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Leaving Salli’s Barrels behind, they head across town to find Jiharan. They continue down the main thoroughfare, asking directions from the locals. At one point, James catches out of the corner of his eye someone who looks like Delia among the crowd. When he turns his head to get a better look, she’s gone. Figuring he’s just seeing things, he continues on and they soon arrive at the horse trader’s establishment.

Jiharan greets them upon entering and when they tell him that Salli sent them, he breaks into a smile and cordially takes them to the back where he has a dozen horses of varying size and shape.

James tells him of their need for horses to pull a wagon and he shows them two that would fit the bill perfectly. After some haggling, James hands over most of their remaining money and they leave with two fine horses. Jiharan, graciously enough, threw in the traces they would require to attach the horses to the wagon. He even went so far as to have one of his apprentices carry the equipment back to Salli’s and help them with putting it on.

Back at Salli’s, he’s pleased to discover that not only are the barrels awaiting them in the back of the wagon, but Salli was nice enough to have them already filled with water. With the apprentice’s help, the horses are soon attached to the wagon and they give him a couple coppers for his time before he returns to his master.

Salli waves a friendly goodbye to them as they pull out of his yard, James at the reins. As they make their way through town, he sees a chandler’s shop and stops. He buys some much needed supplies like better food than just travel rations, and a couple ladles to use for getting water to drink from the barrels.

Now with an almost empty coin pouch, they resume their way back to the caravansary where the others are waiting. When they get there, James is in for a shock. When they left, there were two wagons, now there are four. Two boys are there with the others as well.

As they ride up, Delia comes out to meet them before they have a chance to get to the camp. Beaming like a cat that had eaten the canary, she says, “Good news!”

“What?” asks James, looking a bit perplexed.

She hands him a pouch, heavy with coin. “While you were gone, Tinok and I delivered a couple packages that were to be dropped off here and was paid for them.”

“How much?” he asks.

“Forty gold, ten silver,” she replies.

“What about those other two wagons?” he asks as he nods his head in their direction.

“One of the merchants that we delivered a package to needed to get a load to Korazan as quickly as possible,” she explains. “When he found out we were headed there, he asked if his lads could tag along. Couldn’t see any harm in it, so I agreed.” She could see that he was dubious of the whole thing, “Besides, he gave us an extra four golds.”

Beginning to see the advantage in having others with them, he nods and says, “Good job.”

She beams back at him and walks alongside the wagon as he brings it back to camp.

Once the wagon is in position with the others, he gets down and calls Tinok over to help with watering the horses. He comes over with Cassie holding his hand, they’re both smiling and happy.

“What’s this?” he asks when he sees a new necklace around Cassie’s neck.

“Oh, I bought it for her while I was helping Delia deliver the packages,” Tinok replies.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Cassie asks as she holds it up for his inspection. It’s a gold, heart shaped medallion with two small diamonds in the middle.

Unable to help himself, he breaks into a smile as he says, “Yes, it’s very nice.”

Glancing over to Delia, he sees her grinning at him. He nods his head and then he and Tinok proceed to water the horses from the barrels, using the two buckets Salli had given them.

By this time, the sun has finally fallen below the horizon and James takes out some of the food that he bought earlier in town. Everyone is glad to have a break from travel rations and sets to with gusto. While they are eating, James spies Ahlim, the ‘caravansary master’ walking