Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two (53 page)

“Really? Like what?”

Scar and Potbelly were fairly frothing
at the mouth in anticipation.

Brother Willim glanced to
James.

“They have this idiotic plan to
capture one and showcase it back in the City of Light.”

“Idiotic?” cried Potbelly.

“We have powerful magical items
crafted for the sole purpose of capturing these creatures.” Scar
looked most offended.

When Brother Willim glanced to James,
the Dark Mage shook his head. “I have nothing to do with
this.”

“There are other mages in the world,”
Scar insisted. “Powerful ones that lead a life of seclusion and
research who sell to select customers that can afford their items.
It was from one such as that which we acquired our magical
equipment.”

James wasn’t convinced. “Well, since
you are not coming with us, it’s unlikely you will have the
opportunity to test them.”

“Never know,” Potbelly argued. “Like
the good brother here said, creatures wander forth all the
time.”

James just rolled his eyes and
sighed.

“While that may be true,” Brother
Willim said, “the times when they actually travel beyond the deadly
sands are quite few. You would be fortunate indeed to encounter
another.” He turned to Jiron. “Or unfortunate depending on how you
look at it.”

“Indeed.” Jiron shot the two Pit
Masters a look that left little doubt as to how he would be looking
at it. Clearing his throat and assuming an expression saying this
line of conversation had come to its end, he asked Brother Willim,
“Is there anything you can tell us about the area immediately
surrounding the Star?”

“Very little I’m afraid other than
that we believe the creatures are spawned there somehow. How many,
how it happens, and for how long we can expect it to continue are
all questions to which we wish we had the answers.”

“Perhaps we will be able to shed some
light for you,” Miko said.

“We would be most appreciative for any
help you can give.”

“Not a problem,” James said. “If we
can figure it out, we’ll send word.”

“Where will you go after retrieving
the Star?”

“Jiron will take the others
around the eastern edge of the
Waste
and we will meet up again at
Zixtyn.”

“Then if you would, seek
out Brother Martin when you get there and provide him with any
information you receive. He may not be there as like myself, he
wanders the fringe of the
Waste
working to heal the land.”

“Where would we find him if he is?”
James asked.

“He does like his pubs,” Brother
Willim explained. “A bit too much at times.”

Father Vickor laughed. “A man after my
own heart.”

“He’ll be in one after dark if he’s in
town.”

James nodded. “We will see if we can
find him.”

“Thank you.”

From the campfire the smell of
simmering stew made his belly growl. Jira was there with Tinok
helping to put the evening meal together. “Let’s eat, I’m
starved.”

The morning dawned cloudy with only a
slim chance of precipitation. A large bank of clouds looming on the
horizon might change all that if they wandered their way; but for
the present, travel would be pleasant.

James and Miko were ready to head out
before dawn. Their radiation suits remained in their packs for the
present. Miko prayed about it and decided they could trust to
Brother Willim’s advice concerning it being safe for the first few
hours. Both he and James didn’t relish wearing the suits any longer
than needed.

“If you continue
southwest,” Brother Willim explained, “you should reach the heart
of the
Waste
in
two days. There you will find the Star.”

James held out his hand to the priest.
“We appreciate all your help.”

“Always glad to aid those in need.”
Taking the hand, Brother Willim shook it firmly.

Scar handed James his pack. “Be
careful,” he said.

“Don’t plan to be anything else.”
Taking the pack, he swung it up onto his back. It was packed
lightly, with just enough supplies to sustain them yet still be
able to carry it beneath the radiation suit. It would hardly do
them any good to protect their bodies while allowing their food and
water to become contaminated.

“
And keep an eye on my
apprentices.”

He and Miko had a long discussion with
Azhan and Hikai last night before turning in. Basically saying that
if they ran away or caused mischief, James would exact harsh
retribution. He left the meeting feeling they would hold to their
oaths and not jeopardize their positions as his
apprentices.

Jira gave him a hug, and
after a long line of good byes and well wishes and a lone see you
in Zixtyn, they headed into the
Waste
.

The first couple hours were as
anticipated; tedious walking in an unchanging landscape. It wasn’t
until the sun was midway to its zenith that they encountered the
remains of a small predator.

From the way it rested upon
the ground, it had been leaving the
Waste
. Dark patches around its eye
sockets proved to be dried blood and its fur had fallen out in
patches.

“Radiation did this.”

Miko knelt by the carcass.

“Don’t touch it,” James warned. “If it
is contaminated, just touching it could prove serious.”

Placing his hand over the dead animal,
Miko summoned the power of Morcyth and the glow radiated outward
from his hand to envelope the carcass. Several moments passed
before the glow faded.

“I now see why this radiation is so
bad.”

Standing, he glanced to James. “Should
we don the suits do you think?”

Farther along their intended path lay
another dead animal. To the east another tell-tale lump could be
seen. James nodded. “Yes, that might be a good idea.”

Keeping their packs on under their
suits proved more than a little uncomfortable.

“Hope no one comes along and mistakes
us for some creature,” Miko quipped.

James laughed. “Can never
tell.”

Once the boots and hand covers were in
place, they resumed their trek.

The cloud bank off to the west looked
to be on a more southerly heading and would most likely miss them
entirely.

Carcasses became more common the
further they went. Not only those that walked upon the land, but
birds as well. At one point they had to make their way through what
was virtually a carpet of feathers and mottled birds; looked to
have once been an entire flock. Before dying, the birds had flopped
about, shedding feathers as an animal would fur due to the toxic
levels of radiation.

James jumped when one lurched forward
as he stepped over it.

Blood welled from all the orifices and
the poor bird made pitiful sounds.

“Probably happened by and just landed
for insects when the radiation got them.”

Miko nodded. “It works that
fast?”

Shrugging, James said, “Could. I
really don’t know that much about it. It could also have been that
they were exposed to it before and finally succumbed to it
here.”

“I do hope the efforts of the priests
of Asran prove successful.”

“From what Brother Willim said,” James
replied, “they have already had some inroads in stabilizing this
region. Though I have yet to see any of those so-called radiation
eating vines of theirs.”

Miko searched the land from horizon to
horizon. “They are probably further in.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Leaving the dead flock of birds
behind, they continued on.

James’ bladder was filling up and his
stomach growled as if he hadn’t eaten for two days. He was loath to
take care of either problem until reaching a safe area of
vines.

Another three miles and flowering
vines appeared on the horizon.

“Thank goodness.”

“I sure will.”

James turned to Miko and
laughed.

His laughter, however, was short
lived. The patch of vines totaled less than fifty square feet and
looked to be in full health.

“Damn.”

The flowers were beautiful and the
leaves full and green. “This will not work.”

“No it will not,” agreed Miko.
“Radiation must still be present.”

Cursing their luck, they continued
on.

Not much further and a larger swath of
vines came into view. This time it covered nearly an acre. The
outer fringe of healthy vines averaged between twenty and thirty
feet in width. It encircled a large expanse of dead
foliage.

They hurried to the center.

Miko turned to James. “What do you
think?”

“It’s either take the risk or flood my
suit.”

“Brother Willim seemed pretty
confident it would be safe.”

“Does Morcyth have any
opinions?”

Turning inward, Miko thought a moment
then shook his head. “No.”

The urgency of his bladder tilted the
scales in favor of trusting Asran’s priest. Undoing the clasps and
opening the front, he felt cool air waft inside. It felt
good.

Miko remained suited while James
relieved himself. Once the needs of nature had been satisfied,
Morcyth’s glow suddenly appeared and surrounded him. James nearly
jumped out of his skin before realizing what was going
on.

“What are you doing?”

“Seeing if what happened to the birds
is happening to you.”

“Warn a person next time,” he scolded.
“I thought the radiation had started to make me glow.”

Miko couldn’t help but grin. A few
moments later the glow vanished. He took off his helmet. “It would
seem Brother Willim was correct. I sense no change in your physical
health.”

“That’s a relief.”

Shucking off the entire suit, he
reveled in the coolness of the breeze.

“However, I shall make sure our
condition has not altered before we leave.”

James nodded.

They took out their food and enjoyed
the respite from the suits. A most pleasant fragrance gloated on
the breeze.

“Those blossoms do smell good,” Miko
said.

“That they do. Would make a fortune if
it could be made into a perfume.”

“Indeed.”

As he ate, James pondered the position
of the sun. “We’re in a semi-safe place at the moment,” he began.
“While there are still several hours of daylight left, dare we take
the chance that we will come upon such a place before nightfall?
Once the sun goes down, the chance of finding another of sufficient
size would be chancy.”

On the horizon to the south another of
indeterminate size could be seen; to the east naught but desert;
and along their intended path, nothing as well.

He took a drink from his water bottle
then glanced to Miko. “I would hate having to spend the night in
these suits.”

“I agree, but my instincts say to push
onward, that to stay would not be our wisest course of
action.”

“Oh?”

Miko nodded. “Such feelings come upon
me from time to time.”

“Are they always correct?”

“Well, to be honest, no. However, this
one has a greater degree of certainty than others.”

James eyed him. “Part of being a high
priest?”

Miko shrugged. “Could be. Or it is
simply that I feel we need to have this done as quickly as
possible.”

“I have to agree with that
last.”

Taking a bite of dried beef, Miko
leaned back. “It is good to be traveling again. I missed
this.”

“Being a high priest has its
drawbacks.”

“A few, though I would not alter the
direction my life has gone, even if I could.”

James nodded. “I know what you mean.
Who would have believed that the lost and confused mage, and the
street brat from Bearn from so long ago would be sitting here like
this today?”

“Sometimes it is hard for me to
believe.”

“I really…” James began, then abruptly
stood and stared off to the east.

Miko followed his gaze and came to his
feet as well.

A large creature similar to that which
had taken Jira walked the desert not fifty feet beyond the eastern
fringe of the vines. It was heading in their general
direction.

“Think it has seen us?”

James shook his head. “I don’t believe
so.”

It loped along as if its legs were
malformed, which if the one that Brother Willim had killed was any
indication, they were.