Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two (6 page)

Miko nodded. “Did you hear how Lord
Pytherian related the manner of their deaths? He did not say they
were killed, but that they had been slaughtered.” He glanced to his
senior-most priest. “That sounds like how Tinok would leave
them.”

“Indeed.”

Back at the Temple, Miko related what
he had learned to Jiron and James. Fathers Vickor and Keller were
there as well. When he completed his narrative, he glanced to
Jiron. “Do you think it was Tinok?”

“If he discovered them trailing him,
absolutely. I doubt if he would even hesitate.”

“Then we need to proceed on the
assumption that those who attacked my island have agents within the
city. We may need to depart before you fully recover.”

“Fine by me. No offense Miko, your
hospitality has been great. But a few more days in this room and I
would have gone crazy.”

“Me too,” piped up Jira. “I want to
see Mother.”

“As do I,” her father
agreed.

James glanced to Miko. “How soon can
you leave?”

“Today if we must, but that would
arouse suspicion. Three would be better. That would allow time to
adequately prepare a cover story about visiting Black Hawk in the
hopes of learning more of ‘The Dark Mage’s circumstance.’ Also,
Father Tullin can root around the Pits for more information on
Tinok.” He cast a questioning glance to Father Keller.

“He has yet to return.”

“Trouble?” James asked.

“No. Father Tullin is often late in
returning during his sojourns to minister to the fighters. He heals
their more serious wounds, listens to their problems, and at times
drinks them under the table at the Bent Blade. Claims he learns the
most when the ale flows freest.”

“Okay. Three days it is. We head to
Hawk’s Nest and discover what Illan knows, then it’s straight
through the heart of the Empire to its southern shore where we’ll
take ship to Corillian.”

“Planning any side trips?” Jiron
asked.

James shrugged. “One never
knows.”

“I think we should pay Lord Cytok a
visit. He has to know something.”

“Our main goal is to get through to
our families, preferably without alerting anyone to our presence.
After we’re reunited, then we’ll see about Lord Cytok.” James
indicated Jira with a silent nod of his head.

Jiron understood and completely
agreed. As long as she was with them, they couldn’t take
unnecessary risks.

“Okay then.” Coming to his feet, Miko
gestured for Fathers Vickor and Keller to rise as well. “If we are
to leave in three days, there are things needing to be done. I will
leave you to your rest.”

“Let us know if you hear anything
about Tinok,” James said.

“I shall.”

After he left, Miko set the two
Fathers to make preparations for travel, then went in search of
Father Tullin. He hadn’t been surprised to learn that the priest
had yet to return. The next hour was spent in moving through the
halls of the Temple, checking different aspects of Temple life to
ensure all remained running as it should.

His first stop was the kitchen and
storehouse. Twice daily they fed the needy a hot meal which at
first had attracted few takers. Now though, it wasn’t unusual to
have a hundred or more street kids, prostitutes, thugs, and every
other sort of depraved and destitute that humanity had to
offer.

Of those that came, Brothers would
pass among them, ministering to those in need, listening to others,
and above all, keeping track of those that tended to come
frequently. Those who grew to become regulars might one day prove
to be a boon in disguise; either as future Novices, or informants.
They’ve received many “tips” about goings on in the city from
bellies that had been filled out of sheer generosity. Strange thing
about people, even if nothing is asked in return, most feel they
owe a debt to those that give. It weighs on their conscious until
an act is performed that brings the scales into balance once more.
Sometimes, Miko wondered if the hand of Morcyth tipped the scales
more in those with the ability and temperament to help.

Brother Horka oversaw the kitchen and
everything to do with feeding the poor. Miko could always count on
him to have a couple tarts on hand no matter the hour in the event
a certain high ranking priest desired them. Three of the red-berry
filled ones were left. Miko scooped up two.

At this hour, the kitchen and dining
hall were busy and filled with priests of every station. Novices,
Acolytes, Brothers and Fathers sat about the tables busily
consuming the fare provided. Greetings flowed toward him as he made
his way through the crowded hall. A word here and a nod there
allowed him to continue through to the kitchen area.

Within, the place was a
bustle of activity. Of the many lessons learned from James,
cleanliness was perhaps the one that had taken root the
most.
“Keep it clean, and sickness stays
away.”
That statement had proven true.
Scrubbing everything with hot water and soap after every meal had
kept his people healthy with little more than the occasional
stomach flu cropping up now and again.

He caught sight of Brother Horka
berating a Novice who had apparently failed to remove all
foodstuffs from what the lad claimed to be a pot just cleaned.
Keeping out of the Novice’s line of sight, he drew the Brother’s
attention and nodded to the back room. Pausing in his tirade only
long enough to give acknowledgment, the Brother quickly resumed
haranguing the poor lad.

The room in which Miko waited was but
one of three storerooms allocated to the kitchen. This one held
barrels of dry goods as well as crates of vegetables. Miko parked
himself upon one containing apples, then proceeded to finish off
the last of the tart. He didn’t have long to wait before his priest
entered.

Once the door closed, he said, “We
leave in three days.”

“Three days, Reverend
Father?”

Miko nodded. “Until then, I need you
to see what you can find out about four bodies found in the
Merchant’s Quarter earlier today. One bore the mark of
Dmon-Li.”

Brother Horka’s eyes widened at the
name of the dark god. “He is stirring again?” Once a priest assumed
the title “Brother,” they were informed about certain past events,
especially those detailing how the priesthood of Dmon-Li had wiped
out their predecessors.

“Perhaps, though it may have been
someone who once worked for them but does so no longer.”

“I’ll see what I can dig
up.”

“Good. Also, let it slip that I plan
to visit Black Hawk for a few days. Do not mention when I plan to
leave, just that I am.”

Brother Horka nodded. “Do you believe
these dead men may have something to do with
our…guests?”

“Until we know otherwise, assume that
they do.”

“Very well.”

Hopping off the crate, Miko patted his
priest on the shoulder. “With Morcyth’s aid, we will figure this
out.”

“May He guide us.”

After leaving the storeroom, Miko
spoke in turn with half a dozen subordinates about matters of
little importance as he wended his way back through the dining
hall. He picked up the last of the tarts and enjoyed it on his way
to his rooms. Having done all he could this night, he spent the
rest of the evening in quiet contemplation of the day’s events and
what the future may hold.

Later that night, when only the light
of a lone candle held back the shadows, Jira raised her head and
looked to the others with whom she shared the room. Her father and
uncle were fast asleep, and over in his cot, Kip’s form remained
still.

From beneath her pillow, she brought
forth two small pieces of vegetables taken from this evening’s
repast. Though not much, she hoped the carrot and tuber could be
used to entice an earth spirit to show itself.

Hopping off her cot, her bare feet
landed upon the cold stone causing a shiver to course through her.
With vegetables in hand, she moved to the end of her cot and knelt
upon the floor. Her clothes did little to shield her knees from the
coldness of the stone and another shiver shook her little
frame.

Upon the stone before her, she laid
the vegetables a hand-span apart. “Little Brothers…,” she
whispered, then cast a furtive look toward the sleeping forms.
Seeing that they remained undisturbed, she tried again.

“Little Brothers, I have something for
you.”

Kneeling at the foot of her cot, she
waited. Harkening back to when her uncle had done this, she
remembered he had them sing to entice the earth spirits into
appearing. Soon, her voice, soft and quiet, began singing the same
lullaby they had sung on her uncle’s home world.

Minutes ticked by and no earth spirit
deigned to make an appearance. When her knees grew sore and her
teeth set to chattering, she decided to give up and return to bed.
Of course, insistent yawning had added its voice to the chorus
urging her back to the welcoming warmth of her covers.

She hopped back in bed and snuggled in
deeply. “You can have the food, Little Brothers,” she whispered as
consciousness gradually drifted away. In the morning, the carrot
and tuber were gone.

Father Tullin arrived late the
following morning looking the worse for wear. He entered Miko’s
study and made proper obeisance, though his bow was slightly off
kilter.

“Wild night?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, it
was.”

Miko motioned for his man to sit and
be comfortable. “You really go all out for us, don’t
you?”

Cracking a grin, Father Tullin nodded.
“Whatever is required.”

From a pitcher, Miko poured a glass of
water and scooted it across the table. “Here.”

“Thank you.” He drank the liquid and
asked for another.

“Did you speak with Tinok?”

After draining the second glassful, he
shook his head. “He never showed. Potbelly was quite mad. Seems he
had arranged a match with an out of town favorite. Tinok not
showing cost him a hundred gold, or so he claims.”

Miko cast his priest a questioning
look as he held up the pitcher.

Father Tullin shook his head. “Any
more and it’s going to come back up.” He worked to get his stomach
under control before continuing. “They did as you suggested and
their false Dark Mage made an appearance. It appeared to work. By
the end of the second match, most rumors had been
silenced.”

“That will only work for the Pit
crowd, but at least it is something.”

“True.”

“We are leaving in three days. Make
that two, now.”

“We? You’re going with
them?”

Miko nodded. “I plan to take Fathers
Vickor and Keller with me. Kip too I suppose. He is in this and we
cannot risk leaving him behind. We will head down to see Illan,
then make our way into the Empire.”

Father Tullin frowned. “I don’t like
it. Why do you have to go?”

Silence hung in the air for several
seconds before Miko responded. “There is a matter that requires my
attention.”

It was Tullin’s turn to grow quiet.
“There’s something else. Not sure if it means anything.”

“What?”

“Well, I heard a couple of the
fighters talking about a body found near the Pits four days
ago.”

“Four?”

Father Tullin nodded. “Bodies found in
the vicinity aren’t unusual enough to cause men to talk about
unless it was one of them.” He paused a moment as he glanced toward
his superior.

Miko nodded for him to
continue.

“It wasn’t the identity of the man
they had been discussing, though it did come up. No, it was the
manner in which the body had been found that aroused conversation.
Twin cuts to the chest, one on either side of the heart.
Apparently, the cuts were delivered in a very precise manner,
something one doesn’t see in combat.”

“Knives?” Miko asked, afraid to know
the truth.

Father Tullin shook his head. “They
believed the wounds were caused by a sword’s blade. I thought you
might be interested, so I asked a few question to see if I could
discover the man’s identity.”

He paused momentarily, then leaned
closer. “He was a priest.”

Miko’s eyes widened. “A priest?
Whose?”

“T’Lea’s.”

T’Lea, god of assassins,
his name was used to frighten children into doing their parent’s
bidding.
If you don’t do your chores,
T’Lea will send one of his Aega’s after you.
Aegas were created from the darkest souls that had been
delivered into T’Lea’s realm. Only those who never performed an act
of good, who instead had dedicated their lives to the basest and
most evil atrocities were said to be granted such an exalted
position.

“I didn’t know they held a presence in
the City of Light.”