Part 11 (2/2)
Nodding, James adds, ”After what we've been through the last week, any and all training can only help.” He eats a couple more bites in silence before continuing, ”I saw a girl out there with the others.”
”Oh, that's Errin,” he says. ”She's the daughter of some farmer on the far side of town. When her father heard we were asking for help, he brought her over to us. Said she was a h.e.l.lcat and would fit right in.”
”He did, did he?” James asks.
”Yeah, he did,” answers Jiron with a grin. ”In fact, he seemed right glad to be rid of her. But she's caused no problems and she can shoot a bow better than any of the others. You probably didn't see her yesterday because we have her mainly patrolling the woods.”
”Does she want to be here?” he asks, concerned about forcing someone to do something against their will. Especially something that could endanger their lives.
”She's taken to it with great determination,” Jiron tells him. ”Yern says that she was wasted back on the farm and that's where she would have most likely spent her days seeing as how the Cardri army doesn't allow women recruits.”
They spend the remainder of breakfast catching up on small details that have cropped up since James was gone, thankfully nothing of any real importance. Just before he's done eating, Roland comes in from the front room.
”Oh, there you are,” he says to James. ”I need to talk to you.”
Getting up, James says to Jiron and Tersa, ”If you'll excuse me.”
”Of course,” Jiron says.
He follows Roland as he exits the kitchen and moves toward James' room. Once inside, he closes the door and comes over to the chest and lifts the lid. What had once been a chest filled to the brim, now contains only a few coins.
”What happened?” asked James, shocked.
”What happened?” echoes Roland. ”We've got construction going on and that seems to be a constant drain on our coins. New recruits for security, not to mention arming them and feeding them, plus just the maintenance of this place, it all costs. We're fast running out of money.”
”I'll go down to Alexander's and get some more,” he tells him.
”Do that,” he says. ”Also, you need to tell him that you'll allow me to withdraw funds while you're gone so I can keep this place going. I tried to while they were hunting for you, but since you hadn't made that stipulation, he wouldn't release any to me.”
”Sorry, I hadn't thought of that,” apologizes James. ”I'll take care of that today.”
”That's not the worst of it,” Roland says with a worried look.
”Oh?” asks James.
”The money you have with Alexander will last awhile, but at the rate we're spending, it probably won't last more than a few months, maybe less. We have to find a source of income, one that's consistent and which we can count on.”
”Do you have any suggestions?” he asks.
Shaking his head, Roland says, ”No. The only one I can even think of is for you to make similar objects like your shaving knife that Delia could sell for us.”
”I really don't want to do that,” he says.
”I know, we've discussed it before,” Roland replies. ”But try to come up with something, and don't take too long about it.”
”Alright,” James tells him. ”Anything else?”
Giving him a smile, he says, ”Just that we're all glad you're back.”
”So am I,” agrees James.
Roland leaves him there in his room alone, shutting the door behind him as he leaves. He moves over to his window and looks out at the recruits. Jorry and Uther are demonstrating sword techniques while Illan explains them, how to achieve them and their various merits.
Errin is watching the exhibition with keen attention and is unconsciously pantomiming with her hands the motions she sees.
He leaves his room and makes his way out to his workshop. On the way, Illan sees him and waves him over. As he approaches, Uther and Jorry come to a halt and lower the wooden swords they've been using for the demonstration.
To his recruits, Illan says, ”For those of you who don't know him yet, this is James, the master of The Ranch.”
Eight pairs of eyes stare at him as he comes to a stop in front of them. ”James,” Illan continues, ”these young men and lady, have all agreed to help in keeping the security and to warn of any possible attack.”
”You know Devin,” he says. Devin gives him a smile and a nod.
”Yeah,” James replies, returning the smile, ”we've met once or twice.”
”The other ones are, Orry, Caleb, Errin, Jace, Nerrin, Moyil, and Terrance.” He points to them one by one as he makes his way through the group.
When he's done, James nods to them all and says, ”Glad to have you aboard. I just have a couple things you need to know. First of all, I do magic.” Pointing over to his workshop, he continues, ”Over there is my workshop and when I'm inside, don't disturb me unless it's for an emergency. It could prove disastrous. Second, I may have experiments running out in the forest. Don't touch them! Walking by them will cause no harm, but there may be some where coming into contact can be fatal.”
Some of the recruits' eyes widen and their faces pale. James smiles inwardly, these must've been the ones who had moved the crystals out in the forest while he was gone. ”I would be most unhappy if I had to go and tell your family you're dead because you couldn't leave well enough alone. Understand?” He gets eight nods in response. ”Good!”
”Finally, I would appreciate it if you all would stop spreading rumors about me. What goes on here, I want to stay here. Anyone caught talking about anything I do to someone outside of here, will be discharged.” Pausing a moment to let that sink in, he asks, ”Any questions?”
Eight hands fly into the air and he says, ”In case you're going to ask me about whether or not I've captured evil spirits or not, I haven't.” Seven hands lower and only one remains, Errin's. ”Yes?” he asks her.
”Is it true that the Empire sent a mage and fighters here to kill you?” she asks.
Nodding, he says, ”Yes, that's true. I have made some enemies and they may come here seeking revenge for wrongs they may feel I have done them. But I a.s.sure you, that I never sought them out, nor did I ever instigate anything with any party. My general philosophy is live and let live, be nice to all and to help those you can.”
”Anything else?” he asks. When no questions are forthcoming, he says, ”Then I'll let you resume your training.”
”Thank you, sir,” Illan says to him.
”You're welcome,” he replies and then begins moving back toward his workshop. From behind him, he hears Illan say, ”Alright now! Pair up and we'll practice the techniques you've just been shown.”
Glancing over his shoulder, he sees the recruits picking up the wooden swords lying beside them on the ground. Then they get up and begin pairing off. He sees Devin has managed to be paired with the dark haired Errin.
Finally back in his workshop, he closes the door and takes his seat at the workbench. They all look so young, none can be over fourteen. He fervently hopes none come to harm while they're here.
Turning back to the matters at hand, he decided to go into town after lunch to take care of his business with Alexander. What is he going to do for funds? He's not going to be able to put that off indefinitely, not from what Roland said.
He hears a wagon rolling toward the house from down the lane so he gets up and looks out the window. Ezra is returning with Miko and Fifer from town. James sighs when he sees the amount of food stacked in the back of the wagon. Expensive.
These people go through food like a horde of locust. Returning to his seat at his workbench, he decides to shelve that worry for awhile. His main concern now is the 'Fire' and getting it hidden away. In a day or two, the box he's commissioned will be completed and he will need to have everything in readiness so he can move fast to hide it for good.
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