The Star of Morcyth_ Book Five of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [9]
“As I lay there in my pen later that evening, pain throbbing in every part of my body, Perrilin came to me. You know the rest.”
Tears in his own eyes, James comes forward to give his friend a hug. “You’re safe now.” Glancing back to Perrilin, he says, “Thank you for bringing him here.”
“I take it you know him then?” asks Perrilin.
“All my life, he’s my best friend,” replies James.
“How did he come to be here?” Ceryn asks.
“I’ll tell you sometime, but right now I just want to get him back to The Ranch,” he says. “You’re both welcome to come too.”
Perrilin shakes his head and says, “I can’t. As much as I would like to find out more about this, I have an engagement that can’t be put off any longer.”
“I’ll come by in a few days,” Ceryn tells him.
Getting up, he brings Dave to his feet as well and says, “Thank you both again.” Leading Dave outside he says, “Let’s go.” He hears the other two get up and follow them outside.
Indicating one of the other horses, Perrilin says, “Your friend can have this one.”
“Thanks,” James says. Helping Dave onto the horse, he then mounts his own.
As they ride back to The Ranch, James glances over to his friend. Glad to have him with him again, yet saddened by all that’s happened to him. He may never know the extent of the pain he went through, and he’s not really sure he wants to.
After getting back onto the main road to Trendle, Dave breaks the silence and asks, “How have you been?”
“Not too bad,” James replies. “I have a place and some friends here. I’m sure you’ll fit in just fine.”
“I want to go home,” he says sadly.
“I know, I’d like to as well, but I’m afraid we’re stuck here,” he says. Feelings of guilt assail him as they reach the outskirts of Trendle. Where his friend has had the worse sort of experiences since coming to this world, he’s actually thrived. He comes to the conclusion he’ll put off telling him about his magical ability until it’s absolutely necessary. Not sure how he’ll react to that.
“This is the town of Trendle,” he tells Dave as they pass through. “Not much more than a farming community, but it’s a nice place to live. The people are good, if a bit stand offish at first. You’ll like it here.”
Dave looks around but makes no comment.
After leaving Trendle, they soon come to the lane leading to The Ranch. Devin has the duty of guarding the entrance today. When he sees James coming, he takes his horn and blows a single note.
James pauses upon reaching him and asks, “What was that for?”
“They wanted to know when you showed up,” he replies with a smile.
When he glances to Dave, James says, “This is my friend Dave. He doesn’t speak the language yet.”
Devin gives Dave a nod who nods in return.
Getting the horses moving again, they make their way down the lane to the house. Indicating the construction going on, James says, “I’m having a new house built as well as a few other buildings.”
“Doing well then?” Dave asks.
Sighing, James replies, “Yes, actually.” Almost everyone has come out to see what’s going on, they’re all anxious to find out what went on over at Ceryn’s.
A quiet muttering can be heard as they approach, many casting glances to Dave riding beside him. As he comes close, James says, “This is Dave, a friend from where I come from.” At that, he can see several of them react in surprise, the ones who know the full tale of his past. “He doesn’t speak the language yet, but I want each of you to treat him well.”
To Caleb, Illan says, “Take their horses.”
“Yes, sir,” he replies and steps up to take their reins as they dismount.
“Ezra has dinner ready for you,” Roland tells him. “When you have a minute, we need to go over a few things.” As James gives him a questioning look, he adds, “Nothing pressing.”
“Okay,” he says and then to Dave he asks, “Hungry?”
“You bet,” he replies.
Leading him through the front door, James takes him through to the