The Star of Morcyth: The Morcyth Saga Book Five (17 page)

“Very well,” Lord Colerain says. Taking one
more satisfying look at James, he turns and follows his friend out
of the cell area.

Through blurry eyes, he watches them go.
When at last they’ve ascended the stairs out of sight, he slips
back into unconsciousness again.

Miko and Illan are still sitting out in the common room when one of
his street kids comes walking in the inn. Miss Gilena immediately
moves to shoo him out but Miko sees him and says, “He’s here to see
me.”

Eyeing the boy questioningly, she leaves him
alone and returns to what she had been doing before he entered.

Coming over to Miko, the boy says, “I found
them.”

“Where?” asks Illan before Miko has a chance
to say anything.

The boy glances to Miko who gives him a nod
and then says, “They’re out by the gate. I think they were trying
to find a way through without being seen. Told them I’d come get
you.”

“Great!” Miko says as he gets to his feet.
Turning to Illan he asks, “What should they do?”

Thinking a moment, he says, “Find an inn
close to where they are and have them stay put. Then come get me
and we’ll figure out what to do.”

“Alright,” he says. To the boy he adds,
“Let’s go.”

Leaving the inn, the boy takes him along the
streets until they come to the gate near the spot Jiron and the
others are waiting. Once through the gate, the boy leads him
directly to the alley in which they’re hiding.

Before he gets to the entrance to the alley,
Miko sees Jiron’s head poke out and break into a grin as he sees
them approaching. He’s surprised when he finds not only Fifer there
with Jiron but another man in a hood as well.

“Man, are we glad to see you,” Fifer tells
him once he’s in the alleyway with them.

Miko holds up his hand to halt any further
questions and then turns to the boy. “Round up everyone and tell
them to meet me at our regular spot in an hour,” he says. “There’s
something else I need you to do.”

“Alright, Miko,” the boy says and starts to
walk out of the alley.

“Here,” Miko says to the boy. When he stops
and turns back to him, he flips a silver over to him.

Snatching it out of the air, the boy smiles
and says, “Thanks.” Then he turns back and continues out of the
alley. He’s soon out of sight as he enters back onto the street and
disappears around the corner.

“Now, what’s going on?” Jiron asks.

“I should ask you that question,” Miko
replies. “Illan wants me to find an inn to stash you guys away for
awhile until he’s able to come and talk with you.” Nodding to
Qyrll, he asks, “Who’s your friend?”

“His name is Qyrll,” replies Jiron.

At that, Qyrll glances to Jiron who nods.
Removing the hood, he reveals the fact that he’s a Parvati. Miko’s
eyes widen and then turns his attention back to Jiron, “A Parvati?
This just gets more and more interesting. We’ll talk after we get
to the inn,” he tells them. “I know just the one.” As he begins
moving toward the end of the alley, he glances back and says,
“Follow me.”

Falling in behind, Jiron, Fifer and lastly
Qyrll with his hood once more in place, follow him into the street.
Several blocks down they come to an inn with a sign outside
depicting a dancing squirrel. A yellow cat is lying on a nearby
window sill and Miko goes over and scratches him on the back of the
head. “Good girl, Furball.” Furball lets out with an answering
purr, obviously enjoying the attention.

Around Furball’s neck is a rather plain
collar with a small, circular metal disk hanging from it. Upon
closer examination, Miko sees an exact duplicate of the dancing
squirrel from the inn’s sign engraved on it.
So, looks like
Inius took James’ advice after all.

The last time they were there, Furball had
gotten herself lost. When he and James had come across her and
returned her to Inius, James had suggested a collar with something
that would tell anyone who found Furball where to take her. Any
local who found Furball would definitely know to return her to the
Dancing Squirrel.

“Come on,” he says to the others as he goes
through the open door. He sees Inius there behind the counter and
waves to him as he enters.

Inius looks at him with a smile and comes
over. “Can I help you gentlemen?” he asks.

Miko expected a more personal greeting and
then again realizes he doesn’t look anything like he did when last
here. Rather than going through what he did with Meliana and her
father again, he just says, “I’d like a large room, if you have
any. One with three beds maybe?”

“All I have available at the moment are
rooms with two beds,” he says. “But they are quite large.” Looking
on hopeful, he awaits their reply.

“Very well,” replies Miko. “A quiet one in
the back would be nice.”

“We have just what you want,” he says as he
returns to the counter. Reaching for the room key, he says, “It’s
on the second floor. Only be two silvers and two coppers.”

Miko looks to Jiron who digs the money out
of his pouch and hands it over. Taking the key, he says, “Thank
you.”

“If there’s anything else you gentlemen
require,” Inius says, “just let me or one of the servers know.”

“We will, thanks,” Miko says as they head to
the stairs.

Once up to the second floor, they quickly
find their room and file in. When the door shuts, Jiron says,
“Okay. What’s going on?”

“James was arrested last night for the
murder of the adjutant to the Empire’s Ambassador,” he explains.
“Which I believe you had a hand in?” He looks from Jiron and Fifer
and from their expression, knows he hit the mark.

For the next half hour, Jiron tells him of
the fight and what’s happened since. Miko for his part, relates how
James was arrested in the middle of the night, what Ellinwyrd had
said to Illan, and of seeing Meliana and her father down at the
docks.

When they’re at last done with catching each
other up, Miko stands up and says, “Just sit tight until I return
with Illan. Maybe by then he’ll better know what to do.”

“Alright,” Jiron says. “You be careful.”

Miko looks at him and says, “I’m not the one
wanted for murder right now.” Turning to the door, he opens it and
walks out. Shutting it behind him, he heads to the stairs and
descends to the ground level. He’s soon out on the street and
heading back to the Silver Bells.

“What was he thinking!” exclaims Illan after
Miko relates to him what he learned from Jiron. Pacing back and
forth, his mind furiously tries to figure out what they need to do
next.

Dave sits on one of the beds and asks, “How
are we going to get James out of the castle’s dungeon?”

“We’re not,” replies Illan. “To do that
would be all but impossible. We’ll have to tackle a rescue
operation once James is in the hands of the Empire’s men and are on
their way back to the Empire.”

“But isn’t that taking a big chance?” he
asks, not liking the idea.

“We have little choice right now,” he says.
“We no longer have a mage on our side so we’re going to have to
move cautiously. It will do James little good if we act prematurely
and wind up getting killed or thrown in jail.”

Dave just glares at them. He doesn’t like
the idea of letting the Empire’s men leave with his friend.

“You have a better idea?” Illan asks him. At
that, Dave just shakes his head. “Alright then.” He paces for
another few moments before turning to Miko, “Take us to the Dancing
Squirrel first. Then see if your kids can keep an eye on the
Empire’s camp outside the walls and possibly the gates leading from
the castle. Have them find us if they attempt to move him.”

Coming to his feet, Illan says, “Let’s go.”
Moving to the door, he glances back and sees Dave still sitting on
the bed. “I said let’s go,” he repeats himself, an edge coming into
his voice.

“You’re not the boss of me and I wish you
would just stop acting like you are,” Dave says defiantly.

Illan’s eyes narrow as he begins to head
back to Dave to teach this upstart a lesson. Miko intercepts him
and says, “It won’t do any good.” Coming to a stop, Illan just
stares at Dave and seethes in anger.

Turning to Dave, Miko asks with barely
controlled contempt, “Will you please come with us?”

Giving them both a sardonic smile, he says,
“I’d be glad to.” Hopping off the bed, he moves to follow them.

Illan gives him a look full of anger before
he turns to follow Miko from the room. All the way to the Dancing
Squirrel, Dave whistles an off tune merry little ditty which does
nothing to quell the anger burning within him. Only Miko’s sudden
intervention and the fact that he’s James’ friend kept him from
beating the living hell out of him.

At the Dancing Squirrel, they find Jiron and
the others still in their room on the second floor. When the door
opens and Illan sees Jiron standing there, the pent up rage Dave
had instilled within him erupts.

“Just what did you think you were doing?” he
yells as he and the others move into the room. Miko hastily closes
the door so their neighbors along the hall won’t be able to hear
the interchange. Or at least not as well, Illan can summon quite a
loud voice when he wants to.

Jiron has the good sense to blush. “Sorry
Illan,” he says. “But when I was offered the chance for a fight, I
just couldn’t pass it up.”

“So because of your indiscretion,” Illan
rages, “James is in jail, you’re hiding out and the whole city is
looking for you.” Then he turns to Fifer, “Why didn’t you stop
him?”

“I didn’t think…” he begins when Illan cuts
him off with a wave.

“Of course you didn’t,” he states. “If
either of you had half a brain we wouldn’t be in this mess.” He
glares at both of them and has the satisfaction of seeing them
divert their eyes first.

He glances at the Parvati and says, “We have
things to discuss which are best said in private.”

“He’s coming with us,” Jiron pipes up.

“What?” Illan asks. “How can you even think
that? He’s one of them!”

“No longer,” asserts Qyrll. “I owe my
allegiance to the Shynti. He restored my honor and now I must
remain with him until the debt can be repaid.”

Illan glances to Jiron who nods. “Great,” he
says, not very happy about the whole situation. “How are we going
to get James with a Parvati? We’re not going to be able to remain
unnoticed with him along.”

“Regardless,” Jiron says. “He’s coming with
us.”

“He’s good in a fight,” adds Fifer.

“I know he’s good in a fight,” states Illan,
“he’s a Parvati.”

“I’ll be back,” Miko says as he opens the
door.

“Try to return in an hour,” Illan tells him.
“Sooner if you learn anything.”

Miko gives him a nod as he leaves the room,
shutting the door behind. While Illan and Jiron begin discussing
different strategies for rescuing James, Miko heads for the
rendezvous with the kids.

Coming to the open market, he sees most of
them congregating around the eatery where they ate before. When he
approaches, the boy who was to round them up says, “I couldn’t find
them all.”

“That’s alright,” he says. Only two of them
aren’t there, one of the older girls and that cute one that always
gives him hugs. “Hungry?” he asks though of course he already knew
the answer.

So after buying them each a meal, he lays
down what he wants them to do while they’re eating. “My other
friend is still in the castle dungeon,” he begins. “Now it’s come
to my attention that the Empire’s men plan on taking him out of the
city and back to their country. I want to stop that.”

They perk up at that. To them it sounds like
the beginnings to one of the tales of daring do that the bards are
always telling. “How?” one boy asks.

“I would like you to keep an eye on their
camp outside the city and on the gates to the castle,” he tells
them. “At some point they’re going to be moving him and I want to
know when and where.”

“Is that when you’ll be hitting them?”
another boy asks.

“That will be decided when we know exactly
what they plan to do,” he says. “If you see anything that indicates
they are moving my friend, I want one of you to come get me at the
Dancing Squirrel. You know where that is?”

“Oh sure,” one girl says. “Isn’t that the
place with the yellow cat?”

Smiling, Miko nods and says, “Yes, that’s
the one.” Getting up from the table, he says, “Just be careful, I
wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. I’ll be back here in a
couple of hours if I haven’t heard from you first.”

“We’ll be careful,” the older boy assures
him.

Nodding, Miko leaves the eatery and makes
his way back to the inn. It suddenly occurs to him that he doesn’t
know any of their names. Inwardly smiling, he recalls how it was to
be on the streets. Not too trusting and you never volunteer
anything to anyone.

Back at the inn, he finds everyone still in
the room. The remnants of the noon meal still sit upon several
platters lying on the table. He tells Illan that his kids are going
to keep an eye on the doings of the Empire’s men and report back to
him here.

The fog clouding his mind has slowly been dissipating over the last
several hours. Still unable to fully concentrate enough to summon
the magic, he’s at least regained his equilibrium and the room
isn’t spinning nearly as bad. Sitting on the floor next to him is a
tray of food which was brought in some time ago. Unwilling to trust
it, it lies untouched. Still not sure how they managed to drug him,
he’s not willing to take the chance on a recurrence by eating
doctored food.

When all the torches had begun to burn low,
a different servant entered and put a single torch in the sconce
near his pen. Now, only the light from that one torch is all he has
to keep the darkness at bay.