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After he passes back through the kitchen and goes outside, Miko sees him and hollers that he’ll join him. Racing back to get his things, he soon catches up with him at the bathing pool.

The morning air is crisp, he’s not sure how many more mornings he’ll be able to endure the cold water. Each day seems to be getting colder and colder. The days where he would linger in the water are past. Scooping out some of the soap, he quickly cleans himself as well as his hair.

“Arkie get you this morning?” Miko asks amused.

“Twice,” he replies.

“He nailed me earlier,” he tells him with a grin. “Ezra sure has her hands full with him.”

“It’s just a stage, I hope,” he says.

“Coming with me to town today?” James asks.

Shaking his head, he says, “No. Roland says I’ve missed too much time at the class and am starting to fall behind the others. He wants us all to be doing the same, says it’s easier that way.”

“I can see where he would want that,” he replies.

“Seen Dave yet today?” he asks Miko.

Shaking his head, he replies, “No. He was gone when I got up.”

“Gone?” he asks, worried.

“He does that some times,” Miko explains. “I think he likes to get away by himself or something.”

“Maybe,” replies James, worry for his friend increasing. Dave has never been one to wander off by himself. He would always try to be the life of the party and garner attention. He continues to think on Dave while he finishes his bath.

“This water is simply getting too cold,” he says when he’s finally done washing. Getting out, he dries himself off quickly. The slight breeze has caused goose bumps to arise over a good portion of his skin. Once he’s dressed, he leaves Miko in the water and returns to his room where he takes out his shaving knife and scrapes off the stubble which has grown scraggly ever since he left. Got to remember to take this with me.

Once he’s done, he rubs his face and feels much better now that it’s once again smooth. He leaves his room and goes outside where he finds Jiron has already readied two horses. Fifer is talking with him and breaks off when James approaches.

“How do you feel this morning?” he asks.

“Fine,” replies James. “Always feel fine after a good night’s rest.”

“I think Illan’s going to have us out and bring in some meat to smoke after the morning drills so may not be around when you return,” Fifer explains. Qyrll comes around the corner, swords swinging at his hips and stands beside Fifer. A definite friendship has developed between the two.

“Running low are we?” James asks as he mounts.

Looking up at him, Fifer nods. “That’s what Ezra is telling us,” he says.

“Good luck.”

“Thanks,” replies Fifer.

Jiron mounts and then they head down the road. As they make their way up the lane to the main road, James glances over to the construction site of his new house and stables. The stables are complete, except for a few of the interior walls separating the stalls. It should be done by the end of the week. The house still has another two or three weeks to go.

Sean the master builder in charge of the construction sees him looking his way and gives him a wave. James returns it.

They find Uther at the guard shack looking bored and tired. As they approach, he asks, “How much longer do we need to have someone out here?”

“Until we no longer get unwelcome visitors,” James replies. “Have there been any today?”

Nodding his head, Uther says, “One. He said he would pay you to remove a wart from his face.”

“Bad?” Jiron asks.

Chuckling, he nods and says, “Very.”

“Where are all these people coming from?” groans James.

“Who knows?” replies Jiron. “They sure are an irritant though.”

“Tell me about it,” he says. Then to Uther he adds, “Be back in awhile.”

Uther gives them a nod as they leave the lane and turn onto the road heading to town.

On the outskirts of Trendle, they find a group of men standing and talking to one another against the outer wall of the last building. As he draws closer he sees it’s the mayor and a few members of the