Taking Reilin with them, the pit fighters head down the hallway to the common room. James watches them go then turns to Jiron, “You’re not going?” he asks.
Shaking his head, he says, “Aleya and I will head down in a little bit.”
“Oh?” he asks.
Jiron gives him a grin and says, “Nothing like that.”
“If you say so,” James tells him.
Then with Aleya on his arm, he leaves the room and escorts her down to her room.
“They make a nice couple,” Brother Willim states.
“That they do,” agrees James.
A short while later the man whom Perrilin sent for the items he requires returns and gives him a package. Perrilin thanks the man and then adjourns to his room where he will begin to work on removing all traces of Kir. The man leaves once Perrilin has the package and is heading for his room.
“I think I’ll stay here and read more of the Book of Morcyth,” Miko says. Brother Willim offers to remain with him and he accepts.
Having nothing else to do, James takes his leave and makes his way out to the common room. Finding Scar and the others at a table off to one side, he heads over and joins them.
The food here at the Skewered Scorpion is rather good and after they have finished with their meal one of the traveling bards shows up. At first James thought this may be Perrilin in disguise, but when he began singing his first song, knew that it wasn’t. The man wasn’t even in the same league as Perrilin where music is concerned. Still, the bard’s music was enjoyable.
Two hours after James joined them, Perrilin makes his appearance. His skin is again back to its normal color and his hair is very dark, all in all looking quite different than he did when he was Kir.
“Looking good,” he says as Perrilin sits down.
“Yeah,” agrees Shorty. “Hardly look like you did.”
“Well, let’s not talk about it if it’s all the same,” he says.
James nods understandingly. He then looks over to where the hallway down which their room lies opens onto the common room. Jiron and Aleya should have been out here by now. Not to mention Miko, he’s never been one to miss out on food.
“Sounds like you had a tough childhood,” Aleya says to him as she lies in his arms. Ever since leaving the others and coming to her room, they’ve lain on her bed. Doing nothing more than holding one another and talking, they’ve completely lost track of time.
“We did,” he replies. “If it wasn’t for the Pits, I don’t know how Tersa and I would have survived.” Then his stomach gives out with a loud growl, informing him of the lack of sustenance it holds. Glancing to the window, he sees that night has fallen outside.
A single candle burns on the room’s table, just when it had been lit he can’t recall. “Maybe it’s time we go join the others and get something to eat.”
She reaches her lips to his and gives him a soft kiss. “Sounds like a good idea to me,” she says. Another moment’s embrace then they get off the bed and leave the room.
The noise from the common room fills the hallway with loud raucous laughter and conversation. As they close the door to her room, Jiron notices light coming through the door to James’ room. Stopping next to it, he puts an ear to the door.
“…not sure I can do this,” he hears Miko say.
“Who else is there?” responds Brother Willim’s voice. “Do you think you are to be the only priest Morcyth will require?”
“But, I don’t know the first thing about training other priests,” he states.
“Isn’t it outlined in the book?” Brother Willim asks.
“Well, sort of…”
Jiron removes his ear and gives Aleya a smile. “Brother Willim is explaining things to Miko that he hadn’t thought of before,” he explains.
“Like what?” she asks as they resume moving toward the common room.
Jiron gives her a chuckle and says, “I don’t think he understood the scope of the responsibilities a man in his position is going to have.”
Upon entering the common room, they pause and look around to see where the others are sitting. After scanning the room once, Jiron’s grin that he had at Miko’s expense disappears. Searching the room one more time, he doesn’t see James or any of the others sitting at any of the tables.
Aleya notices it too. “Maybe they returned to their rooms,” she suggests.
“Let’s hope so,” he says. Turning around, they hurry back and enter the room where Miko and Brother Willim are discussing things.
“Is James in here?” he asks as he opens the door.
“Haven’t seen him since he left to join the others in the common room,” replies Miko. Then he sees the worry upon Jiron’s face. “Why?” he asks with growing apprehension.
Not bothering to take the time to reply, Jiron leaves the room and begins checking the rooms of the others. One by one, he finds each of them empty.
“They’re gone!” he exclaims after checking the last room. Racing back down the hall to the common room, he looks around anxiously for any clue as to what may have happened. But everything looks to be as it should be. The bard is singing, the patrons are happy and enjoying themselves. Yet where are they?
He starts to enter the common room when Aleya takes him by the arm. “Don’t,” she says. “Let’s go back to the room and discuss it in private.”
Behind her he sees Brother Willim and Miko nodding agreement. Allowing her to take him back to his room, they enter and close the door.
“They wouldn’t have simply left and not told anyone,” he states. Then pointing in the direction of the common room he says, “Someone out there has to know what happened.”
“I am sure that is true,” Brother Willim states. “But if you go out there and begin questioning people you are going to raise suspicion.” When Jiron turns his gaze upon him he adds, “You don’t speak the language.”
“None of us do,” Miko says.
“Then what are we to do?” Aleya asks.
Jiron begins pacing as he thinks about the various courses of action available to them.
“Perrilin did say that he came here often,” offers Miko. “Remember when we first arrived, he entered and immediately left with someone?”
Halting his pacing, Jiron turns and asks Miko, “So?”
“So, it would stand to reason that the people who run this place also know him,” he replies.
“And may prove to be helpful in finding out what happened,” concludes Brother Willim.
”Very well,” he says. “The rest of you stay here and I’ll go find out.” As he turns to leave, Brother Willim puts his hand on his shoulder and stops him.
“I don’t think it would be wise for us to split up,” he says.
“I agree,” adds Aleya.
Nodding, he says, “Okay then, follow me.” Leading the way, Jiron leaves the room and returns back down the hall to the common room. Barely slowing down, he crosses through the tables and heads straight for the kitchen area. On the way he hunts for the proprietor that he saw earlier but the man’s no where to be seen.
At the door leading into the kitchen he pushes it open and barges right in. On the other side lies a large cooking area with a long table against the side wall where meals and other items are being prepared for their patrons. Not seeing the one he’s looking for, he ignores the stares of the workers and walks through the kitchen to the door leading deeper into the inn.
One man moves to put himself between Jiron and the door. He holds up his hand and says something in the Empire’s tongue which can only be ‘You shouldn’t be here’ or something to that effect. Jiron pushes the man out of the way and opens the door. On the other side of the door there’s a short hallway with closed doors on the right and left. The end of the hallway opens onto a room that looks like it’s designed for receiving guests. Sitting at a table in that room, Jiron can see the innkeeper talking with another man whose back is to the hallway.
The innkeeper looks up in startlement as they leave the kitchen, and the man whose back is to them turns to
