In less than an hour they’re up and on their way. The sun rising over the Sea creates a truly dazzling display as the waves upon its surface sparkle in the early morning light. Leaving the city of Pyrtlin behind, they take the east road along the northern shore of the Sea.
Not long after Pyrtlin disappears behind them, they come to a crossroads where they can either continue along the shore to the east or take the road to the north. They continue along to the east.
“We should arrive at Shore Town sometime before the evening meal,” Illan explains to James. “There we’ll need to take the northeast road out of town.”
“Wouldn’t it be quicker to stay next to the Sea?” questions Jiron.
Shaking his head, Illan says, “There’s a mountain range on the eastern shore of the Sea which we will have to ride around.” To the east they see the peaks of the mountains silhouetted against the sky in the distance.
“How long will it take us to reach Lythylla?” James asks.
“A week or so,” he answers.
The rest of the day passes fairly quickly and just as Illan predicted, they reach Shore Town shortly before the evening meal. They find an out of the way inn where they stop to have a bite to eat. Having been on the road for many days and eating their own cooking makes them all long for a real meal.
The mood here in Shore Town isn’t nearly as harried and anxious like what they found back in Pyrtlin. Probably due to the fact that before they’re going to be attacked by the Empire, other cities will have to fall first. Everywhere there are signs of preparations being readied in the event the Empire makes it this far.
From where they sit having their meal in the inn, they watch a group of boys who are put through drills, similar in nature to those Illan had the recruits doing back at The Ranch. When James asks a local at a nearby table about the drills, he’s told that Madoc has called for a levy. All able bodied men and older boys are required to present themselves for training in the defense of Madoc.
“Look at that,” Caleb says as he watches the lads. “They don’t even know how to hold a sword.” Others offer their observation as to the boys’ lack of skill.
Illan turns to them and says, “You weren’t much better before I got a hold of you.” He then winks to James and gives him a grin.
A quick meal of roast duck, bread and ale and then they’re off. They travel several more hours, putting as much road behind them as possible before they decide to call it a day and make camp.
The next day and a half finds them reaching the northern edge of the mountains and skirting along the foothills before coming to a town known as Raider’s Doom. It sits on the banks of a river flowing from the north where two main roads intersect. Illan tells them that after they cross the river they’ll turn southward and follow the eastern side of the mountains until they come to an end. From there it’s only a day to Lythylla.
Raider’s Doom is a quiet, little town, not nearly the metropolis one would expect to sit on the convergence of two main arteries. Not a small town to be sure, but the people there have a quiet calm about them that’s been lacking in the other towns they’ve passed through. It almost seems as if they are not concerned about the war coming in their direction.
“They don’t seem to care about what’s going on to the south,” Uther states as they pass through.
Kids playing in the street, ladies taking their time in their daily routines, no one seems worried or concerned about what the future might hold.
“Hope they can stay that way for a long time,” James replies. He hopes someday every town could have that same carefree attitude.
“How did the town get a name like Raider’s Doom anyway?” Devin asks from the rear.
Before Illan has a chance to explains, Scar pipes up and says, “You see, a century ago, there was this band of raiders…” For the next twenty minutes, he regales everyone with a tale of raiders and a trap laid by the local villagers. How the raiders were slaughtered to the last man. “…and that’s why it’s called Raider’s Doom. Since that day, so the story goes, no raider has ever been seen in the area.”
From somewhere in the back, in a voice barely heard, James hears Uther ask Jorry, “You know how you can tell when he’s lyin’?”
“How?” Jorry asks.
“His lips move,” explains Uther. At that, laughter breaks out up and down the line.
Before Scar has a chance to begin an argument, Illan announces loudly, “No, it’s true. It actually happened the way he said.”
Scar turns to look at Uther with a smug expression and then turns back to the road.
The road continues to follow the river and they are able to make good time. Other travelers pass them coming from the south from time to time, those fleeing the coming of the Empire. Seems no one has any confidence that Madoc and the alliance will be able to hold the Empire when they finally make their move.
Near the end of the day, the road begins angling more to the southeast and away from the river as it continues in a more southwesterly direction. Not long after leaving the banks of the river, they come to a junction where a smaller, little used road branches off and moves to follow the river.
“If you take that road,” Illan explains, “it will take you to Serene Lake.” He turns in the saddle and glances to James. “I know you have an interest in things of nature. On the far side of the lake, Thunder Falls roars its way into the Sea.”
“Thunder Falls?” he asks.
“Largest damn waterfall I’ve ever seen,” he explains. “If you stand near its base, the sound seems to vibrate through to your very soul. Quite an experience.”
James would like nothing better than to take an excursion to see this wonder of nature. But time is pressing and they need to reach Lythylla before the Empire begins the attack. “Maybe another time,” he says wistfully. Glancing at the fading light, he says, “Perhaps this would be a good time to make camp for the evening.”
“As good as any,” agrees Illan.
They move off the road and set up camp near the banks of the river for easy access to the water. The mountains rise just to the west, casting deep and long shadows in the sun’s final light of the day. Another couple days and they should arrive at Lythylla, then things will become interesting.
Just as twilight sets in, the sound of dogs barking can be heard coming from the direction of the road to Serene Lake. In the gloom, six figures appear and are soon revealed to be local farmers, one of whom is in the lead with two dogs on leashes.
They all come to their feet when it looks as if they’re heading straight for them. James moves to meet them as they enter the campfire’s light. “Have you seen two small children?” the man in the lead asks.
“No,” replies James. “You are the first we’ve encountered. Are they lost?”
Nodding, the man says, “Since day before yesterday. They are my children,” he continues, a sad and worried look upon his face. “They are a wild pair but they’ve never been away this long.”
The dogs sniff around, as if trying to find the scent. James notices the man holds a shirt in his hand, one too small for him to wear. Indicating the shirt, he asks, “Is that one of theirs?”
The man glances at the shirt and nods. “My son’s,” he replies. “Been using it for the dogs to get the scent, but so far they haven’t picked up the trail.”
James glances first to Jiron and then to Miko. Miko has a serious expression on his face and nods his head. He knows what James is thinking. Holding his hand out, he says, “If you give me the shirt, I can help you find them.”
Looking suspiciously at him, he asks, “How are you going to do that?”
“I’m a mage,” he says and instantly the farmers become less friendly. Again the reputation of those who do power in this world has begun to turn others against him. “I can help, I’ve done it before.”
One of the men takes a closer look at him and asks, “Is your name James?”
Surprised, he replies, “Yes it is.”
The man grabs the father of the lost children by the shoulder and begins whispering in his ear, the others with them move closer to hear. After a minute of whispers passing back and forth, they turn as one to face him.
Holding the shirt out, the father says, “Heard of you. They say you helped out Lord Pytherian last year and prevented the Empire from taking Lythylla.”
“True,” he admits as he takes the shirt. He glances around and spies Devin not too far off. “Go get my mirror,” he tells him.
Devin nods and rushes to his tent.
While he waits for Devin, James says, “We’ll find them for you.”
Hope comes to the man’s eyes and a slight tear as well. It’s clear to see how much he cares for and misses his children. James decides he’s a good man. Devin returns shortly with his mirror.
He holds the shirt in one hand while resting the mirror atop it with the other. Concentrating on finding the one who last wore this shirt, he lets the magic loose. The image in the mirror begins to shift and then turns completely black.
A gasp is heard from the father as he asks, “Are they dead?”
James glances around at the fading light and says, “It may be they are simply in an area with no light, like a cave or something.” Canceling the spell, he hands the mirror back to Devin.
The shirt has long sleeves. Taking hold of one of the sleeves halfway down from the shoulder, he again concentrates on the owner of this shirt, willing the sleeve to point the way. After letting the magic flow, the sleeve begins moving and points to the east, not directly following the road, rather more toward the mountains. “They’re that way.”
“You sure?” the father asks.
“If James says they’re that way,” Jiron speaks out, “you can believe they are.”
To Illan, James says, “Stay here with the others and watch the camp.” Then to Jiron and Miko he says, “You two come with me.” Once Jiron and Miko nod, he turns to the father and says, “Now, let’s go find your kids.”
Moving away from camp, he follows the direction the sleeve is indicating. Behind him he can hear whispers from the farmers, what they are saying isn’t clear.
“Think they’re alive?” asks Jiron. The father grows silent as he awaits James’ answer.
“Don’t know,” he replies. “This will just lead us to them. We’ll have to wait until we get there to find out.”
As they move from the light of the campfire, James’ orb springs to life and hovers above and slightly behind his head. The farmers gasp in shock and fear at first, but then Miko and Jiron calm them down with assurances it will do no harm.
The interactions between the others are lost to James as he concentrates on maintaining the spell and keeping his footing in the tangled undergrowth. They travel for half an hour before the ground grows steeper. The loose rocks upon the surface make footing more and more difficult as the incline grows. At one point, James stumbles while lost in concentration and only Jiron’s quick reflexes kept him from falling backward down the slope.
“Careful,” he says as James regains his balance.
“Trying to be,” he replies. As he begins moving again, he takes more care to keep stable footing.
The night continues to deepen and after another hour, the moon makes its appearance, adding its light to that of the orb. “I don’t think he knows where they are,” he hears one farmer say behind him.
“Quiet!” the father says to the other. “If you don’t want to continue, I’ll understand. But I’ll follow him to the edge of Coryntia’s domain if it will get my children back.” Coryntia of course being the Hooded Lady, she whose domain lies between the living and the dead.
Suddenly the dogs begin barking. “They’ve got the scent!” the father cries out.
James releases the spell and allows the father to take the lead.
“Come on boys!” he cries excitedly to his dogs. “Find em.”
The dogs pull on their leashes, practically dragging the father along. The others follow right behind. Yowling, the dogs come to a game trail and turn to follow the scent. “What would they be doing this far up the mountain?” their father asks to no one in particular.
They follow the dogs down the game trail for a hundred yards until the dogs abruptly turn into the woods to the right. Moving further up the mountain, they travel for several more minutes through the trees and undergrowth before a darkness appears in the side of the mountain before them. It’s a cave and the dogs are moving to enter its maw.
When the farmer reaches the entrance, he pauses and hollers into the opening, “Barric, Aria!” He pauses a moment to listen for his children’s response before handing the dog’s leash to another. When no answer is forthcoming, he enters the cave.
James hurries along behind, the light from his orb revealing that the cave continues fifteen feet into the side of the mountain before it narrows dramatically. Everyone else follows except the man with the dogs, he remains at the entrance.
“Barric, Aria!” the father again shouts. The only replies are faint echoes coming from further inside.
The far side of the cave narrows to an opening barely three feet across and four high. Looks as if the mountain had shifted in ages past, creating the opening. Water oozes from the sides, collecting in the depressions along the ground.
The father moves to enter the opening first but Jiron puts a hand on his shoulder and says, “You better let us go first, we’ve done this sort of thing before.”
He looks as if he’s about to object but then nods and backs up to allow Jiron to move first, then James. Miko follows next followed by the farmer and the others who have accompanied him on his search.
“What would they be doing in here?” Miko asks as he enters through the opening. Having to hunch over due to the narrowness of the opening, he steps through.
From behind the father’s voice comes, “They’re rather an adventurous pair. Barric’s the worst and his sister will follow him anywhere.”
The tunnel they find themselves in is moving down a gradual slope, the floor of the tunnel is uneven to say the least. The further they advance down it, the more water is collected upon the floor. At one point the pools of water begin to turn into a small stream flowing along the base of the tunnel.
“Barric, Aria!” cries the father again, but only silence returns. Worried, he continues following behind James and Jiron.
The tunnel they’re moving through comes to an abrupt end at a steep, downward shaft descending into darkness. The water flowing along the bottom of the passage goes over the edge and can be heard as it cascades down into the darkness below. As soon as Jiron and James both reach the edge, the father sees them stop and asks, “What’s wrong?”
“The way continues down a deep shaft,” James explains. The shaft is even narrower than the tunnel which they’ve been following, barely two, maybe three feet in diameter. The sides are rough and afford many handholds which could be used in climbing down.
Upon reaching the shaft, the father looks down into the depths with dread. “Barric, Aria!” he shouts into the opening. After a moment’s silence, from below comes a barely heard female’s voice, “Father!”
“That’s Aria!” he exclaims, hope springing to life. “Are you okay?” he shouts down.
“I think Barric’s dead,” she says with a sob.
Miko comes to the fore and asks Jiron, “Do you still have that rope?”
He nods as he lifts his shirt to show the coil of rope secured around his waist.
“Let me have it,” he says and ties one end around his middle after Jiron hands it to him. “Hold on tight and don’t let go,” he tells him as he moves to the edge of the shaft.
“What are you doing?” James asks as he places a hand on his arm.
“What I have to,” he says. Removing James’ restraining hand, he starts climbing down the shaft. To Aria below he says, “Hold on, I’m coming.” Handhold to handhold he works his way down.
James comes to help Jiron in maintaining supportive tension on the rope as Miko slowly makes his way down. After he passes into the darkness, a white light suddenly springs into being and they are able to see him as he continues working his way down.
“Where did that come from?” Jiron asks James when the light appears. There isn’t any source for the light that they can make out, it just seems to be there.
“I’m not sure, maybe from the Star,” he says. Jiron nods his head in understanding.
Miko continues to work his way down the shaft, the water cascading around him soon has him drenched. At one point a rock gives way and he begins sliding uncontrollably to the bottom but is stopped by the rope. Jiron and James hold the rope steady until he has a chance to regain his foothold.
When the light appeared he was slightly surprised, not knowing where it came from. It bothered him at first, but then the light brought him peace and a sense of purpose. Giving it no more thought, he continued working his way down, one handhold at a time.
Before Jiron’s rope is completely played out, he reaches a cavern. Fortunately, the shaft enters the cavern against one wall and he’s able to work his way down the wall to the bottom. A large pool of water sits directly beneath the opening forcing him to work his way laterally along the wall in order to reach the edge of the pool.
“Father?” a girl’s voice comes from further into the cavern.
Miko reaches the edge of the pool and comes to stand on the cavern’s floor. Looking into the cavern, he sees a young girl of about sixteen sitting twenty feet away. Cradled in her lap is the head of a young man of about eighteen. Around the lad’s head a cloth has been tied as well as two other bandages, one on his leg and another around his chest. His clothing in those areas is soaked with blood “No, I’m not your father,” he says as he unties the rope from around him and goes over to them. Looking up the shaft, he hollers, “I’m down and I found them!”
“Who are you?” she asks.
“You can call me Miko,” he replies.
“Is she okay?” her father’s voice comes from above.
Miko glances to her and sees her nod her head. “I think so, give me a minute.” Coming closer, he kneels down beside her to examine her brother. Next to her on the rock he can see what’s left of three candles which she must have had with her when this all happened.
“Where is the light coming from?” she asks him, a little bit of fear edging into her voice.
As he puts his ear to her brother’s chest, he replies, “That’s kind of hard to explain.” He then puts a finger to his lips indicating for her to keep quiet and she nods her head. Trying to tune out the background noises such as the water cascading down the shaft into the pool, her breathing and the sound of his own heartbeat, he listens for the boy’s.
Lub…dub.
Very faint, but his heartbeat is there. “He’s alive,” he says. “But his life is leaving him.”
“Oh, Barric!” she cries, holding her brother tighter.
Miko reaches into his pouch and produces the Star of Morcyth. The light within the cavern suddenly increases tenfold as its brilliance shines forth.
“What’s happening?” her father hollers down from above when the light from the Star reaches them.
Ignoring his question, Miko holds aloft the Star in his right hand and lays his other upon Barric’s chest. Aria looks in awe at him as he closes his eyes and his lips begin to move silently.
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.