Merrick looked confounded. “But it was given to her by Father Rowland!”
James looked at Jazhara and the others and said, “Before we go rushing off to burn out an old woman, I think we need to have a serious ‘talk’ with this Father Rowland.”
He didn’t wait for an answer, but walked out of the tiny farmhouse.
THIRTEEN - Misdirection
James halted.
Looking skyward for a moment, he then turned to Jazhara and the others hurrying to keep up with him and said, “Is it me, or is it getting darker?”
Kendaric glanced to the west. “There is no weather front approaching, and I see no clouds.”
Solon looked at the sky and after a few seconds said, “No, it isn’t you. It is getting darker.”
Jazhara looked to the east, and pointed. “Look at the sun!”
They all turned to face the sunrise, and as they watched with a fascination that turned quickly to dread, the sun dimmed. The brilliant white had now darkened to a dull yellow.
Jazhara said, “I can feel the heat upon my face, but the light is fading!”
Solon said, “Yes, you have the right of it. Something is stealing the light from the very air!”
“What does this mean?” Kendaric asked anxiously.
“I don’t know,” Jazhara said. “I know of no magic that should be able to do this.”
Kendaric repeated doggedly, “But what does it mean?”
James moved to stand before the now-terrified wrecker. “Pull yourself together! What it means should be obvious.”
“So what does it mean?” demanded Kendaric.
“It means that soon our friends from last night will be able to walk abroad at any time.”
People were hurrying past and James overheard someone say, “Father Rowland will know what to do!”
The florid-faced man who had been inciting the others in front of Merrick’s house approached and said, “If you’re a servant of the Prince as you claim, you’ll go burn that witch out right now!”
“And who are you?” James asked.
“My name’s Alton. After I spoke against the woman at a town meeting, she fixed my cows with the evil eye, and put the wasting curse on them. Ask any of my neighbors. They’ve seen my animals dying. And she’s done worse.”
“Such as?” said James, impatiently.
“Well, take the woodcutter and his family. They were nice, normal folks, then suddenly they vanished. Then the blood-drinkers showed up. And Remi’s little boy, he took ill after spying her one day up at Widow’s Point. Died a fortnight later.”
James said, “Your mayor doesn’t seem to think she’s the cause of these ills.”
“Toddy’s a wonderful, kind man, but he can be a bit of a fool.”
James shook his head as other townspeople hurried by. “Where’s Father Rowland?” he asked Alton.
“Just follow everyone else to the church across the square. That’s where we’re going.” Suddenly, he gasped. “Look!” He pointed to the east and they could see how the sun was now darkening to an orange color as if heavy smoke were obscuring the orb.
As the farmer pointed, James noticed a glint of metal around his neck, a chain that moved as his tunic shifted. At the base he caught a glimpse of something black.
James had not been called “Jimmy the Hand” as a boy for nothing. With startling swiftness, he reached out and pulled the chain high enough to reveal a black pearl in a metal hand hanging from the chain. “Who gave this to you?”
The farmer’s eyes grew round and he stepped back as James released the chain. “I . . . I found it.”
“Where?”
“Ah . . .”
“We found a similar charm - around Merrick’s daughter’s neck,” said Jazhara.
“It’s just a simple bauble,” said Farmer Alton.
Solon moved suddenly, far quicker than one would expect of a man his size, and came to stand just behind Alton. “Don’t be thinking of leaving any time soon, my friend.”
James drew his sword slowly for dramatic purpose. He didn’t think this blustering farmer was particularly dangerous. But he also felt time was running short and he needed answers. “Again: Who gave you that charm?”