now. The soldiers here saw you take out the mage and Miko there almost turned the tide by himself. He’s quite good isn’t he?”
“Uh, yeah,” replies James, “he is.”
“So I think you’re safe from any accusations he might make about you being agents of the Empire,” he assures him. “I seriously doubt if anyone here would give credence to it.”
“But what are you going to do about him?” James asks.
“That’s for the Council to decide,” he says, “and I’m not on the Council. I figure it’ll be taken care of quietly.”
James nods, understanding. “But what about Jiron?” he asks.
“I hate to say it, but there’s nothing we can do for him now,” he replies. “We’re not going to take the fight to them for one man. Do you understand?”
“Yeah,” James says, though not very happy about it. “I understand.”
“Good. Now I’ve got to see about the men and wounded, so you’ll have to excuse me,” he says.
“Yes milord,” he replies.
As Lord Pytherian begins calling for casualty reports and status, James goes back over to where Miko and the others are waiting. When he sees Jorry and Uther there he asks them, “What happened?”
“I thought we were dead for sure when I saw where he was heading,” Jorry replies.
“Yeah,” Uther adds. “But when he showed them that necklace, they stopped right in their tracks.”
“We heard those behind them shouting and screaming for them to move,” Jorry says. “But they just ignored them.”
“What did they say to him?” James asks them.
“There was too much noise so we couldn’t hear what was being said,” explains Uther. “But before he left with them he said to tell you that he’d be okay and that he’ll be back.”
Nodding, James begins to relax somewhat. “He’s their Shynti, that’s a rare honor among them,” he says. “I doubt if they’d let anything happen to him while he’s with them.”
James glances up to the walls and sees Fifer begin to come back down. When he joins them he says, “He went with them back to their camp.”
“Is he okay?” James asks.
“Looked like it,” replies Fifer. “The other soldiers out there were upset with them but they just ignored their cries of outrage and went back to their tent area.”
“The Parvati have some peculiar laws and customs,” James tells them. “Let’s find someplace to rest.” Turning to Yern, he says, “Would you mind staying here and keep an eye out for him?”
“No problem,” Yern says, nodding. “But how’ll I find you if he should somehow return?”
“Once we’re settled in, we’ll let you know where we’ll be,” he tells him.
“Okay,” he says then moves to the wall access.
To the others he says, “Now let’s find an inn.”
Chapter Twenty Nine
They find an inn with enough room for all of them, though it’s pretty pricy. Fifer and Keril, the youngest member of Miller’s band, went to relieve Yern on the walls. James and Miko have their own room while the rest are crammed into two others.
Once within their room, Miko lies down on one of the beds while James sits facing him on the other. “I’m so tired,” Miko says as he glances over to James.
“Understandable,” replies James. “You’re going through a lot.”
“What’s happening to me?” he asks, voice revealing a trace of fear.
Lowering his voice, he says, “It’s the Fire. That gem you’re carrying.”
“What?” he asks. “How?”
“I’m not really sure,” James answers. “But every time you’re in a battle, it appears that the Fire is taking over. When the Fire has control, you are unbeatable on the battlefield.”
Miko’s eyes widen in wonder as he continues, “Today, your sword was moving so fast I had a hard time keeping track of it.”
“Unbelievable,” Miko breathes.
Nodding, James says, “I wouldn’t have believed it either if I hadn’t seen it myself. There’s something else going on too.”
“What?” asks Miko, worriedly.
“You’re growing,” he says. “Since you’ve been carrying the Fire, you’ve grown almost six inches. Heck, you’re almost as tall as I am now. Plus you’re gaining muscle mass faster than normal.”
Miko looks down at his arms and chest as he moves his hands over them, feeling the muscles beneath. He looks to James and asks, “What should I do?”
“When we get back to Cardri, we’ll find a place to hide it and you could possibly go back to normal once you’re rid of it,” he tells him. “At least you won’t change any more, I hope.”
“You hope?” he asks. “What does that mean?”
“It means that I really don’t understand what’s going on,” he explains. “I believe the Fire is some sort of a focal point of Dmon-Li here on earth. What it does, how it does it, or what it might do in the future, I have no idea.”
When Miko casts him another look full of worry and fear, he says reassuringly, “But as long as we keep you out of battles, nothing seems to happen. All the changes take place while you’re in battle and under the influence of the Fire.”
He lays his head on the pillow and says, “Okay.”
“Get some rest,” James says to him. “Not sure just what’s going to happen next, but we’ll need our rest.” He glances over and sees his eyes have already closed.
James lies back and rests his head on the pillow. Though he’s tired, thoughts of Jiron run through his mind as well as concern for Miko. Korgan is still on the loose as well, at least his plans were foiled, this time. Going to have to track him down if he’s still here. Not just because he’s a danger to the city, but because he owes him.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly brought out of a deep sleep by someone knocking on the door, James holds his head as a headache blossoms to life. Sitting up on the edge of the bed, he looks over to Miko, but he’s still asleep.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Getting up, he goes over to the door and opens it. “Yes?” he asks.
Outside the door is a boy about eleven or so. His clothes mark him as a page from the castle, he’d seen a couple of them when he’d been marched through the castle on the way to the dungeons. “Are you James?” the page asks.
“Yes,” sighs James, “I am.”
“Your presence is requested at the castle,” he says.
“By whom?” he asks.
“Lord Pytherian, sir” he replies.
“Alright, let me get ready,” James tells him.
“He said it was urgent,” the boy says, urging him to hurry.
Glancing back at Miko who’s still sleeping, he says, “Let me tell someone where I’ll be so they’ll not worry.” Stepping out into the hall, he goes to the next door and knocks.
When Uther opens it, he says, “I’ve been summoned to the castle.”
Coming instantly alert, Uther asks, “Trouble?”
“I don’t know,” he replies. “The page said it was urgent. Lord Pytherian wants to see me.”
“Do you think we should come with you?” he asks.
Shaking his head, he says, “No, I don’t think that will be necessary. Besides, you weren’t requested, just stay here and wait for Jiron. When Miko wakes up, let him know where I’ve gone.”
