The star of Morcyth ms-5 Read online

  The man next to James suddenly drops his hat and his face turns pale. “H…here,” he stammers, voice cracking.

  “The Royal Court is ready for you,” the man tells him.

  Bending over to pick up his hat, James can see his hands are visibly shaking. “Relax,” he says quietly to farmer Tibbins.

  The hat again in his hands, he glances at James and then makes his way to the double doors. After he’s passed through, the doors once more close shut.

  One by one, the people who were there ahead of him are summoned through the double doors, none of which come back out. James figures there must be another exit for those with whom the Court is finished.

  Most of the people are not nearly as nervous as farmer Tibbins had been, perhaps they’re simply petitioners for one thing or another. He sits there and wonders just what that farmer had done which would warrant such a reaction of nervousness. He may never know.

  Over an hour after he initially arrived, the doors open up and the officious looking man announces, “The mage known as James.”

  Getting up, he approaches the double doors. He can hear gasps from some of those who heard what the man had just said. Every eye in the room is on him as he makes his way across the room to the double doors.

  As he reaches them, the officious man turns and leads him into the room. The double doors shut behind him with a resounding thud.

  Chapter Six

  “You’re full of it!” the boy says to Miko.

  “Am not!” he asserts. “There are lizards bigger than all of us here put together way down south.”

  Miko has accumulated quite a gathering of the local youths around himself. At first when he left the inn, he wasn’t sure just how to find out what James wants to learn. How he used to do it is no longer an option seeing as he’s more a man than boy now.

  His first stop had been to a bakery where he bought a bag of tarts. To him, tarts are the best tasting delight he’s ever experienced. Shortly after the bakery, he was standing by a chandler’s shop when a youth walked by. For some reason he held out a tart and offered it to him.

  At first the lad eyed him with suspicion. He completely understands how the lad is feeling, he’s been on the other side more times than he can count. Whenever a person offers someone from the street something, there’s usually a catch.

  He took the tart hesitantly and bit into it. It wasn’t long before several more youths showed up and before he knew it, his bag of tarts was empty.

  Better than almost anyone else, Miko knew what drove these kids, their needs and wants. Two things above all else were his greatest desires when he was one of them. The first was the finer things of life, such as tarts. As a street kid, you never got such unless you stole them. Any money you acquired had to be spent on more important things like food and at times, protection.

  The second thing of paramount importance is diversion, to be taken away from their mundane and harsh existence, if only for a brief time. Tales and experiences, both real and imagined are hungered after by these, the more fantastic the better. So he began to regale them with tales of his experiences with James. He couldn’t think of tales any more fantastic than what he’s actually lived through thus far. And that’s how he came to be talking of rhino-lizards.

  In the course of his narration, he notices James passing by but fails to break the mood he’s building with these kids by waving hello.

  A dozen kids now encircle him as he continues his narration of the swamp. “Not only do you have to be careful not to attract the ferocious rhino-lizards, but you have to watch where you step. You don’t want to accidentally put your foot in the water.”

  “Why not?” asks one girl of about ten who just joined the group.

  “Because living within the water are small fish, no bigger than this,” he says as he uses his hands to illustrate their size. “With a mouth full of teeth that will rip you to shreds in no time at all!”

  “You’re lyin’!” one kid exclaims.

  “No he’s not,” another pipes up. “Old Fergus down on Vinet Street has some of them he keeps in a big glass jar. He showed them to me once.” Having the attention of his peers, he adds, “He caught a mouse and dropped it in with the fish and they tore the flesh from its bones fast.”

  “Ooooo,” one girl says.

  “The fish seemed to like the warmer water down in the Empire,” Miko explains. “I doubt if you’ll find them anywhere around here.”

  “Wonder if that Ambassador from the Empire would have any?” one small boy asks.

  “Why would he have any?” an older boy says derisively. “That’s just dumb!”

  “There’s an Ambassador from the Empire in town?” Miko asks. He’s been waiting for the conversation to turn in this direction.

  “You ain’t heard?” one boy asks, surprised. “It’s all anyone’s been able to talk about.”

  “Just got to town yesterday,” he explains. “Wonder why he’s here?”

  “Hear they got troubles down in the Empire and he’s here to ask for help,” one boy says.

  “That ain’t the reason,” an older girl says. “I heard it from my brother, who heard it from his master that he’s here to arrange a trade agreement.”

  They begin to argue amongst themselves as each tries to convince the others of the truthfulness of their story and the falsehood of everyone else’s.

  Miko lets it run for a moment, listening to all the various stories, none of which is anything he hadn’t already heard from Fifer and Jiron. Holding up his hands, he says, “Quiet down now.”

  The kids begin quieting down and one by one turn to look at him. “Now, who would like to earn a couple coppers?” he asks.

  A dozen hands fly up into the air as each begins saying they do.

  “I want information about the Ambassador, why he’s here,” he begins.

  “What for?” one of the boys hollers from the back of the group.

  “My master is a rich merchant,” he tells them. “If he is in fact here to negotiate a new trade agreement, it would be to my master’s benefit to know.” Several heads bob up and down as they begin to see the logic of that.

  “So, I would like you all to find out as much as you can and meet me back here later this afternoon,” he says. “If any of you can tell me his business here I’ll give each of you three coppers and spring for a meal.”

  “And more tarts?” one small girl with berry stains on her face asks.

  “And more tarts too,” he assures her with a smile. To the rest, he adds, “But be careful. Those from the Empire tend to deal strongly with spies.”

  ”We’ll be careful,” one older boy says.

  “Okay then, on your way and meet me back here this afternoon before the evening meal.”

  The kids move away quickly down the street as Miko smiles. If anyone can find out what’s going on here, it’s them. Not willing to leave it just up to them, he plans to do his own investigating.

  One of the most prevalent rumors is the trade agreement. That one, more than any of the others, is believed by most. Maybe it’s just the most logical, or perhaps there is a basis for it. Asking directions of a local, he soon is heading down to the Merchant’s Guild. If there’s any truth behind the rumor he’s likely to find out there.

  The Merchant’s Guild building is a large three story complex located within the second wall. He tries to walk through the main entrance but before he even gets close to the door is turned away by the guard stationed there.

  Unable to gain entry, he instead works his way around the outside, looking for any other doors which may prove more accommodating. The only other doors he finds are locked from the other side. It seems the only way in is through the main front door which is guarded.

  Not willing to give up, he stations himself in an unobtrusive spot across the street in an alley where he can monitor the comings and goings through the front door. A half hour into his vigil, he sees two of the kids whom he sent in search of information wander b
y and mill around outside the building. Smiling to himself, he realizes they’re actually working to find out the information they said they would.

  Several minutes later, the kids move off down the street and disappear in the crowd.

  He sits there in his place in the alley for awhile longer until he notices two men exiting the Merchant’s Guild. A cold shiver runs through him when he realizes one of the men is none other than Lord Colerain. What is he doing here?

  The man he’s with is dressed in fine clothes with a bearing which gives off the aura of authority. They move away from the building and turn to go down the street.

  Coming to his feet, Miko edges out of the alley and follows them. He remembers back to their last visit here and the problems Lord Colerain had caused them. At the time, Lord Colerain was staying with a local noble by name of Lord Kindering. The man with whom he’s walking could be this Lord Kindering.

  He follows them through the crowds, always keeping enough distance between them so as not to be discovered. Lord Colerain here in Cardri. The Empire’s Ambassador here as well. And then James gets summoned to appear before the Royal Court? It can’t be just a coincidence! Something’s going on and he intends to find out what.

  Keeping them just within sight, he follows them to the gates leading into the castle area and watches in frustration as they pass through. Coming to a halt, he knows there’s no way the guards there will allow him through the gates. Positioning himself in an out of the way area, he keeps an eye on the gates in the hopes they reappear.

  By the time he needs to return to meet with the street kids, they haven’t returned from within the castle area. Getting up, he heads back toward his rendezvous with the kids. On the way he stops by a bakery for a small sack of tarts, enough for each of the kids to have one then continues down the street. When he nears the location, he sees them already there waiting for him.

  “Thought you might’ve forgotten about us,” one older boy states.

  “Naw,” he says, “just got tied up for a moment. What did you find out?”

  “Not much,” the older boy says. “The word is that they are in fact here for trade negotiations, but that may not be all they’re here for.”

  “Oh?” prompts Miko.

  “It seems the delegation which came with the Ambassador also included an Eye,” he explains.

  “An Eye?” asks Miko. “What’s that?”

  “Don’t know for sure, but that’s what they said,” the boy replies. “They didn’t give any details about what an Eye is, but when they said it you could tell it wasn’t good.”

  “Interesting,” says Miko.

  “You said you’d pay us!” one younger boy demands.

  “Of course,” he says as he reaches into his pouch for the promised coins and hands each of them three coppers. “Now, how about that meal I promised too.”

  “Yeah!” several of them exclaim at the same time.

  Smiling, he leads them back a ways to one of the cities open markets where they stop at one of the open eateries which are popular here in Cardri. He buys them each a bowl of stew with a quarter loaf of bread.

  While they eat he asks them about Lord Kindering.

  “He’s bad news,” the older boy says.

  “Why?” asks Miko.

  “He deals with the less than savory factions of the city,” another boy says. “Anyone who crosses him often as not ends up dead.”

  Nodding, Miko thinks that’s just the sort of individual Lord Colerain would be associated with. “What else can you tell me about him?”

  “He’s one of the three Lords of the Merchant’s Guild,” an older girl says.

  “Yeah,” adds the older boy, “I think that’s why he bears the title Lord. From what I’ve heard, there’s nothing of the nobility in his family.”

  “So if the Ambassador is here to negotiate a new trade agreement, he would be one of the men involved?” he asks.

  “Would think so,” the older boy says. “Though don’t know for sure.”

  “Could you find out if there’s a connection between this Lord Kindering and the Ambassador?”

  “Sure,” he says.

  He gives the older boy a couple silvers and says, “I’m staying at the Silver Bells. If you find out anything, find me there. If I’m not there, just leave word to meet you back here. We’ll meet here tomorrow morning if not before.”

  “Will do,” he says. The kids finish eating and begin to leave. One small girl, the one who had berry filling smeared across her face earlier comes over and gives him a quick hug.

  He takes the sack of tarts out of his shirt and hands them to her. “Here you go,” he says with a grin.

  Taking the sack she flashes him a smile and then runs to catch up with the others.

  Sitting back, he feels good about not only successfully finding out information James will want to know, but also about making the lives of these kids a little better if only for a brief time. He finishes his meal and then walks through the streets back to the Silver Bells.

  By the time he arrives, it’s now late afternoon and the sun is beginning its descent to the horizon. At the inn, he finds Illan sitting in the common room talking with several of the locals. When he sees him approaching, Illan gets up and takes his leave of the men as he meets Miko halfway.

  “Was getting worried about you,” he tells him.

  “Sorry,” apologizes Miko. “I was finding out about things.”

  Nodding, Illan says, “Let’s go up to my room where we can talk in private.”

  As they move to the stairs leading up the second floor, Miko asks, “Where is everyone?”

  “James is still at the castle,” he explains. “I’ve had no word about him since he left. Jiron and Fifer left a short time ago, said something about meeting someone. They were rather vague about the whole thing.”

  Back in the room, Illan shuts the door and Miko fills him in on what the kids had said. At mention of the Eye, he gets a strange look on his face but makes no comment. When Miko tells him about finding Lord Colerain and Lord Kindering at the Merchant’s Guild, he gets another odd look.

  “It just seems more than coincidence that all these things are coinciding with James being summoned here,” he concludes.

  “I tend to agree,” states Illan.

  “What’s the Eye?” Miko asks him after a brief quiet.

  Sitting back in the chair, Illan considers the question a moment before answering. “The Eye, or rather an Eye of the Emperor, is part of a secret organization within the Empire that seeks out those who jeopardize or challenge the rule of the Emperor.”

  “But why would one be here?” asks Miko. “James?”

  “I don’t know, but I don’t like it,” he says.

  “Didn’t he say two hours after sunset?” Fifer asks him.

  “Yes,” replies Jiron as they make their way out to where the fight’s going to be.

  “Then why are we leaving so early?” he asks. Pointing to the sun which is low to the horizon he continues, “It’s going to be several hours before we have to be there.”

  Giving Fifer an annoyed look, he says, “First of all, I didn’t want to be there when James returns to the inn. If he got wind of this he would probably try to get me to call it off. This way, we don’t have that problem.”

  “Secondly, I was hoping we might be able to do a little digging and see if we can find out about who I might be fighting.”

  “To give you an edge?” suggests Fifer.

  “Something like that,” agrees Jiron. “Back at the pits, we always had scouts out to find out about newcomers to the pits. Their strengths and weaknesses, that sort of thing. It’s amazing how much of an edge one little piece of information can give you.”

  It isn’t hard to locate the inn behind which Jiron agreed to fight tonight. As the barkeep had told them, behind the inn is a sizeable area. Filled with refuse and beggars, its center has been kept relatively clear for the fights that go on here.

 
“Where should we start?” asks Fifer.

  Shrugging, Jiron gestures to the beggars hanging out in the area, “How about with them?”

  The first beggar they approach shies away from them as they come near, unwilling to meet their eyes much less talk to them. Looking around, Jiron sees one eyeing them and makes his way toward him. This beggar holds his ground as they approach.

  “You hang out here much?” asks Jiron as he stops next to the man.

  Nodding, he replies, “Yes.”

  “I hear there are fights going on here from time to time,” he says.

  The beggar just stares at him, not responding to what he just said. Producing two coppers, he holds them out and the beggar snatches them away quickly. Looking around, he says, “Occasionally. I hear there will be one tonight.” Gesturing around at the many beggars he adds, “That’s why so many of us are here.”

  “Do you know anything about who’s fighting?” he asks.

  “Maybe,” he says. His hand snakes out of his clothing with the palm up.

  Fishing out two more coppers, he places them in the beggar’s hand.

  After his hand is once again within the dirty rags he calls clothes, he says, “Bunch of foreigners have staged fights here with locals the last week or so. They have a champion whom they say no one’s been able to beat.”

  “What is their champion like?” asks Fifer.

  “He was big, muscled and fought with two swords,” he says. “The last two fights only lasted a few passes before his opponent lay dead on the ground.”

  Fifer glances to Jiron but he seems unconcerned about what he’s hearing. Many tales were told of opponents before they got into the pit with them, most of them were over exaggerated. Those who took rumors to heart tended to be less effective against them.

  “I thought they fought with fists at times,” Jiron says.

  Shaking his head, the beggar says, “No, never saw that. Not for awhile anyway.”

  Jiron then produces another coin, this time a silver and asks, “Where could a person place a bet on such a fight?”