“Right,” he whispers back and takes Miko with him to get it done.
Many of the onlookers come to the grieving family and offer words of sorrow and encouragement. James glances to Jiron and Qyrll and nods to the stables. As they leave the crowd behind, he says, “Let’s get out of here quickly before something else happens.”
With Dave walking beside him, he and the others make their way to the stables. Those who had left their things in their rooms hurry back to the inn to retrieve them. Before too much longer, they are all in the saddle and making their way down the road.
“That was quick thinking,” Illan tells him after riding several minutes in silence. “I never would’ve thought of that.”
“Where I come from, solving crimes and stories of the same nature are very popular,” he tells him. “Frankly, if his boot had matched the bloody footprint, I don’t think bloodshed could’ve been avoided.”
“I’m glad you were able to avert a conflict,” Qyrll says. “Killing people such as those would bring little honor.”
They ride on for several hours, a few travelers share the road with them, but otherwise it’s empty. A caravan passes them coming from the north and James asks them how far the next town is.
One guard pauses long enough to say, “The next town lies a full day’s ride to the north.”
“What’s it called?” he asks.
The guard replies, “Willimet.”
“Willimet?” James asks. When the guard nods yes, he begins seething inside. He hasn’t forgotten what happened to him the last time he passed through there.
Miko remembers as well and comes to ride next to him. “What are you going to do?” he asks.
Turning to him, he says, “Going to go and talk with her.”
Serenna, that was her name. The fortune teller who had run him out of town. The one who is telling everyone he is possessed by a demon. He intends to get her to stop!
Chapter Fifteen
The rest of the afternoon, James rides in silence, his mind only on what he will do at Willimet. Miko on the other hand is more than happy to tell the story in its entirety to the rest of the group. When he gets to the part about how they learned the following day the way she had distorted the truth, several of them chuckle which only darkens James’ mood further.
To make matters worse, during the late afternoon while they are still several hours away from Willimet, they encounter a man.
They first see him approaching down the road and don’t pay him very much attention. He’s a bit scraggly and when he draws close, can see a wild look in his eye.
Stopping right in front of them, he raises his hands and asks, “Where are you bound to on this fine day?”
Bringing his horse to a stop so as not to run over the man, James replies, “To Willimet.”
The man’s face lights up, “To see the great Serenna? Truly she is sent by the gods to guide us in these dark days.”
At that, the entire company comes to a stop and gathers around to hear this man. “Sent by the gods?” scoffs James. “I don’t think so.”
The man immediately grows indignant and cries out, “Scoff not the wise Serenna. Only her wisdom can deliver us from the demon which walks the lands.”
“Demon?” Illan asks him. He casts a quick glance to James and can see the anger seething behind his eyes.
“Yes my friends,” he says. “A demon disguised as a man. Evil are his works and through Serenna, the gods work to counter his most malign plans.” He gazes into their faces, eyes wild with a crazed look to them. “You will see for yourself,” he says. Beginning to mumble to himself, he suddenly walks forward and James has to back his horse quickly out of the way to keep the man from walking into it.
He sits there a moment and watches as the man continues down the road. “Great!” he exclaims. “What in the world is she saying about me now?”
“Looks like it’s getting pretty serious,” Illan says. “I’ve seen religious zealots before, and that man certainly acted like one. We better be careful while we’re there.”
“What is she doing?” asks Fifer. “Creating a new religion?”
“We’ll find out shortly,” he says.
“Wonder how come word of this hadn’t reached us before?” Jiron asks.
Shrugging, James says, “Who knows? Maybe she’s just recently stepped up what she’s telling people. Or maybe she’s come to believe it as well.”
“What are you going to do?” Miko asks as they resume their way north.
“I don’t know,” he replies. “But I can’t just let this whole thing fester and rot. Who knows where it might lead?” Or where it already has?
They continue on down the road and it’s well after dark when the lights from Willimet appear ahead of them. Off to the east of town, a large pavilion has been erected in which numerous people are congregating. Many fires dot the area around the pavilion where those not within can keep warm.
“What’s that?” Dave asks as they ride closer to town. “Looks like a revival meeting from back home.”
“It does, doesn’t it,” agrees James. “It’s probably where she’s preaching.”
Suddenly a great cheer and cry can be heard coming from the pavilion. “Wonder what she’s telling them now?” he hears Miko say behind him.
“Probably that I’m going to eat their souls or something,” he says.
Jiron chuckles, “Maybe.”
James turns his horse toward the pavilion, intending to go see what’s going on but Illan stops him. “I don’t think it would be such a good idea for you to go over there right now.”
“Why?” he asks.
“If you’re recognized as the person of whom she’s talking about, they’ll try to tear you apart,” he says. “Or you’ll be forced to kill them.” He pauses a moment as James digests that. Then he asks, “Do you want a bloodbath?”
“No,” he replies.
“Alright then,” Illan says. “Let’s find an inn and the rest of us will find out what’s going on and let you know while you stay out of sight in your room.”
James definitely doesn’t like the sound of the plan, but can see the wisdom in it. “Very well,” he says. Turning his horse back to the road, he leads them toward Willimet.
The first thing he notices upon reaching the outskirts of town are the many lean-tos and makeshift dwellings which have sprung up since he was here last. When they reach the outer edge of the main buildings of town, the number of makeshift dwellings decline rapidly until they disappear altogether.
The few citizens still on the street hurry along as if they’re afraid to be out after dark. “There’s a definite uneasy feeling here,” observes Jiron.
“I know,” agrees Fifer. Watching one fellow hurrying along, he sees him continuously darting nervous glances this way and that. When he notices Fifer looking at him, he stops in his tracks, then darts quickly down a side alley.
“Wonder what has them all spooked?” Dave asks.
“The answer is probably in that pavilion sitting outside of town,” replies James. “From the look of that one guy we ran into earlier, it isn’t surprising the townsfolk have grown wary.”
They come to an inn and James has everyone wait by the horses while he and Illan go inside to see about getting some rooms. He dismounts and with Illan right behind him, goes through the front door.
As he enters, a man behind the counter turns with a start, his eyes wide. When he sees them entering, his demeanor subtly relaxes and he asks, “Travelers?”
James nods and says, “Yes we are. Just passing through on our way north.”
At that, the man completely relaxes. Illan asks, “What has everyone around here so afraid?”
The man’s eyes dart around for a moment, as if he’s looking to see if anyone is listening. Waving for them to come closer, he says in a soft voice, “It’s the woman out in the big tent in the center of the pavilion outside of town. She and her followers have everyone on edge.”
“Why?” James asks. “What’s going on?”
“Before summer, she had been a simple fortune teller who gave bad advice,” he says. “Everyone knew she was a fake but as she was very nice, we didn’t say anything. One day that all changed.”