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“Parting is such sweet sorrow,” James says dramatically.

“What?” she asks.

He grins and looks at her. “The drama club at school put on a play and that was one of the lines that sort of stuck with me.”

“Oh,” she says in that slightly confused manner that they all have when he talks about things from his past. Never quite understanding just what he’s talking about. During the meal, he uses his mirror before it gets too dark to see if any hostile forces are on the way. Other than some patrols and scouts keeping an eye on them, there’s nothing out there of any size. Illan glances at him when he’s through and James gives him a shake of his head. Illan nods understanding and returns to his meal.

The sun finally sinks below the horizon before they finish their meal. Those from The Ranch gather together around the fire to have one last social time before James and the others take off. Jorry and Uther begin another of their tales. It must be the fact that James and Jiron will be heading into danger that keeps Scar and Potbelly from picking the story apart as they usually do.

When the story, which was a doozy about some underworld figure they ran afoul of and got the best of, finally ends, the stars begin to come out. “It’s time,” James announces as he gets to his feet.

Devin and Moyil move to help him transfer his equipment to his horse and Terrance helps Jiron. By the time they have changed into native attire and are ready, a similarly dressed Jared joins them with his horse all set for travel. James mounts and waits while Jiron says goodbye to Aleya.

A tight embrace, then a quick kiss before he swings into the saddle. “You come back to me,” she tells him.

“I will,” he assures her as he looks down into her eyes. “You just stay alive until I return.”

“Until we meet again,” Illan says as he comes forth. “Good luck.”

“You too,” James replies.

“Give ‘em hell!” Scar says from where he and Potbelly stand with the rest of those from The Ranch.

James gives Scar a quick nod and then pats his pocket wherein two glowing crystals lie. For what he’s about to do, he may need the added power. “You ready?” he asks Jiron and Jared.

Jared gives him a nod and Jiron says, “Yes.”

“Alright then.” Summoning the power, he casts a spell which should render him undetectable by magical means just as he had with the Fire. This was one reason that he decided to leave at night. In the event someone is keeping an eye on him, it may not be readily noticeable that he left the main force. But when they do, they will try to break through the spell shielding him, just as they had with the Fire.

He waits a moment to see if anything develops. When nothing does, he nudges his horse forward and turns to the south, Jiron and Jared follow.

“Good luck!” Delia hollers as they begin to move away from the camp.

Angling away from the walls to prevent their leaving from being noticed, they stay off the main southern road that runs along the large lake to the west. Tears of the Empress it’s called and the reflection of the moon overhead off its water gives them a guide in the dark.

Jiron moves ahead of James and Jared and keeps alert for any scouts or sentries that may be in the area. James keeps just within visual range of him and slows down when he sees him come to a stop.

“What’s going on?” asks Jared quietly.

“Shhh!” James says as he watches Jiron dismount from his horse. Moving further ahead, he disappears in the dark. Sitting there anxiously for several minutes, James begins to grow worried until he sees Jiron reappear in the moonlight. Mounting his horse again Jiron glances back at them, waves for them to follow, and then resumes moving ahead.

Jared glances questioningly at James but remains silent. When they reach the area just past where Jiron had stopped, they find a riderless horse standing by a motionless form on the ground. “He’s good,” Jared mumbles.

James nods silently in agreement as they continue to follow Jiron south. The incident