Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [64]
“I was inside and heard that you are looking for some guards for your caravan?” he inquires.
“That’s right,” James says.
“My fellows and I have just finished a contract that wasn’t renewed with a merchant, here in the city,” he explains. “And we currently find ourselves looking for other work. If you are still in need of guards, we are available.”
“Just a moment,” James says to him as he pulls Roland aside. “What do you think?” he asks him in a whisper.
“I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right,” he replies.
James nods his head in agreement, “I feel the same way.” Turning back to the man, he says, “Actually, we really don’t need your services right now, but thanks for offering.”
“As you will,” the man says, “apparently, I was mistaken.” Bowing, the man turns and walks away, disappearing into the crowd.
Once the man is gone, they resume making their way back to their camp at the caravansary. When they arrive, Delia asks, “Where are the guards?”
“You have to be a member of the merchant’s guild in order to hire any through them,” James explains. “So we will do the best we can without any for right now.”
Delia hands him a sack. Opening it up, he sees a sling and twenty iron slugs within. “What’s this for?” he asks.
“So when you do your thing with the stones, it won’t seem so,” she explains, pausing momentarily, “magical.”
“Thanks,” he says graciously.
“You’re welcome,” she replies, “I’ll teach you how to use it when we are out on the road.”
“Alright,” agrees James. Going over near the campfire, he upends the sack and pours the sling and the slugs on the ground and begins inspecting them.
Cassie and Tinok are sitting close together, heads leaned against one another as they sit there, Tinok with his arm around her. Both are looking quite content.
Jiron comes over to where James is looking over his new toy and sits down. “Do you think they’re at Korazan yet?” he asks him.
“Maybe, though I can’t be sure,” he replies, stuffing the slugs and sling back in the pouch. He secures the pouch on his belt to keep it handy.
“Can’t you do that compass thing?” he suggests.
James nods over to the two lads and says, “Don’t want to alert them about my abilities until it becomes absolutely necessary. Don’t know how they’ll react, or even who they would tell.” Pausing a moment, he turns his head to look at Jiron in the eye and says, “It doesn’t matter if they are or not, we can’t get there faster.”
“True,” Jiron says, crestfallen. “I just wanted to know.”
“So do I, I’m worried about them. But they should be alright until they get sold and hopefully we’ll be there before then.”
Jiron just sits there, his mood dark as thoughts of his sister and what may be happening to her run through his mind.
Not too long after, they break up and turn in. The two lads sleep under their wagons while the rest of the group stays together around the campfire.
Chapter Twelve
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They’re up and ready to roll by the time the sun crests the horizon. Now a much larger caravan, they decide to have Roland drive the wagon in which Ezra and Arkie ride. Jiron again rides point now that he’s mostly recovered from his ordeal, while Tinok and Cassie drive the water wagon. James and Delia take the front wagon with the two lads eating dust at the rear. They still have the string of five horses they acquired earlier, as well as Roland’s two, just in case.
The road south of Zereth-Alin slowly begins to turn hilly the further they ride. The hills are sparsely covered with scrub brush, the occasional snake or lizard makes an appearance. There’s not too much traffic on the road, the heat of summer must keep all non essential travel to a minimum.
During a stop to water the horses, Delia approaches James and asks, “Ready?”
“For what?” he replies.
“To learn how to use your sling,” she replies.
Getting down from his wagon and the cool of the shade he says, “Sure.” He then rummages in the pouch at his waist and pulls out the sling as well as five