Dave rides next to him as does Miko, one on either side. Two hours after leaving camp, a farmstead appears off to their right, quite a ways off the road. People are seen working the fields around it, probably bringing in the last of whatever crop they had.
“Fifer,” he says coming to a stop. “Take Miko and go over there to see if we can buy some food.” He pulls out the pouch he acquired at Orlander’s and removes some coins which he hands to Fifer.
“Sure,” he says, taking the coins. He and Miko then leave the road and begin making their way to the homestead.
James sits there with the others as they watch them approach. When the farmers notice them approaching, they hurry from the fields to the house. Fifer and Miko come to a stop near the house and look to be talking with the locals. After a few moments, one of them is seen going to the house and returning with several sacks and gives them to Miko. Several more words are exchanged before they turn about and return to the others.
As they approach, he sees Miko giving him a big smile as he holds up one of the sacks the farmers gave him. “We got food!” he exclaims once they’re close enough.
“Should be enough for a day or two,” Fifer says.
“Good,” says Dave coming forward.
Miko begins handing out some bread, cheese and dried beef to the others before they resume their northward trek. Once everyone has their share, James is gratified to see that the sacks still contain quite a bit of food.
They continue on for the rest of the day, the sun doing little to warm them. A cold breeze feels like it’s blowing down off the mountain. “Might be an early snow,” Uther announces at one point.
“Let’s hope it holds off until we get back over the mountains,” Jorry says.
“Amen to that,” James adds.
The proximity of the mountains probably has a lot to do with the drop in temperature. Of course a cold northern could be on its way down to make life a misery for the travelers. Either way, they pull their jackets closer together and do their best to keep warm.
Throughout the rest of the day, the riders fight off the cold as they steadily progress northwards. By the time night again falls there have been no sign of inns or anything else which would provide them some comfort through the cold of night.
Finding a place near a few lone trees on the plains, they make their camp. At least they’re fortunate enough to find enough wood for their campfire to last through the night. They again rotate the watch, the threat of the Empire still very real. With any luck, Orlander has remained back in Illion.
Another cold morning, even colder than the last has them shivering before the fire roars to life. They take just enough time to warm up and eat some of the rations acquired yesterday before they set off again.
The sky is a crystal blue without a hint of clouds. They ride for several hours before the sun has managed to warm the air enough so their breath no longer fogs. James is thankful for what warmth the sun gives them.
Trees begin to appear with more frequency and ahead it looks like the road enters a forest. Close to noon a town appears straddling the road ahead of them. As it turns out, it sits at a crossroads just within the forest.
“Let’s get something to eat and find out which way Ironhold lies,” James announces when the town first appears.
“I’m for that,” agrees Miko enthusiastically.
The town looks to be not very large, mainly servicing the traffic moving along the two roads which converge there. Off to one side sits a large sawmill with piles of stripped logs awaiting their turn.
“Be interesting to see how they do it here,” Dave says to his friend.
“Sure would,” agrees James.
They approach the town and find an inn sitting on the outskirts. Looking it over, James nods and says, “Let’s try this one. Looks clean.” Pulling up, they dismount and secure their horses to the rail out front and make their way inside.
Over to one side is a table large enough to accommodate them so they make their way over and take their seats. Shortly a serving girl comes over and takes their order. Instead of regular ale, James and the rest opt for mulled ale with a hint of spice to better warm themselves from the cold of the road.
“Wonder how far Ironhold is from here?” Miko asks.
“I don’t know,” replies James. Turning to the table next to them where a man and a woman are sitting, he says, “Excuse me.”
They both turn to look his way and the man asks, “Yes?”
“Do you know which road to take to reach Ironhold?” he asks.
“Ironhold?” the man asks surprised. He glances to the lady and then turns a serious look back to James. “Why would you want to go there? It’s said the place is haunted by spirits.”
“What?” asks Miko.
“That’s a bunch of hogwash,” Uther says. Jorry just snorts.
“What do you mean?” prompts James, trying to ignore the reaction of his comrades.
“I heard that some miners went up there in an attempt to reopen the mines and were never heard from again,” the woman says.
“Never?” asks Miko, fear creeping into his voice.
“Now don’t exaggerate dear,” the man chides her. “Most of them were found.” Turning his attention back to James and the others, he continues. “They disappeared for a time and all but two were found lost in the mountains. They claim a spirit came and took them away, leaving them lost in the woods. No mention was ever made of the fate of the remaining two.”
James glances back to the others and can see emotions ranging from the fear in Miko’s eyes to the disbelief in Uther’s. “Has anyone been up there lately?” he asks the man as he turns his attention back to the couple.
Shaking his head, the man replies, “Not that I’ve heard. None dare even go near there. Those that pass through do so quickly without stopping.”
“James,” Miko says, “maybe we shouldn’t go there.”
“Your friend is right,” the woman tells him. “It’s a bad place.”
“Be that as it may,” asserts James, “we need to get there.”
“Then take the north road out of town through the forest and it will lead you there,” explains the man. “The road continues past Ironhold to the northern kingdoms but no traveler dares to spend the night there. Those that have tell of strange sights and sounds.”
“We’ll keep that in mind, thank you,” replies James.
“Just be careful,” the woman says, concern in her voice.
“We will,” James assures her.
Turning back to the others he says, “Seems an interesting place.”
“Interesting?” asks Miko. “Cursed more like it.”
“Relax,” Uther says with confidence. “Most likely it’s simply the wind howling through the trees or something.”
“Sure,” adds Jorry. “There’s no such thing as spirits.”
Laughing, Jiron draws every eye to him as he says, “Well let me tell you about…” He then goes into the tale of complex in the swamps which everyone must have already heard a dozen times. He reminds them of the spirits of the dead which they encountered there. “So don’t go discounting tales of spirits so easily,” he concludes.
Uther and Jorry don’t look convinced. Sure, they’ve heard the story many times but never put much credence in it. After all, some of their tales are just as scary but truth be told, most of them are not altogether true.
“Do you still think it wise to go there?” Dave asks.
“Wise or not, that’s where the trail leads,” he replies.
Turning back to the couple he asks, “Pardon me, but do you know how far it is from here?”
Over his shoulder, the man says, “Couple days I think. Not for sure though, never had the occasion to travel there.”
“Thank you,” James says as he turns back to the others with a grin. “Not that much farther.”
“Great,” mumbles Miko next to him.