Brian Pratt - Fires of prophesy

Roland turns back to the man and they exchange several words before he again translates for James. “He says we could try the bars, that there are often mercenaries there who may hire out.”

Not at all liking that idea, he shakes his head.

Roland says a few words to the man and then they each bow to the other before the man turns and leaves through the door he came out of.

“Now what?” Roland asks.

“We go back and explain why we’re returning with no guards,” James says.

As they leave the merchant’s guild, a man is waiting for them outside and approaches as they start walking away from the building. “Excuse me,” the man says, in words heavy with accent.

They pause as James replies, “Yes?” He looks at the man; he’s dressed well, neat and trim with a sword hanging at his hip.

“I was inside and heard that you are looking for some guards for your caravan?” he inquires.

“That’s right,” James says.

“My fellows and I have just finished a contract that wasn’t renewed with a merchant, here in the city,” he explains. “And we currently find ourselves looking for other work. If you are still in need of guards, we are available.”

“Just a moment,” James says to him as he pulls Roland aside. “What do you think?” he asks him in a whisper.

“I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel right,” he replies.

James nods his head in agreement, “I feel the same way.” Turning back to the man, he says, “Actually, we really don’t need your services right now, but thanks for offering.”

“As you will,” the man says, “apparently, I was mistaken.” Bowing, the man turns and walks away, disappearing into the crowd.

Once the man is gone, they resume making their way back to their camp at the caravansary. When they arrive, Delia asks, “Where are the guards?”

“You have to be a member of the merchant’s guild in order to hire any through them,” James explains. “So we will do the best we can without any for right now.”

Delia hands him a sack. Opening it up, he sees a sling and twenty iron slugs within. “What’s this for?” he asks.

“So when you do your thing with the stones, it won’t seem so,” she explains, pausing momentarily, “magical.”

“Thanks,” he says graciously.

“You’re welcome,” she replies, “I’ll teach you how to use it when we are out on the road.”

“Alright,” agrees James. Going over near the campfire, he upends the sack and pours the sling and the slugs on the ground and begins inspecting them.

Cassie and Tinok are sitting close together, heads leaned against one another as they sit there, Tinok with his arm around her. Both are looking quite content.

Jiron comes over to where James is looking over his new toy and sits down. “Do you think they’re at Korazan yet?” he asks him.

“Maybe, though I can’t be sure,” he replies, stuffing the slugs and sling back in the pouch. He secures the pouch on his belt to keep it handy.

“Can’t you do that compass thing?” he suggests.

James nods over to the two lads and says, “Don’t want to alert them about my abilities until it becomes absolutely necessary. Don’t know how they’ll react, or even who they would tell.” Pausing a moment, he turns his head to look at Jiron in the eye and says, “It doesn’t matter if they are or not, we can’t get there faster.”

“True,” Jiron says, crestfallen. “I just wanted to know.”

“So do I, I’m worried about them. But they should be alright until they get sold and hopefully we’ll be there before then.”

Jiron just sits there, his mood dark as thoughts of his sister and what may be happening to her run through his mind.

Not too long after, they break up and turn in. The two lads sleep under their wagons while the rest of the group stays together around the campfire.

They’re up and ready to roll by the time the sun crests the horizon. Now a much larger caravan, they decide to have Roland drive the wagon in which Ezra and Arkie ride. Jiron again rides point now that he’s mostly recovered from his ordeal, while Tinok and Cassie drive the water wagon. James and Delia take the front wagon with the two lads eating dust at the rear. They still have the string of five horses they acquired earlier, as well as Roland’s two, just in case.

The road south of Zereth-Alin slowly begins to turn hilly the further they ride. The hills are sparsely covered with scrub brush, the occasional snake or lizard makes an appearance. There’s not too much traffic on the road, the heat of summer must keep all non essential travel to a minimum.

During a stop to water the horses, Delia approaches James and asks, “Ready?”

“For what?” he replies.

“To learn how to use your sling,” she replies.

Getting down from his wagon and the cool of the shade he says, “Sure.” He then rummages in the pouch at his waist and pulls out the sling as well as five of the slugs.

She leads him away from the others and then takes the sling from him. She also takes one of the slugs and puts it into the sling’s pouch. “What you want to do is hold it by the two loops on the ends like this,” she says as she demonstrates the proper technique. “Then you slowly wind it up and release one end of the sling when it reaches the proper position that will enable the slug to fly where you want it. Watch.”

She quickly winds up the sling and then lets go of one end while still holding onto the other. The sling opens up and the slug flies through the air, hitting a small tree ten yards away. Turning back to him, she says, “Easy.”

Giving him the sling, she watches as he gets ready to place a slug in it. She adjusts the way he’s holding it and then gestures for him to insert a slug. “Now, wind it up and when it feels right, let only one end loose so the slug will fly free, got it?” she asks.

“I think so,” he says. Winding up, he gets the sling whirling fast and then lets go. He hears a chuckle coming from behind him as the sling leaves his hands and goes flying out into the desert, the slug still remaining within its pouch. Turning around, he sees Tinok standing there, shaking his head and grinning.

“Don’t mind him,” she tells James. “Just retrieve your sling and let’s try it again.”

Once he’s returned with it, he stands the way Delia instructs him to maintain his balance and remain centered, then gets it whirling quickly. This time when he lets go, he manages to retain one end of the sling, but he hears more laughter as the slug hits one of the wagons behind him.

“Watch it!” Jiron says from where the slug almost nailed him.

“Sorry!” James hollers over to him.

“Better,” says Delia.

“How is that better?” he exclaims. “I almost killed Jiron.”

“You didn’t lose the sling this time,” she explains. “Now, do it again and concentrate less on retaining the sling and more on the target.”

Placing another slug within the sling, he gives her a look and receives one of encouragement back. Behind him, he hears Tinok loudly say in amusement, “Be alert, he’s trying again.”

Trying to concentrate on the small tree that she hit earlier, he begins to twirl and then releases. To his satisfaction, the slug goes in somewhat the desired direction, though still hitting the ground ten feet away from the tree.

“Not bad,” she says encouragingly. “A little more practice and you’ll have it down. Just don’t expect to be perfect too soon, it takes time to learn.”

Taking another slug and placing it within the sling, he whirls it and lets it loose while at the same time adding a touch of magic to it. The slug flies unerringly to the tree where it strikes it dead center, punching a hole right through.