Brian Pratt - The mists of sorrow

“But people are dying,” insists Brother Willim. “Surely you could talk to him about aiding you in ferreting out the killer?”

Again Illan shakes his head. “Our negotiator, who by the way is Councilman Tethias and one of the members of Madoc’s ruling Council, says that we should not mention it in any way.” Seeing the suspicion arise in James’ eyes he adds, “Don’t worry, his House is currently at odds with that of the former Councilman Rillian.”

“That’s good to know,” states James.

“We do have the Ambassador and his people under constant surveillance,” Illan tells them. “We know that he has been informed of the deaths, though he has yet to comment upon them.”

Just then the door opens and Ceadric sticks his head in. Illan gives him a nod and servants come in bearing food and drink. “Thought you might be hungry,” he says.

“Yes, thank you,” affirms Scar.

The servants hurry about their work and platters of beef, bread and cheese are sitting before them. Pitchers of ale arrive too. Once everything has been placed upon the tables the servants quickly leave the room and Illan relates to them the rest of the events while they eat.

“The morning of the second day, another died but this time there was a witness,” he explains. “One of Hedry’s archers, Galin, was on his way to meet with him when one of the new additions to the Raiders entered the hallway further down. The man waved to Galin and took three steps when what looked like an arm reached from the wall and touched him.”

“Staggering, the man gave out with a groan and remained there with the hand on his shoulder for no more than a second before the hand let go. Then he sagged and hit the floor. When Galin reached him, he was already dead.”

“And there was no one else in the hallway?” asks Jiron.

“No, there was not,” states Illan matter-of-factly.

“Did Galin get a good look at the arm?” James asks.

“He said the hallway was dark with but a single candle at either end,” he replies. “Said he didn’t really pay much attention to it, that at first he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. Possibly a trick with the shadows.”

“Shadows?” asks James. He looks to Illan and who nods his head. “Could it be one of those shadows that tried to kill me on the way to Korazan?”

“There have been three other deaths since,” he says. “Another attack was witnessed. The witness said that the wall came forth and enveloped the servant.”

James sits back and thinks while whispered murmurs pass between the others in the room.

“My brothers say they have not sensed the presence of evil or anything magical the entire time we were gone,” Brother Willim states. “They have searched the keep from one side to the other but thus far have been unable to locate it.”

“We’ll be able to find it,” bursts out Scar. Patting Miko on the shoulder he says, “We have the High Priest of Morcyth here.”

Illan’s eyes widen as Miko blushes slightly. He glances to James who nods his head then launches into a brief description of what happened in the City of Light. When he’s done, he looks to Miko with a grin, “So what do I call you now?”

“Miko will do nicely,” he replies.

“We’ll need to…” begins James when Miko suddenly stands erect.

The Star of Morcyth suddenly bright in his hands he turns for the door. “Someone has died,” he announces.

“How do you know?” Jiron asks.

“I felt his passing,” he replies.

Green auras spring to life around the brothers as Miko reaches the door. Pushing it open, he strides into the hallway. Pausing only a moment, he moves to the right past a startled Ceadric with the others right behind and hurries down the hallway.

“Another has been killed,” Illan tells Ceadric as he leaves the room. Nodding, Ceadric draws his sword and falls in with the others.

The light emanating from the Star fills the hallway with brilliant light. “Can you sense the shadow?” James asks.

“Yes,” he replies. “It’s above us and on the move.” Quickening his pace, Miko passes stunned servants and guards as he hunts the shadow. One guard of the keep had to practically jump out of his way to prevent from being run over.

Reaching a flight of steps going upward, he turns into the stairwell and proceeds to the next floor.

“Can you sense anything yet?” James asks Brother Willim.

Nodding, he says, “We do now.”

Hurrying along the hallway, Miko comes to a stop before a closed door and opens it. “We’re near,” he says. “Its pace has quickened.”

“Could have sensed our magic approaching,” suggests James and Brother Willim nods in agreement.

The door opens up onto a storage room filled with boxes, crates and barrels. Moving into the room, the light from the Star blazes forth revealing every nook and cranny. Across the room from them stands another closed door.

“We must hurry,” Miko says as he runs to the other door.

“Can’t be much further until we reach the outer wall of the keep,” Illan says as he enters the storage room.

Jiron beats him to the door and has it open for Miko to pass through. The light from the Star reveals another storage room that’s practically empty. A dark shape is moving across the floor and is almost at the far wall.

“There it is!” exclaims Miko.

With a shriek, the shadow races from the burning light of the Star. Passing through the wall, it seeks to escape.

The glow surrounding the priests of Asran suddenly intensifies tenfold. “Got it,” says Brother Willim.

Moving to a small narrow window in the wall, James and the others look out to see the shadow enveloped by a green glow hovering far above the ground. As the brothers work to send the shadow back to whatever hell it came from, it lets out with an ear shattering scream. Inch by inch the green glow surrounding the shadow shrinks until finally it winks out.

“Great,” breathes Illan in a less than happy tone.

“What?” asks James.

Indicating out the window to the ground below, he says, “That’s the Empire’s Ambassador’s camp.”

Everyone in the camp below is staring up at where the shadow had been held by the brothers. All of a sudden, a group of men break from the crowd and make for the gates to the keep.

“He’s coming,” comments Jiron.

Illan immediately moves from the window and says, “Ceadric, take them somewhere out of sight until the Ambassador returns to his camp.”

“Right,” he says.

“Why?” asks Shorty.

Gesturing to James he says, “James here is the most wanted man in their Empire. According to what our agents have discovered, they’ve issued a hundred thousand gold piece reward for your death. It appears they don’t even want you alive.”

Leaving the room, Illan begins to return the way they came while Ceadric takes the others the rest of the way. Coming to a stop Illan says to Brother Willim, “I’ll need to borrow your brothers.”

“Why?” he asks as everyone pauses in the hallway.

“The Ambassador knows something happened,” he replies. “He already knows these two have been here for awhile. If we put forth that they were the ones that destroyed the shadow, it might quell any further questions.”

Brother Willim nods to his two fellow priests who then move to stand with Illan.

“When he’s gone I’ll send word,” Illan tells them. “Until then, stay low and get what rest you can. I know you must be exhausted.”

“That’s an understatement,” jokes Shorty.

To Ceadric he says, “Meet me in the Hall when you have them stashed away.”

Nodding, Ceadric resumes leading them down the hallway. He hurries along until coming to another hallway branching off to the right. Moving into it, he leads them all the way to the far end where they come to a flight of stairs going up. The stairwell is dark so James creates his orb to light the way.