Brian Pratt - Fires of prophesy

Tersa nods her head in agreement, “I would prefer that.”

“When we get back,” she says to the others, “then you guys can go and get some extras for yourselves as well.”

“Maybe we should get equipment for the guys we’re going to buy tomorrow?” Tinok asks.

“Might not be a bad idea,” agrees James. “Do you know what we’re going to need for them? And the sizes?”

“I think so,” says Jiron. “I know who three of them are, so we can at least get those three set up and then just see about the rest once they’re here.”

“We have six additional horses,” James says. “Will they be able to ride?”

Jiron and Tinok look at each other and laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“I don’t think they’ve ever been on a horse before,” Jiron says.

“Yeah, they’re going to be sore!” Tinok exclaims and then commences laughing once again.

Delia and her group head out toward town to do their shopping while the rest just hang around the wagons, waiting. Jiron and Tersa swap stories of what’s happened to them since the last time they were together. When he mentions James and his ability to do magic, she looks over to him with wide eyes, a little fearful.

“You’ve nothing to worry about,” her brother assures her. “He’s nothing like the stories of mages that we grew up on, he’s okay. Besides, without him I wouldn’t be here.”

Seeing him noticing her looking at him, she flashes him a quick, slightly embarrassed smile and then resumes her conversation with her brother.

Several hours later, they finally see Delia and her group returning. Trailing along behind are a couple boys carrying armloads of packages.

“Think you got enough?” Jiron asks, a slight smile on his face.

“Hope so,” she says, oblivious to his sarcasm. “Just a few necessities that will be needed.”

Ezra has a new sling for Arkie slung across her chest, his wide, curious eyes peering out from within.

“Just put them in that wagon there,” she tells the porters. When they’ve placed them in the desired location, she gives them each two coppers and they return back to the city.

“Shall we?” Jiron asks James.

“Yeah, lets,” he agrees. So this time, James, Jiron, Tinok and Roland go into town to get the equipment they’ll need tomorrow for their new ‘guards’, as well as some extra clothes for themselves.

Their first stop is a clothier where they each purchase a second set of clothes, as well a set for the guys they’ll be purchasing tomorrow. James arranges to have them delivered back to the caravan.

Outside the clothier’s, Roland asks, “Now where to?”

“Need to get some weapons for them as well,” Jiron says. “If they’re going to be guards, they won’t do much good without them.”

“True,” agrees James. Asking a passerby, Roland learns of a blacksmith across town that usually has a surplus supply of weapons for sale. They proceed over there to see what he has available.

On the way they see a group of Parvatis coming down the street toward them, five of them, their distinctive tattoos giving them a menacing appearance. Unsure as to how they are likely to react over the outcome of the fight earlier, James leads them down a side alley. Hiding in the shadows against one of the walls, they wait until they see the group pass by the mouth of the alley. Then Jiron returns to the end and peers around the corner to see if the coast is clear. When he sees the Parvatis have moved down the street, he gives the others an all-clear signal and they return to the street.

“That was close,” Roland says.

“Don’t know if we could have fought off that many,” James says. “Not and avoid unwanted attention.”

Keeping a lookout for more roving bands of Parvatis, they continue toward the blacksmith’s.

Having to ask for directions two more times, they finally arrive outside of an open courtyard where metal being hammered can be heard coming from within a building off to the side. Entering the courtyard, they see where the side of the building opens up and in the shade given by an overhang, a burly man is busily hammering a piece of metal upon an anvil. To James’ relief, the man appears to have originated from the north.

At their approach, he puts the hot metal into a bucket of water, a steaming hiss and a cloud of steam appears when the hot metal hits the water. He holds it there but a moment before quickly removing it. After a quick inspection, he places the piece of metal upon a nearby table and turns to greet them. “Good day to you sirs,” he says.

“Good day to you as well,” replies James. “We were told that you may have some weapons available for sale?”

“That I do,” the blacksmith tells him. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you what I have.”

“Thank you.”

Following the blacksmith, they enter the building through a side door where they find many racks holding various types of weapons. There are swords, knives, maces and several others that James has never seen before, all looking very deadly.

“What exactly are you interested in?” he asks.

James turns to Jiron and looks at him questioningly.

“Yorn usually used a longsword and shield,” he says.

“Potbelly likes two swords and Scar uses a shortsword and knife,” Tinok adds.

“If you gentlemen would like, feel free to look around and examine the weapons,” the blacksmith suggests.

“Thank you, we will,” replies James.

They inspect the various weapons while the blacksmith looks on. James is totally at a loss as far as telling if a weapon is good or bad, so he stands back and lets Jiron and Tinok decide.

After inspecting all the swords and knives, feeling for balance and sharpness, they settle on the ones that are the best of the lot. Unfortunately, the blacksmith doesn’t have any shields, they’ll have to find an armorer for that. James lets Jiron do the haggling and then hands over the coins.

When James asks if they can be delivered to their caravan, the blacksmith says, “My apprentice is currently out for his midday meal, but when he returns I can have him take them out first thing.”

“Thank you,” says James, “we would appreciate that.”

Leaving the blacksmith’s shop, they go in search of an armorer for a shield for Yorn, there’s no way they’ll be able to afford any armor. They find a shop boasting a sign bearing a shield upon it not very far from the blacksmith’s shop. Inside they find many different shields available in different sizes, thickness and strength. Jiron finds one that he says is similar to the one Yorn had used back in the pits.

Handing over the coins, James realizes that they’ve all but exhausted the money that he brought with him. They take the shield with them, since it would be no burden to carry back.

After leaving the armorer’s shop, they head on back to the caravan. On the way, they again run across the group of Parvatis, only this time the Parvatis see them first and alter course to intercept.

Seeing them approaching, James fears the worse and readies one of his slugs. The Parvatis come close before stopping in front of them, the leader of the group takes a further step forward and says something.

Roland replies to him and then he says something else. Turning to the others, Roland says, “He’s asking if you’re the man who fought the blood duel with the Parvati earlier in the slaver compound.” Looking worried, he asks, “What should I tell him?”

“Tell him the truth,” Jiron replies and turns his gaze to fixate on the leader.

Turning back to the Parvati, Roland tells him that Jiron is in fact the one, pointing him out.

The leader turns to Jiron and reaches into his tunic, bringing out a necklace with three spherical stones. He says something to Roland as he hands it to Jiron.