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.