“It’s a Vyrilyzk, ” he replies.
“I never heard of that,” James says.
“It’s an offering to the earth spirits,” he says. Glancing to James he says, “It’s an old custom. Farmers take the first of the harvest, surround it with leaves, and leave it for the earth spirits. It’s supposed to give them a better harvest for the following year.”
“Does it?” he asks.
“Oh yes,” he replies. “The little brothers appreciate one who lays out the Vyrilyzk. Being earth spirits, they can help the farmer’s trees produce more. You don’t see it much anymore. The earth spirits are shy and are rarely seen so the farmers begin to forget.”
“Little brothers?” he asks.
“Yes,” he says. “They are of Asran and I have seen them many times.”
“So have I,” states James.
Looking in surprise at James, Brother Willim says, “That is a very rare thing indeed.”
“It was last year,” he explains. Then goes on to tell about his visit on Lyria’s Island and of seeing the spirits while they sat and listened to her song.
“Yes, they were earth spirits,” he states after he has him describe them.
About this time the negotiations between Reilin and the farmer have concluded. Two of his sons make their way to the farmhouse and are soon returning, each with two small casks tucked under their arms.
James hands over the required sum and the casks of dates are secured behind the saddles of four of them. “Thank you,” James tells the farmer with a grin. The farmer nods his head in reply. Then he and his sons return to the farmhouse.
Leaving the farm behind, James glances back at the Vyrilyzk. “Do you think they worship Asran?” he asks Brother Willim.
Shrugging, he says, “I doubt it. Mainly the laying out of the Vyrilyzk has become a tradition. There are few who even remember when it started or why. All they know is that if they do it, they tend to have a good crop of whatever they grow the following year.”
The rest of the day they continue their way southwest. Once they had to angle more to the east to avoid a column of troops heading north. “Think they’re heading to Al-Ziron?” asks Stig.
“I would think so,” replies Scar. “They would want to maintain a presence there strong enough to project strength. It’s always better to barter from a position of strength.”
“True enough,” agrees Stig.
Later in the day they see people and wagons passing across the horizon ahead of them. “I figure that would be the road that runs north out of Korazan,” observes Shorty.
“Do you think it wise for us to be anywhere near here?” asks Jiron. “After all, Illan came through here not too long ago and caused major damage.”
“With everyone’s focus on the talks going on further north,” reasons James, “who will think twice about us?”
“Maybe those riders coming straight for us?” Everyone turns to see the half a dozen riders coming from the east. There’s no doubt that they mean to intercept their party. From their armor and the Empire’s emblem on their uniforms, there’s little question about who they are.
“Everyone stay cool,” says James. “Be on your guard in case things go bad.”
“Look bored,” suggests Scar. “It will just give them cause to inspect us closely if we appear like we are up to something.”
“Good idea,” agrees Miko.
They come to a halt and wait for the arrival of the riders. Reilin, whose outward visage projects calm and nonchalance, puts himself between the approaching riders and the others. Once the riders are close enough, he offers them a greeting.
The lead soldier replies. Looking to be the officer in charge of the group, he scans those behind Reilin. He and Reilin exchange words several times before the officer and his men ride off.
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when the riders have left. “What was that about?” asks Jiron.
“They were looking for escaped slaves,” he explains.
“Could it have been Tinok?” Jiron asks.
“He didn’t say who or what they were,” Reilin replies. “Just that they were loose and if we were to see them to notify the nearest garrison as to their location.”
Jiron looks to James. “It could be,” he says.
Nodding, James takes out his mirror and once again tries to get a view of Tinok to appear. But just as last time, the mirror remains quiet. “I don’t think it would be him,” James tells the others. “If he was this close, I would get something.”
“Unless there was magic blocking him from being found,” offers Potbelly. “Sort of like what you did that one time.”
“First of all, why would anyone go to the trouble of hiding Tinok from magical searches?” asks James. “I don’t think that would even be a possibility. Second, if he was to be hidden in such a way, I would never even be able to use the cloth to find him either.”
“Oh yeah,” Potbelly says. “I forgot about that.”
“But, just to put everyone’s mind at ease…” he pulls out the cloth and once again, it rises to point the way to where Tinok lies. It still indicates Tinok is somewhere to the southwest.
“So, are we going to take the road?” asks Jiron again.
“Yes,” James replies. “Just keep Reilin out front in case we need to deal with someone.” Indicating the native garb they are all wearing, “And we’ll blend in.”
“It did work with the riders,” chimes in Shorty.
“Exactly,” states James. He sees the way Jiron is looking and him curiously. “What?” he asks.
Shrugging, Jiron says, “This seems a bit bold on your part. Usually you like to stay away and avoid everyone.”
“No one’s out looking for us,” he replies. “We’re not here to cause mischief so I think this time, boldness will be the better way to go. Besides, if we tried to avoid everyone, our search for Tinok could take longer than we have.” So moving like they belong here, they head over to the road and turn to follow it south.
The people traveling upon the road barely even glance at them as they gain the roadway, those going north give them a cursory glance, more to break up the monotony of travel than really caring who they are. The people they pass heading south at times give them a greeting that Reilin returns, but for the most part they keep to themselves.
“Sure looks different than when we came through here earlier this summer,” observes Shorty.
Scar chuckles and says, “Yeah, everyone was running for their lives.”
James isn’t amused at all. Fear. Any kind of fear is a bad thing and to have been one to instigate it is nothing to be proud of. They did what they had to for the Empire to be pushed out of Madoc. He isn’t proud of the effect it had on the common man, but at least it wasn’t as bad as the effect the Empire had on the common man during their push into Madoc.
They keep a good pace throughout the day. Twice more they are stopped momentarily by patrols on the hunt for the missing slaves. From what Reilin gathered from the two meetings, the slaves are vicious, armed and likely to kill you as look at you. Numbering fourteen, they have supposedly killed dozens of unwary travelers on the road.
“Think we should be concerned?” Miko asks.
“They would have to be pretty desperate to take us on,” Jiron states. “There are other more tempting targets they could choose.”
“Just keep our eyes and ears open for trouble,” James announces. “Keep a double watch at night just in case.”
They fall silent as they ride, each thinking about the significance of the escaped slaves. Some think it could possibly be people taken from Madoc during the war trying to get home. Others are of the belief they are criminals out for vengeance.
From where Scar and Potbelly ride, James can hear them talking.
