The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [157]
“By the way, my name is James and this is my companion, Miko,” he says, indicating Miko.
“We sure thank you for this, James” Silas says. “The kids were getting awfully hungry and the food that the soldiers were distributing had run out by the time we made it to the front of the line.”
“I don’t think the soldiers had planned on this many making it here,” Bellon says. “They said a caravan was on its way from Trademeet but wouldn’t be here until later tomorrow or possibly the day after.”
“We passed a large caravan coming this way early in the morning,” Miko tells them. “It will most likely be up here sometime late tomorrow.”
“That’s good news,” Silas says.
“James and I plan on going on through the Pass to Madoc in the morning,” Miko tells them.
James gives him a look that says, ‘Don’t tell strangers our business’. Miko has the good sense enough to blush at his mistake.
Silas’ wife says, “You mustn’t go there!”
Holding his wife’s hand, Silas says, “I agree, it’s not a good place to be right now.”
“Well, we don’t plan on going anywhere near Saragon,” James says.
“Still, the Empire’s men are terrible foes,” Bellon states.
“Why are they so terrible?” Miko asks with apprehension.
Bellon looks at him and says, “They kill just for the pleasure of it. If they can capture you, you become their slave and they take you back to their Empire to sell you at auction. When Saragon fell and we were running through the streets to get to the smuggler’s route, we saw the slavers taking people, tying their hands behind their backs and stringing them in slave lines. If they were too old or an invalid, they just slit their throats, leaving them to lie in the street and bleed to death.”
Bellon’s wife puts a hand on his arm, and when she has his attention, shakes her head and indicates the children. “Oh, sorry, maybe this is not the time or place to be talking about such things,” he says.
“I think I get the idea,” James says, understanding. “But there is not much we can do, we have to go.”
“If you must go,” Silas says, “then stay as far to the north away from Saragon as you can. No one was sure if the Empire would stop at Saragon or push further north.”
“We will, I promise,” he assures them and then turns his attention to the vacant eyed younger children. “Now who would like to hear a silly song about a bunny?” he asks.
They kind of perk up at that, at least the younger two do. One of them says very timidly, “I do.”
So James begins to sing. “Little bunny Foo Foo hopping through the forest…” While he sings, he pantomimes the little bunny hopping along with the rest of the cast of characters.
For the remainder of the evening he sits and sings all the old silly songs he once sung as a child and even throws in a couple of poems. The children sit in rapt attention and after the first two songs, begin to smile a little and even clap along. The adults, seeing life returning to their children, begin to clap along as well with tears in their eyes.
Eventually, James’ voice begins to crack and he has to stop for a while. Miko, surprisingly, begins a song about a lord who can’t find his slippers. It’s a silly song, but obviously one that the children have heard before because they begin to sing along with him after the fist chorus.
The rest of the night is full of singing and silly tales. For a time at least, the memories of what happened and what their futures might hold are forgotten. All that mattered this night was that they had brought joy back to the children.
The following morning when the sky begins to lighten, even before the sun rises over the mountain peaks, James and Miko make ready to get through the Pass.
Silas, Bellon and their families gather around, shaking hands. Silas’ wife even goes so far as giving James a kiss. “Thank you so much for last night,” she says with tears in her eyes.
“I wish you all well,” James says as he mounts his horse with Miko following suit. James reaches into