him to see better as the light has all but faded away.
In the glow of the orb, he approaches the outcropping. “Examine the whole area,” he says. “Look for any sign of the Star.” Suddenly, several other orbs spring into being and the entire area is flooded with light.
“Won’t this attract anyone in the area?” Jiron asks him.
“Damn, forgot about that in my excitement,” he says as he looks around at the blazing orbs. Then he glances back to Jiron and shrugs, “Too late now.”
“At least we have the high ground,” Qyrll says.
“What?” asks Jorry.
“The high ground,” he explains. “The fighter upon the high ground has a better tactical advantage.”
“Oh,” he says.
“You should know that,” Uther pipes up. “Remember that time when…” He and Jorry go off together as he begins another of his stories.
Pull his beard to make him sit up. Should that be taken literally? If so, then how do you pull a shadow? Questions run through James’ mind as he ponders the best course of action. The others are hunting as well, looking over, under and around for any place bearing the Star of Morcyth. He is sure that is what must be found. Down to the center of his being he knows that to be true.
Dave is standing off to the side, not being very helpful. Oh sure, whenever James glances his way he makes it seem that he is actively looking. When he turns back, he goes back to watching the others, a look on his face saying this is dumb.
It was during just such a time when Jiron comes up behind him and asks, “Why aren’t you helping?”
Dave turns around to see him there with fists on his hips and a scowl on his face. “What business is it of yours?”
Eyes narrowing, Jiron replies slightly louder than necessary, “You are supposed to be James’ friend. Yet when everyone else is trying their best to aid him, you stand around as if you don’t care or are just too lazy.” After a moment of silence as they stare at each other, he adds in contempt, “You make me sick.”
The others pause in their searching while they move closer to where the growing drama is unfolding. From the far side of the clearing, James takes notice of what’s transpiring and hurries over.
“Why don’t you leave me alone?” Dave says, voice rising in irritation. Glancing around at the others he continues. “You all have done nothing but treat me like dirt ever since we first met. You can all just go to hell!”
“Dave!” exclaims James as he comes to stand near them.
“Sorry to have to say that James,” he says, “but it’s true. You care more about these butchers than you do about me. And I’ve been your friend longer.”
“Butchers?” Uther retorts his anger getting the best of him. “We ain’t the ones going around killing girls!”
At that Dave looks in shock at him and takes a step backward.
Uther turns his attention to James and says, “That’s right. He’s the one who’s been killing all the girls wherever we go.”
James looks in horror at Uther then glances to Dave. “Is this true?” he asks, voice barely able to speak the words.
Before he has a chance to reply, Jorry adds, “We saw him with that innkeeper’s daughter the evening before she turned up dead.”
Looking pleadingly at his friend, Dave says, “I had nothing to do with her death. You’ve got to believe me.”
“You were with her then?” he asks.
Nodding, he says, “For a short time. She was nice and we talked, but that was all. I left her alive!” Glancing at the others standing around him, he sees they don’t believe him. “You all are just trying to turn him against me!”
“Is that what you were planning on doing to Tersa?” asks Jiron enraged.
“Everyone settle down!” yells James. “Jiron, back off.”
Jiron flashes him a look but holds his ground.
“Now, did anyone see him kill anybody?” he asks. Looking around at them, he sees them all shake their heads negatively. To Uther he asks, “What makes you believe this?”
“Girls have ended up dead wherever we go,” he explains. “I think it more than coincidence that he was seen in the company of one before she turns up dead.”
“James,” Dave whispers, “you’ve got to believe me.”
“He’s also been acting odd ever since he’s joined us,” adds Fifer. “Moody, easily angered.”
“What he’s been through could explain that easily enough,” James replies. He looks to his friend and sees a look of abject pleading. Could it be? The thought goes against what he knows of his friend and he refuses to even give it credence by considering it more.
He gazes from one to the other, in everyone’s eyes he can see they believe him to be guilty. At last his eyes settle on his friend, his life long friend. So many times Dave’s been there for him. He knows what kind of person he is and it isn’t a killer. Years of shared experiences, fun, is he to throw all of it away?
The others are waiting for him to make a decision but it’s one which can only go one way. “Since no one witnessed the act, I can’t bring myself to believe it could happen,” he finally says. “Where I come from we believe in the credo ‘Innocent until proven guilty’. As no one saw the crime, I cannot simply assume his guilt.”
“Then you believe me?” asks Dave. His lower lip trembles as he awaits James’ answer.
“Yes Dave,” he says, “I believe you.”
“Well I don’t,” Jiron says as he moves toward Dave.
“Jiron!” cries James but he pays no attention.
Before anyone can react, Jiron strikes out with a first and connects with Dave’s jaw, sending him flying backward. He stumbles into Fifer who pushes him forward only to be greeted by another roundhouse which lifts him off the ground a foot.
Oof!
His breath is knocked out of him as his back slams to the ground.
“Jiron stop it!” cries James and rushes to protect his friend but Jorry and Uther grab his arms, preventing him from interfering.
Walking toward Dave lying on the ground, Jiron says, “This has needed doing for far too long.” Dave tries to scramble backward out of his reach but Jiron reaches him and kicks him hard in the side.
Crying out, Dave rolls over and continues rolling to avoid the next kick which barely misses him.
“You’ll kill him!” James yells but Jiron doesn’t even flinch.
Dave suddenly rolls right to the side of the outcropping and runs out of space as he rolls against the rock. “You’re out of room,” Jiron says as he nears.
“No!” cries out James as Jiron pulls back his foot to kick him in the head. Suddenly, a wave of force ripples through the air toward Jiron and throws him through the air where he strikes the outcropping. Falling to the ground, he gets to his feet quickly and turns a face full of rage toward James.
“Let me go!” he yells to Jorry and Uther who promptly let go. He rushes over to his friend lying on the ground, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth where he bit his lip when Jiron struck him.
“Dave!” he cries out and Dave looks up at him just before passing out. Making sure he’s okay first, he then turns to the others. Jiron is getting up off the ground and James says, “No one will hurt him. Do you understand?”
Jiron glares at him.
“You are my friend,” he says to him. Then to the others he adds, “You all are but this witch hunt will end here,” he says. “Dave will not be mistreated in any way. If you have proof, lay it before me otherwise I don’t want to hear it.”
He stares at each in turn and one by one they give him a nod. When he at last comes to Jiron he waits but no nod is forthcoming. “Jiron, you are to leave him alone,” he insists.
Jiron simply stares back at him in defiance. He never thought to be on the receiving end of James’ magic and he’s not sure how to take it. After another moment, he nods his head almost imperceptibly.
