Brian Pratt - The unsuspecting mage

A smashed chest sits on the ground by the wagon, its top had been smashed open. James looks inside only to find it empty. “Looks like it was bandits that hit them,” he says. Turning to Miko he continues, “Check all the bodies, see if anyone is still alive.”

Moving back down the caravan, they go about the grisly task of searching for any survivors who may require their help. They check dead body after dead body and begin to think that there is no one still alive. It wasn’t until they reach the middle of the caravan where all the guards lie slain upon the ground that Miko yells out, “James, over here! We’ve got a live one.”

Hurrying over, James reaches him just as Miko turns the man over onto his back. It’s one of the guards. A large bump protrudes from the guard’s forehead, which on a cursory examination, appears to be his only wound. Suddenly, the man’s eyes flutter open and he tenses up when he finds James and Miko standing over him.

“We are not going to hurt you,” James says reassuringly. “We are not with those that attacked you.”

“Who are you then?” the man asks.

Gesturing to himself, he says, “My name is James.” Pointing to Miko he continues, “And this is Miko.”

“Name’s Rylin.” Propping himself against a wagon wheel, the man looks around at the dead bodies. “Is there anyone else alive?”

“You are the only one we have found alive so far,” James replies. “It looks as if they took the horses and smashed open a chest by the lead wagon.”

“Damn bandits,” he curses and starts to rise.

“Hold on there,” James says as he tries to keep him down. “You have a nasty bump and need to take it easy.”

Knocking James’ hand away, Rylin climbs to his feet where he wavers unsteadily. He brings his hand up to his head and feels the bump on it. “I don’t care,” he says and then starts walking toward the lead wagon. As he passes by the wagons, he gives the dead bodies a cursory look before continuing to the next.

Upon reaching the lead wagon, he stops when he spies the dead merchant lying on the ground and quickly scans the area. Turning to James and Miko he asks, “There were two women with us, the merchant’s wife and his daughter. Did you see them?” He waits anxiously for an answer.

“No, all we found were dead guards and drivers,” James replies. Miko nods in agreement.

“The bandits must have taken them,” he says as he climbs up onto the wagon and scans the horizon. “Damn, can’t see anything in this rain.” Rylin then collapses into the driver’s seat with a sad, stricken look on his face.

“We could try and find them,” suggests James. “When did they hit your caravan?”

“It was about an hour after we started moving this morning,” he pauses for a second, thinking. “Their attack came fast and five minutes into it, I was knocked from my wagon and must have hit my head on a rock when I fell. After that, I don’t remember anything until I came to with you standing over me? How long was I out?”

“It’s a little after noon now, so probably a couple of hours,” guesses James. “If they took the time to loot and steal the valuables, not to mention the time expended to take the horses, then they couldn’t have left too long ago. Perhaps we could catch up with them.”

“How?” he asks. “The rain has washed away any tracks that could have told us which way they went.”

“Miko,” James says, “go get my compass please.”

Nodding in understanding, Miko races back down the line of wagons to where their horses waited and returns quickly with James’ homemade compass.

“What is that gonna do?” Rylin asks, curiously hopeful.

“With your help, tell us which way they went,” he explains. “Now, if you could find me something that one of the women used to wear, or have with them often?”

“Why do you want that?” he asks.

“If I have something of theirs, it will help me to locate them.” Looking at Rylin and seeing he still failed to comprehend, James adds, “With magic.”

“You don’t look like a mage,” he says.

“I can’t do it without something of theirs,” James says, getting somewhat irritated at the man. “Are you going to help or not? You’re wasting time we can ill afford to lose.”

Getting up, Rylin rummages around inside the wagon and returns with a green scarf. “Sheila, the merchant’s daughter, used to wear this often. Will it do?” he asks as he hands it down to James.

“Let’s see,” James replies as he takes it. Wrapping the scarf around his hand, he holds the compass nestled within it. Closing his eyes he concentrates, thinking of the owner of the scarf and wanting to find her. He lets loose the power and the compass slowly swivels to the south, away from the road and into the grasslands.

Showing it to Rylin he points toward the south and says, “She’s that way.”

“Is she alive?” he asks earnestly.

“It doesn’t tell me that, just where she is,” he responds. “Even if she’s dead, we can still deal with the bandits.” Turning to Miko he says, “Bring our horses.” Miko hurries to comply and soon returns with the three animals.

As he and Miko make ready to ride, Rylin asks, “What about me?”

“Get on behind Miko,” James says, trying to ignore the look he flashes him. Once Rylin has mounted, James turns his horse in the direction indicated by the compass. “Let’s ride quick and see if we can catch them.” Without waiting for a reply, he kicks his horse into a gallop and they race off the road into the grasslands with James leading the way.

The rain steadily worsens, increasing until it’s a heavy downpour and reducing visibility to mere feet. It doesn’t take long before the ground begins showing signs of the bandits’ progress. The grass becomes increasingly trampled and the mud rain-soaked earth begins to show hoof prints. No longer needing his compass, James puts it away and concentrates on the trail before them.

“We must be gaining,” James says when they pull alongside him.

“Yes, I believe you are correct,” agrees Rylin. “How far behind do you think we are?”

“Not sure,” admits James. “Though I’ve never done any tracking before, I doubt if we are very far behind them.”

Not understanding Miko asks, “How do you know?”

Pointing to the trail they are following, James says, “The rain hasn’t had enough time to be able to remove the signs of their passing. Therefore, they can’t be too far ahead.”

“That makes sense,” Miko says looking at the signs of the bandits passing.

“If this rain continues as it is, we may end up riding right into them before we even know they are there,” says Rylin.

“That’s a chance we’ll have to take,” James says. A moment later, he comes to a stop and dismounts for a moment. Scanning the ground, he picks up several stones and places them in one of his pockets.

“What do you need those for?” Rylin asks.

“Ammunition,” answers James, grimly.

“Ammunition?” asks Rylin, “What’s that?”

“When we catch them,” James explains as he swings back into the saddle, “you’ll see.”

Mounted again, they once more set off after the bandits. Another hour passes and the rain continues its relentless downpour. The trail becomes clearer and more distinct now that they have narrowed the gap. Even with the torrential deluge, they have little trouble making it out.

Then, from out of the rain ahead comes a woman’s scream. “Sheila!” shouts Rylin. Kicking their horses into a gallop, they race forward hoping to arrive in time.

No sooner had James reached a full gallop, than indistinct shadows appear before him. Unable to stop in time, he rushes headlong into the bandits’ camp, knocking down two of them before even realizing they are there. As the two bandits hit the ground his horse slams into the side of a tent and the unexpected impact vaults him from the saddle. He hits the tent and it collapses beneath him.