Brian Pratt - Fires of prophesy

The slaver replies and Roland says, “Three days.”

James is getting frantic at not finding Miko here and Jiron worries he may do something rash. Roland asks if there are any more fresh arrivals and the slaver replies, no.

Roland thanks the slaver and tells him they’re ready to go. Grabbing James’ arm, he gets him moving as they follow their guide out of the slaver’s compound.

Once outside the compound and back on the streets of Korazan, they head back toward their caravan. James is quiet the entire way as he deals internally with not finding Miko. Roland says to him, “You don’t know he was one of the ones killed last night.”

“That’s right,” agrees Jiron. “There are many other reasons that could explain why he wasn’t in the pens with the others.”

“Like what?” James asks.

At a loss, Jiron just says, “I don’t know, but you can’t assume the worst until you know for sure.”

“I should raze the whole place to the ground,” he threatens. “Do the world a favor.”

“But you won’t,” Jiron says, “you just aren’t that way.”

“I can think it though,” growls James.

When they arrive back at the caravan, Jiron explains what’s happening to the others. Delia says, “Can’t you do some magic thing to see if he’s still alive?”

As if the thought hadn’t even occurred to him, James sits up as an idea forms in his mind. Excitedly, he says, “There may just be.” He hurries over to the wagon and pulls out his shaving kit, removing the mirror.

Sitting down, he looks into the mirror and concentrates on seeing Miko’s face, his face as it is right now. Everyone gathers around him and he can hear them gasp as the image in the mirror begins to blur and then refocus on a boy riding in the back of a wagon. “That’s him!” James exclaims excitedly. “He’s alive!” In his excitement he loses concentration and the reflection returns to normal.

Behind him he hears Delia say, “Now all we have to do is find out who has him and where they are going.”

“Maybe tomorrow we could ask around and find out?” suggests Tinok.

“Alright,” James agrees, “just be careful and don’t draw attention to yourself.”

“That’s right,” says Jiron, “we still have Tersa to save.” He pauses for a moment and then adds, “We may be in luck as well.”

“How do you mean?” asks James.

“Well, it seems there are several guys back there,” he points back toward the slaver compound, “who were participants in the fight clubs back in the City. If we were to buy them, we would have ready made, loyal guards.”

“Who?” Tinok asks excitedly.

“I talked briefly with Yorn,” he explains. “And I saw Scar and Potbelly over in a different pen. Yorn said there were another three in there somewhere, but I didn’t see them.”

“Can they be trusted?” James asks.

“After what they’ve been through,” Tinok exclaims, “you can be sure of it!”

“I agree,” adds Jiron.

“So,” James begins, “we have Tersa’s auction in two days and I believe they said that the guys were to be auctioned off in, three?” He looks to Roland for confirmation who nods in agreement.

“Since it’s beginning to get late, we may as well stay here through the night and then see about discovering where Miko is heading first thing in the morning.” James looks around and everyone seems to be in agreement.

“It will also give me time to drop off the packages that I have for Korazan,” Delia announces. When James looks to protest, she says, “It will give us more coins for the auctions and supplies.”

“Alright, but don’t go alone,” James advises.

“I won’t, I promise,” she assures him.

The next morning, Delia takes Tinok and Roland with her as well as a wagon to deliver her packages. After they leave, James takes his mirror out and finds Miko still riding in the wagon. “He’s heading south,” he announces.

“How do you know?” Cassie asks as she sits next to him in order to look in the mirror.

Pointing to Miko and the wagon, he explains. “See how the shadows fall? They’re falling to the right of the wagon, so that means the sun is to the left of them. Which in turn can only mean he’s heading south.”

“Oh,” she says.

Replacing the mirror back in his shaving kit, he then takes out his shaving knife and proceeds to remove what little stubble has appeared since the last time. While he’s shaving, Cassie remains sitting next to him and he asks, “You like Tinok, don’t you?”

Blushing slightly, she says, “Is it that noticeable?”

“Well, you two are hardly seen apart,” he explains.

“He is so nice and brave,” she says. “I didn’t care for him at first, but now that I’ve come to know him, I do.”

“I think you two are very good together,” he tells her.

Smiling, she says, “So do I.”

At just that moment, Arkie begins crying so she gets up and hurries over to help Ezra. James smiles at her retreating back as she walks over to where they’re sitting in the shade of the wagons.

Finished with getting the stubble off, he replaces his knife and mirror back in the kit. He notices Jiron pacing impatiently about the camp as he waits for the upcoming auction. When his pacing brings him near, James says, “Relax.”

“Can’t,” he replies as he pauses a moment.

“Tomorrow won’t get here any faster,” he tells him.

“I know,” admits Jiron, “but I can’t just sit and do nothing all the while knowing she’s stuck in there.” He then resumes his pacing.

Several hours later, Delia and crew come back with a wagon much emptier than had left. “How did you do?” James asks as they roll up.

“You’re not going to believe it!” she exclaims. “We received two hundred golds for one package alone! Altogether, we collected seven hundred and fifty six golds.” Beaming, she pats a small chest resting on the floor of the wagon by her feet.

“Impressive,” he says as he helps her down from the wagon.

“Thanks,” she replies.

Tinok says, “We were unable to find out anything about your friend. We didn’t push too hard for answers since we wanted to avoid drawing attention.”

“I understand,” responds James. He goes over to Roland and asks, “Would you mind going into town with me? There’s something I’d like to get.”

“Sure, what?” he asks.

“I want to find someone who can make a belt for me to hold my slugs,” he explains.

“Right now?” he asks.

“If you don’t mind,” says James.

“Alright.” He says a few words to Ezra and then with Jiron tagging along, they head back into town.

After inquiring with several locals, they at last make their way to a clothier who specializes in leather. Walking into the store, they see many different types of goods made almost entirely of leather; belts, coats, hats, etc. Bent over a table is a man currently working on stitching a belt together. When they enter, he looks up and says, “One moment, please,” and then finishes up with a few more stitches.

Thankful that the man speaks his language, James says, “Not a problem.”

When he’s done, the man sets the belt aside and then asks, “How can I help you?”

Stepping up to the table James says, “I am interested in a belt, one that will hold the slugs for my sling so I can have ready access to them.”

“Like what?” the man asks.

“I want firm pockets attached to the outside of the belt, just large enough to hold each slug firmly so it won’t fall out as I move,” James explains. “There should also be a slit up the middle where I can grab it with my finger to pull it out.”

The man takes out a piece of parchment and begins drawing what James is describing. After a couple corrections, James is satisfied the man understands what he’s asking of him. “I could get something like this done for you,” the man says, “for about five silvers.”