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The eyes of the woman grow cold when she hears that. “Attack?” she exclaims. “Is this why you are here? You think us assassins?” Her eyes bore into James and a growling can be heard coming from her guards.

“At first, yes,” he admits. “We’d heard rumors that you were from the Empire and grew concerned. When we came here and observed you, we realized the rumors were false and were about to leave when your fire exploded.”

She stares at him a moment as she contemplates his words, then she turns her attention to Jiron and asks, “How is it you know we are going to a wedding?”

Jiron looks somewhat sheepish under her glare and replies, “I ran into Ceryn and he told me.”

“Are you friends of Ceryn’s?” she asks.

“Yes,” replies James.

Her expression softens slightly, then looks back to James, “Why did you think us here to attack you?”

“We were at the fall of the City of Light where a friend of ours had been taken captive,” he explains. “We freed him, but killed some slavers doing it. Hearing those from the Empire were here, we feared your presence might indicate a reprisal.”

Nodding her head, she says, “I see.” A few brief words in their language to the guards and they relax. All but two return to where they were, the remaining two staying nearby.

“That was quite an explosion,” he comments. “By the way, my name is James and these men are my guards.” He gives her a slight bow.

“I am Allana,” she says. “These were meant for my wedding. I’m glad they all weren’t destroyed.”

“What are they?” Miko asks, indicating the chest at her feet.

“They are a gift from my uncle,” she tells him. “They are used in celebrations by the Illuminator’s Guild. Though I am not one of them, my uncle is a high ranking member and allowed me these for my wedding. Since it is going to be here in Cardri, there’s little chance of word getting out.”

“I’m sorry we intruded upon you,” James tells her. “We shall go now, and best wishes to you and your groom.” He indicates for Illan to get the others moving.

“Thank you,” she says.

Leaving the clearing behind, they make their way back to where their horses are waiting. “The Illuminator’s Guild must have powerful magic,” comments Miko.

“Not really,” replies James. “What those tubes were would’ve been called ‘fireworks’ back where I come from.”

“Fireworks?” asks Jiron.

“That’s right,” he explains. “It’s just something relatively harmless that people use to make bright lights and noise.”

“Oh,” says Miko. “Do you think we could get some?”

Turning to Illan, James asks, “Ever heard of anything like that before around here?”

Shaking his head he says, “No, not around here. Though I have heard talk of something like that before, but I didn’t really believe it.”

After reaching their horses and are riding back to The Ranch, James considers the ramifications of what he just learned. The Chinese used fireworks for a thousand years before the military aspects of gunpowder were realized. Should the same thing happen here, it would turn this world upside down.

Deciding not to open that particular Pandora’s Box, he keeps all this speculating to himself. An idea is one of the most powerful instruments ever devised. For once an idea gets out, there’s no going back.

By the time they get back to The Ranch, everyone is beginning to give Miko a hard time. James listens to it for awhile before putting a stop to it. “Leave him alone, guys. He made a mistake, but for the right reasons.”

Miko gives him a look of gratitude as the others quit pestering him. Once they’re back at The Ranch, James says to Illan, “We’re leaving in the morning. See that everyone is ready to go.”

“Will do,” he assures him.

The front door to the house opens up and Roland and the girls come out. “What happened?”

“False alarm,” he tells them. “Seems Miko was mistaken, they were on their way to a wedding.”

“A wedding?” Roland asks incredulously. Laughing, he asks, “How could he make that kind of mistake?”

Shrugging, James says, “He feels bad enough about it as it is,