Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [49]
They travel for about two hours before they begin to make out a green oasis with several palm-type trees and bushes surrounding it ahead of them. A small town has grown in the vicinity, from the apparent age of some of the buildings, the town must have been here for a very long time. As they draw closer, they see a large gathering of people at the edge of the oasis.
It soon becomes apparent that all is not well here, people are heard crying and wailing. The group by the oasis has their attention focused on a man in robes speaking animatedly to them. As they pull closer to the town, James asks someone what’s going on but no one understands him, they speak the Empire’s language.
“Something’s obviously got them upset,” Delia comments as she pulls her wagon closer to James’.
“Wonder what?” he replies as he watches those gathered over by the oasis.
Tinok pulls up close to them and says, “That guy they’re listening to seems to be some kind of priest or leader or something.”
“I think you’re right,” agrees James.
As they enter the town, a man comes out of a store and stops when he sees them. Gesturing animatedly, he tries to tell them something but no one understands him.
“We don’t understand what you’re saying,” James explains to the man.
The man pauses a moment and then continues in their tongue, “You must leave this place!”
“Why?” James asks.
“We are cursed,” the man says tragically. “We have lost the favor of the gods and bad things are happening.”
“What do you mean?” Delia interjects.
“At first, we thought nothing about it,” the man explains. “One of Azrahn’s ewes went dry and several people took sick, but we just thought they were normal occurrences, these things happen from time to time you see. Then last night, our oasis, the oasis that has sustained our people here for a hundred generations, went dry.”
James feels a shiver go up his spine as he remembers tapping the underground water the day before.
“Zalim, one of our town leaders has sought the counsel of our clerics but they all say the gods are not doing this, that we have not displeased them.” He stands there, wringing his hands as he continues, “But most of our people feel an atonement of some sort will bring back the water, I fear what they may do in their fear.”
“James…” Tinok starts to say when James shushes him quickly, shaking his head indicating he should say nothing.
“I must go,” the man says. “Please leave before anything should befall you!” With that, he turns and hurries over to where all the people have gathered by the oasis.
When they are once more left alone in the street, Tinok asks James, “Did you do this?”
Nodding his head miserably, he replies, “Most likely.” Feeling ashamed for the pride he felt earlier at his accomplishment, he looks to the people whose lives he’s ruined.
“Can we do anything to help these people?” Delia asks from her wagon.
“I wouldn’t even know how to fix this,” admits James. “This is what happens when you use magic on the natural order, people suffer. Trying to quench our thirst, I have inadvertently destroyed this village and hundreds of lives. We weren’t even that bad off. Had we simply continued down the road another few hours, we would’ve come to this town and had enough water. No one would’ve been hurt.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Delia says, trying to console him. “You didn’t know this would happen.”
“That’s right,” adds Cassie. “You were trying to do what you believed was right.”
“They may find the other water down the road and move their town there,” suggests Tinok.
“Maybe,” says James, not feeling any better about the situation.
From near the oasis, James suddenly hears a woman begin to wail, while at the same time, several others begin shouting. Jumping down from the wagon, he runs over to see what is happening.
“James!” Delia shouts to him. “Come back!”
But he pays her no heed, as he continues on toward