The Mists of Sorrow: The Morcyth Saga Book Seven Read Online Free Page B

Illan he asks, “Hasn’t the Empire been ‘swallowing its
neighbors’ for hundreds of years?”
    Nodding, he replies, “Yes they have.”
    James turns back to Brother Willim.
    “As I said there have been other prophecies
the man spoke that foretells the time of the Gardener’s coming,” he
says. “I and my brothers have no doubt that that time is now.” He
can see the doubt in James’ eyes. “This next prophecy we have never
been able to satisfactorily discern its meaning. However, it should
have meaning for the Gardener.”

    Ships through air, a walk on the moon,
    Invisible death his kind has strewn.
    Box of pictures, music from stone,
    By these things the Gardener is known.

    Traveling far from a land apart,
    Lost and alone on the path he will
start.
    The light of knowledge shall be at his
side,
    Salvation or death, the edge he doth
stride.

    When he finishes he looks to James for his
reaction.
    James sits back, his mind churning over the
prophecy. The first stanza has to refer to Earth. Ships through
the air, a walk on the moon, Invisible death his kind has
strewn. Airplanes, Neil Armstrong and the invisible death could
refer to radiation fallout. The rest of the first stanza is also
referring to his home.
    The next stanza, well he definitely comes
from a land apart. And he did start lost and alone when he went
through the door at the interview. He glances to Miko who has been
listening to the whole conversation. “The Star must be the light of
knowledge,” he says. “Morcyth is a god of learning so that makes
sense.”
    “But the last line, Salvation or death,
the edge he doth stride, ” Miko replies. “What can that
mean?”
    Shaking his head he says, “I don’t know.” He
then arcs an eyebrow questioningly to Brother Willim.
    “You are heading toward a time when you are
going to be placed in a situation where your actions will determine
the fate of this world,” he explains. “Other prophecies refer to
it, but none are clear as to when you will reach that moment or the
decision that will be pivotal. I’m sorry I can’t be of any more
help than that.”
    Great , thinks James. As if I don’t
already have enough to worry about. “I think I would have just
as soon not known all this.”
    “I understand,” says Brother Willim. “Many
of our brethren argued that foreknowledge could alter the outcome
to our doom. Others of course argued that it could only help if you
knew what was going on.”
    “What do you think?” Miko asks.
    “I am not sure,” he replies. “Before I left,
I was instructed only to reveal this to you should you specifically
ask.”
    “But I never would have asked if you hadn’t
mentioned it earlier,” James says.
    Nodding, Brother Willim says, “True. I can
only believe that Asran wanted me to say it so you would know. I
have prayed about why I said what I did and each time receive a
feeling of peace.”
    “Whether it helps or not,” James says with a
yawn, “I’m to bed.” Looking at the others near him he adds, “We got
a long way to go and a short time to get there.” As he stands up he
breaks out into a chuckle as the phrase sparks a memory from
home.
    “We’ll see you in the morning,” Illan says.
“I must remain until the feast winds to a close.”
    “See you then,” says James. Leaving the
table, he’s joined by Miko who’s all but dead on his feet. Jiron
sees them leaving and waves to them from the dance floor. When he
passes by Scar, Potbelly and the other pit fighters he asks, “You
guys staying?”
    “For a little while longer,” Scar tells
him.
    “Don’t stay up too long,” he tells them and
then heads for the exit leading to his room.
    Miko walks with him until he reaches his
room. Both remain quiet, the words Brother Willim spoke still
running through their minds.
    At James’ door, Miko takes his leave and
goes down to the next door which is his. Entering his room, James
creates his orb and undresses before crawling into bed.