Fires of Prophecy: The Morcyth Saga Book Two (12 page)

“Where?” another voice asks.

“Not sure,” the first voice replies. “James!
Where are you?”

He can hear several people moving through
the forest, near and around him. Giving it one last try, he shouts,
“Over here!” Again, it only comes out barely audible.

“There!” he hears someone shout. “It came
from that way.”

Suddenly, Delia comes into view as she walks
right by where he’s laying. He moves his hand slightly, but it
catches her eye.

“Here he is!” she cries out excitedly. “Are
you alright?” she asks him as she places her hand on his
forehead.

Shaking his head no, he just lies there.

When everyone approaches, she says, “His
fever’s gone, but he says he isn’t good.”

“Let’s get him out,” Jiron says when he sees
him lying there, all but his head and one arm is hidden beneath the
broken branches.

They all help to get the limbs and leaves
off of him and then help him to stand. But in his weakened
condition his legs are unable to support his weight and they just
give out under him. So Jiron and Tinok move to help him, Jiron on
the left and Tinok on the right.

When Tinok tries placing James’ right arm
over his shoulder for support, he cries out in pain from the stress
that’s being put on the wound from the crossbow bolt. Realizing
they’re not going to be able to do it that way, Jiron tries lifting
him in his arms, but James is too heavy for him to attempt to carry
all the way back to the campsite.

“I got an idea,” Cassie says. Grabbing Tinok
she says to the others, “Just make him comfortable and we’ll be
right back.”

They run back the way they came, back toward
the wagons.

Jiron sets James down on a fallen log and
stays beside him, keeping him upright. “What’s she going to do?” he
asks Delia.

“Not sure,” she replies.

“What happened to you last night?” Jiron
asks James.

“Hmmm? What do you mean?” he asks in a voice
barely above a whisper.

“Don’t you remember anything from last
night?” Jiron asks him.

“Last thing I remember is lying on the
ground back at camp,” he explains. “Then nothing until I woke up
here, hearing you calling my name. Why?”

“You woke up in the middle of the night and
all hell broke loose,” he tells him. “You were fighting something,
Cassie thinks you were just being delusional because of the fever.
You were throwing magic around, creating havoc as if you were under
attack.”

James just stares in disbelief as Jiron
recounts what happened and the destruction they saw as they came to
search for him.

“At first we thought we were under attack,”
he continues, “but then realized it was the fever doing it to you.
Then you suddenly ran off into the forest and for a while we heard
you blowing things up. It lasted well over an hour before you
finally stopped. Couldn’t come for you until morning, didn’t want
to risk getting lost and separated.”

“Sorry,” James says apologetically.

“No one got hurt,” Delia says, “and it seems
that it was good for you, the fever’s gone.”

They sit there and wait for the return of
Cassie and Tinok. Just when Jiron is about ready to leave to find
them, they show up carrying a stretcher they made with two long
tree limbs and a couple of blankets.

They set it down near James and then Tinok
and Jiron help him onto it. With Jiron in the front and Tinok
taking the rear, they begin to carry him through the forest and
back to camp. As they enter the areas of destruction, James is
reminded of a similar instance back near Trendle. He just shakes
his head in regret at all the uselessly destroyed trees.

When they pass by the petrified tree, Tinok
asks, “How did you do that?”

“What?” he asks, lifting his head a little
to see what he’s talking about.

“That tree there,” he replies, indicating it
with a nod of his head.

“What’s wrong with it?” he asks again,
confused.

“It’s as hard as stone,” he explains.

“Let me see,” he says and they carry him
close enough so he’s able to touch it. When he feels the tree, he
tells them, “Petrified, I would guess.”

“Petrified?” Cassie asks.

“Petrification is when minerals in the
ground are absorbed by a living organism and over time turns as
hard as rock,” he explains.

“How did you do that?” Tinok asks.

“I don’t know,” he admits. “But I plan on
thinking about it, now that I know it can be done.”

They resume carrying him until they get back
to the camp, where they lay him down and start a fire to warm him.
Cassie replaces his bandage with a fresh one containing more of her
poultice.

Once they have the fire going and James has
eaten his fill, he says, “We better get going, we’ve still got to
get to Korazan before the slavers do.”

“Are you well enough?” Jiron asks.

“No, but we have little choice,” he replies.
“I can rest well enough in the wagon.”

“Alright,” Jiron says, “let’s get ready to
go.” He and Tinok begin the process of securing the traces on the
draft horses. When they’re set, they help James up onto the wagon,
again next to Delia. Tinok and Cassie take up the second wagon and
Jiron rides point. The five remaining horses are tied in line in
the rear.

“Let’s go,” Jiron says, as he begins to ride
down the road with the wagons following behind.

This time, Delia and Tinok are much more
able to properly control the wagons, and are able to make better
time. They follow the road for the rest of the day, at times having
to stop while everyone except James, gets down and helps push one
when it gets stuck in the mud.

Just a brief stop for lunch and then they
resume their journey. James drifts in and out of sleep throughout
the day and by the time they make camp that night, he’s regained
enough of his strength to be able to come down from the wagon by
himself.

They get the horses unhitched and picketed
before making camp. Tinok gets a roaring fire going to help keep
them warm through the night and then they eat the last of the
rations that were in the wagons. “Hope we get somewhere soon,”
comments Tinok.

“Afraid of going hungry?” Delia asks with a
smile.

“No,” he replies defensively, “just tired of
being in the mountains.”

“I find it relaxing,” James interjects.
Everyone turns and looks at him as he continues, “They’ve always
brought me peace.”

“There is something tranquil about them,”
Cassie adds. She then rests her head on Tinok’s shoulder who places
his arm around her, keeping her warm. Jiron and Delia glance at
each other and smile.

They sit there by the fire, the pop and
crackle of the wood lending a peacefulness to the night. It isn’t
long before James has fallen asleep. The rest soon follow.

The next morning, the overcast sky of the
day before has made way for a beautiful sunny morning, once the
remaining cloud cover has burned off. Everyone’s mood is much
improved and are soon on the road. As he rides along in the wagon,
James realizes that the sun is rising on their left.
Heading
south
, he figures.

About midday, the road begins to descend
gradually and everyone is glad that they will soon be out of the
mountains. Everyone that is, but Tinok who says, “I don’t know why
you’re all so happy.”

“What do you mean?” Delia asks. “I thought
you wanted to be out of the mountains.”

“I do, but once we’re out of the mountains,
we’re going to be in Empire territory again. Doesn’t that make you
the least bit nervous?” he asks.

“A little,” she replies, “but I like to hope
for the best.”

“Besides,” adds James, “we now have a reason
for being there. I think we’ve even got a letter that will allow us
to pass through.”

“I hope so,” Tinok replies. He quiets down,
keeping his brooding thoughts to himself.

The trees begin to thin and they can see off
in the distance where they will be coming out of the mountains. A
road appears further down, running along the base of the mountains
going east to west.

An hour later, they finally reach where the
road they’ve been following will be leaving the protection of the
trees as it makes its way out to the main road. They pause only
momentarily as they check for any travelers who might observe them
leaving the mountains. Not seeing anyone upon the road, they
quickly make their way out upon it.

“Which way?” Jiron asks James.

“Let’s try east and see if a road hooks up
with this one that’s heading south,” he suggests. “If we find that
this road turns to the north further along, we’ll double back and
see what’s to the west of us.”

Jiron turns his horse eastward and leads
them down the road.

_________________________

They travel half a day after leaving the
mountains when they see a town coming up ahead. It appears rather
small, just several buildings at a juncture of converging roads. As
they near, they realize this town shows no sign of the Empire’s
occupation. The citizens go about their daily business and children
can be seen running around, playing in the streets.

“Wonder why this town remains untouched by
the Empire?”

Delia glances to James and shrugs. “Maybe
it’s in the Empire?”

“Could be,” he agrees. “I guess we’ll find
out soon enough.”

Jiron leads them toward the town and as they
draw near, the people become aware of their approach. Most only
pausing a moment to glance in their direction before continuing
about their business.

One of the buildings has a sign of three
barrels hanging above the door. Figuring it to be a shop where they
can purchase supplies, they pull up and stop in front. James and
Jiron go inside while the others wait with the wagons.

Within the shop, they find a man in the
process of straightening up his inventory. When he sees them coming
through the door, he turns toward them and smiles. “Welcome,
welcome,” he says as he goes over to greet them. “How may I help
you today?”

“We just need some supplies before heading
on,” James tells him.

“We have a wide selection of goods for the
traveler,” the shopkeeper says. “What might you be interested
in?”

“Just some travel rations and water
bottles,” he replies.

“You don’t seem very busy,” Jiron comments
when he notices they’re the only ones in there.

“Business has been a little slow of late,”
he says. “With the war going on and all.” He places several
packages of rations on the counter, and then asks James, “How many
water bottles do you require?”

“Five.”

The man reaches up to a shelf and removes
five water bottles, placing them on the counter next to the
rations.

“The Empire didn’t come this way?” Jiron
asks.

“We’re sort of on the border,” he explains.
“We’re not really apart of anyone, yet they all think we are apart
of them. Sometimes it’s confusing, but everyone tends to leave us
alone her in Bindles.”

“How far is it to Korazan?” Jiron asks.

“About three to four days,” the man says.
“Are you going there?”

“We have some goods to deliver there, yes,”
James replies.

“If you would deliver a couple packages for
me,” he offers, “I could let you have this for free.” He indicates
their goods on the counter. “Plus, when you delivered them, you
would receive a bonus as well.”

James thinks for a second and then says,
“Sure, we could do that for you.”

“Excellent,” the merchant exclaims. “I’ve
been waiting for some time for a trader to pass through who would
be willing to take it. Just wait here a moment and I’ll bring it
out.”

While he’s in the back, Jiron comes closer
to James and whispers, “Why are we doing this?”

“Gives us more credibility if questioned,”
James replies.

Jiron suddenly understands and gives James a
nod with a slight smile.

The man returns from the back with three
packages and a bill of lading. “Take these three packages to
Zi-Aldan in Korazan. Not sure exactly where he is located, but if
you inquire at the local merchant’s guild, they should be able to
direct you to him.”

“Very well,” James says as Jiron collects
their goods. The merchant hands him the bill of lading and then
picks up his packages to carry them out to their wagons. James
holds the door open for him as they leave his shop. Tinok gives
them an odd expression as the merchant walks over and deposits the
packages in the back of his wagon.

Extending his hand, the merchant says, “I
appreciate you doing this for me.”

James shakes his hand and replies, “Glad we
could be of assistance.” He climbs up onto the wagon and sits next
to Delia. Then he gives the merchant a slight bow as he says, “May
you have prosperous dealings.”

The wagons begin rolling away as the
merchant says, “You too sir, you too.”

They continue through town and when they
come to where the roads converge, Jiron automatically turns to
follow the road going south. As the town begins to fall away and
finally disappears behind them, the terrain gradually becomes more
arid. Trees and bushes make way for scrub brush, as well as the
occasional tumbleweed.
Kind of looks like the area around
Bakersfield
.

The air becomes drier the further south they
progress and the temperature starts to rise. They had warm, even
hot days before, but nothing like this. James is literally baking
under the sun, sure that he’s going to end up with a dilly of a
sunburn.

The road meanders along this desert-like
territory for many miles before they begin to approach another
small town. The citizens here all wear long flowing robes, kind of
like the middle easterners wore back on Earth.