Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [194]
Jiron glances to James and says, “I hope everyone made it there alright.”
“I’m sure they have,” he assures him. “With Scar, Potbelly and the rest, what could possibly have happened?”
“True,” he says.
Moving quickly, they cover many miles before the sun begins to dip near the horizon. “Perhaps we should make camp now?” suggests Illan. “No need to push it hard.”
“Sure,” agrees James.
They find a good spot off the road and make camp. A fire is quickly built and enough wood is gathered to allow it to burn all night. Even though they’re in friendly territory, the words of warning from Sterrin convince them to post a watch. As Uther says, “You never know.”
The night passes without incident and they’re quickly underway shortly after the sky begins to lighten. James rides in the lead with Jiron on one side and Miko on the other. To Jiron he asks, “How’s the shoulder?”
Rubbing it, Jiron replies, “Hurts, but it’s getting better. At least it’s not oozing blood anymore. Another week or two and I’ll be able to use it again.”
“I’m glad,” says James. “I was worried it might’ve been injured permanently.”
“Won’t really know until it heals more,” Jiron says. “It doesn’t feel as if anything major is wrong with it.”
“What’s Trendle like?” asks Miko.
“Just a small farming community, really,” explains James. “Good people.”
“What’re we going to do there?” he asks.
“First of all,” James tells him, “I think we should all take a much deserved rest for a while. Give us time to fully recover from all that’s happened to us.”
“What about you?” Jiron asks. “Are you still going to search for more on Morcyth?”
“I intend to,” answers James. “But I need to rest and think about some things first. I want to be better prepared than I have been.”
“Makes sense,” nods Jiron.
“I have some ideas I’ve been thinking on the last week or so,” he says to them. “Ever since we left that complex in the swamp, I’ve been thinking about those crystals we found there.”
“Oh?” asks Miko. “Like what?”
“Not really sure, but I think I may be able to use them to harness and store magical energy,” he explains. “If I can, then there is really no limit to what I might be able to do.”
“How are you going to do that?” Jiron asks.
Shrugging, he replies, “I haven’t a clue. But I believe it’s possible so I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out. Remember that large crystal above that lake?”
They nod their heads, and then Jiron says, “Yeah, I remember.”
“Well, that one had magic in it, or at least passing through it,” he tells them. “I just need to figure out how they did that.”
“I see,” comments Jiron.
James also remembers an encounter with that little creature, Igor. It always had seemed odd that they’d gone for pizza that time, but after seeing those crystals, he remembered how Mama had been watching Star Trek. It didn’t register at the time, but she had said how the episode was the one where they’d had to recharge the dilitium crystals.
Perhaps that was why he’d been taken there, to have him think in that direction. If so, why Igor didn’t just come out and say it remains a mystery.
The mountains to the west continue growing in size as the day progresses and near the end of the day they can see where the road enters the mountain range.
“Should be there by nightfall,” Illan announces to everyone.
“Are we going to make camp before entering the mountains?” asks Yern.
“That would probably be advisable,” Illan says. “I think it would be best to take the pass in the daylight, less chance of taking a misstep in the dark.”
“I was hoping we would,” says a tired Keril from the rear. He and Hinney had been back there all day and were tired of eating everyone’s dust. Those two had been friends long before joining Miller’s band and tended to stay together for the most part.
The grasslands stay fairly flat all the way to where the mountains begin rising up to the sky. They find a good spot to camp about a half mile from the pass entrance. As the sun sets, they go about finding enough wood to last the night and settle down to eat the rations they