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“Yes, sir?” he asks.

“Don’t blow the horn when we return,” he tells him.

Giving him a nod, he replies, “I won’t sir, promise.”

“Thank you, Moyil,” he says as he leaves the lane and turns onto the road.

“You know,” says Jiron, “since we’ve gotten the extra lads, we’ve been bothered by fewer people.”

“Good,” states James. “They’re a nuisance we can do without.”

Once in town, they make their way to Alexander’s where he arranges for Roland to be able to withdraw funds. He also withdraws another two hundred golds. Leaving Alexander’s shop, he then heads over to the blacksmith to check on the status of his box.

They find Kraegan again at the anvil working on some kind of iron bar. When they pull up, one of his apprentices tells him of their arrival. Glancing over to them, he hands the iron bar to his apprentice who continues working the metal while he goes over to greet them.

“Ah, master blacksmith,” James greets him.

“Here to see about your box?” he asks.

“That’s right,” he replies. “Just wondering if it was ready yet?”

“About two more days,” he says. “All but the interior lining is completed and the man who will be doing that gets back in town this evening. Tomorrow at the earliest, but most likely the day after.”

“Excellent,” exclaims James. “I appreciate the update and I’ll not keep you from your work any longer. Good day to you.”

“Good day to you, too,” Kraegan says. Then he returns to where his apprentice is working the bar.

“Are we heading back now?” asks Miko.

Shaking his head, James says, “One more stop first.”

He takes them down to where Burl the chandler’s shop is located and stops in front of it. As he gets down from his horse he sees Mary, Devin’s mother, coming out the door carrying a bundle of goods.

“Good day, Mary,” he greets her.

“Why, James,” she says to him, a smile on her face. “It’s so good to see you. How is Devin doing?”

“He’s taking well to it,” he says. “He seems to be enjoying it.”

“Good,” she says, almost breathing a sigh of relief. “He’s always been a quiet boy and I was worried about him.”

“He’s doing fine,” he assures her.

“He never did much care for the farm,” she says. “Oh, he did well and I believe he would’ve made a good farmer, but his heart never was in it. I remember when you first came to us, his eyes lit up at the things you talked about. And then after you faced the demon, or whatever that was, I knew he’d never again be satisfied with farming.”

“I’m sorry,” he tells her.

“Oh, don’t be feeling bad or anything,” she tells him. “I may worry, but that’s a mother’s prerogative. I know a boy must find his own way, maybe this is his. At least with you, he shouldn’t get into any real danger.”

James glances to Jiron a second then says, “We’ll try to keep him safe.”

“I know you will,” she says matter-of-factly. “You’re a good man. But I must be off, no telling what the girls have gotten themselves into while I’ve been here in town.”

“You take care Mary,” he says.

“You too, James, it was nice seeing you,” she says as she moves past him with her bundle. Down the street, he can see her horse and wagon.

Feeling better about Devin being out at The Ranch, he proceeds into the chandlery.

Burl is behind the counter and looks up as the door opens. He breaks into a smile when he sees them walk in through the door. “Welcome,” he greets them.

“Good day to you Burl,” James replies.

“What can I get for you today?” he asks.

“Just looking around,” he tells him.

“If you need anything, just let me know,” he says.

“I will,” James assures him.

As they move through his shop, he looks at the goods and tries to come up with an idea, possibly a variation on what’s already available. He sees bolts of cloth and other items people may want to buy, but nothing really springs to mind. Discouraged, he leaves the shop as Burl’s “Come again” follows him out the door.

“Didn’t find anything?” Jiron asks him.

“No,” he replies. Before mounting, a thought suddenly occurs to him. He looks around at the people