Up with the sun, they head cross country toward the northeast and the City of Light. They ride in silent contemplation. Miko is worried about what may await him in that room below what use to be the High Temple to Morcyth. Will there be a fearsome creature as in the dream? Or will it be something else.
James worries about what all their dreams can mean. In each, a terrible presence has manifested. Within his dreams it was the shadows and monstrosities, Miko had a powerful presence, and Brother Willim a dead, black tree from which a monstrous creature steps. Are they all interconnected, or does each deal with a different event? He doubts if he’ll understand before it’s too late.
Riding hard, they swap between their spare horses periodically to better able maintain the pace. Cutting cross country as they are, they don’t encounter any other travelers, the few farmsteads they pass look deserted. A couple have been utterly destroyed, quite possibly when the Empire came through here last year.
Throughout the day and into the night, they ride. Only the fact their horses are on the brink of exhaustion do they even stop for the night. But it isn’t for very long. No sooner does the sun rise than they are again in the saddle and racing across the countryside. A half hour after the sun rises they come to a road traveling east and west. Several wagons are on the road heading toward a town visible to the east.
“That’s Reardon,” Scar announces when the town comes into view. “Follow the north road leaving the city and it will take you directly to the City of Light.”
“Excellent,” says James.
They ride for the road and upon reaching it turn eastward toward Reardon. The men on the wagons glance their way but otherwise offer no greeting. The loads they are hauling are mainly comprised of lumber and stone, materials needed in rebuilding the city. As they draw closer to the walls surrounding Reardon, many people are seen moving in and out from the gate where the road passes through.
The walls look fairly intact, though there are places where it’s evident the Empire’s siege equipment came into play. Not wanting to get caught up with what’s going on inside the city, they turn and pass along the outside of the walls as they circumvent the town.
When they reach the road moving northward, they turn onto it and again increase their speed to a fast gallop. Along the road between Reardon and the City of Light, they encounter many civilians. Families as well as merchants and the occasional group of soldiers are upon the road heading south to Reardon. Many have their belongings with them and their mood is one of hope for the future.
James remembers last year and the refugees who were fleeing the approach of the Empire. His heart is gladdened that the fear and hopelessness he had seen on the faces of many has been replaced with joy and hope. He fervently wishes that they will be able to continue having hope and joy for a very long time to come.
Before the walls of the City of Light come into view, camps are seen where they’ve sprung up along the sides of the road. Tents turned into makeshift taverns operated by smart tavern keepers supply ale and other essentials to those who are working to put their lives back together.
Few women and children are seen, though there are pockets of them here and there. The majority of those they encounter are men, workmen who are here to begin the rebuilding of their country.
When at last the walls of the City come into view, the pit fighters come to a stop. This is home for them. Where they were born and raised. James is actually surprised to see a tear come to the eyes of some of these hardened fighting men.
“There she is,” breathes Potbelly.
“Never thought I’d ever be coming back here,” Stig says.
“Let’s go,” urges Miko. When he first laid eyes on the walls his sense of urgency increased. Nudging their horses, they take a more moderate pace as they approach the gates to the City.
“James,” Jiron says, “look over there.” He directs their view over to an open area west of the road near the walls.
“What about it?” asks James.
“That’s where you took out the majority of the enemy when we left,” he replies.
James looks hard, but after the effect of several seasons, there’s hardly any evidence left of what happened. A few blackened trees here and there are all that stands in testimony to the explosion that rocked the night so long ago.
The closer to the gates they go, the denser the tents and number of people become. The pit fighters scan the people they pass for any sign of those they knew, but so far haven’t recognized anyone.
Soldiers stand guard at the city’s gates, more for maintaining order than anything else. Jiron leads them through and into the city. Surprisingly enough, the streets are fairly clear of debris.
“They sure cleaned up this place,” remarks Jiron. During their escape, James had played merry hell with several of the buildings, exploding them in the night in order to cover their escape.
Moving across the courtyard, they pass through the next gate into the city. Signs of reconstruction are going on everywhere. People, mainly shopkeepers working to get their business back in shape, are seen setting stones and hammering planks.
“If Delia hurries, she could make a killing selling these people building supplies,” comments Shorty.
“I think she already has that idea,” replies Stig.
“Didn’t Lord Pytherian say the first building that would be rebuilt here would be that temple you wanted?” Jiron asks.
“Yes he did,” answers James. “But I don’t expect them to be able to arrange that until the hostilities subside.” Glancing over to his friend, he adds, “Besides, it’s not like we’ll be around to tell them where to build it.”
Nodding, he says, “That’s true.”
“Can you find your old hideout?” James asks.
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” he replies. “Even with the state the City is in now, I know my way around.”
“Oh, man,” Scar says sadly.
“What?” asks Jiron.
“Beggerman’s is gone,” he says, indicating a destroyed building that once sat on the corner ahead of them.
When James looks questioningly at Jiron he says, “It was a place where pit fighters hung out. A tavern and brothel all rolled into one.”
“Yeah,” agrees Shorty. “Beggerman had been a pit fighter in his younger days. Set it up when he had accumulated sufficient money to last him the rest of his life. He claimed he won the building in a card game, though no one’s ever been able to verify that.”
“Wonder if he’s still alive?” Potbelly asks.
Just then three young teenage boys come running around the corner and Scar signals them to stop, that he wants to talk.
Slowing down, the three lads approach him. “What do you want?” one asks.
Scar reaches into his pouch and says, “I’ll give you each a copper if you can answer me a question.”
“Sure,” says one. The other two nod as well.
“Beggerman,” he says. “Do you know who I’m talking about?”
“Sure do,” the first boy replies. Gesturing back to the destroyed establishment he says, “The guy with only one eye and missing half an ear, right?”
“That’s him,” nods Scar. “Do you know if he’s still alive?”
The lead boy glances to the other two who only shrug. Turning back to Scar he says, “We haven’t seen or heard about him since the City fell.”
Removing three coppers, he flips on to each of the lads. “Thanks,” he says.
“Sorry we couldn’t be of more help,” the lead boy says. Then they’re off down the street on whatever errand they were about before being stopped.
“Remember that massive mace he use to keep behind the bar?” Stig says. “He always said anyone who caused problems would get real familiar with old ‘Ironhead’.”
The others laugh at that. “Never once saw him take it down,” Potbelly states.
“I would think it came down when the City fell,” Scar says more somberly. “He wasn’t one to run off when trouble came calling.” Several of the others nod at that.
They slowly continue to make their way through town. Jiron leads them unerringly from street to street toward the entrance of his hideout. Along the way, other places that once held meaning to them are passed and James learns more about the men who have chosen to travel with him.
Finally Jiron says, “It’s not too much further.”
A green glow springs to life around Brother Willim. James notices and asks, “Trouble?”
Shaking his head, he says, “I don’t think so. I can feel something here.”
“What?” asks James.
“I’m not sure,” he replies. “I think what I’m feeling is the holiness of this place.” Glancing to Miko he sees the odd look on his face. “You feel it too don’t you?”
Nodding, Miko says, “I didn’t know what it was.”
The greenish glow disappears as Brother Willim’s attention is turned back to James. “When a holy place stands for a long time, the rocks, stones and at times the ground itself resonate with the god’s power. The more holy the place, the stronger it becomes.” Glancing around he adds, “And the longer it remains.”
“Why can’t I sense anything?” James asks. Usually when magic is near his skin tingles.
“It’s not active magic in the sense you are referring to,” he explains. “More like a resonate signature that marks the place as holy. Having once been the location for the High Temple, I can understand why I can sense it even after the Temple has been gone for so long.”
James nods his head. He remembers one of the early visits by Igor in which he took him to Disneyland. Igor referred to Disneyland as a focal point. That to those who are good, the place is like a beacon in the night. Perhaps it’s the same principle.
Jiron turns after a severely fire damaged building and then enters a street with a large crater in the middle of it. He remembers when they had originally been sneaking out and Cassie had sneezed just when a column of enemy soldiers were passing by. The hole is where James blasted a group of them to give them time to return to the hideout.
Rounding the corner of the building, they enter what once use to be a park. When James first saw the place, it was an area with trees and grass. Not very large, simply a place where people could come to escape the bustle of the city for a time. Now, mounds of dirt and piles of rocks litter the area. Its former beauty almost completely lost.
“Looks like they dug out the collapsed tunnel,” comments Jiron.
On the far side of the park where the entrance to Jiron’s lair had been now gapes a large hole leading down into the ground. After escaping back down into the hideout they had to fight off enemy soldiers that followed after them. James had to collapse the passage leading to the surface to keep them from being inundated by soldiers.
Crossing the scarred ground to the entrance, Shorty says, “They must have wanted in here bad.”
“This would definitely have taken some time to accomplish,” states Scar. “From what you told me, they knew you were out of here shortly after you left the City.”
Nodding, Jiron says, “That’s right.”
“So they wanted in here for another reason,” reasons Brother Willim.
Dismounting, they pause momentarily at the gaping hole in the ground. “Could they have known about this being the place where the High Temple once stood?” asks Stig.
“Possibly,” answers James. “Would make sense considering the amount of manpower they used to clear the way down.”
Miko stands at the edge of the hole and gazes down into it. Jiron begins to move past when he reaches out and grabs his arm. “Wait,” he says.
“What’s wrong?” asks James, concerned.
“Remember the dream?” he asks. Turning his gaze to James he adds, “There could be something down there.”
“Maybe,” replies Brother Willim. “Maybe not.” When Miko turns to look at him he continues. “The fearful presence in your dream could have been there simply to prevent you from understanding what the dream was trying to tell you. You still don’t know if you learned everything you were suppose to.”
“Do you feel something?” asks James.
“No,” he says. “Nothing like that.” Pulling out the Star, he sees that it’s quiet. No glow of any kind is being emitted by it.
“That’s a good sign,” states James. “If there was trouble, it wouldn’t be still like that.”
Miko nods in agreement. “I think I should lead here,” he says. He glances to Jiron and receives a nod in reply.
“We’re right behind you,” Jiron says. Stepping aside, he waits for Miko to move into the opening.
Hesitantly at first, Miko steps into the opening. The stairs that once had extended down are now worn and broken from the excavation that took place. Step by step he descends into the ground until coming to the bottom. Here, the passage extending away from the stairs is rough and uneven. Sections of the walls and floor they pass by reveal the stonework from the original corridor that once moved through here.
Then they come to the section where the ceiling must have collapsed and the stone was removed. Timbers line the sides of the passage as well as across the ceiling. Feels more like they are walking through a mine than a passage leading to what may very well be the inner sanctum of the old High Temple of Morcyth.
Debris lines the passage, evidence that others have been here since the tunnel was excavated. Old blankets and other forms of refuse litter the floor from one end to the other. From the looks of it, no one has been here for some time.
Jiron picks up a blanket and looks questioningly to James.
Shrugging, he creates his orb for more light and says, “Maybe people holed up in here after the Empire was through.”
“Could be,” he replies and drops the blanket to the ground.
James follows closely behind Miko with his orb in hand. Then comes Brother Willim, a soft glow can be seen emanating from him as well. Next comes Jiron and Aleya, then Stig, Potbelly and Scar bring up the rear. Shorty had been left topside to keep an eye on the horses.
“It won’t be too much further,” Jiron says.
And indeed the light from the orb soon reveals where the secret door had stood during their last visit. Now, the door is gone. Signs of chisels and hammers mar the wall where the Empire had taken it out.
Miko comes to a stop as the light enters the room. Memory of his dreams haunt him, fear rises at what may lay within the room.
“It’s okay Miko,” says James reassuringly. He glances to Brother Willim questioningly who shakes his head no. “There’s nothing in there. We’re right behind you.”
He glances to where the Star rests in the palm of his hand. Not even the tiniest flicker of a glow can be seen in its depths. Gathering his courage, Miko steps forward and into the room…and nothing happens. Not even the soft glow that had appeared the last time James and the others were here. Releasing the breath he had been unconsciously holding, he looks around.
The pedestal from his dream stands in the center of the room. The crystal platform that had been sitting on top of it when James and the others fled down here is gone, no surprise there. The pedestal itself has been marred and defiled by hammers and chisels. Its surface shows many marks made by those who had come after James and the others had left. A sizeable chunk has even been broken off of one side, the missing piece resting on the floor by its base.
When the light from the orb reaches the far side, James isn’t surprised to see the secret door that had concealed the way they left the room torn from the wall and lying on the ground.
Moving to the pedestal itself, he finds the indentation that had been the Star of Morcyth ruined beyond recognition. It looks as if the entire top several inches of the pedestal had been chiseled off. If he hadn’t of known what it looked like before, he would never have been able to figure it out now.
Removing his medallion, James attempts to place it where the impression of the Star used to be to see what happens. After placing it there, he stands back and watches.
“What are you doing?” Scar asks.
Nodding over to the ruined secret door, he says, “The last time we were here, placing my medallion on the pedestal raised the secret door and allowed us to escape. Just seeing if anything would happen again.”
They wait for a full minute before Potbelly says, “Maybe we weren’t meant to come here. Could the dream have meant something else?”
When all eyes turn to Miko he shakes his head. “I know I am supposed to be here,” he states with conviction. ”I just don’t know why.”
Brother Willim comes to James and asks, “What did this place look like when you first entered?”
“Not much really different than it is now,” replies James. “The two doors were still attached and the pedestal was perfectly formed. On top of it was a crystal platform that had an inverted pyramid indentation in the top where I believe the Star could have rested. Looks like the Empire took that when they were here.” He glances around the room and adds, “Beneath the crystal platform was engraved the Star of Morcyth, and that’s where I placed the medallion to open the secret door. The walls and floor are still pretty much the same.”
Brother Willim takes in the room. The pedestal standing in the exact center and the octagonal shape to the room. How each wall is facing directly to the center, and the pedestal.
“Miko,” he says. “Place the Star upon the pedestal.”
“But it’s broken,” explains Miko.
“Be that as it may,” replies Brother Willim, “put the Star upon the pedestal.”
Miko looks to James who gives him an encouraging nod. Moving forward, he places the Star upon the pedestal’s center. Letting go, he takes several steps back.
They stare in anticipation at the Star, unsure what may or may not happen. “I don’t think…” begins Potbelly when the Star suddenly erupts into light, bathing the entire room with a strong, yet soothing radiance.
“Wow,” Stig mumbles in awe.
So entranced by what the Star is doing, James fails to see what is happening with Miko until Brother Willim takes him by the shoulder and brings it to his attention. Enveloped by a white glow, more intense than any that ever appeared when he was using the Star’s power to heal, Miko stands with his eyes closed and arms lax at his side.
“What’s going on?” he asks Bother Willim.
“Wait and see,” he says.
The sound of his voice causes James to glance toward him. Brother William stands there with a radiant expression on his face. Lips turned up in a smile, his eyes fixed upon Miko.
The others move back from Miko as they watch the event transpiring before their eyes. For a full five minutes they stand there in mute silence as the glow surrounds him. Then all of a sudden, it winks out. Miko opens his eyes as a grinding noise is heard coming from the pedestal.
Stepping forward, James asks, “Are you okay?”
“I am fine James,” he says. “I now understand why it is I must be here.” Stepping forward, he moves to the pedestal which is rising up out of the floor and removes the Star from its top.
Too astonished for words, the others stand there as the pedestal continues to rise from the floor. What they had took for a pedestal is in actuality the top section of a tall marble column. Before the top of the column comes to within a foot of the ceiling, it grinds to a halt.
Miko moves around the column and then comes to a stop. James follows him as do the others and they discover engraved at the base of the column, the Star of Morcyth. Bending down, Miko takes the Star in his hand and places it against the Star engraved upon the base.
An audible click is heard then a section of the base falls away revealing a hollow cavity. A bundle lies within the cavity and Miko reaches in and pulls it out. Wrapped in a velvet cloth bearing the sign of the Star, Miko holds the bundle reverently.
“What is it?” asks Stig.
“It’s the Book of Morcyth,” Miko replies. He places the Star once more in the pouch at his waist then picks up the section of the column that fell away and replaces it. Once it is pack in place, the column begins to slide back into the floor.
James glances at Brother Willim questioningly. Giving James a jubilant smile, he says, “Few outside the inner circle of the temples have ever witnessed what you just did.”
“And what is that?” asks Jiron from where he stands beside James.
“The sanctifying of a High Priest,” he replies.
“Miko?” Scar asks incredulously. “He’s the new High Priest of Morcyth?” Beside him Potbelly looks on in disbelief.
“You can’t be serious,” exclaims Jiron. “He’s…Miko!”
Brother Willim glances at the faces of the others and says, “Who are we to question the decision of a god?” He glances over to where Miko has the Book of Morcyth laid open on the pedestal and is turning the pages.
Stig comes up behind Miko and glances over his shoulder at the pages of the book. “Ah!” he cries out as his head rocks backward and his hands fly up, covering his eyes.
“Stig!” Potbelly cries out.
Stumbling backward he yells, “I’m blind!”
As Potbelly rushes to aid Stig, Miko closes the book and hurries to his side. “None but myself may look upon the holy pages,” he says. Removing the Star, he silently prays to Morcyth and the glow suffuses him. Now stronger than it was before, it envelopes both Miko and Stig for a short time before going out.
“Open your eyes,” he tells Stig once the glow dissipates.
Everyone holds their breath in anticipation as he opens his eyes. Squinting, he glances at the others and says, “I can see again.”
Sighs of relief escape them as Potbelly helps Stig back to his feet.
Coming to Miko, James asks, “How do you feel?”
Laying a hand on James’ shoulder he says, “I am fine. This is why I had to come here.” Glancing around at the other he adds, “And why the malignant presence tried to keep me away.”
“To become the High Priest?” asks Jiron.
Nodding, Miko replies, “Yes.” Returning to the pedestal he lays his hand upon the Book of Morcyth and says, “And to retrieve this.”
“Why?” asks Scar. When everyone turns their attention to him he says, “I mean, he already had the Star, why was there an urgency for him to come here. Wasn’t he bound to come here at some point anyway?”
“It was time,” explains Miko.
“Also, consider this,” interjects Brother Willim. “Why did something work so hard to prevent him from understanding the dream? What did it have to gain for him to remain as plain Miko rather than the High Priest of Morcyth?”
The others shake their heads, not entirely understanding what he’s trying to get at.
“As a High Priest, he will now wield significantly more power, have greater understanding, and with the Book of Morcyth and the Star now in his possession, will be a force to be reckoned with.”
“So now what happens?” James asks. Turning to his friend, he asks, “Will you be continuing with us? Or are you to stay here?”
“Nothing has changed,” replies Miko. Putting the Book of Morcyth under his arm, he says, “I still travel with you. You’re my friend.”
Smiling, James says, “I’m glad to hear it.” Then he sees Miko’s grin that has been so much a part of him. Returning it he asks, “Shall we leave now?”
“Yes,” replies Miko with a nod. “We are finished here.” Turning toward the way they came in, he leads them back to the surface.