The Star of Morcyth_ Book Five of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [97]
Stopping the sparring, he turns to James and wipes the sweat from his brow. Nodding to the old barn, he says, “They’re in there with Roland working on their letters.”
“Oh, right,” replies James understanding.
“Did you find out what you wanted to know?” Illan asks.
“Yes I did,” he replies. “It’s in northern Madoc, used to be a mining town before the iron ore played out.”
“Planning on going?” he asks.
“Tomorrow,” says James. “I would like to find it before winter hits.”
“Should be a month or more before you have to worry about any real bad weather around here,” Jorry says.
“It’s not around here I’m concerned with but where I’m going,” he explains. “Not sure how far north it is or how long it will take.”
“Who are you planning on taking with you?” he asks.
“Dave for sure,” he replies. “Don’t think I could leave either Miko or Jiron behind.”
“You got that right,” says Jiron from where he stands behind him.
“Also I was thinking of taking Jorry and Uther as well,” he says.
Jorry brightens up when he hears that, “About time we get to get in on some of the fun!”
“Are the recruits improving?”
“Little by little,” replies Illan. “Some will never amount to much more than sword fodder in a real conflict. But I think they’ll suffice for here.”
“Good. Keep up the good work,” he says as he leaves them to return to their sparring. Moving toward the barn, he says to Jiron, “I’m going to check in on Roland.”
“Alright,” he says and then moves toward the house.
The barn is surprisingly quiet as he nears the door. Stepping through he finds Roland’s ‘students’ sitting on benches bent over a shingle on their lap. The thin slice of wood seems to be what they’re practicing writing on. Each of them has a thin, blackened stick with which to write and are currently shaping letters.
Roland looks up from where he was examining Errin’s work when he enters and hands her back her shingle. Heading over to James, he rolls his eyes.
“Everything alright?” he asks. Every head immediately turns at the sound of his voice.
“Get back to it please,” Roland tells them. “I have you little enough as it is.” They all return to their writing with only the occasional, brief glance his way.
Sighing, he indicates for James to follow him outside. Once outside, he keeps his voice low so as not to be overheard by those within the barn. “Some are doing fine. Others not so.”
“That’s to be expected,” replies James, nodding.
“It’s slow going,” he says. “They’re fairly tired out from the hours of practice they’ve put in with Illan before they get to me.”
“Just do what you can,” offers James.
“I do, and they are improving,” he states. “Some have their letters down and are moving onto whole words. Errin is the brightest, I think Miko may be the next brightest in this but he’s not here enough to keep up with the others.”
“I know and we’ll be leaving again tomorrow too.”
“Off again?” he says. “You don’t like to stay in one place very long.”
“It’s not that I don’t want too,” asserts James. “Just that circumstances warrant it.”
“I know,” he says.
“Everything going well with The Ranch and the finances?” James asks.
“Actually,” he says, “while you were gone, Delia returned and dropped off the coins she received from the sale of the gems. It was quite a sum. That alone should last us almost a year. With Tersa’s bears we should be fine through next summer.”
“I’ll have Jiron or Fifer go back for more gems,” he says. “But not until after winter.”
“I understand.” Making to return to the barn, Roland says, “I better get back in there. I only have them another half hour before they have to start their duties.”
“Very well,” says James.
He leaves as Roland enters the barn and goes into the house to check when lunch will be ready. Ezra tells him still another hour or so. Telling her he’ll be in his workshop, he leaves through the backdoor. Crossing the yard he’s soon inside with the door shut.