Brian Pratt - Trail of the Gods

At the lane entrance, Jorry says, “So far, those guys are the only ones to show up today.”

“What did they want?” asks James.

“Just asked if you were here,” he explains. “When I told them you had gone into town, they turned around and started back.”

James looks back and sees the three men paused there in the road, as if they’re deciding whether or not to come back now that he’s there. Finally, they turn and continue down the road back to town.

“Irritating,” he says as he starts down the lane to the main house. Out back he can see where the hole in the ground from the crystals exploding last night has already been filled back in and Sean has begun laying out a new framework for another coop. Jiron rides to the barn while he goes over to talk with him.

“Well master builder,” James says as he rides over to him, “got tired of working on the house?”

Grinning, he says, “No, but they’ve gotten it under control for the moment so I thought I’d put together another coop for you before nightfall. Your cook asked me if I could. You don’t mind do you?”

“It’s fine,” he replies. “Do you have everything you need?”

“All but the chicken wire and I understand one of your men has gone into town to get that.”

“Good,” he says. He turns his horse toward the barn and soon has him settled in. Around the back of the house, he finds Roland chopping wood. When he sees James approaching, he puts the axe down.

“Ezra has borrowed your builder for the day,” he tells him.

“Yeah, I saw that,” he replies.

“You don’t mind do you?” he asks. When James shakes his head, he continues, “It’s just that she’s arranged for three dozen chickens to arrive here tomorrow and wanted a place ready for them.”

“That’s fine,” he assures him. “Where did she get that many?”

“From several of the neighboring farms, from what she tells me,” he explains.

“I’ll be out in the workshop if anyone needs me,” he says.

“Okay,” says Roland as he picks up his axe again and commences splitting logs into firewood.

Rather than going directly to his workshop, he heads for the crystals that were left out in the forest from the day before. He goes to the one off by itself to see if the glow still remains after being deactivated all night.

When he at last finds it, he can still see the glow within and it looks to be just as strong as it had the day before. It hadn’t been exactly full to begin with. Maybe the more power it has, the more it will lose and once it reaches a certain level it doesn’t lose anymore? Going to have to see if that theory is sound or not.

Feeling really good about the whole thing, he replaces the crystal back down where it had been. May as well leave it to see how it behaves over the next couple days. Now to the other ones.

He can easily tell where the other two crystals were left. Before he even gets close, he can see where the withered area has grown much greater than it was the day before. Where there were two distinct areas, now there is but one. The two areas surrounding the crystals have grown together and expanded further out.

Everything within a foot of each crystal is completely dead. Both have a deep crimson glow and look to be filled to capacity. Canceling the spells, he bends down and picks them up. They don’t feel any different, still hard and feels like their weight hasn’t changed. He puts one back in his pocket and the other he takes over to where the first one lies. He sets the crystal down next to it, figuring to come back the next day and compare the two to see if the one with more power will lose it faster.

Going back to the workshop, he takes several crystals out and casts the leeching spells upon them, the ones that will only draw minute quantities at a time so as not to kill the vegetation. He also adds the signature spell to each to make sure they won’t leech from each other. Unless there are special circumstances, he’ll always incorporate the signature spell.

He prepares four separate crystals and then takes them out to the forest, placing them in different areas. In the morning he’ll see what kind of effect they leave on their surroundings. If he’s done this right, there should be very little in the way of noticeable withering of the surrounding vegetation.

When he returns from the forest he goes over and helps Sean with the chicken coop. Miko and Fifer are already there helping him. They’ve finished the initial framework and were starting the roof when he joins them. By the time the evening meal is ready, they’ve nailed the last of the roosting boxes securely to the walls.

Ezra steps out to call them in for dinner and notices that the new chicken coop is finished. Coming over, she nods her head and says, “Very nice. Yes, very nice indeed. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Sean says to her. Then to James he says, “I better get over there and see how they’re doing on the house.”

“Shouldn’t have messed it up too much,” James says with a grin.

“They’d better not have messed it up at all if they expect to go home tonight,” he tells him as he heads on over.

Fifer just laughs as he and Miko go and get cleaned up. James follows them and they’re soon sitting at the table having their dinner.

James tells everyone about the meeting with the town council and he hears angry muttering from the ones who’ve been standing out at the road keeping everyone away. “It’s bad enough now,” Jorry says. “Today alone I had to turn away at least seven people, some took it okay. Others got downright angry at not being able to talk to you.”

“What do they want?” he asks.

“Most won’t tell me, others are just stupid things,” he replies. “One woman wanted you to remove a wart and another is sure that someone has put a curse on him.”

“A curse?” asks Illan, amused.

“Yes, a curse,” replies Jorry. “He claims that his continued losing at cards is due to a curse. I told him it’s probably just that he’s no good. He didn’t like that and told me so in not very friendly words.”

“I’m sorry you guys have to put up with that,” he says. “Maybe when the word spreads that I don’t see anyone, then they’ll go away.”

“I hope so,” Jorry sighs. “If not, I’d like a shack or something out there we can relax in. Now’s not too bad, but in the winter, it could get bad out there.”

They eat in silence for a while, each digesting what’s been said. Suddenly from outside, they hear the sound of wagons rolling toward the house. Uther gets up and goes out to the front room and shortly his voice can be heard as he says, “Delia’s back.”

Jiron gets up and hurries out, Tersa right behind.

James finishes another bite and then says to Ezra as he indicates his plate, “I’m not finished yet.” Then he gets up and goes out to meet them as well. He finds Delia and Tersa giving each other a hug in welcome. Shorty is getting down from where he’d been driving the wagon and Scar, Potbelly and Stig are dismounting from their horses.

“I told you we’d make it here by dark!” he can hear Potbelly say to Scar.

“Alright, here,” Scar says as he hands over several coins.

“How’s the trading business?” James asks Delia when he approaches.

“Not as good as I’d hoped,” she tells him. “But I’m just starting out and have no contacts. Few will trust me with their loads, but give me time and I’ll win them over.”

“I’m sure you will,” he says. “We’ve just sat down to dinner. You’re welcome to share with us.”

“That’s okay,” she says. “I doubt if Ezra had planned on so many, we’ll just eat our own food tonight. Though tomorrow morning we’ll take advantage of her cooking before we set out.”