Shades Of The Past Part 4

The night continues to deepen and after another hour, the moon makes its appearance, adding its light to that of the orb. "I don't think he knows where they are," he hears one farmer say behind him.

"Quiet!" the father says to the other. "If you don't want to continue, I'll understand. But I'll follow him to the edge of Coryntia's domain if it will get my children back." Coryntia of course being the Hooded Lady, she whose domain lies between the living and the dead.

Suddenly the dogs begin barking. "They've got the scent!" the father cries out.

James releases the spell and allows the father to take the lead.

"Come on boys!" he cries excitedly to his dogs. "Find em."

The dogs pull on their leashes, practically dragging the father along. The others follow right behind. Yowling, the dogs come to a game trail and turn to follow the scent. "What would they be doing this far up the mountain?" their father asks to no one in particular.

They follow the dogs down the game trail for a hundred yards until the dogs abruptly turn into the woods to the right. Moving further up the mountain, they travel for several more minutes through the trees and undergrowth before a darkness appears in the side of the mountain before them. It's a cave and the dogs are moving to enter its maw.

When the farmer reaches the entrance, he pauses and hollers into the opening, "Barric, Aria!" He pauses a moment to listen for his children's response before handing the dog's leash to another. When no answer is forthcoming, he enters the cave.

James hurries along behind, the light from his...o...b..revealing that the cave continues fifteen feet into the side of the mountain before it narrows dramatically. Everyone else follows except the man with the dogs, he remains at the entrance.

"Barric, Aria!" the father again shouts. The only replies are faint echoes coming from further inside.

The far side of the cave narrows to an opening barely three feet across and four high. Looks as if the mountain had s.h.i.+fted in ages past, creating the opening. Water oozes from the sides, collecting in the depressions along the ground.

The father moves to enter the opening first but Jiron puts a hand on his shoulder and says, "You better let us go first, we've done this sort of thing before."

He looks as if he's about to object but then nods and backs up to allow Jiron to move first, then James. Miko follows next followed by the farmer and the others who have accompanied him on his search.

"What would they be doing in here?" Miko asks as he enters through the opening. Having to hunch over due to the narrowness of the opening, he steps through.

From behind the father's voice comes, "They're rather an adventurous pair. Barric's the worst and his sister will follow him anywhere."

The tunnel they find themselves in is moving down a gradual slope, the floor of the tunnel is uneven to say the least. The further they advance down it, the more water is collected upon the floor. At one point the pools of water begin to turn into a small stream flowing along the base of the tunnel.

"Barric, Aria!" cries the father again, but only silence returns. Worried, he continues following behind James and Jiron.

The tunnel they're moving through comes to an abrupt end at a steep, downward shaft descending into darkness. The water flowing along the bottom of the pa.s.sage goes over the edge and can be heard as it cascades down into the darkness below. As soon as Jiron and James both reach the edge, the father sees them stop and asks, "What's wrong?"

"The way continues down a deep shaft," James explains. The shaft is even narrower than the tunnel which they've been following, barely two, maybe three feet in diameter. The sides are rough and afford many handholds which could be used in climbing down.

Upon reaching the shaft, the father looks down into the depths with dread. "Barric, Aria!" he shouts into the opening. After a moment's silence, from below comes a barely heard female's voice, "Father!"

"That's Aria!" he exclaims, hope springing to life. "Are you okay?" he shouts down.

"I think Barric's dead," she says with a sob.

Miko comes to the fore and asks Jiron, "Do you still have that rope?"

He nods as he lifts his s.h.i.+rt to show the coil of rope secured around his waist.

"Let me have it," he says and ties one end around his middle after Jiron hands it to him. "Hold on tight and don't let go," he tells him as he moves to the edge of the shaft.

"What are you doing?" James asks as he places a hand on his arm.

"What I have to," he says. Removing James' restraining hand, he starts climbing down the shaft. To Aria below he says, "Hold on, I'm coming." Handhold to handhold he works his way down.

James comes to help Jiron in maintaining supportive tension on the rope as Miko slowly makes his way down. After he pa.s.ses into the darkness, a white light suddenly springs into being and they are able to see him as he continues working his way down.

"Where did that come from?" Jiron asks James when the light appears. There isn't any source for the light that they can make out, it just seems to be there.

"I'm not sure, maybe from the Star," he says. Jiron nods his head in understanding.

Miko continues to work his way down the shaft, the water cascading around him soon has him drenched. At one point a rock gives way and he begins sliding uncontrollably to the bottom but is stopped by the rope. Jiron and James hold the rope steady until he has a chance to regain his foothold.

When the light appeared he was slightly surprised, not knowing where it came from. It bothered him at first, but then the light brought him peace and a sense of purpose. Giving it no more thought, he continued working his way down, one handhold at a time.

Before Jiron's rope is completely played out, he reaches a cavern. Fortunately, the shaft enters the cavern against one wall and he's able to work his way down the wall to the bottom. A large pool of water sits directly beneath the opening forcing him to work his way laterally along the wall in order to reach the edge of the pool.

"Father?" a girl's voice comes from further into the cavern.

Miko reaches the edge of the pool and comes to stand on the cavern's floor. Looking into the cavern, he sees a young girl of about sixteen sitting twenty feet away. Cradled in her lap is the head of a young man of about eighteen. Around the lad's head a cloth has been tied as well as two other bandages, one on his leg and another around his chest. His clothing in those areas is soaked with blood "No, I'm not your father," he says as he unties the rope from around him and goes over to them. Looking up the shaft, he hollers, "I'm down and I found them!"

"Who are you?" she asks.

"You can call me Miko," he replies.

"Is she okay?" her father's voice comes from above.

Miko glances to her and sees her nod her head. "I think so, give me a minute." Coming closer, he kneels down beside her to examine her brother. Next to her on the rock he can see what's left of three candles which she must have had with her when this all happened.

"Where is the light coming from?" she asks him, a little bit of fear edging into her voice.

As he puts his ear to her brother's chest, he replies, "That's kind of hard to explain." He then puts a finger to his lips indicating for her to keep quiet and she nods her head. Trying to tune out the background noises such as the water cascading down the shaft into the pool, her breathing and the sound of his own heartbeat, he listens for the boy's.

Lub...dub.

Very faint, but his heartbeat is there. "He's alive," he says. "But his life is leaving him."

"Oh, Barric!" she cries, holding her brother tighter.

Miko reaches into his pouch and produces the Star of Morcyth. The light within the cavern suddenly increases tenfold as its brilliance s.h.i.+nes forth.

"What's happening?" her father hollers down from above when the light from the Star reaches them.

Ignoring his question, Miko holds aloft the Star in his right hand and lays his other upon Barric's chest. Aria looks in awe at him as he closes his eyes and his lips begin to move silently.

No sooner do his lips begin to move than a glow surrounds him and extends toward her brother. Gasping in shock, she begins to recoil from the approaching glow but then her fears melt away as a calmness comes over her.

As the glow continues to envelope both Miko and her brother, she sees her father emerge through the opening in the ceiling. "Father!" she whispers urgently, glad to have him again with her.

Coming to stand on the floor of the cavern by the pool, he turns to see his son enveloped by the Star's glow. Rus.h.i.+ng over, afraid of what may be happening to his son, he makes to push Miko away.

"No father," his daughter says, holding up a hand. "He's alive." She nods to Miko and adds, "I think he's a priest."

Looking down at his son, blood soaked and for all the world looking as if he's already pa.s.sed to the other side, he holds little hope for his survival.

Others begin entering through the opening, first James and then Jiron who has left the rope in the hands of two of the other farmers. They make their way over to the others and arrive just as Barric's chest begins to rise and fall on its own.

"He's breathing!" his father exclaims. Looking to his daughter, he can see his hope and joy reflected in her eyes.

Another few minutes and the glow suddenly disappears, the only light now in the cavern is that of James' orb. Barric's eyes flutter open and he looks around at those standing around him.

Miko gets to his feet and returns the Star to its pouch. "How can I ever repay you?" the father says to Miko as his son begins to sit up.

"There is nothing to repay," he tells him.

James comes and pats him on the back, "Good job."

"Thanks," he replies. Then to the boy's father he says, "He should be okay now, but will need many days of rest before he'll fully recover."

"What temple do you belong to?" the father asks. "I would like to go and give my thanks and make an offering."

Miko looks surprised and glances to James. James just shrugs and allows Miko to handle this on his own. Turning back to the father, he says, "I don't really belong to any temple. The healing of your son was done by the power of the G.o.d Morcyth."

"Morcyth?" the father asks. "Don't think I know of him, but tonight I shall pray to him and offer my thanks for the life of my son."

"Maybe we need to start thinking about getting everyone out of here," Jiron suggests.

"Yes," the father agrees. He offers his son a hand and helps him to his feet. Barric has to lean heavily upon his father as his legs have very little strength left.

Lifting his hand to his forehead, Barric scratches and the cloth covering his head falls away. His sister gasps when she sees the pink line where a jagged tear had been but a day before. "It's healed!" she exclaims.

"Of course it's healed," her father says. "That's what priests do."

At that, Miko turns to James and silently mouths, 'Priest?' 'Priest?'

James simply grins and pats him on the back.

Using the rope, they help the brother and sister up to the top first, then the father. James climbs up next and Jiron follows last. They make their way along the sloping pa.s.sage, the father and another farmer helping Barric along. At the opening, the two dogs greet Barric and Aria with barks and attempts to jump on them but the farmer holding their leash keeps them at a distance.

On the way back down the mountain, Aria explains that this cave is a favorite of theirs. They've been here many times before but this time while descending the shaft, Barric slipped and fell.

"Why didn't you come get help?" her father asks.

"I'm sorry," she says. "But I didn't want him to die all alone and in the dark." Then she lays her head on his shoulder and begins to release the pent up worry and sorrow she's been feeling since that fateful fall. Her sobs last quite awhile, almost lasting until they reach the camp where Illan and the others are waiting.

Most everyone is still awake, worried about what was going on. Devin hears them coming and calls out, "They're back."

As Illan comes forward, he sees the two kids walking with them, Aria clutched to her father and Barric supported between two of the farmers. "Good work," he says to James with a smile.

James turns to the father and says, "You are all welcome to share our fire this night."

Shaking his head, he replies, "Thank you, but no. Our farm is but an hour away and I think it would be best to return and put him to bed. Their mother is beside herself with worry too and I would hate to extend her misery any longer than I have to."

"I understand," James says. Extending his hand, he adds, "Good luck to you."

Taking it, the father says, "You too." Then to Miko he comes over, extends his hand but then reconsiders and gives him a hug. "Thank you so much for my son," he says softly. When he releases Miko from the embrace, tears can be seen at the corners of his eyes. At that, he and the others turn and make their way back down the road toward their home.

Chapter Four.

___________________________.

"So what happened?" Illan asks after the villagers leave. Everyone gathers around as James, Jiron and Miko take turns relating the events as transpired upon and within the mountain. When Miko comes to the part where he heals Barric and is named priest by the father, he falls quiet.

"What's the matter?" Yern asks him.

"I...I don't think I am a priest," he says. "Just because I have the Star doesn't make me one." He looks to James and asks, "Does it?"

James takes a long look at him while he contemplates the answer. The shade of the dead priest of Morcyth had stipulated the glow only manifests for priests of Morcyth and the glow manifested for Miko. Did that make him a priest? Finally he says, "I think by the broadest definition of a priest, you are. A priest calls upon his G.o.d and things happen, such as when you use the Star to heal people."

"But, I don't feel like a priest," he says, slightly scared. "You once named me a warrior priest of Dmon-Li. Now am I a priest of Morcyth? Am I both?"

"Maybe simply being in possession of the Star enables him to tap into the G.o.d's power without actually being a priest," Scar says. "In fact, Potbelly and I once ran into..."

James stops him with a wave and says, "Not now."

Becoming quiet, Scar glances around and sees that no one was paying him much attention anyway.

To Miko, James says, "If you are, you are. There's not a whole lot you can do about it right now." He takes in Miko's demeanor and asks, "Does it bother you to be so named?"

After a moment's thought, he shakes his head. "No," he says. "A name is just that, a name. I have made no vows of priesthood so I can't consider myself one."

"These are the sort of things other priests should discuss with you," Illan says. Then to all those gathered he adds, "But the night is waning and if we are to get any rest before heading out in the morning, we best turn in now."

"You're right," James says and they break up, each heading to their tents except those currently on watch.

Miko walks with James and asks quietly, "Do you really think I am a priest?"