Brian Pratt - Shades of the past

No sooner do his lips begin to move than a glow surrounds him and extends toward her brother. Gasping in shock, she begins to recoil from the approaching glow but then her fears melt away as a calmness comes over her.

As the glow continues to envelope both Miko and her brother, she sees her father emerge through the opening in the ceiling. “Father!” she whispers urgently, glad to have him again with her.

Coming to stand on the floor of the cavern by the pool, he turns to see his son enveloped by the Star’s glow. Rushing over, afraid of what may be happening to his son, he makes to push Miko away.

“No father,” his daughter says, holding up a hand. “He’s alive.” She nods to Miko and adds, “I think he’s a priest.”

Looking down at his son, blood soaked and for all the world looking as if he’s already passed to the other side, he holds little hope for his survival.

Others begin entering through the opening, first James and then Jiron who has left the rope in the hands of two of the other farmers. They make their way over to the others and arrive just as Barric’s chest begins to rise and fall on its own.

“He’s breathing!” his father exclaims. Looking to his daughter, he can see his hope and joy reflected in her eyes.

Another few minutes and the glow suddenly disappears, the only light now in the cavern is that of James’ orb. Barric’s eyes flutter open and he looks around at those standing around him.

Miko gets to his feet and returns the Star to its pouch. “How can I ever repay you?” the father says to Miko as his son begins to sit up.

“There is nothing to repay,” he tells him.

James comes and pats him on the back, “Good job.”

“Thanks,” he replies. Then to the boy’s father he says, “He should be okay now, but will need many days of rest before he’ll fully recover.”

“What temple do you belong to?” the father asks. “I would like to go and give my thanks and make an offering.”

Miko looks surprised and glances to James. James just shrugs and allows Miko to handle this on his own. Turning back to the father, he says, “I don’t really belong to any temple. The healing of your son was done by the power of the god Morcyth.”

“Morcyth?” the father asks. “Don’t think I know of him, but tonight I shall pray to him and offer my thanks for the life of my son.”

“Maybe we need to start thinking about getting everyone out of here,” Jiron suggests.

“Yes,” the father agrees. He offers his son a hand and helps him to his feet. Barric has to lean heavily upon his father as his legs have very little strength left.

Lifting his hand to his forehead, Barric scratches and the cloth covering his head falls away. His sister gasps when she sees the pink line where a jagged tear had been but a day before. “It’s healed!” she exclaims.

“Of course it’s healed,” her father says. “That’s what priests do.”

At that, Miko turns to James and silently mouths, ‘Priest?’

James simply grins and pats him on the back.

Using the rope, they help the brother and sister up to the top first, then the father. James climbs up next and Jiron follows last. They make their way along the sloping passage, the father and another farmer helping Barric along. At the opening, the two dogs greet Barric and Aria with barks and attempts to jump on them but the farmer holding their leash keeps them at a distance.

On the way back down the mountain, Aria explains that this cave is a favorite of theirs. They’ve been here many times before but this time while descending the shaft, Barric slipped and fell.

“Why didn’t you come get help?” her father asks.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “But I didn’t want him to die all alone and in the dark.” Then she lays her head on his shoulder and begins to release the pent up worry and sorrow she’s been feeling since that fateful fall. Her sobs last quite awhile, almost lasting until they reach the camp where Illan and the others are waiting.

Most everyone is still awake, worried about what was going on. Devin hears them coming and calls out, “They’re back.”

As Illan comes forward, he sees the two kids walking with them, Aria clutched to her father and Barric supported between two of the farmers. “Good work,” he says to James with a smile.

James turns to the father and says, “You are all welcome to share our fire this night.”

Shaking his head, he replies, “Thank you, but no. Our farm is but an hour away and I think it would be best to return and put him to bed. Their mother is beside herself with worry too and I would hate to extend her misery any longer than I have to.”

“I understand,” James says. Extending his hand, he adds, “Good luck to you.”

Taking it, the father says, “You too.” Then to Miko he comes over, extends his hand but then reconsiders and gives him a hug. “Thank you so much for my son,” he says softly. When he releases Miko from the embrace, tears can be seen at the corners of his eyes. At that, he and the others turn and make their way back down the road toward their home.

“So what happened?” Illan asks after the villagers leave. Everyone gathers around as James, Jiron and Miko take turns relating the events as transpired upon and within the mountain. When Miko comes to the part where he heals Barric and is named priest by the father, he falls quiet.

“What’s the matter?” Yern asks him.

“I…I don’t think I am a priest,” he says. “Just because I have the Star doesn’t make me one.” He looks to James and asks, “Does it?”

James takes a long look at him while he contemplates the answer. The shade of the dead priest of Morcyth had stipulated the glow only manifests for priests of Morcyth and the glow manifested for Miko. Did that make him a priest? Finally he says, “I think by the broadest definition of a priest, you are. A priest calls upon his god and things happen, such as when you use the Star to heal people.”

“But, I don’t feel like a priest,” he says, slightly scared. “You once named me a warrior priest of Dmon-Li. Now am I a priest of Morcyth? Am I both?”

“Maybe simply being in possession of the Star enables him to tap into the god’s power without actually being a priest,” Scar says. “In fact, Potbelly and I once ran into…”

James stops him with a wave and says, “Not now.”

Becoming quiet, Scar glances around and sees that no one was paying him much attention anyway.

To Miko, James says, “If you are, you are. There’s not a whole lot you can do about it right now.” He takes in Miko’s demeanor and asks, “Does it bother you to be so named?”

After a moment’s thought, he shakes his head. “No,” he says. “A name is just that, a name. I have made no vows of priesthood so I can’t consider myself one.”

“These are the sort of things other priests should discuss with you,” Illan says. Then to all those gathered he adds, “But the night is waning and if we are to get any rest before heading out in the morning, we best turn in now.”

“You’re right,” James says and they break up, each heading to their tents except those currently on watch.

Miko walks with James and asks quietly, “Do you really think I am a priest?”

“Yes, Miko,” he admits. “In one way or another, I do.”

They walk the rest of the way in silence until James’ tent is before them. Pausing before the entrance, Miko says goodnight too. As he moves toward his tent, a smile comes to him and he absentmindedly rubs the Star where it rests in the pouch.

The following morning, with the sun breaking through fluffy, white clouds, they get underway with James and Illan in the lead. The group continues down the road as it meanders its way through the foothills, never straying very far from the mountains.