Shades of the Past_ Book Six of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [36]
“Very well,” he says. Getting to his feet, he gives Lord Pytherian a slight bow and says, “Good to meet you again, milord.”
“You too James,” he replies. “We’ll talk more about this later.”
James nods and then turns to leave the room. Out in the hall, he shuts the door and makes his way out of the castle and to the plaza where the others have set up camp. When he gets there, he finds Jiron and Delia have already set up their tents, Devin having just completed putting up his.
“Are we on?” Jiron asks.
Nodding, James says, “Yes. Illan’s still up there with Lord Pytherian going over the layout of the enemy, troop numbers, that sort of stuff.”
“When do we begin?” asks Miko. The others from The Ranch gather around to hear his answer.
“Time for some payback!” exclaims Stig. Stig was one of those from the fight pits in the City of Light and lost many friends when the City fell.
“We’ll be able to determine our course of action once Illan returns,” he says. “Until then, we should relax as best we can and get some rest. Once this all begins we may not have the opportunity for awhile.”
“Your tent is ready,” Devin says coming up to him.
“Thank you,” he replies. “I’m going to rest until he gets back. Let me know the instant he does.”
“I will sir,” Devin assures him.
Walking over to his tent, he sees Ceadric already has his men bivouacked and a mess already established. Entering his tent, he closes the flap and then lies down on his cot. He feels bad he’s one of the few who has one. The others insisted saying most of what’s to come will rest upon him and that he needs his rest. Comfort always being important to him, he didn’t argue the point too hard.
Lying down, he lets the cares of the day drift away as he succumbs to sleep.
The smell of summer is in the air. All around him the flowers are in bloom and the tall grass is like the ocean as the refreshing breeze forms waves of bending stalks. The rolling hills are alive with animals both small and large, birds take flight and fill the air with their song.
He stops in his tracks when a familiar sound comes to him, the music of a calliope. Excited, he hurries toward it and finds a carnival nestled in among the hills. The tall Ferris wheel stands majestically in the center with other rides extending outward from it like spokes inside a wheel.
As he hurries down the hill, the smell of scones and funnel cakes reaches him and his stomach growls. Aside from cotton candy, those are the other two musts at any carnival or fair.
Walking forward to purchase a funnel cake, he can almost taste the powder sugar. Sure, they’re extremely messy and he usually ends up coated in the white confectionary powder, but he doesn’t care. It’s all part of the fair experience. Reaching into his back pocket for his wallet, he’s shocked to find he’s left it behind.
Standing there with mouth watering and a feeling of extreme disappointment, he can only look at the freshly made funnel cake on display before him. It takes an almost insurmountable force of will to turn away, but he manages it. Dejected, he walks away.
Refusing to let his lack of funds ruin his day he puts it out of his mind and walks through the carnival. Strangely enough, it seems as if except for the carnies, he’s the only one there. Glancing from ride to ride, he sees that though they’re in motion and functioning, no one is riding them. Decidedly strange.
He reaches into his front pocket and withdraws a ride ticket, how he came to possess it he hasn’t a clue. But when fortune smiles upon you, don’t ask questions. Each ride boasts a sign signifying a single ticket is all that’s required to ride.
It’s hard to choose a single ride from so many. He walks along gazing first one way and then another, trying to make up his mind. Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he catches a glimpse of a golden haired girl.
When he turns to look, he sees her moving away from him quickly down a side aisle, her flowing golden