Brian Pratt - Fires of prophesy

“Alright,” James says as he opens his pouch and takes out the money, handing it over. “How soon can you have it done?” he asks.

“About an hour,” he replies. “I have to finish the shoe I’m working on before I start.”

“Is there a place where we can eat while we wait?” he asks.

The blacksmith points back the way they came and indicates a two story building. He says, “You can find something over there at the Cracked Pot.”

“Thank you,” James says as he returns to the others. “It’s going to be about an hour,” he tells them, “so we may as well get something to eat while we wait.”

They get down from the wagons, Jiron and Tinok secure the horses to a hitching post near the blacksmith’s shop. They then walk over to the building the blacksmith had indicated and find an old pot with a sizeable crack running down the side hanging out front. Opening the door, they enter the common room and sit at a table near an open window through which a slight breeze is blowing.

Once seated, a girl comes over and starts to talk to them in the Empire’s language. James holds up his hand and says, “I’m sorry, but we don’t speak your language.”

“Sorry,” she says with an accent as she switches to their speech, “but we don’t get many who don’t speak our language.”

“That’s alright,” replies James. “What’s available?”

“We have roasted goat or sliced goat placed between chunks of bread,” she says. “The goat is a silver each, and the other is four coppers.”

“Sliced goat?” James asks to everyone. They all nod their heads and he says, “Okay, five of those please, and ale all around.” He digs out two silvers and hands them to her, “Will this cover it?”

“Yes sir,” she says, placing the money within a pocket. “I’ll have it out in just a few minutes.” She then turns and heads to the kitchen to prepare their meals.

“Sure is hot here,” Jiron comments to no one in particular.

“You said it,” Tinok responds. “I’ve never seen it like this before. I mean, sure, back home it got hot, but this is insane.”

“Just make sure to drink lots of water so you don’t get dehydrated,” James tells everyone.

The girl returns from the kitchen with a tray laden with a large heap of sliced meat and three loaves of bread balanced on one hand, while in the other she has a pitcher and five mugs. Jiron gets up to help her as it looks like she’s about to lose it.

“Thank you,” she says gratefully, smiling at him as he takes the tray from her and places it on the table.

He gives her a slight bow and says, “Anything for a pretty lady.”

The girl blushes, then places the pitcher and the mugs on the table. “If there’s anything else you require, just let me know.” She then returns to the kitchen.

“Stop bothering people,” Delia says to Jiron sternly.

“What?” Jiron exclaims. “Can’t a guy give a girl a compliment?”

She just glares at him.

James takes his knife and cuts off two slices of bread and then takes a slice of meat, placing it between them. Taking a big bite, he’s reminded of a hamburger from back home, though the flavor is a little stronger than what he’s used to.

Everyone begins taking the bread and making ‘goat burgers’. The break from the trail is nice, what with being in the shade and a nice breeze coming in through the window. They finish eating before the hour is up and relax around the table until it’s time to return to the blacksmith’s. Tinok takes the last of the bread and stuffs the remaining goat inside it as he leaves the table, eating it on the way over.

They’re surprised at what awaits them back at the blacksmith’s. Not only did he construct a frame for each wagon, but has also installed an off-white cloth covering for each as well.

Seeing them enter, he comes over to them and asks, “How do you like it?”

“Very nice,” James replies admiringly. Not only will anyone sitting on the driver’s bench be out of the sun, but it covers the entire wagon as well, shading the holding area.

“You’re mounts looked thirsty,” he tells them, “so I took them over to the well and gave them water.” He indicates a well off to the side with a two foot trough sitting on the ground next to it.

“Thank you,” James says.

“You’re welcome,” the blacksmith says as he leaves them to go back and work on more horseshoes.

They get back on the wagons, Jiron on his horse, and resume their journey to Korazan. The shade provided by the covering helps immensely to alleviate the worst of the sun’s heat. Though it’s still incredibly hot, at least they’re no longer at risk of severe sunburn. Jiron though, doesn’t seem to be bothered by being out in the sun on his horse.

After riding for a ways, Delia asks, “What would you have done if that paper turned out to not to have been a pass?”

James shrugs, “I don’t know, that would have depended on what he did.”

“Think we’ll be able to play this off in Korazan?” she asks.

“Hope so,” he replies. “Not sure what else to do if it doesn’t.”

They continue on in silence, every once in a while passing a caravan or other travelers going in the opposite direction. After one of the caravans passes, Jiron slows down until the wagon James is riding upon comes abreast of him and then asks, “Did you see those men in the caravan, the ones wearing only a brown loincloth?”

“Yeah,” James said, “I noticed them.”

“I think they were slaves,” he tells him. “The people who were captured when the City fell were dressed similarly when they were being marched south.”

“Thanks,” James replies, “I didn’t know that.”

Jiron gives him a quick nod then resumes his place at the front of the caravan.

As time goes by more and more travelers pass, some having slaves accompanying them, others not. Whenever he sees them his anger blossoms, even though he is impotent to do anything about it. He would free them all if he could, but doing that would bring down the wrath of the powers that be. Miko must be his first and foremost concern right now.

Not having reached the next town by the time the sun begins to near the horizon, they decide to pull over and make camp off the road a ways. The wagons are pulled in close to one another and the horses are picketed in a group nearby. They set about making camp when Tinok comes over to James with his water bottle and asks, “Have you got any extra water? Mine’s all gone.”

“A little,” he replies. “I was trying to make it last.”

“Can I have some?”

“Sure,” he says, handing him his bottle.

As Tinok drinks the last of his water, he begins to realize they may be in trouble. Out in this heat, they’re not going to last long without water. Then he glances over to the horses and realizes they’ve not had any water since the blacksmith’s earlier in the day. They must be really thirsty by now.

He looks around the horizon for a source of water, but only scrub brush can be seen. This could be bad, he realizes. Calling them all together, he asks, “Who has water left?”

Cassie and Jiron raise their hands, while Tinok and Delia shake their heads.

“Seems we’ve gotten ourselves in a situation,” he says. “We’re going to die out here if we don’t find some water soon, not to mention the horses.”

“What are we to do?” Jiron asks. “We’re miles away from anywhere and,” he glances around the horizon, “it doesn’t look like there’s any water to be found.”

“There’s always water,” he tells them, “it’s just a matter of getting to it.”

“I don’t see any water around here,” Tinok says as he looks around the horizon.