Under the desert stars.
Traveling east, the caravan reaches the desert around dusk. The decision is to press on, traveling at night to reach the first oasis before dawn and the desert heat. Fiamma has already found the travel from the bandit stronghold to have featured oppressive heat thus far, so Shadya has found spare clothing and opportunity to introduce the small bard to a lesson in desert garb: wear full, loose layers and cover well. The traditional turban and face veil of Shadya's people does serve its purpose to fend off sunburn and sand-in-the-lungs as well as conserving body moisture.
Several hours from the oasis, Fiamma notices a peculiar flumping sound. Periodic sand flurries are spotted along a line of travel that is likely to intersect behind the caravan's path. Shadya recommends an increase in speed to insure a reasonable distance between the sandworm (as she assumes the under-desert traveler to be; the "flumping" is it "porpoising") and the caravan. She and Fiamma take the rear guard to observe whether it changes speed or direction in response to the caravan's movements and Shadya recalls for Fiamma's benefit some tales of how sandworms may be fought.
Not long after the assumed sandworm has passed, there is a considerable disturbance in the front of the caravan. Shadya presses her horse forward and, observing two large humanoid creatures that apparently popped out of the sand in front of the caravan, draws her bow and wounds one with an arrow. As others of the guard enter the fray, she exchanges bow for
Meanwhile Fiamma's chant of "worm destroyer" inspires others of the guard. On e drives a lance into the second ogre. Enraged, the ogre lashes out and wrenches its attacker from his saddle. Shadya turns her blades onto the second ogre, but it maintains its attention on the downed lancer. Critically wounded, the lancer no longer fights back, but Shadya and the others manage to kill the ogre.
The caravan has no cleric or healer, so they patch up the lancer and Shadya as best they can and prepare to move on. Fiamma notices a glint of white in one of the footprints and, reaching down to retrieve it, discovers a groggy Orlando. The miniature warrior had, in fact, managed to almost ham-string the first ogre before it stepped on him.
The Pool of the Sky reflected pink when the weary caravan finally came to rejoice in the coolness of the Oasis of Al Haud. Seeing the lancer and Orlando made as comfortable as possible, Shadya ordered the watering of animals and the setting of watches. Uncomfortable from her own wound, the warrior chose first watch herself and Fiamma opted to join her.
In appreciation of the place, Fiamma played her violin: a lullaby of shade and sweet water. Suddenly, Shadya saw a woman coming through the trees, incredibly beautiful and smiling sweetly. Approaching the warrior she noticed the obvious: "You're wounded!" The Lady offered to help and Shadya accepted ... and noticed chiefly that, as the Lady gestured, the pain slipped away and left a feeling as of a cool drink and a relaxing soak in the bath.
Grateful, Shadya begged The Lady's help for her wounded comrades. The Lady consented - as long as they were asleep. Moving quietly, the warrior led her benefactress to the others and watched as The Lady seemed to wash away the lancer's wounds. Though Orlando had not complained, Shadya felt sure that he too was wounded; she lifted the front of his little tent for The Lady's benefit. Seemingly surprised at his size, The Lady commented on his handsomeness and learned from Shadya of his enchantment.
Healing completed, The Lady required silence from Shadya on The Lady's help and existence. She requested, too, that Fiamma play whenever she came to this oasis.
Their watch over, Shadya checked the wicked mage's bonds. Then she wrapped herself in her sleeping robes. That night both Fiamma and Shadya Dreamed.
Fiamma dreamt that she was back in Harvey's House of Horses looking for something, trying to remember what Harvey had told her about a specific something. She discovers that she is not at Harvey's but in another - and completely strange - city entirely. She deduces that she is with Harvey's brother Harry, but learns no more than that.
Shadya dreamt that the stars overhead called her this night even more strongly than has been their wont. The South Star felt cool; all know that it gets cooler the more southward you travel. The West Star emitted a musty, spicey, old smell. The North Star exuded a feeling of regret and forgetfulness - possibly as of pain forgotten. The East Star, brighter and more beautiful than its fellows, pulsed with something akin to battle fever but less intense and more exciting than true battle.
Waking in the evening, Shadya talks over the travel plans with Sahm al Shaddah, noting that the mountain city of Aw'wal is far less than a day away and certainly to be considered in the need to divest the caravan of its dangerous captive wizard. The caravan master chooses to make the detour, sending two of his dwindling guard ahead to acquaint the city of their advance.
The way to Aw'wal is steep and Fiamma is perplexed at the varied terrain that makes up this desert, to Shadya's faint amusement. Even more amazement faces the small bard when she sees Aw'wal itself. Perched on a lofty crag, the city - old past memory - seems to be a ship in the air, its sails the immense shells that provide the air-cooling wind-scoops that air condition all the cities of the desert. Aw'wal is surrounded by a steep slope, a "moat" tiled with pieces of the same opalescent material that the "sails" are made of. Tales tell that this is what remains of an earlier version of the city which was attacked by a dragon - or was it an army? Or both? Contradictory tales tell that this area was once rich in shells. A seer warned the city to use the material to fortify itself - against what is not known.
The contents of this site are copyright 2004 Sheryl A. Knowles unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.