“What do they want?” he asks.
“Most won’t tell me, others are just stupid things,” he replies. “One woman wanted you to remove a wart and another is sure that someone has put a curse on him.”
“A curse?” asks Illan, amused.
“Yes, a curse,” replies Jorry. “He claims that his continued losing at cards is due to a curse. I told him it’s probably just that he’s no good. He didn’t like that and told me so in not very friendly words.”
“I’m sorry you guys have to put up with that,” he says. “Maybe when the word spreads that I don’t see anyone, then they’ll go away.”
“I hope so,” Jorry sighs. “If not, I’d like a shack or something out there we can relax in. Now’s not too bad, but in the winter, it could get bad out there.”
They eat in silence for a while, each digesting what’s been said. Suddenly from outside, they hear the sound of wagons rolling toward the house. Uther gets up and goes out to the front room and shortly his voice can be heard as he says, “Delia’s back.”
Jiron gets up and hurries out, Tersa right behind.
James finishes another bite and then says to Ezra as he indicates his plate, “I’m not finished yet.” Then he gets up and goes out to meet them as well. He finds Delia and Tersa giving each other a hug in welcome. Shorty is getting down from where he’d been driving the wagon and Scar, Potbelly and Stig are dismounting from their horses.
“I told you we’d make it here by dark!” he can hear Potbelly say to Scar.
“Alright, here,” Scar says as he hands over several coins.
“How’s the trading business?” James asks Delia when he approaches.
“Not as good as I’d hoped,” she tells him. “But I’m just starting out and have no contacts. Few will trust me with their loads, but give me time and I’ll win them over.”
“I’m sure you will,” he says. “We’ve just sat down to dinner. You’re welcome to share with us.”
“That’s okay,” she says. “I doubt if Ezra had planned on so many, we’ll just eat our own food tonight. Though tomorrow morning we’ll take advantage of her cooking before we set out.”
“Leaving so soon?” he asks.
“Afraid so,” she tells him. “The merchant we dropped the shipment off to in Wurt has commissioned another one to Bearn. And of course it needs to be there yesterday so we haven’t any time to dally.”
“I understand,” he says sympathetically. “The customer comes first.”
“At least now that I’m trying to make a name for myself,” she says.
“Thanks for sending Shorty with the letter and the crystals,” he says.
“You’re welcome,” she replies. “I knew you were looking for them and there was no need for you to wait because of some impatient merchant.”
“I appreciate that,” he says. “I know you’ve got things to do, so come on in once everything gets settled.”
“I will,” she tells him.
He hears Jiron and Tersa catching up on things with Stig and the others as he walks back to the house. When he enters the kitchen, Ezra looks to him with a slightly strained expression. “Don’t worry,” he says, “they’re not coming to dinner.”
“We might have enough,” she says as the tension begins to leave her.
Shaking his head, he tells her, “Delia knows you haven’t planned for them and doesn’t want to drop in at the last minute with so many mouths. She said they’ll fix their own but will be looking forward to some of your cooking before they pull out in the morning.”
Relief now evident on her face, she nods and says, “They’ll not be disappointed.”
Next to her, Roland pats her on the hand and says, “I’m sure they won’t be.”
James sits back down and finishes his meal. Jiron and Tersa never make it back in by the time he’s done and Ezra is ready to clear the table. He tells her to go ahead, that they’ll not likely be back to finish.
He goes out to the front room and sits in his favorite chair by the window as he watches them finish getting the horses and wagons set for the night. Roland comes in and builds a fire in the fireplace in anticipation of the cool of evening. Even though it gets hot here in the day, after the sun goes down, it tends to get a little bit of a chill in the air.
Outside, he can hear Jiron telling them about the attack last night. Delia has her guards rotate watch around the wagons in case of a similar event tonight. When all is settled in, they break out their rations and have a quick meal while the sun makes its final descent to the horizon. By the time they’re done eating, it’s dipped below and the stars have begun to appear.
Delia, Jiron and Tersa come over to the house when they’re done eating, he notices Jiron is carrying a small box. “Sitting by yourself again?” Delia asks him as she enters through the door.
“It’s peaceful,” he tells her with a grin. Nodding his head to Jiron, he asks, “What’s in the box?”
She reaches for the box and Jiron hands it to her. “On the road I got to thinking about your shaving kit and the knife you used to use,” she says to him. She opens the box and pulls out a knife, similar to the one he had used. “I was thinking that if you could do that with others, maybe we could sell them.”
“Who would want them?” he asks.
“Any barber out there,” she explains. “Also, those with sheep that need shearing may want them as well.” She looks to him expectantly.
“It’s not a matter of if I can,” he tells her. “But if I will.”
“What do you mean?” she asks. “I know you’ve been wondering how to raise money for this place, having so many to care for isn’t going to be cheap. And the money you already have won’t last forever.”
He starts to responds when Jiron jumps in. “You’re worried about people finding out, right?” he asks.
“Exactly,” he says. “If I started doing this, there’s no end to the number of people that would flock here. Each wanting me to make them something that they ‘desperately’ had to have.”
“I understand your concern,” Delia says. “I don’t plan on telling anyone where I got them. Your secret is safe with me.”
He sits there considering it while they wait expectantly. “If I do this, you must swear to never tell anyone where you got them,” he insists.
“I swear it!” she says.
“How many do you have?” he asks.
“Ten,” she replies.
Nodding, he holds his hand out for the box. “Understand that the magic that will enable them to work will come from the wielder. They have to be aware of that fact or they may get seriously hurt if they do it for a long period of time. If too much is drawn from them, they could become weakened, even die though I doubt if that is much of a possibility.”
“I understand,” she says, handing it to him.
One by one, he takes the knives out of the box and casts the spell on them that will allow them to cut hair but nothing else. When the spell has been set in the knife, he lays it on the side table next to his chair.
By the sixth knife, he’s beginning to feel the effects of doing so much magic. At the eighth he can barely focus enough to be able to cast it properly. When he finishes the eighth knife, he sags back in his chair “Eight’s going to have be it for now,” he says. “I can’t do anymore.”
She comes over and removes the final two he hasn’t enchanted yet from the box and sets in the eight that he has imbued with magic. “I’m sure this will do fine.” She looks at him and says, “You look like you could use some rest.”
“Yeah,” he says, “I do need to rest. I don’t think you understand just what that takes out of me.” He gets to his feet and begins to wobble. Jiron is right there and gives him a shoulder to lean on as he helps him to his room.
When they get there, James plops down on his bed and before Jiron leaves, says, “Tell her to get another batch of crystals. The same amount as before and that should be all I will require for a while.”
Chapter Five
The next morning when he wakes up, Delia and her caravan have already left. When he goes to the kitchen, he finds the remnants of the meal Ezra had sent them off with. He grabs a plate and begins helping himself to the leftovers.
Tersa comes in and sees him there and says, “She wanted to say goodbye, but didn’t know how long you’d be asleep. We offered to wake you up but she said it would be better for you to get your sleep.”
“It’s alright,” he replies. “Where’s Ezra?”
“She and Roland took the wagon to collect the chickens from the neighbors,” she explains as she begins cleaning up. “I promised her to get this place ready for lunch and to feed everyone if she doesn’t get back in time.”
“Where is everyone?” he asks.
“Most are out collecting scraps of wood from where they’re building the house and are planning on throwing together a hut of sorts out by the road. I think Jiron went into town for some reason or other.”
“Thanks,” he says. Sitting down with his plate, he eats while she continues cleaning the kitchen.
“Do you like being here?” he asks.
She pauses in her work and turns to look at him. “Yes, I do actually,” she replies. “I miss the City something awful, but here it’s nice and peaceful.” Giving him a slight grin, she adds, “Most of the time.”
“I’m glad,” he says sincerely. “I’ll endeavor to preserve the tranquility as much as I can.”
He finishes his breakfast and then takes his plate over to where she’s doing the dishes. “Thanks,” she says as she takes it from him.
“If anyone needs me, I’ll be out at the workshop,” he tells her as he heads for the back door.
“That’s where they look first anyway,” she replies just before the door closes behind him.
Grinning at her words, he heads out to the workshop. Just before he gets there, three men step out from around the side. It’s the same three men that were turned away when he was returning from town yesterday.
Oh, bother! He stops as they approach him and steels himself for the inevitable demands he knows they’re going to make. Am I going to have to build a high fence or hire more guards?
Two of the men stop five feet from him while the third approaches. “Excuse me, are you James?” the man asks. “The wizard?”
“Yeah, that’s me,” he replies. “Now just how did you get on my property?”
One of the two men brings something up to his mouth and blows.
James suddenly feels a prick on his neck and pulls out a small needle dart. He brings it up to look at and can see a drop of his blood upon it. At first confused, then realizing he’s being attacked, he calls the magic to defend himself. But his mind is beginning to cloud and he’s unable to focus enough. His equilibrium begins to falter as he tumbles to the ground.
The man closest to him says to the others, “Pick him up. We’ve got to get out of here fast.”
Just then the back door to the house opens up and Tersa steps out. “James, I just remembered…” she says before seeing the men standing there. She takes it all in, the sight of James lying on the ground and the three men standing next to him. An ear piercing scream escapes her as she darts back into the house. More screams echo as she races through the house and out the front screaming for her brother.
From the end of the lane where Jiron had paused a moment to talk to the guys working on the hut before heading on into town, he hears her scream. “Tersa!” he cries as he turns his horse back toward the house, kicking it into a gallop. The others drop their tools and race after.
The largest man picks up James and slings him over his shoulder. Turning away from the house, they begin running toward the forest. Tersa’s screams continuing behind them as she runs through the front door.
Seeing Jiron racing back down the lane, she points to the back and says, “Three men!”
He nods and races around the house. “James!” Jiron cries out as he rounds the house at a full gallop, his horse quickly closing the gap. Seeing them carrying him away toward the forest, he yells, “They’ve got James!”
Without even slowing, he rides straight for them and crashes his horse into them before jumping clear. Two of the men fall to the ground, the one carrying James continues on toward the forest. Not taking the time to dispose of the two his horse had knocked to the ground, he races after the one carrying James.
The man glances over his shoulder and sees the gap between them narrowing quickly. He abruptly comes to a halt and drops James to the ground as he turns to engage Jiron. Seeing his other two partners already on the way, he worries more about defense, keeping him busy until help arrives.
Jiron closes with him, both knives at the ready. A quick glance at James shows him to still be alive, if unconscious.
He strikes out with his left knife which the man blocks with ease and then comes back in with his right which scores along the man’s side. Pressing the attack with vigor, he lays into him with a barrage of blinding attacks honed through hundreds of battles in the fight pits back in the City of Light.
The man quickly realizes he’s not going to win this fight and starts backing up, putting as much distance between himself and Jiron. Looking over Jiron’s shoulder, he realizes his partners are just about there.
Knowing what the man is doing, Jiron continues pressing him, not allowing him the opportunity. Closing again with him quickly, Jiron launches into a series of attacks and then suddenly kicks out with his foot, shattering the man’s kneecap.
With a cry of pain, he falls to the ground at Jiron’s feet.
Looking back, he sees the men are almost upon James and he rushes back toward them. All of a sudden, he feels a sharp, poking sensation on his arm and he sees a small needle dart embedded in his skin. Pulling it out, he throws it on the ground as he continues moving to defend James.
His mind begins to grow cloudy and the world starts to spin. Before he realizes it, he’s on the ground, not three feet from where James lies. Unable to move, he watches as the men approach, one’s leading his horse.
In a world that’s spinning and warping, he watches as they quickly load James up on a horse. His horse! He hears one say, “Take care of Corim, we’ll not be able to take him with us.”
“You can’t kill me!” the wounded man cries from the ground.
“Sorry,” the first man says. “But we can’t let you live to tell them where to find us.”
“No!” the man cries as his partner runs his sword through his chest. Quickly wiping his blade on the man’s clothes, he comes to Jiron and asks, “What about him?”
“He doesn’t matter,” the first man says from the back of the horse. “Come on and mount up, we’ve not much time.”
“We’ll not get far with the three of us on horseback,” the second man says as he swings up behind the first.
“Just need to get to our horses, then we’ll be fine,” he says.
As they start riding fast for the forest, Jiron hears more footsteps as Illan and the others approach. “Jorry, see about Jiron,” cries Illan. “Fifer, Yern! Go back and get our horses ready, fast!”
“Yes, sir!” replies Fifer as they race back to the barn.
“Uther, I want you to follow them as best you can,” he says. “Return here should they get away.”
Uther nods and then races after them.
“Damn!” he exclaims as the men are already out of sight in the forest.
Coming over to where Jorry is examining Jiron, he asks, “How is he?”
“Conscious, I think he’s been drugged,” Jorry replies. “His eyes aren’t focusing and he’s not responding to anything I say. At least he’s still breathing.”
“Take him back to the house,” Illan says. “Tell Tersa that I want to know when he regains the abili
ty to talk.”
“Yes sir,” he says as he picks him up and starts carrying him back to the house.
“What about James?” cries Miko, staring at the forest where the men disappeared.
“We’ll find him lad,” Illan assures him. Going over to the dead man, he kneels down and begins going through his pockets.
“I know him,” Miko says.
Standing up abruptly, Illan turns to him and asks, “What?”
“I know him,” he says again, looking Illan in the eyes. “He’s from Bearn.”
“Bearn?” asks Illan incredulously. “What in god’s name would someone from Bearn be doing here? And what possible interest could they have in James?”
“Lord Colerain,” Miko explains. “He’s had it in for James ever since we were seen on his property.” When Illan looks askance at him at that, he adds, “We were there by accident, but ever since he’s been trying to capture him.”
“Better tell me the whole thing,” he says.
Miko begins from when they got chased into the sewers and by the time he’s done with the narration, Uther returns.
Seeing him approach, Illan asks, “Well?”
“They lost me in the forest, but I cut over to the road and caught up with them again just as they were riding down the road toward town,” he reports. “They all have horses now, they must’ve had them stashed out by the road before making the attempt on James.”
“Go help Fifer and Yern with the horses,” he tells him. “If they’re on their way to Bearn, then we’re going to follow.”
“Yes sir,” he says and then starts running to the barn.
“You’re sure about this Colerain, then?” he asks Miko as they hurry back to the house.
“Couldn’t be anyone else,” he replies. “Not if Corim there is involved. He and his buddies are known for this sort of thing.”
“At least we have an idea where he’s being taken,” he says. Coming in through the back door, he finds them out in the front room where Jiron is lying on the couch. “Well?” he asks as he enters from the kitchen.
“I think it may be wearing off,” Jorry tells him. “Though I can’t be sure.”
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