Shades of the Past_ Book Six of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [4]
“What trick is this?” demands the leader.
The sphere flashes and a beam of red light strikes the leader in the chest. A cry of agony is torn from his throat as it burns a hole completely through him. As he falls to the floor dead, the other bandits panic and turn to flee from the house. One of the crossbowmen lets fly a bolt at Roland but a red beam flashes out and destroys it before it can reach him.
Three more flashes and three more bandits fall to the floor dead before the rest can leave the house. Fifer retrieves his crutch from off the floor and quickly moves to the window to see what’s going on outside. Bandits lie dead on the ground and more flashes can be seen off in the woods as multiple red spheres pursue those still alive. Their screams and cries of pain grow fainter the further they move away from the house. The sphere which had materialized within the house suddenly winks out.
“It’s okay,” Roland says to Ezra who has her head buried in the crook of his neck. Sobbing, she still clutches Arkie in her hands. He pats her on the back as he tries to calm her.
“What’s going on out there?” he asks Fifer.
“I don’t think any are getting away,” he replies. “Whatever James set up is taking them all out fast.”
Bringing her to arms length from him, he looks in her eyes and says soothingly, “It’s okay. Take Arkie into our bedroom and shut the door. Fifer and I have work ahead of us this evening.”
She nods her head and takes Arkie from the room, the pups follow them.
Fifer turns from the window and says, “It’s grown dark out there again. I think it’s over.”
“Give me a hand to get the dead out of here and buried,” Roland says.
“You got it,” he replies. Together, they begin hauling the dead out of the house. It takes some doing, but Roland digs a hole out in the woods and Fifer brings the dead over one at a time.
Chapter One
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There’s a crispness to the air as the camp makes ready to get underway. High in the mountains as they are, there are still remnants of the winter snow lining the road. When word reached him the pass was clear and should remain so, James immediately mobilized and got underway. Of course as in all things, it snowed in the mountains for twenty four hours the day they left The Ranch but the bulk of the snow had managed to melt away before they arrived.
As the various sections of the camp are broken down and put away, he gets his own equipment and tent ready. Devin has been given the duty of assisting him in the setting up and breaking down of his tent and belongings. Basically, all he’s responsible for is what’s on his back. Devin takes care of the rest including saddling his horse.
He glances over to where the others are busily packing away those items that were used the night before. The camp has begun to set up in three distinct areas due to the number of people he’s brought with him. One area is the ‘command area’, that would be his tent and Illan’s which is in the center of camp. Next is Delia’s area where she has her slingers and archers. Finally, Jiron’s group sits on the opposite side of the command area where he has the pit fighters, those who had been Delia’s caravan guards, and what’s left of Miller’s band.
“Almost ready sir,” Devin tells him as he finishes cinching the straps securing James’ saddle to his horse.
“Thank you Devin,” he replies.
Illan comes toward him leading his horse, “Shouldn’t take much longer before we’re ready to ride.”
Nodding, James glances to him and says, “Good.”
“We might make Illion this evening,” he tells him.
“I know,” states James.
Illion. That’s where Orlander resides, the dealer in stolen goods who swore to kill him after their last encounter. Surprisingly, he didn’t make any attempt to make good on his threat of vengeance all winter. James had been sure he would have, so vehemently had he threatened him.
Caleb and Jace have pack horse duty today, the recruits