“Aye,” Rey agreed. “We should pack at sunset, as usual, and push on.” Looking around at the others for approval, he waited for Baldwin and Animir to weigh in.
“This is not up for discussion,” Piers growled, realizing immediately that holding a heavy hand over the others would be impossible. Cutting his eyes over at the girl, he said more softly, “Are you sure?”
Toying with her merdoe through the thin material of her silky undergarments, she hesitated. Staring, as if off into some distant place, she sighed, “I’m sure. Let us eat and rest, and we can pack when the sun is low. There will be almost no moon tonight, so we will want to be ready to leave before the last light is gone.”
“We have your light,” Bally pointed out with a laugh, holding his hand up and imitating the way she had held the goblins of the foreboding forest at bay.
“Oh,” she giggled, recalling the event as well. “Yes, we will have my light from the hamar gem if we need it.”
“Then we walk tonight,” the Mate agreed, handing her a portion of the dried meat and cheese. “Our food was wet by the deluge, so tonight will likely be our last meal of it. Perhaps moving on is best after all.”
Each locating a section of moist sand beneath the shade, they ate their food and then curled up for a nap. When they awoke, the sun had completed its journey and hung only half visible, the lower half hidden by the horizon.
Gathering their clothes, they dressed in optimistic silence, and the litters had both been rebuilt before the last of the light had disappeared. The last blanket soaked, their water hole still held a few inches, so they each scooped out a goblet and formed a ring around it to devour the last of their food.
“Who has the story?” Piers asked with warmth in his voice as he clung to their hope.
“Please, not a story,” Rey begged. “Can’t we just enjoy a single evening in one another’s company?”
Chuckling, the Mate stroked his beard, giving the younger man a twisted grin. “I suppose for a single evening, we can let it go.”
Allowing the silence, the group ate for several minutes before the ground around them began to boil as thousands of insects pushed their way to the surface and took flight. Pillars of tiny bodies formed clouds against the starry sky, and a moment later, they began to light up and blink wildly in a thick cloud around them.
Slapping at the swarm, Bally cried out, rolling on the ground. “Get them off!” he screamed.
“No, stop!” Amicia shouted, leaping to her feet. “You’re hurting them!”
Frozen in mid roll, he glared at her, “Hurting them?”
The rest of the group sat still, staring at the girl as she opened her hand flat, palm to the sky. A dancing ball of light landed upon it, a tiny body no more than half an inch tall, fluttering glowing wings.
“What the hell is that?” Rey gasped.
“It’s a desert fairy,” Ami breathed, smiling as she spoke to the miniscule creature. Blinking rapidly, she laughed. “They live here, beneath the sand, and enjoy the night after a rain,” she imparted to her friends. “Oh, yes,” she agreed, speaking to the fairy on her hand.
Nodding, the conversation seemed to take hours, but in fact only a minute or two passed before she had learned all that she needed, and the pair of wings fluttered to carry her informant away. Sinking back into her place in the sand, she watched around them as the flow diminished until it was gone. The dancing lights blinked all around, but their number grew thinner as the fairies disbursed to enjoy their single evening.
“Well?” Piers prodded.
“They will spend the night mating, tonight and maybe tomorrow if the moisture lasts. Then they will burrow beneath the sand to await the next rain,” she sighed.
“But that could be days or weeks from now,” Bally observed.
“Months or even years,” Amicia corrected, swiping at a tear. “What a beautiful life, living for a few moments in time.”
Shaking his head, the Mate chuckled, “I suppose you find it romantic.”
Snapping out of her trance, the girl stared at him, “What?”
“Forget it,” he smirked. “Did they share anything useful. You know, about the desert or the oasis that’s supposedly around here somewhere?”
“Oh, yes!” she exclaimed. “Whitefair. The city is to the north, and we should reach it tonight if we get moving, but there’s a problem,” she revealed, glancing between her comrades anxiously.
“So what’s the problem,” Rey scowled, aware that there always seemed to be one on their little holiday, as no event had ever gone completely according to plan.
“The oasis is filled with unsavory sorts of creatures. The desert fairy has warned of a collection of bones, where the bodies of those outcast by its inhabitants have been dumped over the years, and they are not given a proper burial. The people of Whitefair are savages, and apparently, they do not take kindly to strangers. The town is more like a trap than a haven,” she warned, her features drawn into an unhappy frown.
“Unsavory or not, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” the Mate informed them, rising to have a look around. “We need to be sure we have everything and get moving as soon as we can.”
Amicia had removed her braid after the deluge, and wild frizz stuck out around her head. “We should tie your hair up before we go,” Rey observed, patting it playfully.
“I thought you liked it down,” she giggled, pulling her mirror and brush out of her pack.
“I do, but this isn’t the time,” he informed her sternly. “We need to be comfortable to walk the last few miles, and having your hair flying around and distracting you won’t do.”
Sitting still, she allowed him to tame the curls and pull them into a tight bun at the base of her skull. Using her father’s mirror, she inspected his handy work. “Thank you, Rey,” she offered, pleased with the result.
“Don’t mention it,” he replied, getting to his feet with the others as they hoisted their litters and formed their line, headed north through the desert of Peaswan and towards the oasis of Whitefair.
Oasis of Whitefair
The night dark, the thin sliver of moon that eventually emerged did little to light their way. Off in the distance, to the north, a group of rocks jutted out from the surface and grew larger as they marched towards it.
“I think I see it,” the Mate announced when he felt certain his eyes did not deceive him.
“We should be careful,” Ami called, reminding him of the desert fairy’s warning.
“Aye,” he agreed in a quieter tone. The load heavy upon his shoulders, he kept the pace until the jagged stones were large enough to discern more clearly, then he stopped, calling everyone to form up.
“We need a plan,” he informed them as they gathered around, dropping their loads onto the soft earth. “To the east, this small gathering of hills tapers off. I think we should hide our supplies there before we enter the city. With nothing visible to steal, we will make less of a target.”
“Aye,” Rey agreed, helping himself to a swig of their water, then passing the waterskin to the others.
Accepting the drink, Amicia’s brow furrowed. “I have an ill feeling of this place. Perhaps a few of you should enter the town and scout ahead of us, maybe find a hiding place that we may slip into unseen,” she suggested, placing her hand on Zae’s shoulder to include her in the group needing protection from the unknown.
Exchanging glances, the men nodded, then the Mate replied, “Agreed. Let’s move to the trailing edge of the stones and get you hidden. Rey and I will venture in and prepare a place for us.” His eyes flicking over the horizon, he puckered his lips. “We’ll need gold or something of value to barter with.”
Producing her pouch of coins, Amicia recalled the day she had collected it in her parents’ cottage. Handing it to him, she sighed, “This was to buy my passage to the west.”
Bouncing the sack a few times, the pieces jingled. “Perhaps it will buy you sanctuary instead,” he mused, placing them
in his pocket and indicating the litters. “We need to get moving before the sun rises and we are seen.”
Resuming their single line, the group ambled across the sand, arriving at the line of boulders as the first streaks of pink decorated the sky. Choosing a pair that would provide a bit of shade, they studied the view of the city from that vantage point, discovering that there was none.
The tall rocks that lay between them and Whitefair obstructed their view, but the sound of the city coming to life was unmistakable as voices and other noises carried across the sand. “Build a small canopy to hold off the sun while I have a closer look,” Piers instructed, leaving the group while he slunk between the over-sized stones.
Dropping her pack, Amicia unpacked one of the litters to retrieve the poles. Balancing them against one of the rocks, she draped the quilt over and climbed inside, her companions joining her.
Sitting at the entrance, Rey waited for their leader’s return. When he came around from the opposite side from that which he left, the younger man leapt up to meet him. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” the Mate chuckled. “Just being sure I wasn’t followed. The two guys I saw are covered head to toe in some kind of wrap, maybe to protect them from the heat and sun. I think we can replicate it if we strip down one or two of these blankets and use a bit of the rope as a belt to hold it closed.”
Using Ami’s dagger, he cut the edge of one of the padded quilts, gently removing each of the small knots that kept it from bunching up with laundry and use. The front made of a colorful pattern and the back a plain dingy white, they wrapped themselves and placed a flap of the swath over their heads to act as a hood.
“How do I look?” Rey asked with a chuckle, feeling ridiculous.
“Like you might pass for a local,” the Mate informed him with a slap on the shoulder. “All right, we’re set. I’m taking what I can for trade, so wish us luck and stay out of sight. Animir, you and Bally are the girls’ only defense if you are discovered, so keep your swords handy and be ready should anyone get too close.”
“Aye,” Baldwin agreed, giving him a salute.
“I can fight, too,” Zaendra mumbled, clutching her staff as their leader turned to go.
Smiling down at her as he caressed her dark cheek, Piers confirmed, “Of course you can, but I wouldn’t want you to be hurt. If anyone comes, let the boys handle it, ok?”
Cutting her eyes up at him, she frowned while she nodded.
“Good lass,” he praised, patting her shoulder firmly.
Satisfied they would be hidden and as comfortable as they could be, Rey and Piers left the group and began the trek around. The rocks sticking up from the ground gave way to a massive barrier constructed from bricks formed with desert sand.
“This place has been here a while,” the Mate observed, dragging his fingers over the rough surface of the wall. “I wonder how we get in?”
“There must be a gate,” Rey surmised, indicating they should keep moving. “Unfortunately, that negates the probability of entering unseen. Someone is going to know we are here.”
“Aye,” the older man agreed, shading his eyes against the sun as he studied the barrier ahead of them. In the distance, he could make out the opening, as well as the men who appeared to be guarding the entrance. Adjusting the strap to his bag, he thought about the items he carried inside, things he hoped to trade for their safety.
“Hello,” he called as they got closer, waving at the pair of men who ambled back and forth across the entrance.
Placing his claymore against his shoulder, one of the men faced the seaman and scowled, “What right of passage have you here?”
“We are travelers,” the first mate replied calmly. “We’ve been told of this oasis and wish to replenish our stores before we travel north.”
“North,” the man grunted. “We don’t take in many strangers,” he informed them bluntly.
“We will trade for our supplies,” Piers insisted, opening his pack and producing one of the fine elven goblets. Holding it up and turning the cup made of gold, the jewels encrusted in the sides and base caught the morning light, creating a brilliant display.
The second man pushed his way in, reaching for the offering, but the Mate pulled it away. “For our passage.”
“Sure, come in,” the first man agreed, “but be warned. We deal harshly with rule breakers and thieves.”
“We’re not thieves,” Rey informed him tartly, adjusting his pack as he followed his superior through the gate and down the dusty path.
Inside, they cleared the gate and moved through the crowd. “Keep your head down,” the Mate instructed. “Don’t speak to anyone unless I say.”
Ahead, the path broke into different directions, lined with buildings formed from the same sandstones as the wall that surrounded the place. People moved all around them, about half of them covered head-to-toe in the same fashion as the two men who held the gate. Grinning to himself, the first mate felt certain they would blend in well enough with their disguises.
There were few windows in the structures that were topped with wood slat roofs, which hung over the sides one to two feet. Just below them, the walls did not meet them, leaving large gaps to aid in the circulation of the air inside.
Pushing forward, they entered the center of the city, and a natural spring bubbled from a stone pillar in the middle of a courtyard, reminding Rey of the elves and their fancy fountain. “That must be it,” he observed. Looking up, large wooden beams crossed the wide expanse, providing a degree of shade that lowered the temperature, while at the same time allowed in enough light to keep it well-lit in the bright sun.
“Aye,” the Mate agreed, pausing his step to also have a look around.
The buildings surrounding the spring all had wide windows that overlooked the area, one on each of the six sides. Each window had a covering made of dried reeds, held open by a long stick. Children laughed and played in the shadows, and large clay pots lined the walls, with women carrying in new ones and exchanging them at random intervals.
The fountain itself was guarded by a second pair of men, who stood watch as more women filled the clay vessels and lined them up to await their exchange. “It’s all very organized,” he observed, indicating for the other man to follow as he fell into step behind one of the women, this one dressed in a simple dress, rather than the head-to-toe robe.
Her long dark hair bleached by the sun, lighter sections caught the rays and glowed with a red hue. Her skirt a bright orange contrasting against her green top, it swished as she walked, her bare feet silent as they made contact with the soft earth. The jug balanced on her shoulder, she probably had made the same journey every day of her life by the look of her.
Admiring the sway of her hips, Piers grinned at the seductive attitude in her strut before a man tumbled in front of her. Catching her as she lost her balance, his hands landed on her waist, keeping her on her feet as Rey helped her secure the unbalanced load.
“Easy, girl,” the Mate soothed, the two who had brought the disruption rolling around in the sand and exchanging punches before a third stepped in and separated them.
“There’ll be no fighting here!” the one in charge bellowed, grasping one of the lawbreakers by the scruff of his neck and dragging him to his feet. Giving him a shove back down the path they had entered by, the other brawler stumbled along after, holding back the flow of blood from his brow with the palm of his hand.
“Rough place,” Rey observed.
“Aye,” the Mate agreed, turning his attention to the woman, who gazed up at him with large brown eyes accented with flecks of green. Caught in the moment with her, he bowed, offering his name, “Piers Massheby, ma’am.”
“So I see,” she breathed, her chest rising and falling as she panted heavily. “New to Whitefair?”
“Passing through,” he offered, giving her his best smile. “Only just arrived and looking for a place to stay for a day while we prepare to head north.”
“
North,” she echoed, her features scrunched and hinting at her years with fine lines around her eyes.
“Aye,” he laughed. “Would you know of a bed and breakfast we might rent for the night?”
Breaking their connection, her hair floated as she turned away, searching for her canister that Rey had relieved her from. Seeing him holding it patiently as she had done, she stared up into his clear hazel orbs. “You are men,” she breathed.
“That’s the general idea,” the Mate chortled quietly, surprised by her reaction.
“No, men,” she repeated, then clarified, “mortals of the rim.”
“Ah, yes, we are that as well,” he confirmed, his hand grasping a few strands of her hair and pulling at the curl of them.
Staring at him, Rey could not believe how easily the other man appeared to be toying with her, almost certain he would have her into a bed before the sun had set. “I can carry the water if you’d like to lead the way,” he offered, feeling as if the couple had forgotten he even existed as they shared their connection.
“Yes, of course,” she snapped out of her trance. Standing straighter, she grinned, “I’m Meena. Meena Gavaan,” she supplied, offering her hand.
Giving it a firm shake, the Mate smiled with all his charm, holding the appendage for a moment before raising it to his lips to plant a gentle kiss upon it.
Clearing his throat, Rey adjusted his load, again interrupting their connection.
“Please,” Meena said with a smile, “this way.” Pushing past the two men, she continued her stride down the narrow road until she arrived at a set of stone steps carved into rock that formed the wall of one of the houses.
Following her up to the landing above, they arrived at a patio covered by another section of bound reeds that held out the sun. Beneath it, a table with four chairs stood in the center. Around the outside, a short wall held a long bench on the far side, with small potted plants hanging over the edges and lining the other.
Journey of Darkness Page 11
