Cursed: Traitor's Trail

Chapter 16 Part 2

The Magi warriors rode eastward as the sun rose above the horizon, casting down blinding shafts of light. Pale streams of dawn gleamed along white bone swords and glinted in the wide eyes of the mounts as they scurried in the dust.

Jaob rode at the head of the force, as was proper. He would not expect his people to ride into any danger he was not ready to face himself. He glanced back from time to time, taking in the extent of his men. Fifty Magi rode behind him, the majority untrained in battle; a paltry challenge to the thousands of king's men that awaited them.

The king's army was to the north, but the Magi rode east. With the difference in numbers, they could hardly hope to delay the king if they met such a force directly. He doubted they would even be able to slow them down before they were all slaughtered. Instead, he had chosen to ride in from the side and harry them. If luck was with them, the entire force would turn aside to face the pretend threat.

He could see no realistic way the plan would work. But he didn't tell his men that. Their last thoughts should be of hope and purpose.

Unladen with merchandise or women and children, the riders approached Thian in a far quicker time than the usual trading trips. Before the sun had gained much height on the second day, the outline of the village became clear in the distance. They stopped within sight.

"If we turn north now, we should remain unseen in Thian and still be able to skirt the army," Bane mentioned.

He rode at Jaob's side, his partner and second in command; first in command when it came to matters of battle, when Jaob deferred to him. For who of the Magi knew more about warfare than he? He sat erect on his mount, the lines that marred his skin and fierce expression making him an intimidating figure. What Jaob wouldn't give for a hundred such men. Now that would be a force to contend with.

"My plan does not involve remaining unseen in Thian," Jaob told him.

A dark brow perked up.

"In fact, we are going to make quite a scene about evacuating through the town."

"You are hoping Theron will turn his force to follow us."

"If they get this far, yes."

Bane nodded and looked off to Thian thoughtfully. "We have traded with the village often enough, they will notice that there are no women or children with us."

"That, my friend, is where you come in." Jaob looked to the side. "How long do you think you can hold an illusion?"

Bane studied him. If he was surprised that Jaob was asking him to use his powers, he didn't show it. "I do not think I can multiply our numbers."

"You don't have to. Our trading caravans have never consisted of more than ten Magi at a time. And no one here," Jaob nodded to the village, "is likely to notice a specific face missing. Just disguise us as a mixture of men, women, and children as we pass through." Jaob started his mount forward. "That should get the king's attention."

At least he hoped so. If Theron saw through his charade and the warrior's attack did not slow the army, then many Magi would face their deaths that day.

"I have never held an illusion over so many."

Jaob nodded. "I know. It is a lot to ask."

Bane looked northward before replying. "I will try."

***

The village consisted of a sparse collection of lopsided houses. Tents were replaced by buildings constructed of sun baked mud bricks. There was no order to the placing that he could discern, as though people just plopped their homes wherever it appealed to them. It resulted in a sporadic littering of clumped buildings, some close enough they nearly touched and others along footpaths a fair distance off. Two main trails led into the village, one from the west, which the Magi rode upon now. And one from the north, joining into the east-west road near the village center. There, the north road ended, for none braved the harsh sands of the south. A no-man's land even more desolate and dangerous than Sheathra lay between the steppes and the southern kingdom of Neyal. Somehow, Kierra crossed from there, but she rarely spoke of her time before coming to New Hope, so Jaob had yet to learn how she managed it.