet away from each other. The Chief of the Grey Wolf clan looks
with undisguised hatred at James.

“Abula-Mazki,” begins James. “What an
unexpected pleasure.”

“I’ll make this simple,” the warrior priest
says. “I want the one carrying the Star, the rest can go free.
Resist, and you’ll all die!”

Pulling out the Star, he shows it to him and
asks, “Why is this so troubling to you?”

Abula-Mazki’s eyes lock on the Star as he
replies, “Priest of Morcyth, I’d strike you down now if I didn’t
need you alive!”

James contemplates the situation quickly and
comes to the conclusion that there’s no way their party will be
able to withstand the combined might of the clan riders and the
magic of Abula-Mazki. Either one by themselves, maybe, but not
together.