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He watches his friend for a second before going over to where Fifer is working to get the fire going. Sitting down, he glances around and then asks, “Where’s Qyrll?”

Jerking his head in the direction of Ironhold, he replies, “Over there. Said he wanted to see if there were any ghosts walking the streets.”

Looking in the direction indicated, he sees him leaning against a tree as he looks out over the town. “Hope he doesn’t find any.”

“Me too,” agrees Fifer.

They get the fire going to dispel the cold of the mountains. If they thought it was cold down on the plains, it’s downright frigid here at the base of the mountains. The wind whips the cold air down from the upper elevations and with the setting of the sun, the temperature drops rapidly.

Breaking out the rations, they have their meal while the light continues to fade. Qyrll takes his meal over to his position looking out over the town. The heat from the fire doesn’t reach that far but he doesn’t seem to mind. His people live in mountains so he most likely can take the cold better than most.

The others come to join him from time to time but the cold always drives them back to the fire. By the time they determine it’s time for sleep, no ghosts or spirits have yet to make their appearance.

Chapter Twenty Seven

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Throughout the night, those on watch kept a constant vigil on the town below. Though their imaginations played games with them and gave several a brief scare, nothing ever happened.

When the sun is about to crest the peaks to the east, they’re already on their horses and heading down to Ironhold. James takes them to another section of town away from where they searched the day before. Another day, maybe two and they’ll have this whole town searched.

On the way down, Miko asks, “Why don’t you use your magic in the search?”

“For some reason, the thought of doing magic here bothers me,” he explains. “Can’t really explain it more than that. If after we’ve thoroughly searched the entire town and come up empty, then maybe I will.”

“What about the mines?” Jiron asks. When James glances back at him he clarifies, “Maybe what Ellinwyrd meant were the mines and not the town at all.”

“You may be right,” James concedes. “We’ll begin searching there after we’ve finished with the town.” There is one small road, hardly wide enough for a single wagon which they saw earlier, leading away from town to the west. One of Ironhold’s mines could lay down there.

By the time they get to the starting point for the day’s search, the traffic from the north and south begins rolling through. At first the quicker riders appear and then shortly after them roll in the caravans, only two it looks like today. One is heading north and the other south. Some of the travelers take note of them dismounting but none stop to offer a greeting, merely shaking their heads as they hurry on their way.

“Just like yesterday,” he says. “Comb the town in pairs and stick together. We don’t need anyone getting lost or separated.” Glancing to the jokesters of the day before he says, “No fooling around today. Got it?”

“Sure,” assures Jorry, the others nod their agreement.

“Alright then,” James says.

Jorry and Uther give Miko and Jiron a sidelong glance which is returned. James notices and sighs. Why do I even bother?

“We’ll be okay,” offers Fifer. Giving James a nod, he and Qyrll head off as they begin searching the buildings leading into town. Dave and James take the buildings going to the left and Jiron and Miko to the right. Jorry and Uther head further into town past where Fifer and Qyrll are searching.

Building after building, they search but to no avail. No sign indicating Morcyth or anything else is discovered. They continue to check back in by the horses every hour. Jiron suggests they could cover more area if they didn’t have to come back all the time but James says he would rather it take longer than have something happen to one of them.

During the last hour before they have to return before noon, Miko and