Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li: The Morcyth Saga Book Three (20 page)

James lies down on a blanket and tells the
others, “I better try to get some sleep before the council.”

“Alright, James,” Jiron says. “We’ll keep
watch while you do.”

He closes his eyes but sleep is hard to come
as he keeps thinking about the warrior priest and how they’re going
to get out of here. Eventually though, he does manage to fall
asleep.

Later, after the sun goes down, he wakes up
when their dinner is brought. Feeling much refreshed, he eats with
a hearty appetite. They have a fire going in the center of the
tent, the smoke escaping through a gap in the top.

An hour after they’ve finished eating,
Therin enters and says, “It’s time for the council.”

James gets up and follows him out of the
tent. “Good luck!” Miko says to him before he leaves.

Therin takes him to the large tent in the
center of the Windrider camp. Many warriors from the different
clans stand around outside the tent. You can tell the different
factions of the clans by who stands near whom. As they approach,
two Windrider clansmen standing guard by the tent flaps each takes
a side and swings them open. Therin precedes him through the
opening and into the council tent.

Many braziers are situated around the tent,
giving light to the proceedings. James sees the ten members of the
council sitting in a semi circle on the ground. A fire burns within
a ring of stones before them. His eyes widen slightly when he
begins to feel the prickling sensation. Looking around, he sees the
warrior priest sitting beside the Chief of the Grey Wolf Clan.

“Bring him forward,” Therin’s father says
once they’ve entered.

Therin gestures for him to follow and they
walk forward until they’re standing before the assembled chiefs. He
sees Therin give the council a bow, so he follows suit.

“Here is James, the bearer of the Token from
the Lake Lady,” he announces to them. Turning to James, he says,
“Show them the Token.”

James opens his pouch and brings it out,
holding the Token up so all can see. He shows it first to the chief
on the right then slowly moves it around to the chief on the left
so all are able to see it clearly.

“How do we know this came from the Lady?”
asks the Grey Wolf Chief.

“Tell them,” Therin says to James.

James then relates how they were camped on
the shore and the manner in which she came to them. How she had
brought them to her home and fed them. Then he speaks of finding
the Token the next morning. Once he’s done explaining how he’d come
to be in possession of it, Therin takes the Token from him and
hands it to his father. After examining it, he hands it to the
chief sitting next to him.

As it passes from one chief to the next,
James stands there under their eyes. The eyes of the warrior priest
never leave him and he can feel nothing but malice coming from him.
Twice he feels the prickling increase momentarily as the warrior
priest engages in magic, but he’s unable to tell just what he’s
doing.

When all the chiefs have finished with their
examination of the Token, Therin’s father asks, “Is there still any
who doubts that this came from the Lady?”

All the chiefs shake their heads and voice
their agreement that it did indeed come from the Lady. The Grey
Wolf Chief seems to almost deny it, but with all in opposition to
him, he concedes.

“So, now what to do with him and his
companions,” he says. Gesturing to the warrior priest, he says,
“Abula-Mazki here has laid claim to them.”

Standing up, the warrior priest says, “They
are criminals of the Empire. They’ve laid waste to cities and have
killed hundreds of its citizens. They have moved through the Empire
like a plague, killing and destroying as they go. In the name of
justice, I demand them!”

They turn their eyes to James who begins to
sweat. What he’d just said is basically true, just not exactly in
that context. He’s about to say something when Therin says, “But
would the Lady have given men such as he just described her Token?”
He looks around at the assembled Chiefs. “We all know her to be
good and kind, a friend in need who has never harmed a soul. It
doesn’t stand to reason that she would do such a thing as give her
Token to such.”

James is relieved to see more than a few of
the chiefs nod their heads at his words.

Then Abula-Mazki says, “They belong by
rights to the Empire for all that they’ve done. You cannot deny the
Empire in this!” He glares defiantly at the assembled chiefs as if
daring any of them to oppose him.

Therin’s father stands up and turns to face
him, “According to the Treaty our forefathers signed with the
Empire, we can.” Face to face now with the burning intensity of the
warrior priest’s anger, he continues, “As long as it is in effect,
the laws stated therein will hold true. In exchange for the Tribute
and a cease of hostilities, the Empire will leave us alone. Our
laws govern here, not the Empire’s.”

He gives Abula-Mazki a look of command as he
says, “Until at such time either side breaks the Treaty.”

Abula-Mazki stares him down, never once
blinking or glancing away.

The Chief of the Sunset Hills comes to his
feet and stands between them, “Enough! We are not here to fight
amongst ourselves but to decide what to do with the outlander.”
Pointing to James he continues, “It first must be decided if he and
his friends are to be allowed within the Gathering without penalty
of death.”

Both Abula-Mazki and Therin’s father look
away at the same time as several of the other chiefs begin speaking
out in agreement of the Chief of the Sunset Hills’ statement.

Resuming his seat, Therin’s father says, “So
be it. Who believes they should be granted safe travel?”

Six chiefs raise their hands. “And who
believes the Token means nothing and they should either be executed
or given over to Abula-Mazki?” Four hands go up.

“It’s decided then,” he says. Looking to
Abula-Mazki, he says, “They are granted safe passage through our
lands.”

Face burning with anger, Abula-Mazki’s eyes
practically spark with pent up rage. “So I am to be denied?” he
cries out to the assembled chiefs. His anger and rage roll over
those in the tent like a red tide.

“As long as they are in our territory,”
Therin’s father says, “yes, you are.” When he sees how dark his
anger is, he adds, “Harm them in our territory, and you break the
centuries long peace between us.”

He turns and gives James a look of naked
hatred and anger before stalking out, the air practically sizzling
with his rage.

Therin’s father turns to James and says,
“You are granted safe conduct within our lands, and none here will
gainsay that. It is the will of the council. But once you leave our
lands, you leave our protection.”

“I understand,” James says. “And thank
you.”

Therin gives the council another bow and
again, James follows suit. He then turns for the exit and James
follows him as he leaves the council tent.

“You probably better leave in the morning,”
he tells him as they walk back to his tent.

“Will we be safe here until them?” James
asks him.

“Yes,” Therin replies. “He dares not violate
the Treaty.” Sighing, he continues, “I really didn’t think they’d
go against him. I’m surprised so many voted in your favor.”

“Why?” he asks.

“Even though you bear the Token of the
Lady,” he explains, “we really dare not anger the Empire, their
might is too strong. But many saw this as a chance to strike out at
the Empire, even in so small a way.”

“Your people don’t care for the Empire?” he
asks.

Shaking his head, he says, “No. The Tribute
takes too many of our horses and goods every year. We are honorable
people, or at least most of us are, and so we abide by it.”

“Maybe some day you can be free of them,”
James says.

“It would be a good thing for our people,”
he agrees. “But until that day comes, we must do what honor
dictates.”

They come to James’ tent and he lifts the
flap and enters. He stops suddenly when he sees only Jiron sitting
there on the floor.

Jiron looks up as they enter and asks,
“Isn’t Miko with you?”

Worry comes over James as he replies, “No,
he isn’t.”

With confusion on his face, Jiron says, “Two
warriors came and said that the council had requested his presence,
so he went with them.”

“The council made no such request,” Therin
tells him.

“Then who came and took him?” James
asks.

Anger suddenly blossoms upon Therin’s face
as he replies, “The Grey Wolf Clan no doubt!” He spits on the floor
as he begins pacing. “Since they can’t move against you or it would
violate the Pact, they’ve arranged for you to move against
them.”

“You mean they’ve taken Miko to cause us to
go after him and break the Pact?” James asks. “So we’d be given to
that warrior priest?”

“It would seem so,” he replies.

“Damn!” curses James.

“Are we going to tell the council?” Jiron
asks him.

“Tell them what?” he replies. “We have no
proof other than your word which will not be believed over that of
one of us. You can be sure the Grey Wolf Clan will deny any
involvement in this.”

“So what are we to do?” James asks.

“You must go and get him,” he says.

“But they’ll be expecting that,” Jiron
adds.

“True,” agrees Therin. “But what choice do
you have?”

Jiron comes to James and says, “If we can
escape from Azzac when all are against us, we should be able to
manage getting Miko from out of here.”

“Then what he said was true?” Therin asks.
“About you destroying and killing in the Empire?”

“We only fought those who attacked us,”
James explains. “We never initiated any fights, only defended
ourselves.”

Nodding, Therin says, “Wait here a moment.”
And then he turns and leaves the tent quickly.

“Wonder what that was about?” Jiron
asks.

“Don’t know, but we can wait at least a
couple minutes more,” James replies.

After only a few moments, Therin returns
with two sets of cloaks bearing the design of the Grey Wolf Clan.
“Here,” he says, handing them the cloaks. “These should enable you
to get close to where they’re holding your friend. More, I dare not
do.”

Taking the cloaks, James says, “Thank you.”
He hands Jiron his as he dons his own.

Therin opens the tent flap and peers out,
making sure no one is nearby. He waves them to follow as he steps
away through the opening. “Follow me,” he whispers. “I’ll lead you
over to the edge of the Grey Wolf Clan’s camp. From there, you’re
on your own.”

“I understand,” James assures him.

They follow him quietly through the
Windrider camp. Warriors recognize Therin and call out a greeting.
He merely gives them a short reply as he hurries along toward the
Grey Wolf camp.

He meanders through many tents until he
comes to a clear area separating the Windrider’s and the Grey Wolf
Clan’s camps. Stopping, he turns to them and whispers, “I must
leave you here. I can’t take the chance of violating the Pact,
though in spirit I suppose I have already done so.”

“We thank you for all you have done for us,”
James says as he shakes his hand.

“Just bringing the plans of the Grey Wolf
Clan to ruins is thanks enough,” he says as he slips away back
within the camp.

They pause there within the shadows as they
figure out what to do. A large tent sits within the middle of the
camp and is the most likely place to find Miko. Between them and
the main tent are rows of smaller tents with many warriors of the
Grey Wolf Clan sitting around campfires.

James can’t see any way to make it through
them without coming into close contact.

“What do you plan?” asks Jiron.

“I may have an idea,” he says after taking a
moment to think. “Give me a moment to work it out.”

Jiron nods as he keeps watch on the camp and
the tent where they believe Miko is currently being held.

Suddenly there appear two almost invisible
translucent bubbles floating in the air before them. “Are you
crazy?” he asks James. “That warrior priest is going to know where
we are!”

“Exactly,” he replies. Then the bubbles
begin floating away from him, each moving around the camp in the
opposite direction of the other. Whispering quietly, he explains,
“Right now, they’re not using much magic so I doubt if he’s going
to take notice of them. But as they go further from us, they’re
going to draw more and more magic from those they pass, a small
amount at a time. Soon, they should be emitting enough magic
resonance for him to realize something is going on and comes out to
investigate.”

Jiron can see him grinning in the moonlight,
“And then the fun will begin.”

“I hope so,” Jiron replies. “Whichever tent
he comes out of, you can bet that’ll be the one Miko is in.”

Ten minutes pass before they see the flap to
the large tent open up and they see Abula-Mazki exit and move
directly toward the area where one of the bubbles should be.

When James begins to feel the prickling of
magic, he says, “Any second now.”

ZZZZZST!

A flash of lightning flies toward
Abula-Mazki out of the night and explodes upon a shield he erected
around himself.

The Grey Wolf camp erupts in a frenzy of
activity as warriors cry out and grab their weapons. The warriors
begin running toward the area where the lightning had originated.
Soon, the area between them and the tent is relatively clear.

“Let’s go,” James says, allowing Jiron to
take the lead. They run, blending in with the others running around
as they make their way to the tent.

ZZZZZST!

Another lightning bolt sizzles as it again
strikes out at Abula-Mazki. Then suddenly a loud explosion as the
bubble erupts into a fireball, blazing into the night. They can
hear cries of warriors who had the misfortune to be caught within
the blast.