The sails come down and the breeze begins to fill them as the ship begins pulling away from the docks.

"James, look!" Jiron says, pointing to the dockmaster's office.

A group of men led by one with bandages on his face are running down the street toward the dockmaster's office. "It would seem they've discovered the guards," says Jorry.

"Looks that way," agrees James.

As the ship pulls further away from the docks, the men come running and stop at the edge. The man with the bandage glares at them across the widening gap between the dock and the ship.

"He doesn't look happy," observes Uther.

"No, I'd say not," agrees Jorry.

The men on the dock turn around and run for the merchant ship at the other end, probably hoping to commandeer it to follow them.

The captain of the merchant must have been aware of the events transpiring on the docks, for his men hurry to pull in the gangplank before the men are able to reach the ship. A heated discussion ensues between the bandaged man and the captain. Obviously the captain is reluctant to have his ship used for such a purpose.

"He knows that his ship, fully loaded as it is, could never catch us," Captain Hawls explains. "He might get in some trouble for refusing but there's really nothing that guy can do about it."

"That's good to know," James says.

"Just get yourselves settled in and we'll be in Fairview sometime tomorrow," the captain tells him.

"Very well," James says as he moves back over to where the others are still gathered watching the spectacle on the docks. The merchant ship's captain is standing defiant before the men on the docks. He's even put two of his men with bows beside him to prevent anyone from coming aboard.

Miko sees him coming and meets him halfway with a small sack in his hands. Reaching in, he pulls out a tart and with a grin offers it to James.

Taking it, he asks, "Where'd you get these?"

"Back in Lythylla," he replies. Taking out another, he begins eating it. "They're a bit stale now."

Taking a bite, James agrees. "But still good. Thank you Miko."

"You're welcome," he says, pleased to have made his friend happy.

Late afternoon the following day, they spy Fairview on the horizon. An hour after that, Captain Hawls settles his ship against the dock. Two of his crew tosses the guide ropes to waiting dockhands who secure them to the dock.

When the ship has come to a stop and the gangplank has been secured in place, James comes to Captain Hawls and says, "We appreciate the ride, captain."

"Anytime, James," he replies. "I still owe you for getting me out of that jail. If you're ever in these parts and need a ride, just let me know."

"I will, thank you," he says to him.

Illan leads them off the gangplank and says, "There's a horse trader not too far from here."

"Perfect," says James. "Lead on."

They follow Illan down the streets until they come to a large corral containing dozens of horses. A large, rambling building curves around one side, and that's where Illan leads them.

Before they get to the building, a man is seen in the corral as he puts a horse through its paces. He holds the tether in one hand as he has the horse run around in a circle.

Illan stops them at the edge of the corral just as the man takes notice of them. The man walks with the horse over to the side of corral and asks, "Can I help you gentlemen?"

"We're looking to purchase ten horses," explains Illan.

The man's face lights up when he hears that. Gesturing to the horses within the corral, he says, "We have many horses here, I'm sure we can find ones to fit your need."

"It looks like it," agrees James. "How much for ten?"

"You can have your pick for seven hundred," the man replies.

James looks to Illan who shakes his head negatively, indicating he doesn't have that much. Letting Illan do the haggling, James casts his gaze out over the corralled horses, he can see many fine animals there.

Illan works the man down to six hundred and twenty two, which is only five gold pieces less than what they have. Fortunately, the price also includes saddles and all the gear they'll need.

They move into the building, where they empty the bags of gold they received from the sale of their other horses onto a table. Everyone also had to empty their own pouches in order to come up with the required sum.

Once the gold had been counted, they return to the corral where ten horses are rounded up. Sterrin, the horse trader, has his apprentices saddle the horses for them while they wait.

"Is Dragon's Pa.s.s still in friendly hands?" Illan asks the horse trader.

Nodding, he replies, "Last I heard. There have been incursions of the Empire's men in the area when they can sneak past our patrols. Mostly, though, it's safe."

"Good," states Uther. "Hope it stays that way."

"Me too," Hinney adds.

"How far is it to the Dragon's Pa.s.s?" James asks Sterrin.

"About two days," he tells him.

One of the apprentices comes and informs them the horses are ready. Once everyone is mounted, they wave goodbye to Sterrin and his apprentices before they leave the corral area.

"Better get some rations before we head out," Illan tells them as he pulls up outside of a shop that deals in travel supplies. He takes Uther, Jorry and the rest of their money into the shop while everyone else waits outside on their horses. They return shortly with several pouches bulging with food and secure them behind their saddles.

After they get back in the saddle, Illan leads them westward along the road out of town. "If we follow this road," he explains to them, "it will take us directly to Dragon's Pa.s.s. And from there, I think it's perhaps another day to Trendle."

Jiron glances to James and says, "I hope everyone made it there alright."

"I'm sure they have," he a.s.sures him. "With Scar, Potbelly and the rest, what could possibly have happened?"

"True," he says.

Moving quickly, they cover many miles before the sun begins to dip near the horizon. "Perhaps we should make camp now?" suggests Illan. "No need to push it hard."

"Sure," agrees James.

They find a good spot off the road and make camp. A fire is quickly built and enough wood is gathered to allow it to burn all night. Even though they're in friendly territory, the words of warning from Sterrin convince them to post a watch. As Uther says, "You never know."

The night pa.s.ses without incident and they're quickly underway shortly after the sky begins to lighten. James rides in the lead with Jiron on one side and Miko on the other. To Jiron he asks, "How's the shoulder?"

Rubbing it, Jiron replies, "Hurts, but it's getting better. At least it's not oozing blood anymore. Another week or two and I'll be able to use it again."

"I'm glad," says James. "I was worried it might've been injured permanently."

"Won't really know until it heals more," Jiron says. "It doesn't feel as if anything major is wrong with it."

"What's Trendle like?" asks Miko.

"Just a small farming community, really," explains James. "Good people."

"What're we going to do there?" he asks.

"First of all," James tells him, "I think we should all take a much deserved rest for a while. Give us time to fully recover from all that's happened to us."

"What about you?" Jiron asks. "Are you still going to search for more on Morcyth?"

"I intend to," answers James. "But I need to rest and think about some things first. I want to be better prepared than I have been."

"Makes sense," nods Jiron.

"I have some ideas I've been thinking on the last week or so," he says to them. "Ever since we left that complex in the swamp, I've been thinking about those crystals we found there."

"Oh?" asks Miko. "Like what?"

"Not really sure, but I think I may be able to use them to harness and store magical energy," he explains. "If I can, then there is really no limit to what I might be able to do."

"How are you going to do that?" Jiron asks.

Shrugging, he replies, "I haven't a clue. But I believe it's possible so I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out. Remember that large crystal above that lake?"

They nod their heads, and then Jiron says, "Yeah, I remember."

"Well, that one had magic in it, or at least pa.s.sing through it," he tells them. "I just need to figure out how they did that."

"I see," comments Jiron.

James also remembers an encounter with that little creature, Igor. It always had seemed odd that they'd gone for pizza that time, but after seeing those crystals, he remembered how Mama had been watching Star Trek. It didn't register at the time, but she had said how the episode was the one where they'd had to recharge the dilitium crystals.

Perhaps that was why he'd been taken there, to have him think in that direction. If so, why Igor didn't just come out and say it remains a mystery.

The mountains to the west continue growing in size as the day progresses and near the end of the day they can see where the road enters the mountain range.

"Should be there by nightfall," Illan announces to everyone.

"Are we going to make camp before entering the mountains?" asks Yern.

"That would probably be advisable," Illan says. "I think it would be best to take the pa.s.s in the daylight, less chance of taking a misstep in the dark."

"I was hoping we would," says a tired Keril from the rear. He and Hinney had been back there all day and were tired of eating everyone's dust. Those two had been friends long before joining Miller's band and tended to stay together for the most part.

The gra.s.slands stay fairly flat all the way to where the mountains begin rising up to the sky. They find a good spot to camp about a half mile from the pa.s.s entrance. As the sun sets, they go about finding enough wood to last the night and settle down to eat the rations they bought in Fairview.

A shadow, some distance away, watches their camp as the night deepens. Once he realizes they are staying put for the night, the scout remounts his horse and rides back to the main party, some miles to the south.

Chapter Thirty Two.

As the eastern sky begins to dawn, they have a quick bite to eat before saddling the horses. "Should make Trendle sometime tomorrow," Illan tells the rest of them.

He takes the lead as they move toward the pa.s.s entrance. Appearing out of the pa.s.s entrance before them are about twenty hors.e.m.e.n. One of the riders brings a horn to his lips and blares forth three quick notes. Answering horns can be heard sounding from all around them. Illan brings them to a stop.

"James," Miko says as he brings his horse closer to his, "what's happening?"

From all sides, hors.e.m.e.n appear. Jiron's knife leaps into his good hand as he takes in the hundreds of approaching hors.e.m.e.n who're moving to surround them.

Suddenly, a familiar tingling sensation begins to make itself known to James. He looks to the pa.s.s and sees four hors.e.m.e.n detach themselves from the others. They begin moving down to where James and the others wait. One of them is dressed in armor and a shudder goes through him when he recognizes him.

"Abula-Mazki!" he breathes.

"What?" Jiron asks.

Pointing to the riders coming from the pa.s.s, James says, "Abula-Mazki. It seems he didn't die when the catacombs collapsed."

"Who is he?" asks Jorry.

"A warrior priest of Dmon-Li," he replies. "I thought we'd rid ourselves of him some time ago."

The surrounding riders move to within a hundred yards before coming to a stop. James recognizes the Wolf Clan, as well as patterns of two other clans from the Gathering.

"How did they know to be here?" Miko asks.

"I don't know," replies James as he keeps his eye on the approaching warrior priest. The others with him look to be the chiefs of the clans, James recognizes them from when he'd been questioned before the council.

"It looks as if they wish to parley," Illan says as he glances to James.