It almost looked like it was being created…
Then he caught sight of a group walking up that ramp, their dark silhouettes framed by the massive column of fire. He counted five figures, two bound and shambling behind the others. And the three in the lead were painstakingly familiar and subtly different at the same time. A woman holding a massive dark shield and a glimmering lance. An earth mage, emerald energy spinning around him in streamers as he formed the ramp up from the Abyss.
And in the lead was a man that Altair almost didn’t recognize.
His clothing was burnt and singed, his body wreathed in flame, and his eyes covered in a single band of cloth. Flaming orbs of metal encircled him slowly, like miniature fiery moons orbiting a sun. And atop his head burned a glowing crown comprised entirely of fire, the flames streaking up into the night air.
“The Najmat Alhidad,” a voice murmured to Altair’s left.
He turned to see that the Khamsin had moved forward – barely sparing any attention to the bound and unarmed guards. They only had eyes for the group stepping out of the pit. Those same words were echoed by the rest of the desert-folk, a low murmur that rippled through the crowd of onlookers.
“The blind prophet shall rise from the pit, his brow wreathed in flame, leaving only fire and destruction in his wake,” another man murmured from Altair’s right – one of his own soldiers, he realized suddenly.
Of course, he’d heard the prophecies too, writing them off as fairy tales of the Khamsin. Stories they told themselves to stay the course. To keep going. To give themselves hope. Legends and myths foretelling the coming of the Seer’s prophet. Accompanied by a creature of living flame. Yet they were children’s stories. Mere fictions fabricated by the desperate.
Or, at least, so he had thought…
But now, staring at the column of fire, at the burning crown adorning that man’s head, at the creatures that spiraled above them, Altair wasn’t so certain. He could feel his resolve wavering. That sort of power was beyond anything he’d ever witnessed before. Even the entire Mage Guild working together couldn’t create that vortex of flame.
And as the man neared – the Najmat Alhidad – the Khamsin dropped to their knees, their voices murmuring the words over and over again. A chant that echoed through the air. That flaming crown drifted among the crowd of bodies, moving closer to Altair.
It was then that he saw the man. Even with his appearance changed and altered, his eyes obscured, and his skin covered in dust and soot, Altair recognized him.
“Finn,” he muttered in disbelief.
The Seer’s prophet was Finn…
He had entered the pit and returned.
Before he realized what he was doing, Altair had dropped to his knees, his voice adding to the chorus that filled the night air – mingling with the roar of the flames that arced above them and the hellfire of molten glass that still rained down among them, those small burning dots of pain barely registering now.
“The Najmat Alhidad,” Altair whispered.
Chapter 50 - Welcomed
Finn and his group approached the line of figures in the distance, the fires still blazing out of the pit behind them. The harsh, bright light filled the night sky, shining down on the ridge that encircled the Abyss and illuminating the dozens of figures that stood there staring. Most wore loose flowing robes and flaps of cloth. Yet Finn also saw another group standing with them, their hands bound, and the men and women chained together.
It seemed the Khamsin had won the fight against Altair’s soldiers.
That would change how they handled this.
As they finally stepped off the ramp, Kalisha collapsed to the ground, kneeling in the sand, and kissing the ground despite the sand that coated its surface. “Oh, you sweet flat hard, unmoving surface,” she murmured. She spared a glance up at Finn, glaring at his back. “What the hell was that crazy bullshit? You had us ride a small fragment of rock out of that hellhole? We could have died!”
Even Malik looked pale, his lips pressed into a grim line.
Finn spared a glance at them, arching an eyebrow. “But you didn’t. And it got us to the top of the ridge quickly,” he offered with a shrug.
Kyyle tugged the merchant back to her feet – the gesture gentle, all things considered. “I know it’s rough the first time. But the second time is a little easier. Well, sort of,” he offered quietly, cocking his head and rubbing at his neck.
“I actually thought we picked up more speed that time around,” Julia quipped.
Kalisha just stared, her eyes round. “You’re insane. You’re all completely fucking insane.”
Julia snorted in amusement, waving at Kyyle. “You want to keep an eye on these two? I need to go with Finn to touch base with the locals.”
“Sure thing. I wouldn’t mind a breather anyway,” Kyyle replied in a tired voice. His hands moved swiftly, and a wall of glass suddenly erupted from the ground, growing up and around Kalisha and Malik.
“Hey, I’m not done! You can’t just lock us in this—” Kalisha began.
Her voice was cut off as the prison sealed shut, trapping the two other champions behind several feet of solid glass. As a final touch, a chair formed beside the makeshift prison, and Kyyle slumped down onto his new seat with a weary sigh, his eyes following Julia and Finn as they stepped toward the line of Khamsin.
“You know the plan?” Julia murmured as she caught up to Finn.
“Yeah, we go with Plan B. Altair’s men are alive, and the Khamsin won,” he replied.
Finn could see the Khamsin hovering around them in stark blue, his Short-Sighted ability active since his sight was nearly useless with the desert-folk. They were staring and many murmuring under their breath. Several had even dropped to their knees and seemed to be praying to him like he was some sort of god.
That was… uncomfortable.
He could just barely make out their words: “Najmat Alhidad” repeated over and over.
Finn side-eyed Julia. “You think maybe we overdid it a bit?”
“You’ve gotta put on a show,” she whispered back. “A lot of these people think you’re some sort of messiah. We should lean into that. Some of them are much more obstinate than others, and we’re going to need all the help we can get. This is going to be a tough sell.” A brief pause and a faint grin. “Just don’t let the fan worship go to your head. Kalisha was sort of right, although I’d never admit it to her face. You’re mostly just insane… and kind of lucky.”
“I like to think there’s some skill and planning involved,” he whispered back in mock indignation. This earned him a soft chuckle.
The pair quieted as they neared the line of Khamsin, a neutral expression settling across Finn’s face. Julia stepped forward at the same time as one of the desert-folk. The pair each pressed a fist to their chest.
“Tahiati lak,” Julia said.
“Tahiati lak,” the member of the Khamsin replied, her voice distinctly feminine.
With a swift gesture, the woman pulled away the wraps around her face, revealing dark olive-colored skin and vivid brown eyes. The scars around her neck and cheeks spoke of frequent battle and made her age difficult to place. Her robes also hid the arsenal Finn suspected was strapped beneath the layers of cloth, her movements reminding him of Julia’s flowing grace. He had no doubt this woman could put up a fight.
“It’s good to see you again, Aerys,” Julia said with a nod, some of the tension draining from her shoulders. Finn could only assume that meant they had encountered a friendly face. That should improve their odds. Even with Julia’s coaching, this conversation going to be like walking a tightrope.
“You as well, sister,” Aerys replied.
“I take it you are leading this clan?” Finn’s daughter asked.
“To the extent that anyone can lead the Khamsin. They are like wild animals. They can only be corralled by force or led by their stomachs,” she offered.
Julia barked out a laugh. “Good to hear that nothing
has changed then.”
Aerys’ eyes skimmed to Finn, and Julia took the hint.
“This is Finn, the Mage Guild champion—” Julia began, gesturing for Finn to step forward.
“—and the Najmat Alhidad if the rumors are to be believed,” Aerys interjected, her eyes skimming him from head to toe, and her voice tinged with skepticism. He saw her gaze linger on his own cloth-covered eyes, her brow furrowing slightly.
“I’ve made no such claims,” Finn answered calmly. “Nor am I responsible for the assumptions of others. I am just an ordinary traveler.”
Aerys snorted indelicately. “That is clearly not the case. Regardless of who you may be, you are far from ordinary,” she offered with a wave at the flames behind him to emphasize her point. “Champion of the Mage Guild’s tournament, a man who survived a plunge into the deepest levels of the Abyss, and I see that you have returned with the other two champions as your prisoners…” She trailed off with a glance at Kyyle behind him.
“Even more curious are your abilities,” she murmured.
In a blur of motion, Aerys whipped her arm forward, her robes flapping. A blade whistled through the air, rocketing toward Finn’s face. With only a faint twitch of his fingers, one of his orbs intercepted the blade, knocking it into the sand.
And in the same instant, Julia’s lance had telescoped outward, the needle-like tip resting only inches from Aerys’ throat. Yet the woman’s lips were pulled into a wide smile. “Interesting,” she murmured. She waved at the Khamsin nearby, their blades disappearing back into their robes.
“With sightless eyes, he peers between worlds,” Aerys murmured, staring at Finn and scanning him from head to toe. “Although, it seems the conversion isn’t entirely complete – not yet, anyway.”
Finn’s brow furrowed at that statement. More cryptic prophecy. More unknown expectations. And an implication that he was still playing the goddess’ game.
Just perfect, he thought dryly.
“Are you done messing around?” Julia growled.
Aerys shot her a calm glance, despite the blood that trickled down her neck. She shifted aside the lance with two fingers. “Good to see your reflexes haven’t gotten rusty. And it looks like you found a new toy.”
“If you’re finished testing us, I expect we have much to discuss,” Finn said, unperturbed by the attack. Julia had explained that this was to be expected. The Khamsin valued strength and readiness.
Aerys’ penetrating gaze snapped back to Finn. “I suppose we do. I can only assume you have recovered our dear Emir’s precious relic – either that or you decided to blow the gods damned thing sky-high,” she observed wryly. “The only question in my mind is whether your results are a product of talent or fortune. I’m still undecided.”
Finn heard Julia let out a soft huff of amusement, and he had to fight the smile that tugged at his own lips. It seemed Aerys and his daughter had much in common.
“I’d say it’s a mixture of both,” Finn replied diplomatically.
“Which is always the best combination,” Aerys retorted with a glint in her eye.
The woman sighed. “Regardless, you’re right. We need to discuss our next steps. Why don’t you come with me? We can find a seat among our camp, somewhere quiet, where we can speak more candidly.”
Finn nodded, swiping at the air and tapping out a quick message to Kyyle. It was safer for the earth mage to remain outside the camp and keep an eye on their prisoners. He didn’t trust the Khamsin – or anyone except his two companions. Practically everyone he had met in this world seemed to have their own agenda.
The group filtered among the tents, the eyes of the other Khamsin upon them and murmurs drifting from their lips. They soon perched atop a small cluster of glass boulders. With a wave, Aerys sent the other desert-folk scurrying away, silent sentries encircling them but keeping their distance. For his part, Finn brought his two flaming spheres to rest beside him but didn’t extinguish the channels.
He’d wait to dismiss his weapons until he knew Aerys’ intentions.
The woman hadn’t missed that fact either, her eyebrow arching as she took in the flaming spheres. “You do not trust easily, I see,” she said.
“I trust those that have earned it,” he answered simply.
A curt nod. “A sound policy. And what can we do to earn the respect of the so-called Najmat Alhidad?”
Straight to the point and a note of open skepticism.
He was beginning to like this woman.
“We would like to return to Lahab. I assume you still have the beetles that we rode out here. We’d like them returned as well.”
“So that I can let you give the Emir what he seeks?” Aerys asked with an incredulous snort. She glanced at his daughter. “I’m certain Julia has explained that our people’s relationship with the Emir is far from cordial. Why would we help him, even indirectly?”
“For the same reason that you have helped Julia and I so far,” Finn answered easily. “The Emir has proposed to transfer rulership to the winner of his competition. I am not a tyrant, nor am I in the pocket of the guilds. I could see the purge ended, and the Khamsin accepted as full citizens and residents of Lahab.”
Aerys eyed him, her expression perfectly still. “You speak as though such things were easy. Even if the Emir follows through on his promise, the tensions between my people and the guilds have been built over decades. Blood has been spilled on both sides. That cannot be resolved in mere moments.”
“I wouldn’t expect so,” Finn replied. “But it’s a start. Better than being hunted through the sands. Or if it is simply freedom that you wish for your people, that could be arranged as well.”
“Assuming you can deliver on your promise,” Aerys retorted.
“Indeed,” Finn said with a nod.
“Do you believe that the Emir will honor his own declaration?” the woman asked directly, watching Finn with a calculating expression.
Finn hesitated, debating on how to answer. He could lie, but his intuition said that wouldn’t help him with Aerys. She was a straightforward woman. This world had honed her into a blunt, practical instrument. He expected she would respect such pragmatism in return.
“I’m not certain,” Finn answered finally. “It’s possible he may honor his word. However, I also have my suspicions that he may seek to betray us.”
“Hmm, an honest answer,” Aerys murmured. “Then why should we let you do this thing? Would it not be better to take this relic and hide it or destroy it?”
Finn nodded. “And if you did, the Emir would hunt you down. He’d claim that the Khamsin had violated his competition, and that would unite the guilds behind his cause. You would be painting a target upon your back – practically begging to act as his scapegoat – and thereby uniting your enemies against you.”
Aerys’ eyes widened slightly, and Finn pressed on. “In contrast, handing the relic to the Emir gives you a chance at freedom, and even if the Emir betrays us, it could actually put your people in a better position.”
“How so? As I see it, we would just be handing the Emir exactly what he wants,” the woman retorted.
Finn had given this quite a bit of thought as they prepared to leave the pit, and he discussed the situation with Julia. He had played out the various options repeatedly in his head – examining each move upon the game board that the Emir had set. His gaze drifted to the stone prison in the distance, recalling Kalisha’s mechanized suit and Malik’s weapons. He expected that suit alone had likely cost the merchant guild a fortune, resources that likely couldn’t be recovered quickly. The fighters had also lost much. Weapons and manpower – with the fighters individually taking years to train. And that was ignoring what they had been forced to trade to the mage guild for the wards inscribed upon their skin.
“If the Emir betrays me, then he betrays the guilds as well. That would undermine the Emir’s handhold on them, which is already tenuous,” Finn said slowly. “They have expended considerable resources for
the sake of this competition – they have lost much. If the Emir were to back out of his offer, I expect there would be a reprisal.”
His gaze shifted back to Aerys. “And potential allies for the Khamsin.”
“He could spin the story, say that you had failed, or run away with the relic…”
Finn nodded. “Which is why we kept Kalisha and Malik as prisoners,” he said, gesturing at the stone prison where Kyyle stood guard. “They are witnesses. They saw us retrieve the relic, and they will see us return to Lahab with it.”
Aerys’ gaze drifted to the ground. “So, you’re proposing to have me set the other champions free as well?” He could detect the reluctance in her voice.
“It’s the smart move,” Finn replied. “If the Emir follows through, your people reap the reward. If he betrays us, you also stand to help unite the guilds against him.”
A short pause as Aerys digested this.
And then a small smile tugged at the woman’s lips, her eyes flashing as they raised to meet Finn’s. “Intriguing. You speak and act as though you have been here for years – already, you play the politics of this land with an agile hand. One would never know you only recently came to our world.”
A glance at Julia. “Although, I suspect you have had an astute tutor.” His daughter just crossed her arms, a smirk on her lips.
“I use all of the weapons at my disposal,” Finn answered simply.
Aerys let out an appreciative huff, tapping at her lips with her fingers.
“I see the logic of your plan as plain as daylight,” she murmured. “Even the other clans may see the merit of such a strategy – although, some will likely still put emotion before the reality of our situation. I believe I could sell such an explanation.”
Finn’s attention drifted to the side, noting the cluster of dark forms slumped against the sand a few dozen yards away. He had seen Altair and his soldiers as they had approached the camp, the prisoners bound together in chains and manacles. The Khamsin had quickly herded the soldiers to the far side of the camp as Finn and Julia had entered, kicking and stabbing at them to get them moving. However, not before Finn had seen their sunburnt skin and the blistered welts along their wrists.
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