Nodding, Dave says, “Alright. But you come back!”
“I will,” he assures his friend. Closing the door he begins heading for the stairs. Jiron moves ahead of him and takes them two at a time. He then makes it to the door leading out to the main street first.
The door is standing open, the street on the other side deserted. After a nod from James, he leaves the inn and begins making his way toward the lights of the pavilion.
Hurrying along quickly, they move through streets strangely quiet. Usually there are people out and about even at this hour, the sun hasn’t been down all that long.
They come to a junction of streets and from out of the cross street to the right, a band of a dozen of her followers suddenly appear.
Jiron draws his dagger but James lays a hand on his arm and says quietly, “Not yet.”
They’re immediately noticed by the followers who move to intercept.
James steps to the fore and asks, “We heard about the lady and her message, would you know where we could find her?”
The band stops and one points to the lights of the pavilion before saying, “There you will find the lady.” His eyes are slightly wild and foam flecks the side of his mouth.
“Thank you,” replies James as he gives the band a nod and gestures to the others to continue toward the pavilion.
Miko glances backward repeatedly until her followers are out of sight behind. He keeps one hand on the pommel of his sword, just in case.
Jiron again takes the lead as they continue to make their way toward the lights. Twice more they’re intercepted by roving bands of her followers and each time he handles the situation just as James had. Once her followers are told they mean to go to the lady, they leave them alone.
“How far ahead do you think the innkeeper is?” asks Fifer.
“Can’t be too far,” Jiron states, “we’ve kept a good pace.”
They finally reach the ramshackle area of lean-tos and hovels where her followers seem to live. The stench from this area is wretched, refuse having been deposited wherever convenient. This is the most deplorable state of sanitation James has yet to experience.
When they pass the last building, they see the pavilion before them. A tingling sensation begins as they draw closer to it and James says to the others, “Magic.”
Jiron nods as he resumes making his way to the pavilion. Her followers are more numerous here. Many eye them, but none try to hinder them in any way. After all, they’re going to go see the lady. If they were to turn around, that might be an altogether different situation.
As they draw closer, the people begin to change subtly with more vacant eyes and emaciated appearances. It almost looks like they’ve done without food for quite some time. One group of individuals look as if they’re sleeping near one of the campfires but when they come near find they’re actually dead.
“What’s going on here?” asks Illan.
James glances to him and replies, “I don’t know. Whatever it is has to be stopped.”
Nodding, Illan says, “I agree.”
When they’re only a dozen yards from the entrance to the great tent in the center of the pavilion area, a large figure detaches itself from a group of onlookers at the opening and comes toward them.
“Qyrll,” Fifer says with relief. “I was worried about you.”
Giving him a smile, Qyrll replies, “No need to worry.” To Illan he gestures to the tent opening and says, “They took him in there.”
“What’s going on in there?” James asks. The prickling sensation has continuously increased as his proximity with the tent decreases.
“Bad things,” he says.
Murmuring can be heard coming from within. James darts a quick glance inside and sees the entire floor space of the tent covered with people. An aisle of sorts extends from the tent opening all the way to a central platform erected in the center. Standing at the base of the platform is the innkeeper and several followers. Two of them hold his arms and James can see him struggling to get away. Standing on the platform is Serenna, the fortune teller whom he had been so nice to on his last visit.
“The lady awaits.”
Startled, James turns to see several dozen of the faithful gathered around him and his party.
“She grows impatient,” another says, though James isn’t sure just which one of them said it.
Turning to the others, he says, “Watch each other and if any start acting weird, or if you feel yourself slipping away, tell me at once.” After he receives a nod from each, he turns to the opening. Taking a deep breath to calm his shaky nerves, he enters.
Chapter Sixteen
As he enters, the prickling sensation intensifies. The smell of unwashed bodies mingles with that of feces making the resulting odor nigh on unbearable.
James looks at the surrounding mass of people and takes notice of motionless forms lying here and there about the floor. More of her followers who have died.
Bringing his attention to bear upon the platform, he sees a dark globe sitting next to her on a pedestal looking to have been made of marble. A dark stone three feet high, it allows the globe to sit perfectly for her to rest her hand upon it.
“Listen to my words,” she says and the crowd grows hushed. Laying her hand upon the globe, James feels a sudden spike in the tingling sensation. The globe must be the source of her power and control over these people.
“It’s the globe,” he says to the others with him.
Nodding, Jiron replies, “Can you destroy it?”
“Need to be closer,” James tells him as they continue toward the platform.
“Protect James,” he hears Illan say to the others. They then form a circle around him as he continues forward.
“The demon walks among you,” her words float upon the air from the platform. His mind suddenly begins to cloud as the magic from the globe makes its way into his thoughts.
At the foot of the dais, the innkeeper becomes docile as his struggles against his captors cease. Her eyes are directly upon him.
James calls forth the magic and pushes it from his mind, erecting a barrier which causes the magic from the globe to flow around him. It’s the same principle as the concealing spell he developed for hiding the Fire. Suddenly, he realizes the others with him have stopped. He almost runs into Jiron who was ahead of him.
“Jiron!” James says, as he shakes him by the shoulders.
Jiron turns his head and looks at him but his eyes don’t appear to really focus on him.
James summons a burst of power and erects shields around the others’ minds as well. Snapping out of their lethargy, they look around confused for just a moment before realizing what had almost happened.
“Thanks,” Jiron says.
James nods and takes the fore as he moves further toward the platform. Looking to Serenna, he sees her eyes locked on him. She’s aware of his presence.
Pointing to him, she cries out, “The demon has come!”
As one, the followers turn their attention to him. A growl can be heard coming from them as the throng closest to the stage closes off the aisle, preventing him from continuing further.
“Thou hast come to thy doom!” Serenna cries out. Magic crackles in the air and the prickling sensation suddenly spikes. “Kill him!” she screams to her followers.
“Ready!” cries out Illan as he draws his sword. The others follow a split second behind.
James looks at the people coming toward him, townsfolk and farmers, simple folk. When they reach the men protecting him, they begin to fall as swords strike out. Limbs fall to the ground, heads are separated from shoulders
