Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [70]
“No problem,” James replies. “Just wait here and I’ll get my stuff.”
“Thanks,” he says, relief evident in his voice.
Going back to the wagon, he grabs his kit and then returns to where Tinok is waiting. Showing him what to do, he holds the mirror while Tinok runs the knife over his face, removing what little hair he has. When he’s done, he runs his hand over his now smooth face and says, “Thanks a lot.”
“Glad to help,” James assures him.
He watches as Tinok goes back over and sits next to Cassie trying to get her to see his newly shaven face, without letting on that he wants her to. She, unfortunately, has no clue about what he just did and he’s crestfallen when she doesn’t immediately recognize his efforts.
James just smiles and shakes his head at Tinok’s attempts to get her to notice. Replacing his kit back in the wagon, he goes over and joins them. The rest of the evening, Tinok continues trying to gain Cassie’s attention until finally taking her hand and rubbing it along his jaw line.
Her eyes open wide as she finally realizes what he’s done and he at last gets the praise and attention that he’s been wanting.
Before they fall asleep that night, James hears the hoof beats of the soldier’s horses as they leave, heading to the north.
The following morning before they head out, they fill their barrels at the inn’s well, which only costs them a couple coppers. They also find out that Korazan is about two more days to the south. Eager to get there, they set a quick pace all that day, until having to stop for the night along the road.
Shortly after starting the following morning, they pass through a village with not much more than huts and goat herds. The people there don’t seem too friendly, they just hurry out of their way, glaring at them as they pass. Having no reason to stop, they continue on through and soon the village disappears behind them.
For the rest of the day, they’re all fairly quiet as they ponder the likelihood of rescuing their friends from the hands of the slavers. Jiron pushes them onward, impatient whenever they must stop in order to water and feed the horses.
James is anxious too, hoping Miko has survived the trip down.
When the sun is high in the sky, they begin to see a large lake in the distance. “Tears of the Empress,” Roland says.
“What?” asks James.
“The water there,” he replies, “they call it ‘The Tears of the Empress’. Don’t know why.”
“Interesting,” James says.
“Korazan is situated next to it, probably on the other side,” he says.
“Good,” Jiron exclaims.
As they follow the road around the lake, they can see numerous fishing boats out upon it. From the smell in the air, James figures it to be fresh water. The road follows the shoreline, curving around until they begin to see a large city appearing on the shore ahead of them. Korazan.
Chapter Thirteen
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The snap of the lash across his back wakes Miko from another restless, dream-filled night. He quickly gets to his feet before the lash strikes again and looks around at the others in the slave line being kicked or lashed awake. There are a number of empty spots along the lines where those who were unable to keep up are no longer with them. He tries not to think about them, lying dead in shallow graves along the road.
He remembers with anguish one old timer who collapsed in line and was lashed to get moving before they realized he was already dead. They had a couple of the other captives in line dig a hole in the ground to put him in. Thankfully, he was spared that duty.
The first night they stopped was the worst. His body ached from the long march and his mind was dizzy from the heat, as well as the lack of food and drink. But that wasn’t what had made it so horrible. After they stopped and everyone had been fed and given water, the slaver returned to the girl who had insisted that she wasn’t a slave and removed her from the line. She screamed the entire way as they took her to one of the tents