Free Trail of the Gods: The Morcyth Saga Book Four by Brian S. Pratt

the door closed, James is already asleep.

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