Leaving her alone with the boy in the room has been worrying him. Ever since the incident at the Eye’s Court, he hasn’t wanted to let her out his sight for any length of time. He doesn’t know what he would do if something were to happen to her.
James decides to call it a night too and accompanies him upstairs. The others remain in the common room for a little while longer.
Back in the room they find Aleya and the boy asleep on the bed. The way she’s holding him protectively gives Jiron a warm feeling inside. He stands there with James a moment just staring at them before she cracks an eye open and waves him inside.
“I’ll take her room,” James says. “You two can stay here with Aku.”
“Thanks,” Jiron says appreciatively as he enters the room.
James closes the door and grins. They’re not even married yet and already it looks like they may have an addition to the family. The thought of Jiron as a father figure to the boy makes him chuckle. He reaches the room that was supposed to be hers and opens the door.
“Excuse me,” a voice says behind him, practically making him jump in startlement.
Turning around, he sees a young man wearing slave cloth. He’s standing not more than three feet away. “You speak my language?” James asks him.
Nodding, the slave says, “Oh yes. My master has many dealings with your people and found it useful for me and others to be able to understand what they are talking about when he’s not around.”
James could definitely see the benefit in that. “What can I do for you?” he asks.
The slave moves closer and says quietly with head bowed in respect, “I wish to know how the boy fares?”
“You mean Aku?” James asks.
“Yes sir,” he replies.
“Why?” James looks more closely at the young man before him. Couldn’t be more than seventeen or eighteen, he wonders what interest a small boy could hold for him.
“He’s my brother,” the slave admits.
James glances down the hallway and sees another slave at the head of the stairs watching them. He opens his door and says, “Why don’t we talk inside.”
Nodding, the slave moves to follow him into the room. “Is he okay?” he asks.
Once the door closes, James lights the candle on the table with magic. Either the slave didn’t notice or he chose not to comment on it. Sitting down, he indicates for the young man to take the seat across from him. Almost without pause, the young man moves and takes the seat.
“He’s fine,” James tells him. He can almost see the young man visibly relax. “He was hurt pretty bad but we got him cleaned up.”
The slave lifts his face to meet his eyes, something he’s rarely seen a slave do to a free person. “What are you going to do with him, if I may ask?” he asks.
“We had planned on taking him with us,” James explains. “I didn’t want to save him only to have him become a slave again. Also, one of us has taken a liking to him.”
“I’m glad,” the young man says.
James leans back in his chair and stares at him a moment. “I don’t know if you heard but his last owner, the one that practically beat him to death, was murdered.”
The young man doesn’t even flinch at the news.
“I take it you know something about it then?” James asks. When he fails to respond, James says, “He deserved what he got if you ask me.” Still unresponsive, he asks, “You killed him didn’t you?”
“Yes!” exclaims the young man. “He was a swine who treated poor Aku terribly.”
“Good for you,” James tells him. At that the young man lifts his head and gives him a slight grin. “Now, what do you intend to do? Are you here to get your brother back?”
Shaking his head, he says, “Hardly. Leaving with you would be the best thing that could happen to him. You and your friends seem a decent enough sort.” He then meets James’ gaze again and says, “If there’s anyway that I can be of service to you, don’t hesitate to ask. For all that you’ve done and hopefully will do for Aku.”
James considers his offer. He sits there for a minute or two before saying, “Perhaps there is a way you can be of help.”
“Anything,” he says.
“Can you help us get into the temple here in Zixtyn?” he asks.
The young man blinks twice but otherwise doesn’t react. Then he says, “You aren’t serious are you?”
“Completely,” replies James.
”Why?” he asks.
“That’s our business,” he says. “Can you?” James can see thoughts racing through his mind as he thinks about it.
“I may know someone who might be able to help,” he finally says. “I won’t know if he will until later tomorrow morning though.”
“Will he keep this secret?” James asks.
“Oh yes,” he replies. “This man holds no love for the temple or those who work for their god.” Glancing to James again he asks, “Are you planning mischief?”
James nods. “In a way,” he says. “I won’t say more than that.”
“If that’s your goal, I’m sure he’ll do what he can to aid you in your endeavor,” the young man tells him. He suddenly gets to his feet. “I have to go. I’ll come back sometime late tomorrow morning with word.”
James comes to his feet as well. “Would you like to see Aku before you go?” he asks. Gesturing to the room down the hall he says, “He’s asleep.”
Shaking his head, the young man says, “It would be best if I didn’t. You see he doesn’t know of me. I’ve been keeping an eye on him all his life but haven’t had contact with him.”
“Why?” he asks.
The slave grins and says, “Like you say, ‘It’s my business’.”
“As you wish,” concedes James.
The young man goes to the door and leaves without another word. James stares at the door and wonders if he did the right thing in trusting that information to a complete stranger. Only after the young man left does he realize that he doesn’t know for sure if the young man told the truth when he said he was Aku’s brother. Praying that he did the right thing, he turns in for the night.
Chapter Thirty Five
The following morning when they all but Aleya and Aku gather in James’ room, he tells them of the visitor he had the night before. Their response was less than favorable.
“Are you out of your mind?” Scar asks.
“What were you thinking?” demands Jiron.
Raising his hands, he quiets their protests. “Calm down all of you,” he says. “If it was a mistake, the city guard would have already been here. Since they aren’t I can only assume that nothing will come of it from that quarter.”
“Do you think that this slave is going to help us enter the temple?” Stig asks. “Seems a rather untrustworthy individual to trust our lives to.”
“Right now we don’t know what may come of it,” he replies. Turning his gaze to Jiron he says, “I think we should continue with what we had planned. You take Reilin and Shorty to reconnoiter the place, see if there’s a way in.” He sees Jiron nods then adds to the others, “As far as Aku is concerned, I don’t think it would be wise to mention his ‘brother’ to him. Seeing as he knows nothing about him anyway.”
“You may be right,” Brother Willim says.
“Now I judge it to be about two days to the dark of the moon, so we have that amount of time to find a way into the temple. After that it will just be a matter of getting to the teleportation dais.”
