The following morning, James woke with a terrific headache and a mouth as dry as a desert. He discovered Miko still awake. He had remained so throughout the night.
Upon seeing James rise, Miko brought the water bottle with some berries he gathered earlier. “Feeling okay?” he asked his friend, concerned.
“No, but I’ll survive.” Giving him a reassuring grin, he told Miko that he would be fine. He took the water bottle and drained most of it. He popped the berries in his mouth one at a time while he gazed out over the water. Soon his headache had been reduced to a manageable throb.
Miko had the horse ready for travel by the time James finished and felt ready for travel. He extended his hand and aided James in getting to his feet and then onto the horse. He swung up behind him and rested his head against his friend’s back. Though exhausted from having stood watch the entire night, he felt good about not letting him down again.
They returned to the road and headed for the City of Light. James felt Miko slump against him and begin to snore. He did his best to make him comfortable and to ensure that he wouldn’t fall.
The number of travelers had dramatically increased since yesterday. More families were on the road. Many small children rode in the back of wagons or walked beside their parents. When asked, they told him the City had not yet been besieged when they left.
As the day progressed, groups of riders appeared to the west as Madoc patrolled the area. The closer to the City, the more frequently they appeared.
Miko roused several times during the morning, but lapsed back to sleep after taking a quick look around or answering the call of nature.
Prior to midday they passed through a small fishing village which was not much more than a couple of main buildings with huts and houses surrounding them. The people there, though concerned about the Empire, hadn’t yet evacuated their homes. Many still went about their business as usual. Several fishing boats were out on the water.
One of the buildings was a store and James made a brief stop to replenish their supply of rations. The only food left was dried fish and day-old bread. The throngs of people coming through had taken everything else. He bought two days worth at exorbitant prices. The lady wouldn’t even haggle, saying that if he didn’t buy it, someone else surely would before the end of the day.
They returned to the road, eating the dry fish and stale bread. None of it was very tasty but at least it filled the void. The road passed through other villages, about one every five miles or so, and the number of closed and vacated buildings increased as they drew closer to the City of Light. The number of people on the road also steadily increased with more and more refugees fleeing the approach of the Empire.
As the shadows grew longer with the closing of the day, a great walled city nestled against the edge of the Sea appeared in the distance ahead. A formidable wall surrounded it and many ships were anchored in the harbor. When asked, a passerby confirmed that it was, indeed, the City of Light. Hundreds of buildings spread outward from the wall, though many had the look of being deserted, likely in anticipation of a siege.
Travel was slow as a veritable exodus was fleeing the city. In the surrounding fields many farmers worked to save what crops they could. Some fields were on fire to prevent the Empire from benefiting from the grain.
Cavalry ran patrols throughout the countryside, and the walls of the city bristled with many men. “It’s going to take a while to break this city.”
“Yeah,” agreed Miko. “It looks impressive, bigger even than Cardri.”
“It’s not just those already here,” James said as he pointed over to the harbor. “But the Sea enables them to receive fresh supplies of men and equipment should they need it.”
The gates were jammed with people and wagons, going both in and out. An entire squad of the city guard patrolled the gates attempting to maintain what order they could. It took a while but they made it through the throng to the gates where one of the guards questioned them about their business in the city.
When James told him of the package they were delivering and showed it to him, they were waved on through into the city.
They made their way carefully from the gate, forging their way through the mass of people trying to leave. After inquiring as to the whereabouts of the Great Library, they made their way further into the city. Following the directions, they arrived at the Library in little time.
The Library was an impressive structure, at least four stories tall and a hundred yards wide. Outside the entrance sat many wagons in the process of being loaded with books and manuscripts brought from within the Library.
A man supervised the distribution and packing of the books and manuscripts. “Easy there!” he yelled at one man who tossed several books haphazardly into a wagon. “Those are hundreds of years old; you must treat them with care.” The man mumbled an apology and then returned inside the Library for more.
James dismounted and walked to the supervisor. “Excuse me.”
The man directed two men carrying a chest to place it in the last wagon, then turned to James. “Yes?” Then to another man he yelled, “Not in there, take it to the front wagon!”
“I was wondering if you could direct me to Ollinearn.”
“He is very busy,” the man said to James. “He does not have time to see anyone today.” Spying a man walking out of the Library with books stacked on top of delicately rolled scrolls, he rushed over and berated the man, taking the books off the scrolls that were being crushed.
James followed him and said, “But this is important, I have a delivery from Ellinwyrd in Cardri.”
“Ellinwyrd you say?” the man asked as he actually looked at James for the first time.
“Yes, Ellinwyrd,” James acknowledged. “He asked us to deliver a book for him.” He reached inside his backpack and brought out the package, showing it to the man.
The man took it, saw Ellinwyrd’s seal and then handed it back. “Very well. You will find him in the back preparing the last of the books for travel.” Seeing another man not treating ‘his books’ properly, he left James standing there. He rushed to the miscreant where he instructed the man on the proper way to handle aged books.
James signaled for Miko to remain by the horse as he entered the Library.
Inside he found shelf after empty shelf where books had sat until recently. If the number of empty shelves was any indication, they must have already transported a staggering amount of books and other related items.
From a door in the back another man emerged carrying a box filled with books. Figuring this to be where Ollinearn was, James passed through the doorway. There he found a wizened old man directing three helpers packing books and manuscripts.
“Carefully now, Yorn,” the old man said kindly. “They must be packed just right if they are to survive the journey.” He patted the young man on the back and turned to see James walk through the doorway. “Yes?” the old man asked. “Can I help you?”
“Are you Ollinearn?”
“Yes, I am he”
James held out the book and offered it to him, “Ellinwyrd sent me to give this to you.”
Ollinearn took the package, glanced at the seal upon it, and then removed the wrapping. He looked at the book a moment then glanced questioningly at James; “He sent you here to deliver this book?”
“Yes, sir.”
He motioned for him to follow. “Come with me.” To his helpers he said, “Continue with these, then we shall finish with the histories.”
“Yes, sir,” one of the helpers said.
Ollinearn exited the room through a small door in the back and walked down a small hallway. Near the end he opened a door on the right and entered.
As James followed him inside he saw it was a small study with a desk and three chairs. Ollinearn went around the desk and sat. He gestured to a chair across from him and said, “Please, sit and be comfortable. My apologies for not offering any refreshments, but things around here are in a state of confusio
n.”
“It’s alright, I understand.” James assured him.
Placing the book between them on the table, he said, “Now, I find it strange that Ellinwyrd would have sent you here to deliver this book.” He looked at James for a response.
“Why?”
With a wave of his hand he said, “It’s a book of little consequence, quite common really. It’s hardly worth sending someone through a war zone to deliver. In fact, I have two copies.”
James produced the letter Ellinwyrd had written and handed it to Ollinearn. “He did send this as well”
Ollinearn took the letter, broke the seal and then read it. After he’d finished reading it he looked to James. “He asks that I aid you any way I can; very strange.”
“Why would that be strange?”
Placing the letter on the table he said, “He has never made such a request before. In addition, he makes no mention of your need.”
“I am in search of the god Morcyth,” James explained. “Ellinwyrd believed that the last temple to him was located somewhere around the Sea of the Gods and that you would be my best chance of finding its whereabouts.”
“Morcyth?” he asked. “Are you a historian?”
“Nothing like that, no,” James replied. “I am on a quest of sorts and this is where it has led me.”
“Hmmmm…” Ollinearn mused as he sat back in his chair and thought. “We have several books detailing Morcyth and his religion; though most of those are already on their way to a safe area north of the Sea.”
“Is there anything you can tell me?”
“There are a few books that have yet to be packed for shipping which deal with religious history and related subjects.” He brought his hands together and continued, “But we are very busy and do not have much time before the Empire knocks on our door. I am afraid that I will not have the time to spend in searching for the information you are after. I am sorry.”
James reached inside his shirt and pulled out the medallion, showing it to Ollinearn. “This medallion was given to me.” He took it off and placed it on the table before him. “I wasn’t told anything about it, but have learned that it has something to do with Morcyth.”
Ollinearn reached out to the medallion and looked to James questioningly. When James nodded, he picked it up and examined it closely. “I know this,” he said as his fingers traced the medallion’s design. He looked up to James, “Maybe I’ll find the time to help you after all. Follow me.”
Still holding the medallion, Ollinearn led James out to the hallway and returned to the room where his helpers were finishing packing the few remaining books. When they entered the room, he said to one of the men, “Pack as quickly as you can, I will be occupied for a short time.”
“Where will you be?”
“Back with the histories,” he replied. “I shouldn’t be too long.” Taking a candelabrum with several lit candles, he led James through another doorway and down a long sloping hallway. They passed several doors. Many were open and James saw room after room of empty shelves. Ollinearn came to the final doorway, the only one which remained closed. Opening it, he preceded James into a room where the light from the candelabrum revealed dozens of neatly stacked books lining many shelves around the room.
“This is where the books chronicling the history of this region are stored,” he explained. “They are not of any great importance, so were to be packed last.” Turning to James he added, “Which may prove to be providential.” He motioned to a table against a side wall, “Please rest a moment while I find the book I believe has a representation of this design.”
James sat and watched as Ollinearn closely examined one book after another. He finally pulled one off the shelf and brought it to the table. Placing the candelabrum on the table, the old man took a seat and set the book down between them.
“This book was written four hundred years ago by one of my predecessors,” he explained as he began to turn the pages. On the second page was a picture that showed the exact same design as was on the front of the medallion, Ollinearn held up the medallion next to the picture and compared one to the other. “As I thought,” he said as he handed the medallion back to James. “This design on your medallion is called the Star of Morcyth.”
“Star?” James asked. ‘With the star, seal your fate.’ A cold shiver ran down his spine, as a line from Serena’s prophecy sprung to mind.
“Yes, it was the symbol of the religion, and was embossed on all important artifacts. There must be some significance as to why you carry it.”
“That’s what I am trying to find out.”
He read a little more then said, “The writer tells of a conflict between two major religions nearly half a millennium before this was written.”
“The church of Morcyth was one and the other was…,” he paused as he took a moment to read the passage. “Ah yes, here it is, Dmon-Li. That was the other one.”
“Dmon-Li?” James asked questioningly. “I’ve never heard of it.”
Ollinearn looked up from his book, “Not too surprising, unless you come from the south. It’s widely worshiped still in many parts of the Empire. In fact, I believe it has influence with the Emperor as well but do not know for sure.”
“What kind of god is Dmon-Li?”
“You see, where Morcyth was a god of good whose main tenets taught teaching and learning, Dmon-Li’s followers thrived on chaos and warfare. His priests often were great warriors, given great strength and skill that was used to foment wars and conflict.”
He read several more passages. “It seems at some point, Dmon-Li set about annihilating Morcyth’s priests. His warrior priests began hunting them down one by one until only a few were left.” He continued to read as he related the tale. “It says here that there came a time when all had been slaughtered save a very few who made their way to the High Temple.” He paused a moment and then looked up at James. “Here in the City of Light.”
“The High Temple was here?” James asked excitedly. “Here in the City of Light?”
“Apparently so,” Ollinearn affirmed. “It seems that the last of the priests of Morcyth gathered together at the Temple while the High Priest began a period of fasting and prayer. Most likely to find a resolution to the problem of Dmon-Li. The book doesn’t give the exact reason.”
“Did anything come of it?”
Referring back to the book, he said, “There are no specifics just that when the period of fasting ended, the priests all left the High Temple and as far as the author of this book knew, were never seen again. He goes on to say that they left everything behind, taking very little with them.”
“That’s it?” James asked. “It doesn’t say where they went?”
Ollinearn flipped through a couple of more pages, scanning the writing, “No, it doesn’t. It does say that over time the temple was looted and was finally destroyed during a great quake that brought down most of the city in the year 2322, two hundred years prior to the writing of this book.”
“Does it say where the temple had been located?”
“No, it doesn’t,” Ollinearn replied as he continued to examine the pages. “Here may be something,” he said, making eye contact with James. “It says that the last High Priest was born in the city of Saragon. Maybe he returned home.”
“Possibly,” agreed James. “But the Empire now controls it and from what I hear to venture there would be very unwise right now.”
“True, true,” nodded Ollinearn. He read a little bit further. “That is all there is about Morcyth and your medallion.” Closing the book he came to his feet. “I hope I have been able to help you further your quest.”
“Yes, thank you,” replied James. “You have been most helpful.”
Ollinearn took the candelabrum and motioned for James to precede him out the door. He then led James to the main library area. “Good luck on your quest. I really must have the rest of these books packed before the ship sails.”
“I understand and tha
nk you again,” he said and then moved to leave through the front door, where Miko waited with the horse.
“Did you discover what you needed to know?” Miko asked expectantly as James approached.
“I’ll tell you later,” he said. “Let’s find a place to eat and then get out of here before the Empire shows up.”
“Good plan,” said Miko.
They traveled through the crowded streets until they saw an inn. Not wanting to leave their horse out front where someone fleeing may try to help themselves to it, they went around back and secured it out of sight before they went inside.
The inn was deserted save a lone serving girl who sat near the front window watching people make their way to the gates to get out of the city.
She failed to take notice of them until James said, “Excuse me.”
Startled, she jumped from her seat, “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. What can I do for you gentlemen?”
“Are you open for dinner?”
“Yes,” she affirmed, “we are, though there is limited choice. You see, we are leaving first thing in the morning.”
Taking a seat near the front window he said, “Just give us two large helpings of whatever you have and some ale.”
Before she went to the kitchen she paused and said somewhat guiltily, “That’s going to be three silvers, each.”
“What?” James asked incredulously.
“That’s outrageous!” Miko blurted.
Looking embarrassed, the girl said, “Sorry but that is what I am told to charge today.”
James nodded his head and said, “Here,” as he handed over six silvers. Then he added, “I understand.”
Looking relieved the girl took the money and went into the kitchen to get their food and drinks.
“How could you pay that much?” Miko asked as the girl disappeared into the kitchen.
Shrugging, James said, “We’re unlikely to get anything cheaper,” he gestured to the people going by outside, carrying bundles or pulling carts. “Besides, we’re lucky to be able to get anything at all. I’m surprised they’re even open.”
They relaxed as they waited for their food. James watched the people; mother’s carrying babies alongside fathers pulling carts loaded with belongings and children. “Kind of makes you sad doesn’t it?”
“What does?” asked Miko.
“The senseless destruction that war brings,” he explained. “The ones who always pay the price of another’s greed is the simple man who just wants to go about his life, take joy in his family, and find peace at the end. They didn’t ask for it, don’t understand why it’s happening, but theirs are the lives ruined, turned upside down, families destroyed.”
“I see what you mean,” Miko said, reflecting on James’ words.
The girl returned from the kitchen balancing a platter with heaping slices of meat smothered in thick gravy in one hand and a pitcher of ale with two mugs gripped in the other. She sat it on the table and then returned to the kitchen only to emerge with a large loaf of bread. “Here, this is extra,” she said as she put the bread on the table. “We’ll probably just throw it away anyway.”
Taking the bread James said, “Thank you.”
Smiling, the girl puttered around the room, wiping down tables and keeping busy.
Starved from having little food the last couple of days, it didn’t take long before they completely devoured their meal.
“Would you like anything else?” she asked when she came to remove the dinnerware.
“No nothing,” James replied. “That was very good.”
Miko nodded his agreement as he let out a loud belch.
“Glad you liked it,” she said, heading back to the kitchen with the dirty platter.
“Feel better?” James asked Miko as he relaxed into his chair.
“Much better,” he said contentedly, patting his stomach.
They rested a little longer as they allowed their food to digest. Continuing to watch the people going by, James spied a little girl running away from her mother, giggling and laughing, unaware of the gravity of the situation. Her mother called her back but the girl kept running around, as if it was a game. The girl would slow down and her mother would almost get her only to bolt off through the crowd again.
The mother was getting extremely agitated and James felt sorry for the girl when her mother finally got hold of her. The little girl deftly avoided her mother’s attempts and raced through the crowd, giggling and laughing. She dodged a cart and ran into another of the mass of people on the street.
The little girl didn’t even realize she’d bumped into someone until he grabbed her by the arm. She looked up to see the face of a man with a patch over the right eye and a long angry welt that ran from his hairline to his jaw.
She looked like she was about ready to scream when her mother came. Words were exchanged and the man let go of the girl. The mother dragged the child away, obviously upset and yelling at her.
James went cold when he saw the man. His memory flashed back to a man with a crossbow in a window and the snapped crosswire that had caught him in the face.
“Miko!” James said. “I think I see the man who escaped when I rescued Perrilin.”
“Are you sure?” he asked as he too got to his feet.
“Pretty sure,” James replied. “You see, his crossbow wire had snapped catching him in the face, along the right eye.” Pointing to the man in the road, he said, “And that man has a welt running in about the same area.” He then moved to the front door and left the inn.
“Goodbye,” they heard the serving girl say.
As Miko followed James out the front door he asked, “What are we doing?”
“I want to follow him and see what he’s up to.”
“I thought we were leaving?” Miko asked nervously. “You know, before the Empire gets here?”
“We are, this should only take a few minutes.”
Not happy about these turn of events, Miko said, “I hope so,” and continued to follow James as he followed the man.
They kept him in sight as he continued down the street, then turned right at a main intersection. They briefly lost sight of him when he turned the corner. They hurried to the edge of the building and peered around it, again catching sight of him as he made another turn down a smaller side street. Running, they entered the side street and saw him walking down the road.
The road led to the docks where a veritable mob of people tried to gain passage on the few vessels remaining in the harbor. All the ships had armed guards keeping the people at bay. Near the far end of the dock, in the opposite direction the man was going, a riot was in progress at the base of a gangway leading onto a ship. James saw guards using clubs and swords on the people as they surged toward the gangway.
“There he goes,” Miko said as he directed James’ attention back to the matter at hand. The man had just entered a warehouse standing back from the docks. It looked well maintained but closed at the moment. Seeing a window in the side of the warehouse, they quickly made their way to it and peered inside.
Within they saw the man talking to two men in uniforms of the city guard. They saw him hand a small vial to one followed by a small sack, possibly heavy with coin.
James heard a noise behind him. He quickly turned, but something struck him hard in the side of the head and everything went black.
Chapter Twenty-Five
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