Trail of the Gods_ The Morcyth Saga Book Four - Brian S. Pratt [37]
Lord Colerain just glowers at him from where he sits against the wall. “Tie him up and gag him,” James tells the others.
As Scar and Shorty take care of it, he stands back and watches until he’s secured. Then says to Illan, “Let’s go home.”
Fifer moves to the doorway of the office and peers out into the warehouse. He’s relieved to find the guards who are standing out by the carriage haven’t been alerted by the commotion within the office. “It’s clear,” he says.
James pauses at the doorway to glance back at Lord Colerain, and can see the hate in his eyes. He moves out of the way as Fifer and Scar bring the two dead guards into the office.
Illan indicates the hallway across the warehouse where they entered from and they begin moving in that direction. “Think what you said will stop him?” he asks James.
“I hope so, but I doubt it,” he replies. “I meant what I said though, should he continue against me.”
“Good,” Scar says from behind him. “I don’t think he realizes just what you’re capable of.”
“Maybe not,” replies James. “And I really hope he never has to find out.”
They pass down through the hallway to the door leading out into the street. Once outside, Miko takes the lead as he leads them back to the inn where their horses are waiting for them.
Moving through the dark streets, they fill him in on how they found him and what transpired at Lord Colerain’s estate. He pats Miko on the back, as he praises his quick thinking and resourcefulness.
At the inn, they get their horses but realize they’re one horse short for James. So he mounts behind Shorty and they move out into the night putting as much distance between themselves and Lord Colerain as they can before fatigue and exhaustion begin to take affect.
Finding a good spot off the road to make camp, they get settled in and Illan has them take turns at watch. All that is, except James, whom the others allow to sleep throughout the night. By the next morning, the effect of the drug that was in his system has completely worn off and his head is once again clear.
He tries to make his orb and when it readily appears, he immediately cancels it, confident in his ability to do magic once more.
Later that day, a little before noon, they meet up with Delia’s caravan.
When Scar sees them coming into view ahead of them he kicks his horse into a gallop. With a whoop and holler he races to meet them. Potbelly sees him coming and does the same thing, much to the amusement of everyone else.
Laughing, James has Shorty break into a gallop as his group quickly catches, and then passes, where Scar and Potbelly have met in the middle. Leaving them behind, James rides up to where Delia has begun to pull the wagons off the road.
“Good to see you James,” she says, greeting him with a warm smile.
“Wasn’t sure for a while if I’d ever see you again,” he says. Dismounting, he goes to her and gives her a hug. She returns it gingerly when she sees the welts scoring his back.
“What happened to you?” she asks, concern in her eyes.
“Well, let me tell you…” he says and then begins to relate all that had happened to him since she left. When he was done, Scar relates what happened to them and then the rescue of James. During the tale, they’ve set about having their midday meal and Stig is delegated the job of feeding and watering the horses. At one point, Delia produces a clean shirt from her inventory for him.
“It seems that for some reason,” says James as he continues eating his rations, “Lord Colerain believes I stole something while we were there.” He looks to Miko who only shakes his head. “I didn’t,” he says.
“I know,” James assures him. “But for some reason, he thinks that.”
“Do you think he’ll try anything again?” asks Potbelly.
“Maybe,” he replies. “Hopefully, I put worry in him about my reprisal if he does.”
They finish their meal and all make