Previous chapter of BloodInTheSands, TheSand
Leaving Lie'lm (Lielm) felt like a taste of freedom, so we rode through the night to ensure that we would be free of the city. Just after dawn we needed to rest and recover from the wounds we had taken on the Sands. After some discussion we determined that Cire would be our spokes person and that we would be her servants and companions. With luck this arrangement would quell any strong suspicions that our group would create. We stayed the day and the evening at roadside inn, that was as much a fortress as an inn.
Our master had equiped us well, both with money and equipment. Among the gear was climbing gear, food and camping supplies. Apparently the master did not want us to fail, the blood price was too steep. For the first three days we moved south running from our prison as if we were free.
It soon became apparent that we were being pulled south, compelled by a force inside us. Even out here we have become aware of each other, there are three constants in mind, Cire, Telal and our quarry. The power of the sands draws us relentlessly south, as soon as we stray to far from the most direct path to our prey our bodies betray us. The discomfort is difficult to over come and can lead to unconsciousness. The Ji'ravja'vami drifts west on its way south, the further west we went the greater the pressure grew.
Cire remembers little between her capture and the time we met in Ra'the's stable. She is timid and unsure of herself, looking to find the path of least resistance. When needed she can become strong, and this journey only hardened her. Telal has lead a sheltered life of ideas and hope. He appears to be slow to react, until his training takes hold, he has gifts that would impress any warrior and Pamoori. Each step of the journey would test us.
On the tenth day south we past a slave caravan moving north. The fifty slaves were guarded by 20 men and lead by a Sja'ji'am. Telal recognized one of his order in the line of slaves. Cire was recognized by some of the guards, they whispered "that's the one" and "the one we couldn't touch". Once the guards recongnised us the Sja'ji'am approached us. His shadow moved and swept over ours. I suddenly felt cold, but the Sja'ji'am recoiled and his black eyes showed a hint of confusion. However, his shadow returned and with effort he read us. Once his shadow retreated he said "Kagnoi, spat with disgust and left. The caravan shuffled north once again.
Telal has horrified that Curan was captured and his natural instinct was to save him from slavery. However, the power of sand warred with his desire to rescue Curan. The pull was too great and we turned south once again. As we rode Telal tried hard to convince himself that leaving Curan was the right choice. I don't believe that we had a choice, no matter how much I wanted to test myself against the power of The Sand. Telal prevent me from experiencing the shame of defeat.
The river drifted too far west and the pull of the Sand was too great Cira fell unconcious, I was unable to ride. Only Telal's strength lead us around the bend of the river. We knew that we needed to cross the river. We came across a small town that had a ferry crossing. The town had no name although we were told by the brewer that we crossing from the East'af to the West'af. The people react as all do with strangers, a mix of fear, suspicion and greed. Well a keg of beer and far too much money Ja'qi brought us safely over the river. We were all glad that we were across.
Thirteen days out of Lie'lm and a day after the ferry we came across an old battle field. Fifty or so corpses litter the hollow and all the bodies belong to scouts of Alm Emajal. This is a clear warning that we are entering a warzone to the south. This will make our task that much more difficult. We left the bodies to the dogs and crows as Chal had already stolen their spirits.
A day later we were suddenly attacked by a vicious group of wild dogs. They had no reason to attack, perhaps there was some other power at work. As they came Cira turned to flee, I dismounted and Telal rode forward and with a gesture the earth sprouted thorns and weeds that entangled the dogs and held them in place. Without his gift we would have been easily overwhelmed. Once flight was not a option Cira fought bravely, Telal held the dogs at bay and my spear was covered in blood. Once the pack leader died the dog's courage disappeared and fight was over.
Nineteen days out of Lie'lm we encounter a small pack of the dogs scratching furiously in a small hollow. Curious we approached and the dogs fled as we expected. There was a hole in the earth and beneath the hole was a crack in stone. Along the edge of the crack were words written in relief. Telal and Cira continued digging where the dogs had left off. I prepared a camp for the night. The crack widened at one end, before nightfall Cira and Telal discovered that there was chamber under the stone. We camped for the night.
The next morning we continued to dig, we needed a diversion from the complusion to move south, something to stop the sense that we were still slaves.
After much effort and several hours after noon we had created a large enough hole to climb through. As we prepared to investigate we noticed that we were surrounded by at least a hundred dogs. Oddly the horses ignored the dogs and were focused on the hole in the ground.
Cira volunteered to enter the pit. Telal provided the support in surreal light and strength. With Cira on one end of the rope and Telal on the other Cira lowered herself onto the sarcophacus. The area around sarcophacus was covered in bleached white bones and water. Cira used her acrobatic skills to avoid the bones and water. After some delicate maneuvering and brute strength we lifted the lid. Once the lid was off Cira scurried to the surface. Below we heard scraping, movement and footsteps. Within a few minutes a huge man crawled out of the pit. He stood for several moments face and arms raised to the sun. The white hair turned black, the blackened skin gained a natural hue and the blue eyes became bright. He howled, the dogs and the horses called back. He step up to the horses appeared to talk to them and then ran north followed by a pack of a hundred dogs. We stood there stunned.
The cavern was filled with images and writting that not even Telal was able to understand. Lying in the pit was a black staff and black bag. The bones were gone and the water was a thick chaulky substance. Once the staff was exposed to the light it changed to look more like a natural wood. I believe the Ashani led us to this place, to give us hope. I don't know why else we should have found this crack in the ground. When Cira entered the pit, she felt alive, healthy and free. The connection between us was gone while she was in the pit and she no longer felt the compulsion of the sand. This gives me hope, because there are powers in this world that are stronger than the sand. So I clung to the hope that the Ashani can free us. On one hand we are driven south as slaves and one the other we run towards our possible salvation.
Next chapter TheRiverCrossing