Tides of Faith: Travail of The Dark Mage Book Two (4 page)

“Kip!”

Hearing Miko call his name, the young
Novice put the counter behind his back and whirled to face him.
“What? Oh… uh, yes, Reverend Father?”

“It’s alright,” James assured him. To
Kip, he motioned for the lad to come forward.

“I…I’m sorry,” he stammered as he
brought the Geiger counter out from behind his back.

Jira looked on in alarm. “You aren’t
going to fry him, are you Uncle?”

In an instant, Kip’s embarrassed
countenance turned to panic.

“Not this time,” James replied, while
at the same time giving the Novice a stern gaze. “Though you might
want to think twice before touching my things again. Some of it
might get mad at you.” He winked at Miko but kept his face
severe.

“Yes, sir.”

James took the Geiger counter that
still clicked with background radiation and flipped the switch. The
clicking stopped.

Eyeing the counter with interest, Miko
said, “I have been meaning to ask you about that, and the other
items.”

“Kip, why don’t you and Jira play
Bones and Daggers while the Reverend Father and I talk.”

Glad for any excuse to beat a hasty
retreat, Kip nodded. “Sure.” Taking Jira by the hand he went to
their favored spot upon Kip’s cot and began setting out the
pieces.

Once they were otherwise occupied,
James returned his attention to Miko. Holding up the counter, he
spoke in a hushed whisper, “I mean for us to recover the
Star.”

Miko’s eyes widened. “You cannot be
serious. The entire area is death for anyone who
enters.”

“I know. Remember how I told you that
the explosion taking out Dmon-Li’s High Temple had been similar to
what in my world would be called a nuclear explosion?”

“Yes. I recall you said that what
killed everything was something called, ‘radiation’.”

“Precisely.” He patted the Geiger
counter. “This is designed to detect radiation. It clicks when
radiation is near.”

Miko glanced to the Counter with
concern. “It was clicking just now.”

“Don’t worry about that. My people
have long since known that radiation is everywhere. The slow
clicking you heard is merely indicating the presence of ‘background
radiation,’ which is harmless.”

“But, how will knowing where the
radiation is aid in retrieving the Star?” He had thought about
making the attempt, but feared the invisible death unleashed five
years before.

“It won’t, by itself. But…” he
gestured toward the two bulky packages containing the radiation
suits, “with these, we can get it. When worn, they will protect us
against the harmful effects of the radiation. All we need to do is
walk in and get it. I trust that once there, you will be able to
locate it?”

Miko nodded. “Oh, yes. That should not
be a problem. Get me close, and it will call to me.”

“That’s what I was hoping.”

Alongside the suits rested the box
containing Meliana’s box of chocolates and the six cocoa pods. With
luck, he would be able to find a suitable location in which they
can thrive.

Then there were the books. From the
looks of it, someone had been going through them, most likely that
rascal, Kip. James grinned as he imagined how the lad would have
reacted to what was within. Most of it would be words
unintelligible to anyone from this world. Of course, having been
raised on the streets, it was unlikely the boy was literate. The
diagrams and pictures would have proven of interest though.
Hopefully, none of the “secrets” of his world had taken root. His
grin turned into a full blown chuckle when he thought how such
would violate the Prime Directive.

Miko cocked an eye his way.

James waved off the question. “It’s
nothing.”

“Indeed. Go to sleep.”

“Yes, your most Reverend
Self.”

Making to swat him, Miko grinned.
“Keep up that ‘Reverend Self’ stuff, and I will see you get nothing
but gruel during your convalescence.”

“That would be better than some of the
food we’ve shared together.”

“True enough.”

James finally relented, or perhaps his
body could take no more, and closed his eyes.

Coming to his feet, Miko crossed to
where Kip and Jira played Bones and Daggers. Kip’s daggers had
already decimated Jira’s and were closing in on her bones. Miko
figured she wouldn’t last much longer, but her imminent loss didn’t
appear to bother her. She had an intent look as she studied the
board, trying to find the next, best move. Unfortunately, there
weren’t any.

He caught Kip’s eye as he approached.
“Keep things quiet while they rest.” He then indicated Jira with a
nod of his head.

“Yes, Reverend Father.”

As he made his way across the room to
the door, he heard Jira exclaim, “Rat poop!” followed by Kip’s
“Another game?” He hoped the boy would take it easy and allow her
to win one.

Once outside, he headed for his
chambers. It had been several long days since time allowed any
chance for relaxation. There was simply too much going on. He
enjoyed having James at the temple, he just wished that it had been
under better circumstances. His mind awhirl with plans and
possibilities, he failed to notice Father Tullin coming down the
corridor toward him until they were but feet apart.

“Ah, Reverend Father.” Hailing his
superior, the younger priest came to a stop. With sword on the left
and dagger on his right, and dressed in tattered, brown leathers
rather than his priestly attire, Father Tullin looked more the
thug, than one of spirituality. But then, most of his priests did
as they were drawn from that segment of the populace.

Coming to a stop, Miko noticed the
Father seemed rather tense. “Yes, Father Tullin?”

“You have a visitor.”

“At this late hour? Perhaps you could
have him return in the morning.” Ready to resume his progress to
hearth and bed, Miko was brought up short.

“I do not believe this can wait.”
Lowering his voice, Father Tullin added, “The cat’s tail has been
caught.”

Miko took the information
with less than sublime equanimity.
The
cat’s tail has been caught
, is a saying
referring to how a rumor can be elusive, yet travels quickly like a
cat. And when the tails have been caught, it means the truth of the
rumor has been discovered. It was a rather archaic saying, but one
that still surfaced from time to time.

There was only one rumor that he and
his priests were concerned with at the moment, and that was the
presence of The Dark Mage within the temple. If someone had figured
out that he was there…

Miko nodded and signaled for Father
Tullin to lead the way. “Is he alone?”

“Yes, Reverend Father.”

His study wasn’t far away, and after a
right turn down a converging corridor, soon came to the door.
“Remain here. Let no one in.” As Father Tullin bowed and took his
position before the door, Miko pushed the door open.

A man, slightly shorter than himself,
stood before the fireplace with back to the door. But even still,
Miko readily recognized him. “Hello, Tinok.”

Long time, boyhood friend of Jiron’s,
Tinok was a dark, brooding man. Having lost his bride on the night
of their marriage to bandits had done something to him. Years
afterward had been spent in the methodical hunt and execution of
men of importance in the Empire. He blamed them for her death, and
had killed many before his capture. Now, he spent much of his time
in the Pits, venting anger that never cooled.

From the blood staining the front of
his tunic, it was clear he had just come from a fight. As usual,
there wasn’t a mark on him. His prowess with knives was only
eclipsed by Jiron’s.

“Where’s Jiron?” No preamble, no
salutary greeting, just a direct question.

Miko indicated a chair. “Please
sit.”

Tinok remained where he was. “Is he
here?”

“What makes you think that he is
here?”

Tinok’s gaze was penetrating, the
perpetual frown remained steadfast in place. “Rumors are flying
about how James was killed. Your temple was in an uproar for two
days but has now calmed.”

“Merely shaking things up a bit.
Keeping them on their toes.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

A veiled threat?
“I have not.”

Dark, piercing eyes bored into his.
“Is he here?” When Miko didn’t readily answer, he nodded. “I
thought so. Where is he?”

“Recovering, but that stays between
you and me.”

“Since he was visiting James, I take
it he’s here too?”

Perceptive little
bugger
. “Yes. His island was attacked, and
through means magical, managed to bring himself, Jiron and Jira
here. All three were on the verge of death. My priests and I healed
their wounds.”

“What about his wife?”

“Safe with Meliana and Kenny at
Meliana’s father’s estate in Corillian.”

Quiet reigned between them for a
moment. “Was it the Empire?”

“We do not know.”

Again, silence.

“Jiron is unconscious and isn’t to
have any visitors.”

Tinok’s eyes narrowed.

Miko met his gaze without flinching.
He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, though doubted if
Tinok posed any serious threat. At least he hoped so. The man was
hard to read and for him, that in itself spoke volumes. Those dark
eyes remained riveted on his, unblinking and unwavering.

“So be it.”

As Tinok turned to go, Miko said, “Try
not to be seen coming or going. If word should leak out that they
are here, it could complicate things.”

Tinok didn’t say a word as he crossed
to the door, swung it open, and left.

Father Tullin stepped aside as Tinok
moved past.

“Escort him if you would, Father
Tullin.”

“Yes, Reverend Father.” Keeping six
steps behind, the priest followed Tinok down the corridor and
around the corner.

Miko watched them go until they
rounded the corner and were out of sight. He sagged into a chair
before the fire and worried. If Tinok, who rarely left the area
near the Pits had figured it out, then how many others had
too?

Minutes ticked by as he considered the
problem. When Father Tullin returned to report that Tinok had left
the Temple grounds, he had reached a decision. “Father, see if Scar
or Potbelly would call upon me in the morning. Tell them nothing
about what happened, nor about our late night visitor.”

Bowing respectfully, Father Tullin
backed from the room and set about to carry out Miko’s
request.

Perhaps their doppelganger of James
wouldn’t mind putting in an appearance to throw a bar in the
runaway rumor mill.

The following morning when Miko went
to check on his guests, he found the trio sitting at one of the
tables sharing a morning repast. Kip practically hovered around
Jiron, his concern for the man’s weakened state driving the
one-time Pit fighter to distraction.

“Leave me alone, boy. I’m not going to
topple to the floor.”

“As you wish.” Backing off barely an
inch, Kip retained his position.

Miko couldn’t help but grin, if for no
other reason than Jiron’s discomfiture beneath Kip’s
over-protectiveness. “Good morning to you all.”

James turned and waved him to join
them. “Kip and Father Keller were kind enough to supply a feast fit
for a king.” Eggs, slabs of bacon, rolls, and a creation of James’
that had taken the baking world by storm over the last couple of
years, were laid out upon the table. His creation consisted of a
rounded piece of dough with the center cut out, fried in fat, and
topped with honey, molasses, or any number of sweet confectionary
delights. James called them doughnuts; the bakers called them
gold.

“Thank you. I would be happy to.”
Taking the empty chair next to James, Miko helped himself to three
of the molasses-topped doughnuts, his personal favorite. He glanced
to Kip and saw him grin. His penchant for sweets was well known
throughout the Temple, and was certain the number and variety with
which they broke their fast played no small role.

“Tinok knows you are here.” Glancing
his way, he could see Jiron’s surprise.

“How? Are your priests
talking?”

“Hardly. He is far from dim-witted.
Once the rumors began circulating, he figured it out.”

“He always was rather
bright.”

James wasn’t nearly as okay with this.
“I don’t know if I like him knowing we’re here. He could tell
someone and the game would be over.”

Jiron shook his head. “I don’t think
Tinok would give us away.”

“Not intentionally, no. But if whoever
attacked my island has agents in the city, you can bet he’s being
watched.”