Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [35]
Most of the horses have found their way back, three of the draft animals and four of the mounts. A quick look around the surrounding area turns up one more mount and the other draft animal.
“Should we go look for him now?” Jiron asks Cassie.
“Since we haven’t heard anything for a couple hours, it’s fairly safe to say that he is no longer a danger,” she says. “We need to find him to see if he’s okay.”
Indicating the path of destruction, Tinok says, “I don’t think it is going to be too hard to follow his trail.”
“No,” agrees Jiron, “it won’t.” Leading the group, he follows the trail of broken trees through the forest. They come across area after area that shows signs of rampant destruction. “I wonder what he thought he was fighting last night?” he says.
“Yeah,” Tinok replies. “What could warrant such power?”
“In his state of mind,” Cassie explains, “he could have been imagining almost anything.”
They come to a section of the forest where the trees look odd. Delia taps one out of curiosity and gasps, “It’s stone!”
The others come over and feel it, mystified at how James could have done something like that. “Incredible,” exclaims Tinok.
Continuing on, they finally reach a point where the destruction ends, but James is no where to be seen. “James!” Jiron calls out, looking through the trees as far as he can.
When there’s no answer, Delia says, “We better split up.”
Jiron nods, saying, “That might be wise, but let’s not get too separated.” He looks at each in turn and says, “If in five minutes you haven’t found him, turn around and come back here.”
They all agree and then head out into the forest, each calling for James.
Weak as a new born lamb and his shoulder aflame with pain, James regains consciousness. His head is fuzzy and it’s hard to formulate thoughts. He realizes that he’s covered in leaves and tree limbs, and that everything is damp. Unable to even lift his arms to remove the foliage from him, he lies there, wondering just how he came to be here.
“James!”
Suddenly alert, he hears his name being called from far away. They’ll never find me here! Afraid they might pass him by, he starts to panic. He tries calling out but only a weak rasp comes out, “Help!” Why am I so weak?
He tries again, “Help!” this time managing a little volume.
“I think I heard something!” he hears someone shout.
“Where?” another voice asks.
“Not sure,” the first voice replies. “James! Where are you?”
He can hear several people moving through the forest, near and around him. Giving it one last try, he shouts, “Over here!” Again, it only comes out barely audible.
“There!” he hears someone shout. “It came from that way.”
Suddenly, Delia comes into view as she walks right by where he’s laying. He moves his hand slightly, but it catches her eye.
“Here he is!” she cries out excitedly. “Are you alright?” she asks him as she places her hand on his forehead.
Shaking his head no, he just lies there.
When everyone approaches, she says, “His fever’s gone, but he says he isn’t good.”
“Let’s get him out,” Jiron says when he sees him lying there, all but his head and one arm is hidden beneath the broken branches.
They all help to get the limbs and leaves off of him and then help him to stand. But in his weakened condition his legs are unable to support his weight and they just give out under him. So Jiron and Tinok move to help him, Jiron on the left and Tinok on the right.
When Tinok tries placing James’ right arm over his shoulder for support, he cries out in pain from the stress that’s being put on the wound from the crossbow bolt. Realizing they’re not going to be able to do it that way, Jiron tries lifting him in his arms, but James is too heavy for him to attempt to carry all the way back to the campsite.
“I got an idea,” Cassie says. Grabbing Tinok she says to the others, “Just make him comfortable and we’ll be right back.”
They run back the way they came, back toward the wagons.
Jiron sets James down on a fallen log and stays beside him, keeping him upright. “What’s she going to do?” he asks Delia.
“Not