Brian Pratt - Fires of prophesy

“My name is Roland,” he says to the group. “I am originally from Cardri but for one reason or another wound up here where I met Ezra, the light of my life.” He gives her a kiss which causes her to blush slightly. “That little wiggle worm that your Cassie is holding is Arkhan, Arkie for short.”

“Arkie,” coos Cassie to the little baby, “what a cute name.”

“We’re currently heading south,” James tells him, “going by way of Korazan. We have some packages to drop off there, and then we’ll see.”

“Then I think we’ll come along,” he says to them. He goes over to Ezra and begins talking to her in their language as they get Arkie settled down for the night.

Everyone is pretty tired and begins to get ready for sleep. Delia draws James away from everyone else and asks, “With what we’re heading to, do you think it’s wise to have them along?”

“Probably not,” he replies. “But they’re better off than they were. Besides, we’ll have more of a chance of not standing out if we have others with us.”

“Maybe,” she says. “I’ve also been going over the items we’re carrying as well as the delivery orders and it turns out we’re carrying some very high priced items.” She looks at him and continues, “The person who actually owns this may come looking for it.”

“If so,” James says, after contemplating what she just said, “he’ll have to find us first.”

“Maybe we should hire some guards?” she suggests.

“We’ll look into that when we get to the next big town,” he replies.

“That may be wise,” she agrees as they make their way back to the group. Ezra and little Arkie have already lain down near the fire and the rest have bedded down as well. James and Delia join them, the last thought going though his mind before sleep takes him is what’s going on with Jiron.

Before they head out in the morning, they transfer as much cargo as possible from one wagon to the other, clearing a spot for Ezra and Arkie. Roland and Tinok ride point on horses while James drives the now fully loaded wagon. Delia takes the reins of the other while Ezra and Cassie ride in the back with Arkie.

Everyone is becoming quite thirsty since they gave the bulk of their water to the horses, enabling them to continue pulling the wagons. Pushing on, they continue under the glare of the desert sun, slowly eating away the miles. Roland tells them of an oasis along the road ahead where they’ll be able to get water.

A little past midday they arrive at the small oasis and note several other travelers who are already there, filling their water bottles and taking a break from the road. A man sees them coming and waves a friendly greeting, Roland answers and then turns to James, saying, “He’s just a merchant, nothing to worry about.”

In dire need of the water at the oasis, they pull in and Tinok takes the horses over one by one to drink their fill. Delia and Cassie gather everyone’s water bottles and take them over to the pool to fill them.

James sees Ezra near the palm-like trees growing around the oasis, picking some of the fruit hanging from the branches. “What’s she picking?” he asks Roland.

“She’s taking some dates off the trees,” he replies. “It’s the custom to take a few, leaving the rest for other travelers.”

James nods his head in understanding and walks over to the closest tree, picking one. It’s an odd looking fruit, purplish in color with red lines going through it. Placing it to his mouth, he takes a bite and discovers it has a slightly bitter taste, though not altogether unpleasant.

When Roland sees that he’s finished the fruit, with only the pit left, he says, “You’re suppose to throw it near the edge of the oasis.”

“What?” James asks.

Indicating the pit in James’ hand, he says, “Throw it on the ground, away from the other trees. It’s a tradition, so that other trees may grow thereby filling the desert with fruit.”

Finding a likely spot, he tosses the fruit over near the edge where it lands amidst some bushes. Looking back to Roland, he sees him nodding his approval.

The other merchant, who had been sharing the oasis with them, begins to leave and waves a cheery goodbye as his wagons pull back onto the road, heading north.

They make their stop brief, just long enough for all the horses to drink their fill and have a quick meal. Cassie stays in the wagon with Ezra, having her meal with a playful Arkie who continually tries to grab her food. Tinok casts glances over to her every time he hears her laughing.

James notices that he’s longing to go over to her so he says, “Why don’t you go help Cassie watch Arkie and have your meal. I can finish this alone.”

“You sure?” Tinok asks, hopefully.

“Wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t,” he replies.

“Thanks,” he says and then hurries over to the wagon, climbing in beside Cassie. She sees him coming to join her and smiles.

“That was nice,” Delia says to James as she comes up behind him.

Looking back over his shoulder, he replies, “Oh, it wasn’t much. Besides, we were almost finished anyway.”

“They sure do like each other,” she observes as they both watch them sitting and talking together, Arkie going from first one then the other.

“Yes,” he agrees, “they sure do.”

James finishes the watering and feeding of the horses then takes his meal and walks over to sit under one of the trees by the water. Peaceful, just the way he likes it. As he eats, he can’t help but worry over the delay of Jiron’s return. He should have been back by now, he reasons. Thinking nothing but the worst, he continues eating.

Before he’s done, he hears several riders coming down the road from the north. Getting up, he hurries back to the wagons and reaches them just as the riders turn off the road into the oasis. Soldiers!

Seven enemy soldiers and a civilian enter the oasis and dismount by the pool of water, letting their horses drink. They glance occasionally over at James’ group, but otherwise pay them no heed.

Roland notices how everyone has tensed up with the appearance of the soldiers. He comes over to James and whispers, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” James replies, not wanting to get Roland involved.

“Right,” he replies in a tone saying he doesn’t believe that.

James just looks back at him, not giving him anymore of an explanation.

The soldiers have all dismounted and are filling their water bottles from the pool. The civilian, oddly enough is remaining on his horse. James glances over to him and realizes that he’s staring right at him.

A shock of recognition runs through him. Jiron! His eyes widen in recognition and then he nods his head, letting Jiron know that he recognizes him. Not wishing to alert the soldiers to the fact they know each other, James leisurely makes his way over to where Tinok is in the back of the wagon with Cassie.

As he approaches, Tinok hops out of the wagon and comes up to him. Excited, he starts to say, “James! Do you…”

Putting his finger in front of his lips for silence, James nods and whispers, “I know.”

“What are we going to do?” he asks quietly, casting glances over to where Jiron sits.

“Let’s take the wagons down the road a ways and wait for them to come,” he replies. “We could ambush them.”

“We should do it now!” insists Tinok, a little too loud. A soldier looks over in their direction at the outburst, but otherwise continues about his business.

“What about the girls?” counters James.

“If they leave here,” Tinok argues, “we may lose the chance to get him back!”

Roland comes over and joins them, “What’s going on?”