63 Chapter 63 Hunger (2/2)
”The king's convoy will be here tonight.”
”Do you know how much food they have with them?” he asked excitedly.
”No, I am sorry master, I only heard it from one of the other slaves. He was too tired to continue this far.”
Joseph frowned. The initial two weeks of food had managed to stretch to four with the herd of deer and including the edible gra.s.ses and bugs. There hadn't been much work going on the last two days due to no one having any energy. He didn't want to tell everyone to stop packing if the food was only enough for a day or two. With the number of people they had, it would take a lot of food to last much longer than that.
”I'm going to my tent. I need an hour to rest.” The slaves around nodded, and Stella, who had been almost as close as his shadow, followed him to the tent. This was hard on a seven-year-old. He needed to think for a moment.
He didn't want to rush anything. He needed to figure out if they should stay or go. There was a small sound at the door, and Stella went to investigate.
A young slave entered, looking almost skeletal. Joseph was certain at this point the slaves were starving themselves to make the food stretch further, and he got angry.
”Master Joseph, I am the one who came from the king's convoy with news of their arrival.” His voice was very soft as he didn't have the strength to speak very loudly.
”The group brings many mages with them, as ordered by the king, to help in whatever ways they can. They also have enough food for all of us to last roughly two months.”
”Thank you very much, you may go rest. Make sure word spreads that we will not be moving, and there will be a good meal tonight for everyone.”
The slave bowed, slowly, almost falling, before leaving.
”If there are going to be mages, I need to do a few things,” said Joseph as Stella came to him.
He focused with perfect control and perfect visualization. If IGNITE FIRE causes what is there to start burning, then CREATE FIRE simply calls fire into being from that realm of flames. Once he willed it, it simply happened in an instant.
A small beautiful blue flame hovered a foot in front of his face. No bigger than a candle flame, it brought a smile to his face. He held it steady for a moment, then moved it gently to a candle. As soon as he stopped focusing, the flame changed from blue to yellow.
”You didn't overdo it this time,” Stella teased.
”Contrary to the opinions of some, I don't try to endanger my life often.”
(YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY CAST CREATE FIRE FOR THE FIRST TIME. YOU ARE AWARDED 1 LIFE POINT. 22 UNSPENT POINT REMAIN. YOU HAVE CAST CREATE FIRE WITH OUTSTANDING SKILL AND FOCUS. YOU ARE AWARDED 10% OF THE EXPERIENCE NEEDED TO REACH INTERMEDIATE.)
<script>