The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [142]
Getting up, James goes over to the fire and adds a few more sticks to it then returns to his blanket on the ground. “We better get some sleep, we have a ways to go tomorrow and I’m tired.” He lies down and pulls the blanket over him to keep the coolness of the night away.
“Good night, James,” Miko says.
“You too, Miko,” replies James. They both lie there for a while, just listening to the night and slowly drift off to sleep.
Chapter Nineteen
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Early the next morning finds them on their way back to the road where they originally found the raided caravan. After several hours of riding, the road appears ahead of them in the distance but there is no sign of the caravan.
“Maybe we came to the road in a different spot,” suggests Miko.
Nodding agreement, James looks down the road in both directions and says, “But which way?”
“Can’t you just do that compass thing and find out?” Miko asks.
“Probably,” James replies, “but it might be better not to use magic for a while, I’m getting kind of worn out from doing so much of it.” Thinking for a bit, he makes his decision, “We’ll head in the direction of Trademeet and if we don’t find them, then at least we will be heading in the right direction for where we want to go.”
“I suppose we could leave a message for them there, letting them know what’s going on,” says Miko.
“Good idea, we’ll do that,” he agrees. Turning their horses east, they set off at a canter, slowly eating away the distance.
Around noon they reach the spot where the caravan had been raided. Yesterday’s rain hadn’t been able to remove all traces of the blood soaked into the ground from the bandit’s attack as yet. And a hundred feet or so off the road rose a mound of fresh turned earth.
Indicating the mound James says, “Must be where they buried the bodies of the guards and drivers.”
“Looks like it,” Miko agrees. “Guess they managed to hook the bandits’ horses up to the wagons and are already on their way to Trademeet.”
“Hope so,” says James. “It shouldn’t take us too much longer to catch up with them, I would think.”
Riding fast, they leave the area of the battle and hurry down the road. They didn’t get far before a lone rider appears on the road ahead approaching them from the east. When he draws near, James slows and greets him, “Good day to you sir.”
The man slows as well and stares suspiciously at James all the while resting his hand upon the pommel of his sword. “Good day to you as well,” the man replies, not relaxing his grip on his sword.
“We were wondering if you could tell us if you had passed a caravan further down the road, heading east?” he asks. “There would have been a man and two women in charge of it.”
“Aye,” the man replies. “I passed a caravan some time earlier this morning. It had an escort of the kings’ soldiers with it, if that be the one you’re referring to.”
“Yes, that would be the one,” James says.
“They are perhaps two hours away, maybe more,” explained the man.
“Thank you sir, you’ve been a great help.” James nods his head in acknowledgement.
The man returns his nod, and begins to relax a little.
“Have a safe journey,” James says to the man as he starts down the road again. Glancing back, he can see that the man remains still as he watches them depart before turning and continues on his way.
“Not a very friendly sort, was he?” Miko asks.
“Alone in the middle of nowhere is not a place to be too trusting,” James explains. “Especially not when you are outnumbered two to one.”
“At lest he let us know they’re not too far ahead.”
“Yes, hopefully we will catch them by nightfall,” James figures.
“That would be nice,” Miko says. “Sheila is kind of cute.”
Looking over at him, James warns, “You better not let Rylin hear you say that.”
“Why? She is cute,” Miko replies defensively.
“I agree that she is cute. However, I believe Rylin is in love with her and you wouldn’t want him to mark you as a rival