The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [133]
“Name’s Rylin.” Propping himself against a wagon wheel, the man looks around at the dead bodies. “Is there anyone else alive?”
“You are the only one we have found alive so far,” James replies. “It looks as if they took the horses and smashed open a chest by the lead wagon.”
“Damn bandits,” he curses and starts to rise.
“Hold on there,” James says as he tries to keep him down. “You have a nasty bump and need to take it easy.”
Knocking James’ hand away, Rylin climbs to his feet where he wavers unsteadily. He brings his hand up to his head and feels the bump on it. “I don’t care,” he says and then starts walking toward the lead wagon. As he passes by the wagons, he gives the dead bodies a cursory look before continuing to the next.
Upon reaching the lead wagon, he stops when he spies the dead merchant lying on the ground and quickly scans the area. Turning to James and Miko he asks, “There were two women with us, the merchant’s wife and his daughter. Did you see them?” He waits anxiously for an answer.
“No, all we found were dead guards and drivers,” James replies. Miko nods in agreement.
“The bandits must have taken them,” he says as he climbs up onto the wagon and scans the horizon. “Damn, can’t see anything in this rain.” Rylin then collapses into the driver’s seat with a sad, stricken look on his face.
“We could try and find them,” suggests James. “When did they hit your caravan?”
“It was about an hour after we started moving this morning,” he pauses for a second, thinking. “Their attack came fast and five minutes into it, I was knocked from my wagon and must have hit my head on a rock when I fell. After that, I don’t remember anything until I came to with you standing over me? How long was I out?”
“It’s a little after noon now, so probably a couple of hours,” guesses James. “If they took the time to loot and steal the valuables, not to mention the time expended to take the horses, then they couldn’t have left too long ago. Perhaps we could catch up with them.”
“How?” he asks. “The rain has washed away any tracks that could have told us which way they went.”
“Miko,” James says, “go get my compass please.”
Nodding in understanding, Miko races back down the line of wagons to where their horses waited and returns quickly with James’ homemade compass.
“What is that gonna do?” Rylin asks, curiously hopeful.
“With your help, tell us which way they went,” he explains. “Now, if you could find me something that one of the women used to wear, or have with them often?”
“Why do you want that?” he asks.
“If I have something of theirs, it will help me to locate them.” Looking at Rylin and seeing he still failed to comprehend, James adds, “With magic.”
“You don’t look like a mage,” he says.
“I can’t do it without something of theirs,” James says, getting somewhat irritated at the man. “Are you going to help or not? You’re wasting time we can ill afford to lose.”
Getting up, Rylin rummages around inside the wagon and returns with a green scarf. “Sheila, the merchant’s daughter, used to wear this often. Will it do?” he asks as he hands it down to James.
“Let’s see,” James replies as he takes it. Wrapping the scarf around his hand, he holds the compass nestled within it. Closing his eyes he concentrates, thinking of the owner of the scarf and wanting to find her. He lets loose the power and the compass slowly swivels to the south, away from the road and into the grasslands.
Showing it to Rylin he points toward the south and says, “She’s that way.”
“Is she alive?” he asks earnestly.
“It doesn’t tell me that, just where she is,” he responds. “Even if she’s dead, we can still deal with the bandits.” Turning to Miko he says, “Bring our horses.” Miko hurries to comply and soon returns with the three animals.
As he and Miko make ready to ride, Rylin asks, “What about me?”
“Get on behind Miko,” James says, trying to ignore the look he flashes him. Once Rylin has mounted, James turns his horse in the direction indicated by the compass. “Let’s ride quick