Brian Pratt - Shades of the past

Though there is fear and worry, the people still must continue about their daily routines, those who aren’t fleeing that is. Many are still upon the street, some returning from shopping, others trying to learn the latest word from the south. Off to one side, James spies a group of kids playing some game as they race around. Grinning to himself, he’s glad they are able to find joy while they can. If what he plans works out the way he hopes, these people will have little to fear.

He works his way through to the seedier part of town, over to an area he has been in once before. A burnt out husk of a building is all that remains of what use to be Orlander’s tavern. He’s surprised it hasn’t been torn down yet, you’d think Orlander would have built another in its place.

Glancing around, he tries to locate Orlander or those who may know of his whereabouts. He intends to talk with him to reconcile the situation, heaven knows he has enough who wish him ill.

Ahead near what looks to be an abandoned home are five street thugs just hanging around. He makes his way toward them and they quickly take note of his approach. One disengages from the others and comes forward to meet him.

“Excuse me,” James says as he comes to a stop several feet away. “Could you tell me where I might find Orlander?”

“Orlander?” the thug asks. “Why would you want to see him?”

“Got business with him,” replies James. “Now, where could I find him?”

“Maybe you should tell us your business first and we’ll see if it’s worth our while to help you?” At that, the remaining four thugs move to flank James on either side. The one before him pulls out a knife and the others do likewise.

“I really don’t want any trouble,” James tells them as he starts to back away.

“Then give us your money and you won’t have any,” the lead thug says as he threatens with his knife.

Sighing, James shakes his head and says, “Have it your way.” Suddenly, five shimmering fields spring into being around the five thugs.

“What’s this?” questions the lead thug. He puts his hand out toward it and is surprised to encounter resistance. “Hey!” he cries as he begins banging on the field surrounding him. The others react in fear and apprehension as well. “Let us out!” “Help!” their cries echo down the darkened, shadowed street.

James glances first one way and then another to see if anyone is coming to their aid. Amazingly, the few people who had been on the streets have vanished. Turning back to the lead thug, he asks, “Now, where can I find Orlander?”

Panicked eyes stare at him from within the shimmering field. “He’s that way,” the thug says as he points further down the street.

“Where exactly?” He glances down the street in the direction indicated and only sees more old abandoned buildings in desperate need of repair.

“The old tannery,” another of the thugs says. James turns his attention to him as he continues. “It’s down two streets on the left. You can’t miss it.”

“Alright,” James says as he begins heading down the street.

“What about us?” another of the thugs cries out. “You can’t leave us like this!”

He pauses in the street and turns his attention back to the thugs. “If what you say is true, I’ll let you go,” he tells them. Then turning his back on them once again, he resumes his way down the street. What he did to them is one of many things he worked on during the winter in anticipation of the spring campaign. He got to thinking that if the protective barrier can keep things away from him, it should be able to be reversed and hold someone in.

Leaving the imprisoned men behind, he makes his way further down the street. The sun’s light has all but faded with the coming of night. Shadows are long and lights begin to appear in a few of the buildings which still have occupants.

After passing the first street and coming up to the second, he finds the building the thug told him about. Light spills from one of the windows illuminating several tough looking, well armed men loitering outside. One of the men is carrying a crossbow. Nodding to himself, he heads toward the building.

As he draws near, the men outside become aware of his approach. The man holding the crossbow turns it to bear upon him. “Is Orlander within?” he asks once he’s stopped before them.

“Who wants to know?” one man asks. The hilts of two longswords jut out from behind his shoulders and he looks like one who can definitely take care of himself in a fight.

“One who wishes to put to rest a situation between us,” James explains.

“What’s your name?” two swords asks.

“James,” he replies. “I burnt his tavern down last fall.”

At that two of the men gasp and two swords nods to another who enters through the door behind him. “Didn’t expect you to make yourself so available,” he says.

James remains silent as they wait for Orlander’s appearance. They don’t have long to wait before the door opens and Orlander walks out with a crossbow in hand. Half a dozen others follow him through the door.

“At last!” he says with a gleam in his eye. He raises the crossbow and before James has a chance to say anything, fires. The bolt flies toward him and strikes the all but invisible shield surrounding him. Ricocheting off the shield, it flies toward one of the thugs standing nearby, narrowly missing the man’s face.

“What sort of trickery is going on here?” Orlander demands when the bolt fails to find its mark.

“No trickery,” explains James. “I simply wish to talk to you.”

“Take him boys,” Orlander commands and his men pull their swords and attack.

James simply stands there as they run into the barrier surrounding him. After a few moments of fruitless attack, he asks, “Can we talk now or do you wish to continue?”

Orlander motions for his men to back off as he looks at James with a calculating look. “You a mage?” he asks.

“Among other things, yes,” replies James.

“Why don’t you just kill me?” Orlander asks after assimilating what he just said.

“It’s not my way,” he explains. “I wish to stop further bloodshed on both sides. I came here to see if I can change your mind about seeking my death. During our last encounter things sort of got out of hand and I am here to set things right.”

“Out of hand?” Orlander says incredulously. “You stole from me, killed a score of my friends and burnt down my tavern. I’d hardly call that ‘out of hand’.”

James reaches into his shirt and removes a small sack. Holding it before him, he says, “I have here enough gems to repay you for the stolen items and the destruction of your tavern.” He opens the sack and pulls out an uncut ruby half the size of an egg and shows it to him.

Orlander’s eyes grow large at the sight of the gem. He licks his lips and says, “Just what do you propose?”

“I give you this sack of gems and you swear to never again seek my destruction,” he explains. “Nor will you allow another to seek my destruction should you hear of it.”

“What if I refuse?” he asks.

James places the gem back in the sack and says, “Then you don’t get the gems and we are at war.”

“You seem pretty confident in yourself,” Orlander states. He glances around at the men standing with him.

James simply stares at him.

He stands there a moment contemplating the proposal. His eyes flick from James, to the bag and back again. “Very well,” he agrees. “We have a deal.”

“You swear to never again seek my death?” James asks.

“Yes, I swear it,” Orlander replies.

The shimmer of the shield disappears and he hands over the gems.

Orlander reaches out for the sack and then suddenly grabs James’ arm. “Kill him!” he cries out.