Warrior Priest of Dmon-Li - Brian Pratt [43]
Reaching the other side, he climbs down from the trunk and joins them by the river. Miko hands him another walking stick he’d found while James was crossing. He takes the stick and says, “Thank you.”
“Should we continue following it?” Jiron asks, indicating the main river from which the one they’d been following had split off.
“I would think so,” he says.
Without another word, Jiron turns and begins looking for the best path to take. With the river flowing steadily on their left, they continue on through the swamp. By nightfall, the swamp had begun to change from an area filled with stagnant pools to a more pleasant, forest type area.
“I think we may be finally getting to the edge of the swamp,” Jiron announces when they stop for the night.
“It looks like it,” agrees James. “The air is fresher and there’s not nearly the amount of annoying bugs to deal with.”
They make camp at the edge of the river and James goes into the woods, soon returning with several animals for dinner. By this time, the others have a good fire going and they relax around it as their dinner is cooking. The evening passes uneventfully, each taking their turn at watch.
When the sun rises in the morning, James is happy to find his leg beginning to itch. Knowing that’s an indication of healing, he tries not to scratch any of the scabs off. His side is doing better as well, some of the scabs are beginning to flake off around the edges. The strain he put on the wound when he almost fell into the river seems to have had little lasting effect.
His leg barely aches when he rests his weight on it when they’re ready to go. Not bothering with a walking stick any longer, he’s able to keep up with Jiron. They make better time than they had the day before.
As they continue on throughout the day, the swamp gradually disappears and a forest takes its place. Not having to worry about backtracking around pools of water where those flesh eating fish might be living, they’re able to cover more distance.
Maintaining a northerly course as they follow the river out of the swamplands, they continue on for several hours. The ground becomes firmer and soon the only water they find is that of the river next to them and the few small streams that flow into it. They all become more relaxed as they continue on, more comfortable in the more familiar setting of the forest.
James is feeling so good in fact, he breaks out in song, “Zip a de do dah…”
After several choruses, Miko asks him, “What’s that song about?”
Smiling, James explains, “Just a fun song from where I come from. It basically means happy to be alive, or at least that’s how it’s always made me feel.”
“Could you teach it to me?” he asks.
“Sure,” James says and then launches into another round.
Miko has trouble at first, but then he catches on fast and by the third iteration has the words and tune down fairly well. Jiron even manages to join in after the second time around and they go through the forest singing.
They’ve managed to make good speed through the rest of the day. When it begins getting dark, they again make camp, with James hunting for food while the others get the fire going.
Once he’s returned with a couple animals and they’re sitting around the fire, he says, “This is nice.”
“What is?” asks Jiron from where he’s turning the spit.
“Just being in the forest, no one trying to kill you,” he says wistfully. “I’ve always liked being out among the trees, it’s always brought me peace.”
“Not me,” says Miko. “The forest gives me the creeps.”
Laughing, James replies, “That’s because you’re a city boy. Spend more time out here and you’ll come to appreciate them.”
Miko looks at him doubtfully and says, “So far, they’ve been nothing but trouble.”
“I suppose it could seem that way,” Jiron joins in. “If we weren’t here in the Empire, at least I think we’re still in the Empire,