Fires of prophesy ms-2 Read online

  Seeing him come crashing through the door, his wife cries out, “Roland!”

  Tinok is right behind him, knives flashing from the light of the candle. He immediately engages the other two men, the same two who had been guarding Roland during the ceremony.

  They quickly draw their swords, but the speed of Tinok drops one of the men to the floor with a stab through the chest before he even gets his sword all the way out of its scabbard.

  The other guard tries to slash at Tinok but he parries the sword with the blade of one knife while striking with the other one. The guard steps back, blood now oozing from a fresh wound in his left shoulder.

  Roland is on the floor, struggling with Hassin for control of the long knife. Curses from the two men fill the house as they roll back and forth.

  The guard grabs a small chair from the floor and uses it as a shield as he strikes out with his sword.

  Tinok easily blocks the thrust, but is unable to adequately close with the man as the chair is keeping him at a distance. He continues exchanging blows with the man when suddenly Roland’s wife comes up behind the guard and strikes him across the back of the head with the long handle of a broom.

  The man is dazed by the blow and Tinok easily gets within his guard dropping him to the floor.

  Tinok comes over to the struggling pair on the floor, neither one has been able to gain the advantage over the other. Laying his knife across Hassin’s throat, he looks into his eyes and can see him contemplating different courses of action and their consequences. Suddenly, he makes his decision and releases his grip on the knife. His eyes flick murderous hate between them both as Roland gets to his feet, holding the knife.

  Roland looks and sees his wife standing there with their baby clutched in her arms, eyes filled with uncertainty and fear, her face turning red from where Hassin had slapped her. She says something to him and he goes over to her, replying in the same language. Giving her a hug for reassurance, he speaks to her again and she nods a reply as she goes and gets a satchel which she begins to fill with clothes and other things.

  Turning back to Tinok, who still has his knife to Hassin’s throat and his knee on his chest, he asks, “What are we going to do with him?”

  “You know him better than I do,” replies Tinok, never taking his eyes off his captive. “Should we kill him or not?”

  At that, Hassin’s eyes widen slightly but gives no other response to what is being said.

  “I hate to kill someone who’s helpless to resist,” Roland replies. “Even one who tried to kill me.”

  “I have no such qualms about this piece of trash,” Tinok says seriously. “Take your family outside and wait for me.” He looks intently at Roland then turns his attention back to Hassin.

  Roland takes the satchel from his wife and then ushers her out the front door, closing it behind them.

  Once the door is shut, Tinok turns his attention back to Hassin and says, “Since your people destroyed my city, I have been waiting for my revenge and the time has come for a part of it.” Looking into eyes now filled with fear where contempt and hate had been, he continues, “This is for my little brother.”

  With a quick motion of his hand, he slits Hassin’s throat and stares into his eyes as the life slowly leaves them. Choking and gasping from the blood filling his lungs and spreading across the floor, Hassin tries to stop the bleeding with his hands, but is unsuccessful. Tinok gets up and stands back as he jerks in his death throes until finally becoming still.

  Wiping his blade on the dead man’s shirt, he says to the now lifeless body, “Thus begins my revenge for the destruction your people has brought unto mine.” Turning his back to the room filled with death, he goes to the door and leaves, joining Roland and his family outside.

  Roland leads them around back where there’s a stable with two horses inside. Roland saddles them while Tinok keeps an eye out for anyone coming. When he’s done, he helps his wife up onto the horse and then hands their baby up to her. Swinging up onto the other horse, he takes her horse’s reins and leads them out to where Tinok is waiting at the front of the house.

  Moving as quickly as they can, they make it back to where James is waiting.

  “Any trouble?” he asks Tinok.

  “None worth mentioning,” he replies as he mounts his horse.

  Roland just glances over to Tinok but says nothing.

  The baby starts crying and his mother bares a breast and begins to feed it as they ride through the town. Riding as quickly as they can, they clear the edge of town, which by now is completely deserted. Everyone has either fled or is in their homes with the door barred.

  Moving quickly along the road for a couple hours, they come to where Delia and Cassie wait with the wagons. James is relieved when he sees the wagons and girls are fine and undisturbed, he had been worried about them. The girls have a fire going, and Cassie is awake as they approach. When she sees who it is, she wakes up Delia, saying excitedly, “They’re back!”

  Delia wakes up, happy at seeing them back unharmed, but surprised at the appearance of his wife and son.

  “We couldn’t leave his wife and child there,” Tinok explains, “so we brought them with us.”

  Cassie comes over to help his wife down from her horse and coos when she sees the baby. “Can I hold him?” she asks.

  His wife, understanding her request, nods her head and hands the baby over to her. Cassie takes the baby and holds it close going “Gootchi, gootchi, goo!” and other inane child noises. The baby laughs, obviously they’ll be getting along.

  Once they have all the horses settled for the night, they gather around the fire and Roland asks, “I appreciate you rescuing me and all, but why did you do it?”

  They look at each other and leave it to James to answer. “We did it because we didn’t feel it justified for you to be sacrificed in vain.”

  “How do you know it would’ve been in vain?” he asks.

  James looks at the others and says, “Well, you never know for sure of course, but we just felt that it was wrong this time. After all, even your own clerics were talking against it.”

  “True,” Roland admits.

  “Now what do you plan to do?” Delia asks. “Is there elsewhere you can go? Family?”

  Shaking his head, he says, “I have no family, at least not around here and Ezra, my wife here, all her family is back there.” He points back to the town they just rescued him from. At the sound of her name, she smiles at him.

  “Does she understand what we’re saying?” Cassie asks.

  “A little,” he replies. “She’s been picking it up from me over the last year, ever since we got married. She doesn’t speak it too well, but is able to understand most of the words being said.” He looks over to her and she just smiles and nods her head in agreement.

  Sighing, he says, “I really don’t know what we’re going to do, I just know we can’t go back home, not with the dead bodies there.” He puts his arm around Ezra and continues, “Hassin has many powerful friends and they would cause no end of trouble for us, maybe even kill us.”

  “Well, you’re welcome to come along with us,” James offers. All the others nod their agreement for the idea.

  “We don’t want to be a burden,” he says, “but we don’t have any other choice. Thank you.”

  A small laugh erupts from the baby where Cassie has him in her lap, playing with him. Ezra smiles fondly at the sight.

  “Just where are you heading?” Roland asks. “Are you traders?” He glances over to James, not really believing that they are, what with the display back at the oasis.

  “Not exactly,” James replies. Then he smiles and says, “Now just where are my manners. My name is James and Tinok here you’ve already met.” Tinok nods his head, Roland returns the gesture. “Here is Delia,” who gives him a smile, “and the one who’s taken over your son is Cassie.” Cassie gives him a big smile and says, “Hi.”

  “My name is Roland,” he says to the group. “I am
originally from Cardri but for one reason or another wound up here where I met Ezra, the light of my life.” He gives her a kiss which causes her to blush slightly. “That little wiggle worm that your Cassie is holding is Arkhan, Arkie for short.”

  “Arkie,” coos Cassie to the little baby, “what a cute name.”

  “We’re currently heading south,” James tells him, “going by way of Korazan. We have some packages to drop off there, and then we’ll see.”

  “Then I think we’ll come along,” he says to them. He goes over to Ezra and begins talking to her in their language as they get Arkie settled down for the night.

  Everyone is pretty tired and begins to get ready for sleep. Delia draws James away from everyone else and asks, “With what we’re heading to, do you think it’s wise to have them along?”

  “Probably not,” he replies. “But they’re better off than they were. Besides, we’ll have more of a chance of not standing out if we have others with us.”

  “Maybe,” she says. “I’ve also been going over the items we’re carrying as well as the delivery orders and it turns out we’re carrying some very high priced items.” She looks at him and continues, “The person who actually owns this may come looking for it.”

  “If so,” James says, after contemplating what she just said, “he’ll have to find us first.”

  “Maybe we should hire some guards?” she suggests.

  “We’ll look into that when we get to the next big town,” he replies.

  “That may be wise,” she agrees as they make their way back to the group. Ezra and little Arkie have already lain down near the fire and the rest have bedded down as well. James and Delia join them, the last thought going though his mind before sleep takes him is what’s going on with Jiron.

  Chapter Ten

  Before they head out in the morning, they transfer as much cargo as possible from one wagon to the other, clearing a spot for Ezra and Arkie. Roland and Tinok ride point on horses while James drives the now fully loaded wagon. Delia takes the reins of the other while Ezra and Cassie ride in the back with Arkie.

  Everyone is becoming quite thirsty since they gave the bulk of their water to the horses, enabling them to continue pulling the wagons. Pushing on, they continue under the glare of the desert sun, slowly eating away the miles. Roland tells them of an oasis along the road ahead where they’ll be able to get water.

  A little past midday they arrive at the small oasis and note several other travelers who are already there, filling their water bottles and taking a break from the road. A man sees them coming and waves a friendly greeting, Roland answers and then turns to James, saying, “He’s just a merchant, nothing to worry about.”

  In dire need of the water at the oasis, they pull in and Tinok takes the horses over one by one to drink their fill. Delia and Cassie gather everyone’s water bottles and take them over to the pool to fill them.

  James sees Ezra near the palm-like trees growing around the oasis, picking some of the fruit hanging from the branches. “What’s she picking?” he asks Roland.

  “She’s taking some dates off the trees,” he replies. “It’s the custom to take a few, leaving the rest for other travelers.”

  James nods his head in understanding and walks over to the closest tree, picking one. It’s an odd looking fruit, purplish in color with red lines going through it. Placing it to his mouth, he takes a bite and discovers it has a slightly bitter taste, though not altogether unpleasant.

  When Roland sees that he’s finished the fruit, with only the pit left, he says, “You’re suppose to throw it near the edge of the oasis.”

  “What?” James asks.

  Indicating the pit in James’ hand, he says, “Throw it on the ground, away from the other trees. It’s a tradition, so that other trees may grow thereby filling the desert with fruit.”

  Finding a likely spot, he tosses the fruit over near the edge where it lands amidst some bushes. Looking back to Roland, he sees him nodding his approval.

  The other merchant, who had been sharing the oasis with them, begins to leave and waves a cheery goodbye as his wagons pull back onto the road, heading north.

  They make their stop brief, just long enough for all the horses to drink their fill and have a quick meal. Cassie stays in the wagon with Ezra, having her meal with a playful Arkie who continually tries to grab her food. Tinok casts glances over to her every time he hears her laughing.

  James notices that he’s longing to go over to her so he says, “Why don’t you go help Cassie watch Arkie and have your meal. I can finish this alone.”

  “You sure?” Tinok asks, hopefully.

  “Wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t,” he replies.

  “Thanks,” he says and then hurries over to the wagon, climbing in beside Cassie. She sees him coming to join her and smiles.

  “That was nice,” Delia says to James as she comes up behind him.

  Looking back over his shoulder, he replies, “Oh, it wasn’t much. Besides, we were almost finished anyway.”

  “They sure do like each other,” she observes as they both watch them sitting and talking together, Arkie going from first one then the other.

  “Yes,” he agrees, “they sure do.”

  James finishes the watering and feeding of the horses then takes his meal and walks over to sit under one of the trees by the water. Peaceful, just the way he likes it. As he eats, he can’t help but worry over the delay of Jiron’s return. He should have been back by now, he reasons. Thinking nothing but the worst, he continues eating.

  Before he’s done, he hears several riders coming down the road from the north. Getting up, he hurries back to the wagons and reaches them just as the riders turn off the road into the oasis. Soldiers!

  Seven enemy soldiers and a civilian enter the oasis and dismount by the pool of water, letting their horses drink. They glance occasionally over at James’ group, but otherwise pay them no heed.

  Roland notices how everyone has tensed up with the appearance of the soldiers. He comes over to James and whispers, “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” James replies, not wanting to get Roland involved.

  “Right,” he replies in a tone saying he doesn’t believe that.

  James just looks back at him, not giving him anymore of an explanation.

  The soldiers have all dismounted and are filling their water bottles from the pool. The civilian, oddly enough is remaining on his horse. James glances over to him and realizes that he’s staring right at him.

  A shock of recognition runs through him. Jiron! His eyes widen in recognition and then he nods his head, letting Jiron know that he recognizes him. Not wishing to alert the soldiers to the fact they know each other, James leisurely makes his way over to where Tinok is in the back of the wagon with Cassie.

  As he approaches, Tinok hops out of the wagon and comes up to him. Excited, he starts to say, “James! Do you…”

  Putting his finger in front of his lips for silence, James nods and whispers, “I know.”

  “What are we going to do?” he asks quietly, casting glances over to where Jiron sits.

  “Let’s take the wagons down the road a ways and wait for them to come,” he replies. “We could ambush them.”

  “We should do it now!” insists Tinok, a little too loud. A soldier looks over in their direction at the outburst, but otherwise continues about his business.

  “What about the girls?” counters James.

  “If they leave here,” Tinok argues, “we may lose the chance to get him back!”

  Roland comes over and joins them, “What’s going on?”

  “They have our companion over there,” James tells him, nodding toward where Jiron sits, secured to the horse.

  Roland looks over and sees him there, “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?” Looking into their eyes is answer enough. “Are you crazy? Do you know who that is over there?” He indicates the officer in charge.

  James shakes his he
ad and says, “No.”

  “His insignia shows him to be a Commander of Ten,” continues Roland.

  “So?” Tinok replies, obviously not impressed.

  “A Commander of Ten only becomes one by being the best with the sword and usually totally ruthless,” he explains. “Any ordinary man taking him on, dies!”

  “Still, we must rescue our friend,” insists James.

  Nodding, Tinok agrees.

  “You’re both crazy!” Roland exclaims.

  Tinok grins and says, “Probably.”

  James tells him, “Go back and have the girls start moving the wagons out of here.”

  Roland gives him a look of utter disbelief at what they intend to do, but he turns and starts walking back toward the wagons.

  Tinok looks at him in surprise and James says, “You’re right, we need to do this here, now, before they have a chance to get back on their horses.”

  They watch as Roland reaches the wagons and begins speaking to Delia and Cassie. Delia looks at them and slowly nods her head, Cassie starts to cry out to Tinok, but Delia puts her hand over her mouth and quietly whispers in her ear. With a pained look to Tinok, Cassie gets on the second wagon and is soon following Delia, who’s leading the first wagon back to the road.

  Looking to Tinok, James says, “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah,” he replies, “Let’s do it!”

  James gathers several stones and Tinok readies his knives. About this time, the Commander of Ten has noticed that the wagons are rolling away, yet two have stayed behind. He says something to one of his men and the soldier starts walking over toward them.

  As the soldier approaches, he says something to them in his language. Getting no response, he puts his hand on his sword as he continues to advance. By this time, all of the Commander’s men are aware of what’s transpiring. They start to flank out, and begin encircling them.

  Not waiting any longer, James lets loose with a stone, propels it with the force of his spell and strikes the approaching soldier square in the chest, blasting out the back.