Shades of the Past_ Book Six of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [15]
“Look at that,” Caleb says as he watches the lads. “They don’t even know how to hold a sword.” Others offer their observation as to the boys’ lack of skill.
Illan turns to them and says, “You weren’t much better before I got a hold of you.” He then winks to James and gives him a grin.
A quick meal of roast duck, bread and ale and then they’re off. They travel several more hours, putting as much road behind them as possible before they decide to call it a day and make camp.
The next day and a half finds them reaching the northern edge of the mountains and skirting along the foothills before coming to a town known as Raider’s Doom. It sits on the banks of a river flowing from the north where two main roads intersect. Illan tells them that after they cross the river they’ll turn southward and follow the eastern side of the mountains until they come to an end. From there it’s only a day to Lythylla.
Raider’s Doom is a quiet, little town, not nearly the metropolis one would expect to sit on the convergence of two main arteries. Not a small town to be sure, but the people there have a quiet calm about them that’s been lacking in the other towns they’ve passed through. It almost seems as if they are not concerned about the war coming in their direction.
“They don’t seem to care about what’s going on to the south,” Uther states as they pass through.
Kids playing in the street, ladies taking their time in their daily routines, no one seems worried or concerned about what the future might hold.
“Hope they can stay that way for a long time,” James replies. He hopes someday every town could have that same carefree attitude.
“How did the town get a name like Raider’s Doom anyway?” Devin asks from the rear.
Before Illan has a chance to explains, Scar pipes up and says, “You see, a century ago, there was this band of raiders…” For the next twenty minutes, he regales everyone with a tale of raiders and a trap laid by the local villagers. How the raiders were slaughtered to the last man. “…and that’s why it’s called Raider’s Doom. Since that day, so the story goes, no raider has ever been seen in the area.”
From somewhere in the back, in a voice barely heard, James hears Uther ask Jorry, “You know how you can tell when he’s lyin’?”
“How?” Jorry asks.
“His lips move,” explains Uther. At that, laughter breaks out up and down the line.
Before Scar has a chance to begin an argument, Illan announces loudly, “No, it’s true. It actually happened the way he said.”
Scar turns to look at Uther with a smug expression and then turns back to the road.
The road continues to follow the river and they are able to make good time. Other travelers pass them coming from the south from time to time, those fleeing the coming of the Empire. Seems no one has any confidence that Madoc and the alliance will be able to hold the Empire when they finally make their move.
Near the end of the day, the road begins angling more to the southeast and away from the river as it continues in a more southwesterly direction. Not long after leaving the banks of the river, they come to a junction where a smaller, little used road branches off and moves to follow the river.
“If you take that road,” Illan explains, “it will take you to Serene Lake.” He turns in the saddle and glances to James. “I know you have an interest in things of nature. On the far side of the lake, Thunder Falls roars its way into the Sea.”
“Thunder Falls?” he asks.
“Largest damn waterfall I’ve ever seen,” he explains. “If you stand near its base, the sound seems to vibrate through to your very soul. Quite an experience.”
James would like nothing better than to take an excursion to see this wonder of nature. But time is pressing and they need to reach Lythylla before the Empire begins the attack. “Maybe another time,” he says wistfully. Glancing at the fading light, he says, “Perhaps this would be a good time to make camp for the evening.