Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [78]
“How do you know?” Cassie asks as she sits next to him in order to look in the mirror.
Pointing to Miko and the wagon, he explains. “See how the shadows fall? They’re falling to the right of the wagon, so that means the sun is to the left of them. Which in turn can only mean he’s heading south.”
“Oh,” she says.
Replacing the mirror back in his shaving kit, he then takes out his shaving knife and proceeds to remove what little stubble has appeared since the last time. While he’s shaving, Cassie remains sitting next to him and he asks, “You like Tinok, don’t you?”
Blushing slightly, she says, “Is it that noticeable?”
“Well, you two are hardly seen apart,” he explains.
“He is so nice and brave,” she says. “I didn’t care for him at first, but now that I’ve come to know him, I do.”
“I think you two are very good together,” he tells her.
Smiling, she says, “So do I.”
At just that moment, Arkie begins crying so she gets up and hurries over to help Ezra. James smiles at her retreating back as she walks over to where they’re sitting in the shade of the wagons.
Finished with getting the stubble off, he replaces his knife and mirror back in the kit. He notices Jiron pacing impatiently about the camp as he waits for the upcoming auction. When his pacing brings him near, James says, “Relax.”
“Can’t,” he replies as he pauses a moment.
“Tomorrow won’t get here any faster,” he tells him.
“I know,” admits Jiron, “but I can’t just sit and do nothing all the while knowing she’s stuck in there.” He then resumes his pacing.
Several hours later, Delia and crew come back with a wagon much emptier than had left. “How did you do?” James asks as they roll up.
“You’re not going to believe it!” she exclaims. “We received two hundred golds for one package alone! Altogether, we collected seven hundred and fifty six golds.” Beaming, she pats a small chest resting on the floor of the wagon by her feet.
“Impressive,” he says as he helps her down from the wagon.
“Thanks,” she replies.
Tinok says, “We were unable to find out anything about your friend. We didn’t push too hard for answers since we wanted to avoid drawing attention.”
“I understand,” responds James. He goes over to Roland and asks, “Would you mind going into town with me? There’s something I’d like to get.”
“Sure, what?” he asks.
“I want to find someone who can make a belt for me to hold my slugs,” he explains.
“Right now?” he asks.
“If you don’t mind,” says James.
“Alright.” He says a few words to Ezra and then with Jiron tagging along, they head back into town.
After inquiring with several locals, they at last make their way to a clothier who specializes in leather. Walking into the store, they see many different types of goods made almost entirely of leather; belts, coats, hats, etc. Bent over a table is a man currently working on stitching a belt together. When they enter, he looks up and says, “One moment, please,” and then finishes up with a few more stitches.
Thankful that the man speaks his language, James says, “Not a problem.”
When he’s done, the man sets the belt aside and then asks, “How can I help you?”
Stepping up to the table James says, “I am interested in a belt, one that will hold the slugs for my sling so I can have ready access to them.”
“Like what?” the man asks.
“I want firm pockets attached to the outside of the belt, just large enough to hold each slug firmly so it won’t fall out as I move,” James explains. “There should also be a slit up the middle where I can grab it with my finger to pull it out.”
The man takes out a piece of parchment and begins drawing what James is describing. After a couple corrections, James is satisfied the man understands what he’s asking of him. “I could get something like this done for you,” the man says, “for about five silvers.”
“I’ll give you six if you can finish it by sundown tomorrow?” James offers.
Shaking his head, the man says, “I have another order that I must do first, but I can have it ready by day after tomorrow, for six.”
“Alright,” James says as he hands over three