Trail of the Gods: The Morcyth Saga Book Four (21 page)

When the sky first begins lightning with the
coming of the day, James gets up and finds Jiron still sitting up
in the front room looking tired. “Anything?” he asks.

Shaking his head, he says, “He stayed asleep
the whole night. He’s still in his bed now.”

“Good,” replies James. “Get some sleep if
you can. I’m going to finish what I need to do before
breakfast.”

As Jiron goes back to where his pallet lies,
James enters the kitchen and finds Ezra already there beginning to
prepare breakfast for everyone. Arkie lies asleep on a blanket in
the corner. “Good morning,” he says as he passes through to the
door.

“Good morning,” she replies.

Leaving the kitchen through the back door,
he makes his way out to the woods to collect the two crystals that
have been charging the last two days. Over by the barn he sees
Illan putting the new recruits through their morning drills. James
has heard rumors they’re glad Illan is going to be leaving for
awhile and that their morning drills will be put on hold.

The crystals are still exactly where he left
them, each having a fair sized glow within them. Not exactly maxed
out, but still not too bad. Taking them back to his workshop, he
begins the final stages of transferring power and setting up the
spells.

Taking one of the crystals, he transfers the
stored power it has to the defensive crystal. The spells contained
within the defensive crystal he leaves inactive. He doesn’t plan to
activate them until the box lies in its final resting place. The
other crystal he infuses with the spells which will light up the
receiver crystal which will remain here in his workshop.

Taking the receiver crystal down, he sets
the spell of the transmitting crystal to seek out this particular
one and send almost all of its stored energy to it. This in turn
will cause it to light, warning James that something is not right
with the Fire.

When all the spells for all the crystals are
just the way he wants them, he replaces the receiver crystal back
on his shelf. The transmitting and receiver crystals go into his
pouch and he picks up the iron box, carrying it back to the house.
He takes it into his room where he sets it on the floor by the end
of his bed.

A noise causes him to turn around and he
sees Miko standing there. “Everything ready?” he asks James.

“Yes,” he replies as he searches for any
sign that the Fire is effecting him. When he doesn’t discern any
oddities about his behavior or facial expression, he says, “Sit
down for a moment.” Miko moves into the room and sits on the bed
next to him. “I need you to stay here while I go do this.”

“Why?” he asks, hurt already beginning to
show on his face. James sometimes forgets that inside this ‘man’ is
actually a young boy. Who, though he has the outward
characteristics of a man, still hasn’t matured within yet.

“I feel you shouldn’t be anywhere near
this,” he says, indicating the iron box, “than you have to.”

His eyes flick toward the box where they
pause a moment before returning to James. He can see warring
emotions going on within him until finally he says, “I
understand.”

Just then, they hear Ezra call them for
breakfast. James claps him on the shoulder and gives him a grin.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

“I hope so,” he replies.

They leave his bedroom and head out to the
kitchen where Ezra has everyone that’s leaving with James crammed
in at the table. Thankful that his seat is at the head of the table
where there isn’t any room for another, he sits down and the meal
commences.

“Miko will be staying here while we’re
gone,” he tells Roland. “You might need more than just the new
recruits if something should happen again.”

“We’ll be okay,” Roland tells him. “With
them out patrolling, it would take quite a bit to take us
unawares.”

“True,” says James.

Illan glances to Miko and says, “I set up a
schedule for drills and duties. If you could take charge of our
ragtag bunch, I’d appreciate it.” When Miko looks somewhat
sheepish, he asks, “What?”

“I can’t read,” he admits as his face turns
slightly red in embarrassment.

“No problem there,” Roland says, jumping
into the conversation. “I can help you read it, after that it
should be no problem.”

“Thanks,” Miko says gratefully.

“Perhaps I could even begin teaching you to
read,” offers Roland.

“Excellent idea,” James says. “In fact, I’d
appreciate it if you could start a class with some of the brighter
new recruits, as well as Miko.”

Nodding uncertainly at the idea, he says, “I
could do that, say with another three or four.” Turning his
attention to Illan, he asks, “Know anyone who might be a good
candidate?”

Illan glances from Roland and James as he
considers it. “The brightest one is Errin,” he finally says. “She
would most likely take to it the best. Other than her, maybe Nerrin
and Caleb.”

“Okay then,” James says, smiling at
Roland.

Roland doesn’t look too happy adding this to
his regular workload, but he’ll not gainsay it.

“Make sure you keep my workshop locked and
off limits to everyone,” he warns him. “I have a few things in
there that shouldn’t be messed with.”

Roland actually laughs before he says, “I
doubt if we’ll have anyone going in there. Everyone’s sort of
scared of what might be secreted inside the ‘Mage’s’ workshop.”
When James looks questioningly at him he continues. “Ever since you
had that explosion in there, they keep their distance. Even on
patrols they give it a wide berth.”

“Good,” he states.

When he sees Jorry and Uther have finished
their second helping of everything, he says to them, “We’ll be
leaving shortly, if you two gentlemen wouldn’t mind getting the
horses saddled for us?”

“Sure,” Jorry says as he and Uther get up to
head out to the barn.

Once they’ve left, he says to Roland, “I’m
really not sure how long we’ll be gone, hoping not more than a
couple of weeks. Just keep things together here until we get back.”
Looking to Illan he asks, “Ready?”

Nodding, he gets up and follows James to his
room. He picks up the iron box containing the Fire and asks, “You
sure this is going to work?”

“I hope so,” he replies. “We can’t keep it
here, it’s too vulnerable. Not to mention the repeated attacks that
will come because of it.” Going to his chest, he takes all but a
few golds’ worth of coins which he leaves for Roland’s use. Putting
the coins in his belt pouch, he says, “Let’s go.”

Illan precedes him out of his room with the
chest under one arm. Out front, the horses are already waiting for
them. When the others see them exit the house, they begin
mounting.

James has a small blanket in his hand and
wraps the chest in it before they secure it behind his saddle,
effectively hiding it. Once it’s secured, he swings into the saddle
and glances at the others, making sure they’re all ready to travel.
The recruits who aren’t out on patrol are gathered to see them
off.

“While I’m gone, Miko will be in charge of
your training,” Illan says to them. A groan can be heard coming
from more than one as they realize they’re not going to have it
easy while he’s off with James. “Anyone not giving him his all, or
causing any troubles will have to answer to me when I get back.” He
gives each one an intent gaze before asking, “Understand?”

As one they say, “Yes, sir.”

“Alright then.” Turning to James, he gives
him a nod.

Roland, Ezra and Tersa are standing just
outside the door. Tersa comes to her brother and gives him a hug
saying, “You be careful.”

A little embarrassed over the display of
emotion in front of everyone, he replies, “I will. Don’t you be
worrying about me.” He then gives her shoulder a soft, reassuring
pat.

“We’ll be back as soon as we can, just have
a little business up north to take care of,” James says to Roland
who only nods in reply. “Let’s go,” he says to those going with him
as he turns his horse and begins going down the lane. The
construction on the new estate is coming along nicely. Supposedly
it’ll be done sometime in the next couple of months. He never
thought they could do it that fast, but seems they’ve been able to
enlist the help of craftsmen who aren’t otherwise occupied.

At the end of the lane, they find Devin at
the guard shack. “Back in a few weeks,” he says to him as he passes
by.

“Where you going?” he asks.

“North,” he replies as he turns onto the
road going northwest.

When Devin has long since disappeared behind
them, Illan asks, “Do you think it wise to tell them where you’re
going?”

“Yes, actually I do,” replies James. His
plan is to take the Fire north for some miles before activating the
concealing spells infused within the crystals in the hopes of
misleading whoever might be keeping a magical eye upon it. He knows
they’re hunting for it, and it just stands to reason that someone
would be continuously watching it magically in the event he tries
to move it. If he had activated the crystals before leaving The
Ranch, they might still believe the Fire remains there and that
would continue to bring danger to those who remained. But now, his
hope is they’ll believe he is moving it north, away from the Empire
to better keep it from them. Which would seem logical.

So for most of the day, they will continue
north, all the while allowing whoever may be watching the
opportunity to discover the move. By telling those remaining at The
Ranch he plans to go north, he hopes they may inadvertently relate
that to an Empirical agent, thus corroborating the fact it’s going
north.

All that morning they press on as the road
winds its way around the edge of the Kelewan Forest. Shortly after
noon, they come to a crossroads where the road forks, one branch
continuing to follow the edge of the forest north while the other
one goes almost due east.

James takes the one which continues
following the forest northward. By the time night falls, they’ve
reached the small town of Wurt which lies on the southwest shore of
Crystal Lake. The town is slightly larger than the average village,
docks can be seen upon the water with many small and medium sized
craft moored to them.

“Fishing is the main business here in Wurt,”
Illan tells him as they approach the outskirts of the town. “Not
much else to it really, but the lake has fish in abundance so they
do fairly well.”

They pass through into the heart of Wurt
where they find a large, three story building with a sign depicting
a fish sleeping in a bed. “The Sleeping Perch,” Jiron announces.
When he sees the questioning look in James’ eye, he adds, “Delia
mentioned it. She said it’s a good place to stay.”

“Then let’s stay here tonight,” he says.
Pulling up to the front, he and Illan dismount and go inside where
they find the proprietor and arrange for rooms and stalls. James
takes the box to his room and remains there with it throughout the
night. In shifts, the others take turns standing watch outside his
door in the hallway until morning.

The proprietor notices the guard at his door
and when he asks about it, is told that James has been robbed at
inns before so always has a guard posted outside his door. This
explanation seems to placate him and he doesn’t bother them
anymore.

Several hours after the sun has gone down,
explosions begin to sound off in the distance. Bright flashes of
light draw him to his window as he watches. His door opens and
Illan and the others rush into his room, swords at the ready.

“We’re under attack!” Jorry exclaims.

James glances back at them with an amused
smile as he shakes his head. “No, we’re not.” Gesturing out his
window just as another flash lights up the night, he adds, “It’s
just the wedding of the woman we almost attacked back by
Trendle.”

“What?” asks Uther as he sheathes his
sword.

“Remember those tubes she had in that
chest?” he asks. “The ones that exploded when they went into their
fire?” When he sees them nod their heads, he continues. “They’re
called fireworks, at least where I come from they are, and are used
for celebration. She must’ve just been married.”

“Oh, right,” Jorry says as he comes closer
to the window to watch the spectacle. Another flash, this one green
in color, challenges the night for supremacy. But then it slowly
dies as the night once more asserts its control.

The fireworks last another ten minutes
before finally stopping completely. Everyone files out and leaves
James once more alone. He makes sure the chest is sitting right
next to his bed on the floor before turning in. Tomorrow, he’ll
activate the spells.

The morning dawns brightly and they’re soon
up and back on the road. Before he left his room, he’d activated
the concealing spells and monitored everything for several minutes
before he was sure that each crystal was functioning properly.

When they leave Wurt, much to the amazement
of the others, he takes the road south. The others ask him about it
and he gives them vague replies at best. Finally, Illan tells them
to shut up and stop their bothersome questions.

Several miles further down the road, Uther
suddenly exclaims, “James!”

Glancing over his shoulder, he asks,
“What?”

“Behind you!” he replies pointing to the old
blanket covering the box. A red glow can be seen coming from
within. Afraid of what this might mean, he stops and gets off his
horse. Removing the chest from his horse, he sets it on the ground
before taking it out of the blanket. The crystals are all
glowing.

Glancing up and down the road he sees no one
around. “Into the forest, now!” he cries as he picks up the box and
runs through the edge of the trees.
Can’t let anyone who may
pass by see what’s going on.
Not even looking back to see if
they’re obeying him, he hurries deeper within the forest. Once he’s
well hidden from the road, he sets the box down and sits on the
ground facing it.