by Blink, Bob
“We explained what we have found. A number of wizards wanted to come back, but it was decided to limited the number of us we expose the guy to just yet. At some point he might become uncomfortable if he realizes how many of us there are. Lorl is arranging for more supplies and a large number of waterskins. I’m hoping we can arrange to travel with the Dunerider when he leaves.”
“Dunerider?” Ash’urn asked.
“Just a name I’ve been using to identify him until we learn more.”
Ash’urn smiled and added the name alongside a sketch in his journal.
“I don’t think he will be going anywhere until tomorrow. I’d guess he intends to work straight through the night. He still has a lot of bones to boil.”
Ash’urn guessed correctly, and it was midmorning before the last of the bones were pulled from the water. Lorl had returned before dark with the supplies, and they now had water skins that would give them four or five days of water, plus sufficient food for even longer. Several additional attempts at conversation had failed, and Rigo was beginning to think they might have to simply follow after the Dunerider when he left rather than arranging to travel with him.
As the last set of bones were laid out to cool, the Dunerider somehow extinguished the “fire” from the crystals, then pulled them out of the pit and placed them back in one of his bags. They were much duller than they had been when he’d placed them in the pit, and it was very clear that the crystals were a storage cell of some kind. From the way the Hoplani had died when the crystal had been cut away, Rigo wondered if that was what provided the energy to the beasts. They had never seemed to tire, never seemed to eat, not that there was much in the Ruins for food, and they left behind no wastes. Perhaps the crystals provided their energy that was somehow recharged by the Ruins directly.
“We’ve seen them eat bison and other animals in the Three Kingdoms,” Ash’urn argued.
“That is when they have left the Ruins. Perhaps once they are out of the Ruins the crystals can no longer be recharged and they have to revert to the more typical means of getting their energy.”
There was little point in speculation at this point. They had learned that anything that removed or destroyed the crystals would kill the Hoplani. Rigo wondered if the same was true of the larger cousin, the Morvane. He had passed along the idea while he’d been back at the Outpost, and Nycoh and others were thinking of ways to attack the crystal hoping to find a better way to bring the beasts down. Rigo had also told them about the bone knives and how they would easily penetrate the skin of the Hoplani.
They had watched as the Dunerider finished packing, then wandered out toward the edge of the oasis and emitted a shrill shriek, which brought the three remaining Hoplani hurrying back to him. he loaded up the first of the now heavy bags onto one of the pack animals.
“Time to do your stuff,” Rigo said to Ash’urn.
Rigo wasn’t hopeful that any real communication would be possible and was therefore very surprised when Ash’urn somehow, using hand gestures and a lot of pointing, managed to get across the idea of the four humans traveling along with the Dunerider. Rigo had hoped they could throw their supplies onto one of the docile Hoplani, then walk alongside. The Dunerider had other ideas. Once he understood their intent, he removed the bags from one of the Hoplani, and heavily loaded just one. He gestured they should place their own supplies on the same beast, which was now impossibly loaded down. Then he indicated that two each were to ride aboard the remaining Hoplani. It was clear that he intended to walk alongside rather than ride.
Rigo attempted to indicate they would walk, but the Dunerider wasn’t having any of it. He indicated very forcefully they were to ride, and finally Rigo acquiesced. He didn’t want to risk the Dunerider changing his mind about them traveling along with him.
The four humans approached the dangerous Hoplani with a certain unease. Rigo and Orna, who both carried one of the staffs, were ready if necessary to call upon Brightfire if required. They would deal with the reaction to their destruction of one or more of the beasts afterwards. The Hoplani were no more comfortable with the strange humans than the humans were with them. They shuffled and appeared agitated, until the Dunerider walked over to each and rubbed their heads, lowly muttering screeching sounds that Ash’urn found hard to imagine being comforting. Nonetheless, it worked, and the beasts settled down, and allowed the humans to mount without further problems.
Almost before they knew it, they were off, leaving behind the green oasis that had been their base for many days. Before long they realized that the Hoplani were the perfect creatures for getting around in the Ruins. They required no food or water. They never seemed to tire. Also, they could cover in two days, what it would have taken three had they been walking. Rigo felt bad about the Dunerider, whose ride they had appropriated, but neither he nor the third Hoplani which appeared to be far overburdened, showed any signs of becoming tired in the following days, nor of having trouble keeping up.
They had been able to bring considerably more in the way of food and water than they would have been able to carry had they been forced to haul it themselves. Also, because they were riding, their demand for water was far less than when they had been walking through the hostile environment that was the Ruins. They were therefore supplied for an extended journey. This was fortunate as the Dunerider moved steadily, without seemingly needing to rest. Given the improved speed, and the fact they didn’t stop at night, they quickly covered vast distances. Once they encountered a small herd of Hoplani headed west, but it passed off to one side without paying them any attention. Whatever means the Dunerider used to influence the normally dangerous creatures, seemed to work at a distance. Either that, or the fact the Hoplani they were riding had accepted them somehow influenced the others. Rigo could detect no communication between the creatures, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t any.
Twice they encountered fields of the sharp spikes. The Hoplani and the Dunerider continued on into the fields without slowing. It appeared to Rigo that the spikes withdrew into the soil as the Hoplani approached. In those cases where the spikes were slow to do so, the feet of the beasts interacted in some way to cause the pointed crystals to melt away nearly instantly, leaving behind a discolored patch where they had been. Looking back the way their small caravan had passed, Rigo could see a barren patch through the previously dangerous patch. He could imagine how it would look if a good sized herd of the Hoplani ran through. While he had little effect on the spikes, the Dunerider seemed to move through them without slowing, unerringly placing his feet between the sharp protrusions.
They took turns sleeping as they rode, making sure that one of their number on each of the Hoplani was awake to watch over the other and to monitor their progress. They had no way to communicate their desire to sleep to the Dunerider, and had no way of knowing whether he would honor a request that would delay them. None would have elected to sleep out here in the Ruins anyway, and were they to transfer back to the oasis for a break, they couldn’t be sure the Dunerider and his Hoplani would be here when they returned.
As the second day of travel approached, Orna shouted to Rigo, “We are approaching the limit we can make a Bypass back to the oasis.”
Rigo had been having similar thoughts. He had checked frequently using the staff, which was able to indicate whether a Bypass to an envisioned location was possible even without actually opening the portal. Thus far he could have done so, but two days of constant travel on the Hoplani was approaching six days of their walking, which had been the limit. They were still in a dead zone, so they had to make some decisions. He was able to communicate their desire to stop for a moment to the Dunerider. This was something they had worked out when they needed to answer nature’s call, or to access their supplies on the third Hoplani. The Dunerider had stoically accepted their needs, despite showing none himself. Once when they had stopped to get something to eat, the little man had pulled a small black strip of something from a pouch on his belt that
he placed in his mouth. That was the closest they had seen to him eating, and thus far they had never seen him drink anything.
“If we continue on, we won’t be able to get back,” Lorl said as they gathered together to discuss the situation.
“There is supposed to be another oasis ahead,” Ash’urn said. He had brought a small branch with him, and he’d waved it at the Dunerider and pointed in the direction they were heading. They had received what appeared to be a positive response, but perhaps he was merely mimicking their own motions without understanding. Even if he was correctly responding to the question, it was anyone’s guess how far that might be.
“We can continue another couple of glass,” Orna guestimated. “If we don’t see anything by then, we could hike back before dark and still make the transition back. If we wait any longer than that, we will exceed the Bypass range.”
“It would still be possible to make a Bypass to a closer point, which would then put us in range,” Rigo said slowly, thinking about the situation.
“That would mean making a Bypass that violates Ash’urn’s restrictions,” Orna said. “Both ends would be in the dead zone.”
“We don’t actually know that would be a problem,” Rigo countered. “I’ve been taking Ash’urn’s comments as more of a warning that we don’t know what might happen. It might be it’s time to test his theory.”
“I don’t think it would be wise,” the elder scholar said, shaking his head, his eyes showing stern disapproval.
Rigo considered. If they could reach another oasis, then past experience suggested they would be able to make a Bypass back to the oasis they had left behind. The problem they faced was not knowing how much farther they had to travel before reaching one, assuming their guide had understood their question. Given the fact his saviors so long ago had known he, Burke and Tara had needed to get to such a place, Rigo was willing to believe this Dunerider was aware of the fact as well. Could they risk traveling very far from a safe jumping point? He couldn’t help remembering the last time he had gambled out here and jumped into the Ruins without sufficient care. That had left his party on the far side of the chasm and had almost gotten him killed. He wished he knew if Ash’urn’s concern was simply caution, or whether there was a real danger in making the dead zone Bypass. If they left the Dunerider now, they might never get another chance like this.
“I’m going on,” Rigo said suddenly, not sure what had decided him.
“That doesn’t seem wise,” Orna objected.
“It’s a risk,” Rigo admitted. “I think it’s a chance that needs to be taken. I want the rest of you to go back to the oasis and from there back to the Outpost. You can tell them what we have learned, and make sure a few others are able to make the transition to that point. We don’t want to lose what has been so painfully gained. It’s also important that at least one of the staffs be retained. If both are risked and lost, there will be no other chance for someone to follow. If this guy doesn’t get me somewhere in a couple of days, I’ll gamble and see if I can get back.”
They argued the merits of his choice for some time. Rigo knew it was a risky decision he had made, and perhaps foolish, but he also felt that this might be the only chance to find the answers they needed. In the end, he made it clear he wouldn’t be dissuaded from his decision. The Ruins had stopped him before. It wasn’t going to happen again, despite the risk.
“I’m going along with you,” Ash’urn said finally.
Rigo told him “no” in the strongest of terms, but Ash’urn was equally adamant.
“I came knowing the risks,” he said. “I will not allow you to go on alone. I am best at communicating with our guide, and you might need help that he won’t understand.”
Finally, the decision was made. Orna and Lorl would travel back. Rigo and Ash’urn would go on. If another oasis was reached, Rigo and Ash’urn would make a return to the Outpost and the team would join up once again. With mixed feelings, Rigo and Ash’urn watched as their two friends disappeared into the Bypass arch, which closed behind them a few moments later.
“You should have gone,” Rigo said to the elder scholar.
“So should have you, I suspect. I understand why you are willing to go on. The towers back home are going to fail before much longer. If we don’t find an answer soon, it will be too late. Queen Mos’pera had been quite insistent that her vision shows a real future.”
Rigo looked at Ash’urn, then fixed the location of this place in his mind. If they had to jump back, this is where he would come. It would put them within range of the oasis. Then they climbed onto the back of one of the Hoplani. The Dunerider, seeing that the others would no longer accompany them, climbed onto the back of the animal he had been riding when they first saw him. Rigo was somewhat amused that he could now distinguish the individual beasts from one another. Then they headed off once again.
Two days later they were still traveling, and Rigo had had plenty of time to wonder and worry whether he had been foolish once again. Before much longer they would have no choice. They would have to gamble on making the return to the oasis. Their food was getting low, as was their water. From this point they could get back with a single double dead zone jump, but if they waited much longer, two of the jumps that Ash’urn feared would be required to get within reach of the oasis, now many days walking behind them.
It was nearing midday when their guide let out a series of loud screeches and as they crested a small hilly dune, they were relieved to see they had reached their destination. In the distance they could see a number of small rounded structures with many Duneriders working in and around them. Hoplani, and even a few Morvane, could be seen in the village ahead, all acting docile like the ones they were riding. Off to their right, in the distance, Rigo could see a large herd of at least a thousand Hoplani heading off toward the west, probably beginning the long journey that would eventually bring them to the Three Kingdoms. More importantly, not too far ahead and to the left, was a welcoming green patch that signified another oasis. It was nowhere near as large as Oasis Three they had left behind, but if conditions proved as they had come to expect, they now had a safe route back to the other oasis, or back to the Outpost which was more important. Rigo looked at Ash’urn and grinned. He was met by the relieved smile of the other in return.
Instead of angling toward the oasis, their guide led them directly into the middle of the small village. Their arrival was met with more of the odd speech, and Rigo sensed not everyone was as comfortable with their presence as their guide had been. Nonetheless, no one took any action, each individual returning to whatever task he had been pursuing as they passed. Rigo noted that all of the inhabitants looked much the same. All looked to be male, although he had to admit he wouldn’t know how to distinguish a female unless there were obvious differences, but he also noted there were no children in evidence. He finally decided the women and children must be underground, as the structure he had taken for homes were clearly too small and were entrances to what had to be underground dwellings. They finally stopped in front of one of the huts, which appeared no different to Rigo’s eyes than any of the others. One of the Duneriders came out, looked them over, and engaged their guide in a long exchange. Apparently satisfied, he gave them another look, and walked back inside. Their guide, then turned them around, and led them back to the small oasis, where he dropped them off with their supplies, before wandering off to whatever tasks he had waiting.
“There is very little water here,” Ash’urn said after they had explored the extent of the small oasis. “Clearly there is not enough for this many individuals.”
They had guestimated that fifty of the males were present, and assumed an equal number of females must be around somewhere, with an unknown number of children.
“They don’t use much water,” Rigo reminded Ash’urn.
“How can that be?” the scholar replied, but admitting he had never witnessed the Dunerider having taken a drink.
“I don’t know,
” Rigo replied, but he was starting to wonder if the reason the Dunerider had been at the other oasis was because he needed the water to treat the bones and there simply wasn’t enough here.
“Do we look around, or go back and report first?” Ash’urn asked.
“I think we need to report back first. We can bring some of the others here to help, and to make sure that they know of this place so they can come directly here. I doubt anyone will be able to duplicate our journey again.”
Rigo prepared to make the Bypass back to the Outpost, when he frowned. “That’s odd,” he said.
“What’s odd?” Ash’urn said, having picked up on Rigo’s comment.
“I can’t make a Bypass back to the Outpost.”
“What about back to Oasis Three?” Ash’urn asked, suddenly concerned.
“That works,” Rigo answered. “We can get home, but it’ll have to be a double hop. Something has changed. We’ve always been able to jump back to the Outpost from any of the oases we found. Not here.”
Rigo opened the Bypass, and they returned to the earlier oasis that had been their home for a while, and then opened a second Bypass that took them home to the Outpost. There they looked up Nycoh, to find her and a very worried Jeen deep in discussion.
Chapter 20
“What in Riso’s name is the matter with you?” Nycoh stormed after the initial shock of seeing Rigo and Ash’urn suddenly appear in her office.
Rigo could sense relief mixed with anger in her voice.
“We had no choice,” he replied lamely.
“We were beginning to suspect you were lost once again. Wasn’t the first time enough for you?”
“There were options for getting back,” Rigo said defensively. “I decided the risk was worth it.”
