Fires of Prophecy_ Book Two of the Morcyth Saga - Brian Pratt [91]
As Delia approaches them, she catches Tinok’s eye and asks, “Why aren’t you out there dancing?”
Blushing slightly, he says, “I don’t know any of the dances they’re doing.”
Taking a seat next to Cassie, she asks, “Need any help getting him out there?”
“Yes I do!” she says, acting as if she’s put out. A smile on her lips tells her that she’s not really.
The musicians finish their song to a smattering of applause and then begin another one, this time a fast paced song.
“Okay,” Delia says to Tinok, “now’s your chance, get moving.”
Cassie gets up and practically drags him over to the dancing area.
“I never thought she would get him out there,” Jiron says as he watches Tinok doing his best.
“For someone who’s graceful in battle, he’s sure clumsy out there,” Tersa adds.
When Tinok looks over to them, with an expression bordering on fear, they all give him encouragement. After a few minutes he begins to get the hang of it and begins to flow with the music.
“Your turn dear brother,” Tersa says as she drags him out there as well.
Delia sits and watches as Jiron and Tinok both fumble and misstep as they dance. Shaking her head and silently amused, she just sits back and enjoys herself.
Long after the sun has gone down, James finally sees them returning. “Have a good time?” he asks them.
Cassie comes straight to him and says, “Tinok and I are to be married!”
“What?” he exclaims, looking over to Tinok who’s looking both happy and scared out of his mind.
“He proposed to me while we were dancing,” she tells him.
“Congratulations,” he says to them both, shaking Tinok’s hand. “When will you be getting married?”
“We want to wait until we’re back home or maybe in Cardri,” Tinok says with his arm around her waist.
“That’s right,” adds Cassie. “We didn’t want to be married in the Empire.”
“I’m happy for both of you,” he asserts warmly.
Cassie gives Tinok a big hug as they settle down around the fire and then leans her head on his shoulder. Tinok just sits there with a happy and contented look on his face as he holds her tight. Putting their heads together, they talk together quietly.
James awakens the next morning to find Tinok and Cassie sleeping together, wrapped up in each others arms. He begins to get the horses in their traces as everyone wakes up. Shortly, they’re on the road again, making the best time they can.
He pushes them the entire day, anxious to get to Miko before something happens to him, only allowing a few short breaks before pressing on again. The miles quickly pass and by nightfall they’ve made it to a town called Jihara.
A small town, barely more than a village really but it has an inn where they can find some decent food. James offers to spring for a room for the two love birds but Cassie turns him down, saying it wouldn’t be right for them to have one when no one else does. Much to the disappointment of her betrothed.
So they spend another night together wrapped up in a blanket on the ground. Everyone can see that the two of them are deeply in love and belong together.
The following morning, they get an early start. Before the sun has risen much above the horizon, they’re already a mile down the road. A little before noon they begin to enter rolling hills, which James can see stretches a long way ahead of them. The road continues to follow the river as it winds its way through the hills.
Ever since Jihara, the other traffic on the road has dropped off to almost nothing, only the occasional rider or caravan is encountered. At sunset when they set up camp, they find an area adjacent to the river where they can have ready access to water. James even wades out into the river and does his fisherman routine and bags several large reddish orange fish.
“Neat trick,” Roland says when James brings back his third fish.
“It comes in handy,” he replies.
Everyone