Trail of the Gods: The Morcyth Saga Book Four Read Online Free PDF Page A

out exactly how much each will receive a week. After dinner,
I’m going to give each of you two silvers and then we’ll go from
there.” He sees several heads nodding agreement to what he’s
saying.
    “Now, another thing. Today, a man walked in
here and disturbed me while I was in the middle of an experiment
and it almost killed me. I want you all to keep alert for any
strangers approaching the property and turn them away, gently and
nicely if possible. If they seem to have a good reason to see me,
and I mean it had better be a good reason, then take them to the
house and have them wait while you get me.”
    “What would constitute a good reason?” Jorry
asks.
    “Imminent death, perhaps,” suggest James. “I
don’t know, just not for their own selfish reasons.” He then goes
into the reason the man had come here seeking his help and what
happened. When he’s done, he asks, “Do you understand now?”
    Nodding, Jorry replies, “I think so.”
    “Good,” he says. “I really don’t want a
repeat of earlier today.” He takes another bite and then continues,
“Also, I understand there are rumors circulating about me. Jiron is
going to go into town after dinner and try to find out just what is
being said and by whom. If any of you wish to go with him, I’m sure
he wouldn’t mind.”
    Jiron nods his head indicating he would
welcome any and all who want to come with him.
    “Be subtle, don’t ask any questions,” he
explains to them. “Just sit back and enjoy the evening, but keep
your ears open. Oh yes, and don’t get drunk or cause any problems,
please.”
    At that, several grin and one even
chuckles.
    “I mean it,” insists James. “I don’t want to
go down tomorrow and pull your sorry butts out of jail.”
    “Alright, James,” Yern says. “We’ll be on
our best behavior.”
    Once dinner is over, James goes into his
room and returns with the promised silver pieces. He hands one sack
of coins to Ezra saying it’s for the household expenses.
    With money in hand, Jiron and the others
going with him leave for town. Roland stays at the Ranch, as well
as those assisting Illan and Miko with the carcasses.
    By the time James goes to bed, Miko and
Illan are still out there slicing and preparing the meat for
smoking. He can smell the meat that has already been placed within
the smokehouse.

    The next morning when he wakes up, the sound
of a wagon leaving can be heard. He quickly gets out of bed and
looks out the window, only to find farmer Hunst heading back to the
road with his load of milk jugs. A local farmer, he sells milk and
butter to the various people living in the area.
    He gets dressed and takes out his shaving
kit and mirror, something he acquired shortly after coming to The
Ranch. The dull knife he uses to shave the stubble off has been
magically imbued with the ability to only cut hair. You could run
the edge along your wrist without the fear of opening a vein, yet
run it along your jaw line and the stubble comes off easily.
    Breakfast is the only time when he isn’t
required to be at the table before anyone else gets to eat. Others
rise much earlier than he does and that wouldn’t be a very
practical rule. He scoops a cup of soap out of a large barrel
sitting in the corner of his room and then grabs a set of clean
clothes.
    Leaving his room, he goes through the
kitchen where Ezra hands him a towel before he exits out the back
door. A little ways past his workshop is a good sized stream where
he had a deep pool dug adjacent to it, allowing the water to flow
in and out. His bathing pool, at least during the summer that is.
He’s not about to use it when there’s snow on the ground.
    Removing his dirty clothes, he steps into
the cool water and then sits on the sandy bottom. It’s just a
couple feet deep and only comes to his mid chest when he sits in
it. Using the soap liberally, he gets all the dirt and grime of the
day before off as well as thoroughly washing his hair. All that he
needs