Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li: The Morcyth Saga Book Three (19 page)

When they reach the edge of the gathering,
others begin to notice them riding behind the clansmen and the word
of their arrival begins to spread. A crowd gathers around them as
they progress toward the Windrider tents.

Therin exchanges words with some as they
ride but most are simply following along after to see what’s going
on. Upon nearing the Windrider tents, James observes a clansman
enter the largest tent and after a few moments, an aged man exits.
Though he’s seen a few years, he still has strength about him and a
commanding look.

“The Chief of the Windriders,” Therin tells
him. “My father.”

Coming to a halt in front of his father,
Therin dismounts and greets him with a hug. He then begins talking
to him in their language.

James can hear their names being said during
the course of the conversation. At one point, he holds up the token
Lyria had given him and the Chief’s eyes widen and several in the
crowd begin muttering.

Therin turns toward them and says, “My
father would like to meet the friends of the Lake Lady.”

Dismounting, James and the others come
forward. Giving him a bow, he says, “Greetings, Chief of the
Windriders.” Miko and Jiron both bow just like they saw James
do.

“Greetings,” the Chief says. “Never has the
Lady given our token to another. This is indeed a strange
occurrence, though what to do with you remains unclear. Outsiders
are not allowed here, yet you bear the favor of the Lady.”

“Therin,” he says to his son, “find them a
place to stay.” Turning back to James, he says, “When the moon is
full, the meeting of the clan chiefs will take place. At that time,
we shall decide what to do with you. Until then, you can move
freely among us.”

As if that’s that, he turns his back upon
them and returns within the tent from which he’d emerged.

Therin returns Lyria’s token to James and
says, “That will be tomorrow night.” He points off to the east and
says, “The Black Tails have just arrived. By tomorrow night, all
the clans should be here.”

He leads them away from his father’s tent
over to a smaller one set up a dozen yards away. Opening the flap,
he says, “You may use this tent while you’re among us.” Once
they’ve entered, he follows them in and closes the flap.

“What do you think they’ll do with us?”
James asks him.

Shrugging, he says, “The laws are clear
about outsiders. To be in the Valley of the Gathering is to die.
But yet you bear the token of the Lady and that is something they
must strongly consider. They will not wish to anger the Lady.”

“Why?” Miko asks him.

“She is beloved by all,” he explains. “Many
have been the times when she’s appeared and helped us in our times
of need. She even saved my father’s life once when he’d been bitten
by a snake. We all had begun the final rites but she appeared, gave
him some medicine and ministered to him. I needn’t tell you how
happy we were when he again walked out of his tent.”

“No, I don’t think death will be your fate,”
he says. “What it may be, I couldn’t even begin to guess.”

“I suppose being here for a day wouldn’t be
that bad,” Jiron says as he lies down on a blanket.”

“If you wish to remain in this tent,” he
tells them, “you may. It might be the best thing to do. Some of our
warriors are brash and easily offended. It wouldn’t do for trouble
to happen before the chiefs have a chance to come to a decision. If
you should leave your tent, try to stay within the Windrider’s
camp, they all know you are under our protection until the meeting
of the chiefs.”

James says, “Alright.”

He lifts the tent flap and leaves.

When the flap shuts closed, Jiron says,
“Think they’ll allow us to leave?”

Shrugging, James says, “I don’t know. Thank
goodness Lyria had given us that token or there’d be a war going on
right now.”

“There still may be one if they decide
against us,” observes Jiron.

“Let’s hope not,” Miko says from where he’s
stretched out on one of the blankets. “We have at least till
tomorrow night before anything will be decided.”

“True,” agrees James.

From outside the tent, a sudden outcry
erupts. James glances to the others and says, “I’m going to go see
what’s happening.”

The other two get up and join him as he goes
outside the tent. The warriors are talking amongst themselves and
James can see they’re angered about something.

Seeing Therin talking to several warriors
who are obviously distraught, he goes over toward him. Therin
glances at him as he approaches and James asks, “What’s going
on?”

Pointing to the north, he says, “The Grey
Wolf Clan has just arrived.”

James looks and sees a large body of
horsemen coming over the ridge. Along with them is a herd of
horses, most likely part of the tribute. “And why is that causing
such a problem?”

“That they’re here, none,” he explains.
“It’s that they’ve brought twice the number of warriors as is
agreed upon.”

“And that’s bad?” he asks.

“It’s an insult!” Therin says with anger.
“To bring so many here, within our territory, outrageous!”

His father exits the tent and looks in anger
at the Grey Wolf Clan approaching the assembled tents. Warriors of
the various clans stop what they’re doing and watch their
approach.

James glances to his father and can tell
he’s seething within. When he looks back to the approaching riders,
he can see there’s someone else with them, someone who’s obviously
not a clansman. Riding at the head of the riders is a man in armor
and a chill runs down James’ spine when he sees him. A memory comes
to him of a storm tossed sea and a man in armor wielding magic.

“Is that…?” Miko begins.

“I think it is,” James replies. “If it is
the one from the boat, how did he know we were here?”

“Then we must get out of here!” he whispers
to James.

James shakes his head, “Therin’s father has
given us leave to be here, I don’t think he’s one to go back on his
word for an outsider.”

“Maybe we should go back into our tent,
then?” Jiron suggests. “We wouldn’t want him to see us.”

Nodding, James says, “That might be a good
idea.” Yearning to know what is going to happen, he reluctantly
goes back to their tent with the others. As he pauses at the
entrance, he looks back to Therin and his father. Many of the
Windrider warriors have gathered around them as they move to
intercept the Grey Wolf Clan. He can tell none of the warriors are
very happy about the situation and all are bearing weapons of one
sort or another. Then he goes into the tent and closes the
flap.

They sit there, anticipating hearing the
sounds of battle erupt around them. But other than raised voices
and conversations of warriors going by, nothing happens. They wait
anxiously for almost an hour before Therin opens the flap and
enters.

“What happened?” James asks as he comes
in.

“My father was all for driving them out when
several of the other clan chiefs warned him about violating the
Pact of the Gathering,” he tells them.

“Pact?” Jiron asks.

“Yes, it’s what keeps the peace during the
Gathering while the tribute is being brought together,” he
explains. “The highest law of the Pact states that no blood shall
be shed during this time. Those that do are sentenced to
death.”

“Kind of harsh,” says Miko.

Turning to him, he says, “Maybe, but it’s
kept the peace this long.” Then to James he continues, “If a clan
as a whole should violate it, as we were about to do, then all the
others would fall upon it.”

“So what are you going to do?” asks
James.

“Endure the insult,” he says, seething with
pent up anger. “But when the Gathering is dissolved, then we shall
have our retribution.”

Just then, the tent flap opens and several
warriors come in with food and drink for them. They place them on a
rug lying in the center of the tent before turning to leave. Once
they’re gone, Therin says, “Since I was the one who brought you to
the Gathering, it has fallen to me to see that you are treated
well.”

“Thank you,” James says appreciatively.

“There is another thing I must tell you,” he
says.

“The armored man with the Grey Wolf Clan?”
asks Jiron.

A little surprised, he replies, “Yes.” He
takes his seat around the food, as do the others and then grabs a
piece of meat as he begins eating. “He wants you, and wants you
bad,” he tells them.

“Why?” asks James.

“He didn’t say, just that he’s here for you
and we must give you over,” he explains.

“Are you?” Miko asks, worried.

Shaking his head, he says, “No, you bear the
Token of the Lady and we respect her more than we fear him.”

“Why would you fear him?” Jiron asks. “You
are many yet he is one?”

“You don’t lightly anger a warrior priest of
Dmon-Li,” he tells them. “They have fell magic and much influence
with the Empire.”

“So what’s to stop him from just coming here
and taking us?” asks James.

“You are under our protection,” he says.
“And if he broke the Pact, then all would fall upon him. We also
would no longer send the tribute, for he’d have broken the peace
the tribute guarantees. So he must tread carefully if he doesn’t
wish to start a war the Empire can ill afford.”

“I see,” James says.

“Is that why he’s in with the Grey Wolf
Clan?” Jiron asks.

“They’ve long been the dark ones among us,”
he replies. “The fact that he’s here and that they’ve brought so
many with them cannot bode well. They are our sworn enemies, but
have allies among the other clans so we dare not do anything
outright against them.”

“So, what are we to do?” James asks.

“As before, wait for the council,” he tells
him. “If the council should decide against you, you most likely
will be handed over to him instead of killed. They would see that
as being one and the same thing. If they find for you, you would be
allowed to leave but once you left our territory you would no
longer be under our protection.”

“So he could come after and kill us?” Jiron
asks.

Shaking his head, Therin replies, “No, not
here or that would be violating the Pact. But once out of the
valley and in the plains below, he could. The Pact only covers the
land within this valley.”

“What can you tell us about these warrior
priests?” James asks.

“Not much more than what’s been handed down
from generation to generation,” he tells them. “Never has one been
among us, but they’re believed to be great in battle and to wield
the magic of their god, Dmon-Li. They know no fear and the power of
their god helps them to heal quickly from wounds. It’s even said to
bring them back from the dead.”

“Great,” James says as he looks to Jiron and
Miko. Miko stares back at him with a worried expression. Then he
turns his attention back to Therin and says, “But he won’t do
anything until we either leave, or the council gives him
permission?”

“That’s right,” agrees Therin. Finishing up
his last piece of meat, he stands up and makes to leave. “You might
wish to remain in here until the council, it would cause fewer
problems,” he says and then opens the flap and leaves.

A few moments after he leaves, Jiron says,
“Maybe we should try and sneak out of here.”

“I doubt if we’d make it very far,” says
James. “We’d stick out like a sore thumb if we tried. They’d
quickly realize what we’re doing and move to stop us.”

“Why is this priest even after us?” Miko
asks.

“Therin said they have influence within the
Empire,” explains James. “Perhaps we’ve irritated them enough to
bring out the big guns.”

“Big guns?” Jiron asks.

“Sorry,” James apologizes. “I mean, what
they’ve thrown at us so far we’ve been able to handle, so it would
stand to reason that they’d send in stronger, more deadly
adversaries. Those better able to defend against or counter the
magic I use.”

“I suppose,” Miko says.

Suddenly, James begins to feel the prickling
of magic being used and he signals everyone to be quiet. “Magic is
near,” he whispers to them.

They both quiet down, they understand what
that has to mean,
the warrior priest is near
.

A shadow falls across their tent, one bulky
with armor. The prickling sensation increases as the shadow pauses
at the entrance to their tent. They hold their breath, Jiron gets
his knives ready and James takes out a small rock he’d acquired
earlier. The shadow’s arm reaches for the tent flap but then
several warriors approach and the shadow draws back its arm and
returns the way it had come.

They wait for several minutes until the
prickling sensation disappears and James says, “I think he’s
gone.”

“He almost got in here!” Miko exclaims.

“But he didn’t,” James reassures him. “So
try to relax, being edgy won’t help the situation.”

The tent flap opens and Therin walks in.
“The last clan has arrived earlier than expected and the council
will be beginning later this evening rather than tomorrow. Due
primarily to the fact of the warrior priest being here among us.
They want the situation with him resolved as soon as possible.” He
looks directly at James and says, “They’ll probably want to see the
Token and you, the others need to stay here.”

“Should I go now?” he asks.

Shaking his head, Therin says, “No, there’s
going to be a banquet first and after that, I’ll come to get
you.”

“Alright,” says James.

“Try to get some rest if you can,” Therin
tells him. “Sometimes the councils can go till morning. Is there
anything else you require?”

“No, you’ve been most generous,” he
replies.

Nodding his head, he says, “Good.” He then
turns and again lifts the flap as he leaves.