“You be careful,” Tersa hollers to her brother from her position by the front of the house.

Jiron turns and waves to her as he gives her a reassuring smile. Next to her stands Aleya. Things have cooled off between them since his return from Trademeet, he’s not sure why.

Errin has the watch at the end of the lane today and she comes to attention as they ride by. James gives her a nod in passing and then turns onto the road heading south. Four long days lie ahead of them before they reach the walls of Cardri.

He can’t help but be a little overwhelmed at being summoned by the king. From what he’s heard of the man, the king is a just and kind ruler whom the entire populace of Cardri adores.

The grey sky above prevents the sun from warming the morning chill from the air. Fall is in full swing, the colors of the trees bright and cheery as the leaves begin turning orange, red and yellow. A gust of breeze now and then sends a flurry of leaves scattering across the road.

The evening of the second day, they find themselves an hour south of Bearn. Passing through made James a little leery as it’s the home of Lord Colerain and the man has had it in for him almost since his coming to this world. For some reason, he has the idea that James stole something from him. Of course James has not, but he’s had two attempts made on him.

It wasn’t very long ago when he made the last attempt. He actually had the temerity to send men out to The Ranch to abduct him. It would’ve worked except Miko recognized one of the captors which led them to Bearn. And Bearn led them to Lord Colerain. After Illan and the others rescued him, he told Lord Colerain that if he again moved against him that he would come back to Bearn and raze his house to the ground and destroy everything of his that he could find. So far, it seemed the man had heeded the warning. James is usually a patient man and has the philosophy of live and let live but Lord Colerain has pushed him beyond that.