Free Trail of the Gods: The Morcyth Saga Book Four by Brian S. Pratt Page B

to
talk.”
    “Yes sir,” he says as he picks him up and
starts carrying him back to the house.
    “What about James?” cries Miko, staring at
the forest where the men disappeared.
    “We’ll find him lad,” Illan assures him.
Going over to the dead man, he kneels down and begins going through
his pockets.
    “I know him,” Miko says.
    Standing up abruptly, Illan turns to him and
asks, “What?”
    “I know him,” he says again, looking Illan
in the eyes. “He’s from Bearn.”
    “Bearn?” asks Illan incredulously. “What in
god’s name would someone from Bearn be doing here? And what
possible interest could they have in James?”
    “Lord Colerain,” Miko explains. “He’s had it
in for James ever since we were seen on his property.” When Illan
looks askance at him at that, he adds, “We were there by accident,
but ever since he’s been trying to capture him.”
    “Better tell me the whole thing,” he
says.
    Miko begins from when they got chased into
the sewers and by the time he’s done with the narration, Uther
returns.
    Seeing him approach, Illan asks, “Well?”
    “They lost me in the forest, but I cut over
to the road and caught up with them again just as they were riding
down the road toward town,” he reports. “They all have horses now,
they must’ve had them stashed out by the road before making the
attempt on James.”
    “Go help Fifer and Yern with the horses,” he
tells him. “If they’re on their way to Bearn, then we’re going to
follow.”
    “Yes sir,” he says and then starts running
to the barn.
    “You’re sure about this Colerain, then?” he
asks Miko as they hurry back to the house.
    “Couldn’t be anyone else,” he replies. “Not
if Corim there is involved. He and his buddies are known for this
sort of thing.”
    “At least we have an idea where he’s being
taken,” he says. Coming in through the back door, he finds them out
in the front room where Jiron is lying on the couch. “Well?” he
asks as he enters from the kitchen.
    “I think it may be wearing off,” Jorry tells
him. “Though I can’t be sure.”
    “Jiron,” Illan says as he kneels on the
floor by him. “We think they may be taking him to Bearn.”
    His eyes move back and forth slightly as his
mouth tries to form the words.
    “I know, I know,” he says to him. “We’re
leaving now to get him back. I’m going to leave Yern here since
he’s wounded and you two are going to have to look after things
while we’re gone.” Giving him a meaningful look, he adds, “If you
know what I mean?”
    A brief nod from Jiron shows he understands.
“When Roland gets back, let him know what’s going on and see if you
can get Ceryn to hang out around here until we return.”
    Getting up, he glances at the worried look
on Tersa’s face and says, “He’ll be fine, just drugged. I think
it’s the same drug they used on James. It’s something you use on a
mage to inhibit his ability to use magic.”
    “Okay,” she says. “What should I do?”
    “Nothing you can do for the moment,” he
tells her. “Just have to wait until the effects wear off.”
    “I understand,” she says as she gazes down
at her brother lying there. A slight tear rolls down her face.
    He puts a hand on her shoulder and says in a
reassuring voice, “He’ll be fine.”
    From the front door, Uther says, “The horses
are ready.”
    Turning his attention to Uther, he replies,
“Tell Yern to come in here then go and get enough supplies to last
for several days.”
    “I’ll help you,” offers Tersa as she moves
to the kitchen.
    Uther goes outside and soon Yern comes
in.
    “I want you to stay here with Jiron to look
after the place,” he tells him. “After the attack the other night,
now this, we can’t afford to leave this place undefended.”
    “I understand,” he says.
    Indicating Jiron, he adds, “When he finally
gets up, try to keep him from following.”
    “I’ll do my best,” he says.
    Miko returns from