Glancing around he doesn’t see anyone in the immediate vicinity so brings his horse to a stop and dismounts. To Jiron he says as he nods to the barrel of water, “I’ll use this. Keep an eye out for anyone coming.”
“You got it,” he replies as he gets down and stands watch.
Moving to the barrel, James releases the magic as he concentrates on Kerrin and Gayle. The surface of the water shimmers momentarily and then he sees them riding along a road. The string of horses they had behind them earlier is nowhere to be found. He expands the image but is unable to tell in which direction they’re riding.
Letting the spell go, he then concentrates on the medallion bearing the Star of Morcyth. He wants to see if they got rid of it as well or if it still remains with them. The image shifts and becomes dark.
“Someone’s coming,” Jiron says quietly.
Canceling the spell, James gradually moves away from the barrel as the shopkeeper whose store they’re standing next to comes toward them with an empty bucket.
“Here now,” he says when he sees them loitering there. “What are you two up to?”
“Nothing, good sir,” James assures him. “Simply getting a little bit of water from your barrel.”
“This isn’t for everyone,” the man says with a grimace. “You two just move along now.” He stands there with a stern expression on his face.
“Let’s go,” James tells Jiron and they take their horses and begin walking away. He glances back after they’ve moved along a ways and sees the merchant filling his bucket from the barrel and then returns to his store.
“What did you find out?” Jiron asks quietly.
“They’re no longer in town,” he replies. “They no longer have our horses with them either.”
“Think they got rid of them here?” he asks.
“Would think so,” replies James. “I don’t think my medallion is with them either, though I couldn’t find out exactly before that merchant came along.”
“If we find the horses, we may find your medallion,” suggests Jiron.
“That’s what I was thinking too,” he replies. Pausing a moment, he then mounts and Jiron follows suit. They ride through town looking for the horses. He thought about doing his bubble seeker spell again but discards the idea. If one mage from the Empire was in the area, then another could be too. The last thing he wants right now is to attract the attention of the wrong sort of people. After all, he’s weakened magically speaking and Jiron has no weapons.
Cruising through town, they come to the market square where numerous hawkers are making their pitch.
“Last fruit of the season!” one merchant hollers who’s standing out in front of a stand with the saddest lot of fruit James has ever seen. He suddenly has a desire to taste one of the peaches from home one more time. Sighing, he moves on.
“Come get the finest perfumes for your lady,” another says. “One of these will bring you closer to her heart.”
“Illion’s best knives here,” one lad says. He stands on a box in front of a store, a long wicked looking knife held in each hand. “Knives for every occasion! Whether for the lady in the kitchen or the warrior on the battlefield, we have them all!”
James glances over to Jiron and sees him longing to go over and examine the knives. If only they had the money they would stop and get him a couple. Then suddenly a memory surfaces, one from early on when he first came to this world.
It was shortly after leaving Trendle that first time, two men were being robbed and he helped fight off the thief. “Well James, if you’re ever in Illion, you’re welcome to our hospitality,” one of the men had said. “We own and operate an iron mine and smelter. Maybe you’ve heard of us, Renlon’s Iron?”
Turning to Jiron he says, “I may have an idea.” Stopping near a boy on the street he gets his attention and asks, “Could you tell me where I might find Renlon’s Iron?”
The boy gazes at him a moment and then points off down to another main street which branches off the one they’re on. “Turn down there and you’ll find it at the edge of town,” he says.
“Thanks,” replies James.
Just as he’s about to leave, the boy asks, “Don’t I get something for telling you?”
“I’m a bit short right now,” he says. “Sorry.”
“Sorry yourself,” the boy says derisively. When Jiron makes to move in his direction the lad runs off into the crowd and is gone.
“You didn’t have to scare him,” rebukes James.
“I know,” replies Jiron as he turns to glance at James. When no further comment is forthcoming, they make their way to the intersection and turn into the lane the boy had indicated. At the edge of town when the street comes to an end, they find a large complex of smelters with smokestacks belching black smoke.
A man is loitering around one of the buildings and James rides over to him. “Where might I find the owners of Renlon’s Iron?” he asks.
Indicating a building near the center of the complex, he says, “Most of the time you can find them in there.”
James gives him a nod and replies, “Thanks.” Leaving the man behind, they work their way through the complex until they come to the indicated building where James dismounts. “You stay here with the horses and I’ll see if they’re inside,” he tells Jiron.
Nodding, Jiron remains on his horse as James enters through the front door.
Inside he finds an office with several tables and many shelves lined with books. Behind one is the older gentleman from before. He looks up from where he was making notations on a piece of paper and sees him walk in. “Can I help you?” he asks. Then suddenly his face lights up as he recognizes him. Coming to his feet, he moves around the desk and asks, “James right?” Holding out his hand, he gives James a vigorous shake.
“That’s right,” he replies. “I wasn’t sure if you were going to remember me.”
“After what you did it would be hard to forget you. Here, take a seat,” he says as he gestures to one next to the desk. As James takes a seat he props himself on the edge of his desk. “So what brings you around these parts?”
“Actually I was hoping you could help me with something,” he says.
“If I can I will,” he assures him. “What do you need?”
James explains to him in brief detail the robbery and subsequent chase leaving out the parts concerning the Empire and his magic. Once he’s done, he finishes by saying, “So you see, I believe they may have sold our horses somewhere here in Illion along with our other belongings. You wouldn’t happen to know of anyone who might deal in stolen goods do you?”
Sitting back on the desk, he contemplates for a moment. Then the rear door opens and his son comes in. Stopping just inside the door when he sees his father talking with James, he breaks into a smile and comes forward. “So, you decided to take advantage of our hospitality after all?” he asks.
“In a way,” James replies.
Glancing to his son, his father fills him in on James’ plight. Father and son exchange glances for a moment and then the son says, “You might try Orlander.”
“Orlander?” he asks. “Who is that and where can I find him?”
Nodding, the father turns to James and says, “He’s a bad one, into all the less than honest dealings which go on around here. He runs a tavern on the other side of town. You can’t miss it, it looks shoddy and in ill repair.”
“If your stuff is with him, you best just leave it be,” the son warns. “Those who cross him tend to end up dead.”
“We’ll see,” says James. “I appreciate your help in this. Thank you.”
“Isn’t there anything else we can do to help?” the father asks as James makes to leave. “We owe you a lot.”
Pausing, James glances back to them and says, “Well…”
He finds Jiron still on his horse when he exits the office. The father and son come out with him to bid him goodbye. Walking up to his friend, he hands him a bundle wrapped in cloth.