|
Post by jessimyre on Oct 7, 2007 19:29:29 GMT -5
Very shortly, they were seated in a quiet area of the Oasis, within the protection of the warriors on duty for the night. A hot, steaming meal was set out before them and the Tsai woman who served them left with a smile to continue her duties. Amos watched Daniel as he began to eat.
"May I ask, who was that man? Is he somebody we need to make the family aware of?" he asked gently.
***
Trista fell into a sleep fairly quickly, one hand resting on a concealed dagger beneith her silken pillow. Morning would bring danger and excitement, she needed her rest.
|
|
|
Post by twilightblade on Oct 8, 2007 18:44:54 GMT -5
Daniel froze, hesitating for a moment, then swallowed his bite. His eyes met Amos' calmly...mayhap too calmly. They held almost no expression. "It would do well. Especially to guard those among you who are young and good of feature." He took another bite. "They will not stop because of the shaman."
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Oct 8, 2007 20:43:14 GMT -5
Amos pondered Daniel's answer and strangly blank face. Wondering what was meant by the comments. It was clear his friend was highly uncomfortable. He finished his meal, bade Daniel a good night and went to the nearest Tsai warrior on duty. He passed on Daniel's warning and retired to his bed.
|
|
|
Post by blossom on Oct 9, 2007 11:45:48 GMT -5
"That was yummy!" Yasmin announced cheerily a little while later, as Roze carried her back to their tent. The little girl had her thin arms wrapped around her sister's neck and her curly head rested sleepily on Roze's shoulder.
"Yes it was," Roze agreed with a smile. She felt very heavy and bloated after such a large meal (though in comparison with a truly large meal it had been somewhat small, it had been big to them), but her hunger was satisfied as it hadn't been for many, many years.
"Amos is nice ..." Yasmin yawned.
"Yes, he is."
By this time they had reached the tent. Awkwardly balancing Yasmin on one hip, Roze pulled the flap aside and ducked in. Compared to the sweltering heat of the inn their home held little warmth, but the nights were particularly cold yet, and so they managed.
Yasmin was already asleep even as Roze laid her down on the sleeping mat they shared and pulled the covers over her. There was another sleeping mat, but it had been their mothers and somehow it still made her sad to sleep there.
Before she slid in beside her sister, Roze slipped her bracelets and anklets off, and placed them tenderly in a small jewellery box she kept stowed away. It was another keepsake of their mother's, and had been their grandmother's before that. It was the one thing they refused to sell, no matter what. She hesistated, then also placed the change from Amos' gold coin in beside her jewellery.
Wrapping the box lovingly in her headscarf, she rehid it in her mother's sleeping mat and then snuggled up beside her sister and succumbed to tiredness.
|
|
|
Post by twilightblade on Oct 9, 2007 16:16:37 GMT -5
Daniel sat staring out into the darkness for a long time after Amos left, remembering. It had been years since that night when his world was destroyed, and now it was coming back to haunt him once more. That man...
He wasn't sure which of them the man had been, but it was certain he knew who Daniel was. He shivered, glancing back over his shoulder at the peaceful lights and fires of the Tsai camp. If it was them... He shivered again and rose to search out the mare. He would keep her near tonight, as she had better ears than he, and be on the alert. It would not do to be taken unawares by them.
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Oct 9, 2007 18:09:23 GMT -5
In the earliest hours of the morning, just as the sky was changing to a lighter hue and the stars beginning to fade, Trista led her band silently into the Oasis. The place looked deserted, not one person up and about yet. Just the way she liked it. This was the part of the night that people slept the deepest and were less aware. Just before awakening.
A shadow detached itself from its hiding place by the tavern and hurried to his mistress. Trista received the man silently. He whispered in her ear, even now afraid to get too close to his evil leader.
"Found a few good 'uns." He told her, "Plenty of nice young kiddies and a few pretty girls." he told her, "The lads followed 'em home." he indicated several more shadows approaching the group. Each approaching man, and those with Trista were silent, on foot in the sand and they all carried a poison pack, several tiny darts and a blowgun. Their horses awaited them a little distance away for a fast escape.
Trista nodded to her companions.
"You know what to do."
Silently, they all spread out.
The hunt was fast, effective and fruitful. Well prepared and knowing the locations of their captives through careful observation the evening before, the slavers were in and out fast, darting each captive and anyone close by to them to prevent any alarm being sounded.
So good were they at their job they were soon back at the horses under cover of the slowly lifting darkness. Limp bodies, mostly children, were thrown over the horse's saddles and their captors were soon up behind them. The darts contained a powerful sleeping potion. Nobody would know until it was hours too late and the shifting sands of the desert had masked their tracks.
This is how they had never been followed, never been caught or even suspected. Rumours spread of evil spirits, or dragons taking the children. They were never suspected nor recognised.
Trista alone was the only one not taking a child. That was the job of her subservients. Watching the last of her men hurrying back to the horses she returned with them. A job well done. Silent, undetected and by the looks of things, a good haul. Trista mounted her horse, a sandy coloured gelding and rode back toward her group.
As she passed the tavern, a small curly haired child ran out in front of the animal. The horse jumped in surprise and Trista brought him to a halt. The curly haired mite stopped and stared up at Trista for a moment, the impish smile dying on her face. The little girl dropped the carven wooden bowl she was carrying as Trista leapt off her horse. With quick practise, Trista darted the child, it screamed.
*****
Amos started awake as a child's terrified scream rent the air. It stopped abruptly and he ran, stumbling out of his sleeping area, looking around wildly for the source of the noise. Then he heard hoofbeats of several galloping horses and ran to follow the sound. As he approached the main road through the Oasis he saw the rapidly vanishing group of horsemen racing away over the dunes.
He stared around wildly as people around him began to stir. A woman screamed and came running out of the little tent nearby, "Aloua! Aloua!" she sobbed and Amos knew she was calling for her child. More cries and screams rent the air. Somewhere nearby a child was begging her father to wake up in a half frenzied voice.
At Amos's feet, a little wooden bowl containing a coin was lying forlornly in the sand. As he bent to pick it up, he thought of Yasmin.
****
|
|
|
Post by blossom on Oct 10, 2007 10:58:56 GMT -5
Roze jerked violently awake as a terrified scream filled the oasis and penetrated her dark, dreamless sleep. She looked about her sleepily, as the realisation slowly dawned that the scream had been a child's, high and frightened ... and familiar. The rising, panicked voices from outside her tent told her more people had been taken, and a bubble of terror swelled within her.
Barely breathing, she looked down and saw with numb, frozen insides that the other half of the sleeping mat was empty, the covers flung back by a child eager to be up. Looking up again, she saw their box with all their treasures lay, uncovered and open in the sand. One of the coins was missing. Roze shook her head in dumb disbelief. "Yasmin ...?" she whispered hoarsely, but the child didn't appear.
"Yasmin!" she called more loudly. Her sister didn't come, or reply.
Suddenly, the bubble inside her burst and wild panic surged through her veins. Violently she threw the covers off and scrambled up, stumbling almost falling in her haste. Without pause to grab her scarves or jewellery she ripped the tent back and pushed out into the swelling crowd.
"Yasmin!" she screamed, voice high pitched and strained with anxiety, "Yasmin!"
Frantic, she shoved through the crowds of people sobbing and crying for their children, her pitifully weak arms meaning it was slow going. She could see the glimmer of the waters as she looked desperately around, but no Yasmin.
"Yasmin!" She dived towards every curly head she saw, but none were her sister. Numb despair overwhelmed her as she started to realise Yasmin was gone. She glanced round one last time, hoping to see the familiar sight of the curly haired child running to her, but there was nothing.
Heartbroken, Roze collapsed onto her knees and began to sob uncontrollably.
****
The anguished screams and cries of the oasis dwellers woke Vrej. Annoyed, he pushed himself into a sitting position and blearily rubbed the last of the sleep from his eyes before glancing over at the shimmering water of the Oasis with contempt.
So more had been taken. Not very surprising; it wouldn't stop until the frightened, supersitious oasis dwellers admitted it wasn't dragons or spirits but people, actual raiders, and did something about it.
Not that they could do much. Vrej knew it was Trista's lot who conducted the raids, and he doubted a bunch of malnourished fortune tellers could take them on. Trista was heartless and ruthless, and her followers little better. Vrej had never met so cold hearted a killer, and some level her seeming lack of emotion disgusted him, but she kept him challenged and interested, and to Vrej that was all that really mattered.
Speaking of which, he was bored. He hadn't heard anything for days now - so it was time to go looking for himself. He quickly broke off a slice of bread to chew on while he rolled up his things and repacked them in his stallion's saddlebags.
Then, still eating, he swung himself onto the black's back, and started off across the sands.
|
|
|
Post by twilightblade on Oct 10, 2007 17:11:59 GMT -5
Daniel had been alerted by his mare's low snort and had quickly prepared to fight, then mounted the golden horse and moved quickly toward the first Tsai sentry, trying to give warning. He didn't understand why the sentries hadn't already alerted the camp, but then he saw the dark form on the sands and understood.
Anger clouded his mind as memories rushed through him. His own family...gone now for years, came back to him as if it had been only yesterday. Wheeling the mare, he slipped her down the slope into the oasis and quietly joined the small group of bandits, his own desert garb hiding his face and shrouding his form. His pack made up for the lack of a child as he plumped it up into the loose shape of a body. He would follow as far as he could, and rescue the children if possible. If it wasn't possible, he would leave signs for the Tsai to follow.
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Oct 10, 2007 17:44:58 GMT -5
As the little girl's name filled his thoughts, Amos heard Roze's voice screaming the child's name.
"Yasmin!"
When he found her she was nearby the oasis, sobbing uncontrollably, on her knees and hugging herself. She didn't appear to have heard Amos approching at all. He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and drew her up. He mumered comforting words to her as he steered her back toward the crowd.
His heart hardened as Keila and Fusaan, two Tsai women shoved their way through the crowd, calling for their children.
"Amos!" Keila cried when she saw him, "The children! Have you seen them?" her eyes were wild with fear. He shook his head and without waiting for further suggestions they hurried past, searching fruitlessly. Fusaan's son was not yet a year old and she continued hunting for him, her face drawn and pale.
He searched around for Daniel, but could not find his face among the crowd. Surely he would have an understanding, since his ominous warning the night before. But he was nowhere to be seen.
Half a dozen men were being pushed forward, heads haging in shame. Tsai sentries. They were stopped near to their tribe leader, Yani and the shaman Morani also stood forward.
"You shame our tribe!" Yani thundered. Most of the nearby crowd fell silent. Many left off their fruitless search to listen. Other people from nearby began to join the silent, watchful crowd. Mothers, fathers and kin of the lost stood by, tear-stained faces turned to those that were supposed to protect them.
The warriors said nothing, prepared to receive any punishment for the unforgivable act of failing to protect their families.
"You fell asleep on the night-watch and allowed our children to be stolen!" he drove home the severity of the situation. Amos was standing very close to one of the warriors. It was Hamon, a childhood friend and one he knew well. Something seemed wrong, very wrong. Hamon was one of the most alert warriors in the tribe and had never fallen asleep at his post. His eyes seemed half open and he barely seemed aware of his surroundings. The man shook his head as though trying to clear his thoughts.
"The evil spirits of the desert have taken them because of you!" A woman screamed from the crowd. The rest began to agree, and their angry cries grew in volume. As Yani held up his hand for silence, Amos stepped forward, leaving Roze's side for a moment. Lives would be as stake.
"They were not taken by spirits!" he announced. All heads swivelled to look at him. "They were taken by horsemen, I saw them riding south."
"No, the evil spirits took them into the water, to keep them for their own!" somebody else cried and the others agreed. "There are tracks leading into the water. I heard a child scream near the water!"
Another voice shouted out, "The same thing has happened at Keisha!" the man called, "The water demons took the children into the ocean."
"And Deiraan!" a woman called, "They took the children into the lake!"
"The Gods are angry with us! They send the spirits to do their bidding, to punish us!"
"A clever ruse." Amos answered calmly, "People took them, they rode south. If we are to get them back, we must track the evil people who took them from us."
But Amos may well have been speaking to the sand for all the recognition he got. His own master, Morani shook his head. He too believed the spirits had taken the children. He too, believed the stories. He took charge of the situation and led the crowd down to the Oasis to perform rites and rituals to try to convince the spirits to give the children back. Amos remained rooted to the spot.
Amos knew the sentries would be punished later.
He looked south, where he had seen the riders vanishing and knew the children must be with them. Time was against them, the desert would soon swallow any trace of the raiders.
*******
Trista led her large band south and then looped around to head east. The faint haze that marked the distant mountains now lay ahead. They galloped their horses hard, putting as much distance between the oasis and themselves as possible in case they had been spotted this time.
|
|
|
Post by blossom on Oct 11, 2007 5:34:22 GMT -5
The despair that filled Roze had left her numb, so she barely felt Amos's hand on her shoulder and only dimly registered him helping her to her feet and guiding her over to the crowd. She listened with dull ears, uninterested, as the Tsai sentries were reprimanded. What did it matter - what could they have done against demons?
Nothing matter anymore. Not now Yasmin was gone. Bitter tears coursed down her cheeks as Roze thought of her curly haired baby sister, and guilt twisted her stomach into knots. How could she have let this happen?
She had a vague aware of Amos stepping forward and talking, and the shouted replies of the crowds were muffled and dim, heard through the haze of grief. Only Amos last words penetrated her sorrow.
"People took them, they rode south. If we are to get them back, we must track the evil people who took them from us."
Roze looked up, finally registering her surroundings. The Tsai shaman was leading the crowds to the waters, to perform the ritual to persuade the demons to release the children. Many had done it before, but it never worked.
Raiders though ... they could be stopped.
Roze crept forward to Amos side, and asked in a broken voice, "Do you really think it was horsemen? Do you think we could get them back?"
****
Vrej drew his stallion to a halt at the top of one sand dune, and scanned the desert around him. Catching sight of a dust cloud that heralded many horses, he smiled to himself and urged his stallion towards their trail.
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Oct 11, 2007 18:27:19 GMT -5
Amos turned to Roze's stricken face as she asked in a quiet and broken voice, "Do you really think it was horsemen? Do you think we could get them back?"
"I am certain of it. And yes, we could get them back. I have had my suspicions for a while and I am sure my friend Daniel knows much more about it. But I do not know where he is. He may have been taken with them."
Turning abruptly, Amos led her away from his people. With every step his heart grew heavier and the guilt grew stronger. He had a duty to his people, he was to be the next Shaman. His teachings screamed at him to turn around, to stay and do what was right. But his heart told him to keep going, the Tsai children, and little Yasmin needed him. He and Roze were the only ones that knew that they could be recovered. But they must hurry.
"Quickly," he stepped up his pace, "We must leave before my people see, they would try to stop us as they do not understand. And we must trace those riders before the winds wipe out their tracks. Can you ride a horse? That would be the fastest way to travel."
|
|
|
Post by blossom on Oct 12, 2007 3:24:44 GMT -5
Roze followed Amos as he turned away with only a brief glance over her shoulder. Believing it wasn't water demons that had stolen her sister, and that there was chance the children could be rescued had filled her with new hope.
"Quickly," he stepped up his pace, "We must leave before my people see, they would try to stop us as they do not understand. And we must trace those riders before the winds wipe out their tracks. Can you ride a horse? That would be the fastest way to travel."
Roze hesistated for a moment than nodded. "I rode once or twice when I was younger. I'll do anything to get Yasmin back."
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Oct 12, 2007 6:52:20 GMT -5
Amos nodded. He'd borrow a Tsai horse for her, one with a quiet nature and willingness to follow his own mare. They would have to travel quickly. For a moment Amos stopped, shocked at his own intentions. He was leaving the Tsai, his family. His people. He was going to chase dangerous people of numbers unknown, across the treacherous desert. A suicidal mission.
And yet, the fleeting image of Yasmin's dimpled grin came strongly to his mind. How could he not? He thought of the Tsai children who had been taken. None related directly but they too were family. If his own people would not help and he knew they wouldn't, their supersticious minds convinced that the evil water spirits had taken them on the orders of the gods themselves. He had always stood apart, he had always questioned their beliefs.
He must go. He and Roze had to find them and bring them back regardless of the odds. And Daniel, his only friend among his people, had he too been taken? There was no sign of him and hadn't been for the entire morning. He feared for his safety.
With a new resolution, Amos marched purposly to his sleeping area. With a practised ease he rolled up his woven sleeping mat and blankets with all his worldy possesions inside it and beckoned for Roze to follow.
"Hurry, we must get prepared. I will get us some canteens if you could fill them with water and meet me at the horse lines." he told her over his shoulder. He'd have to get some more appropriate clothing for Roze too, her shoes and even her dress would not serve her well in the heat and hardship of the desert and its freezing nights. And food, he'd need food.
His mind on several things, Amos grabbed the containers from his tribe's empty camp and tossed them to Roze. Then he hurried to the horse lines, whistling for his mare and quickly deciding on a suitable mount for his companion.
It was then he realised, that Daniel's mare was not with the others. If she was gone, then perhaps Daniel wasn't a captive after all. Hope surged through him, giving him further determination.
|
|
|
Post by twilightblade on Oct 12, 2007 13:07:24 GMT -5
Daniel had quiet torn bits of cloth off of his pack, sometimes tied around the pebbles he always carried with him, sometimes not. The pressure of his knees varied on the mare, and from time to time, she followed his promptings and made large holes in the sand. He knew these traces would disappear sooner or later under the sands, but it was all he could really do.
So far none of the others had noticed him, but sooner or later they might see that his sword was of fine quality and not of the local style, and that he carried a short cross-bow across his pack. Sooner or later they might see that he kept his face turned just enough for the others not to get a good look at his face...
|
|
|
Post by blossom on Oct 22, 2007 7:02:46 GMT -5
Roze fumbled slightly with the canteens Amos threw to her, but luckily didn't drop them. Turning she headed towards the tavern, skirting around the tents to avoid being seen by the crowd still huddled at the oasis.
The tavern was dark and empty; every one inside had obviously been drawn out by the noise. The back door was locked, but the lock was old and worn and it only took a little jiggling to loosen it. The door swung open, and for a moment Roze hesitated, guilty. Theo had been so good to her and Yasmin ....
But it was Yasmin she was doing this for.
Quickly, before she lost her nerve, Roze stole into the dark kitchen and filled the canteens from two large water jugs stood on the counter. Just as she screwed the lid back on the second one, noise came from the Common Room. Roze froze, heart pounding as Theo's deep rumbled sounded through the walls.
The door to the kitchen started to open and suddenly Roze found herself moving again; she sprinted from the tavern outside to where Amos was waiting.
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Oct 27, 2007 1:21:07 GMT -5
Amos had swiftly taken his travelling pack and borrowed another for Roze. Saddling his own mare and another gentle one for Roze he hurried the horses along. Within a short time he saw Roze scurry out of the Tavern, her eyes wide with fear. Without allowing doubt to allay him, Amost took the canteens from her and swiftly secured them to his saddle.
"We'll have to move fast. I fear they have taken a well rehearsed route to escape notice and a hunt. But we do have another to help us." he told her.
Amos then hurried Roze to the mare's side and lifted his hands to act as a stirrup to boost her onto the animal's back. Tsai women all rode astride and were as competant, if not better skilled, with the animals as the men.
|
|
|
Post by blossom on Oct 28, 2007 12:44:05 GMT -5
Roze eyed the horse apprehensively, but Yasmin's face swam before her mind and she heard the child high, melodic voice burble encouragingly, "You can do it!" Tears made her vision blurry for a instant but she shook her head to dispel both them and her doubts.
She clutched the saddle tightly as she put her foot in Amos's hands. She could feel him push her up as she swung her other leg across. Nervous, she slipped and almost fell from the other side. A strangled shriek rose up in her throat and she threw herself forward in a precarious attempt to regain her balance, knuckles whitening as she tightened her grip.
It seemed to work, as when she cautiously opened one eye she was still on the horse. The ground seemed a long way off.
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Nov 14, 2007 23:20:12 GMT -5
Roze was mounted, albeit unsteadily. This made things difficult. Amos vaulted aboard his own mare - he'd have to teach her as they went.
"You will find the travelling very hard at first, but we need to move if we have a hope of keeping their trail. We'll canter immediately - much easier for you to sit to." he wheeled his mare and called back an instruction.
"Your horse will follow mine. Sit up as straight as a coconut tree and push your legs down as long as you can. Hold on to the saddle and let your hips rock with the horse." and he asked his mare into a perfect canter. Roze's horse turned to follow and after three trotting steps, she struck into a rocking chair canter.
Amos allowed Roze's mount to catch up and he again urged her to sit up and lengthen her legs.
"Don't grip with your knees, you'll push yourself out of the saddle. Sit tall and find your point of balance."
As much as he knew they had to move faster, if Roze fell and damaged herself or her confidence they would never catch the theives that took the children. He had to have her comfortable first.
|
|
|
Post by blossom on Nov 15, 2007 12:08:45 GMT -5
Roze nodded, mouth stretched tight into a grim line. Thinking of Yasmin all the while, she took a deep breath and pushed herself into a more upright sitting position. She forced herself to relax her knees, clamping down on the giddy feeling of vertigo that wanted to pounce.
She closed her eyes, breathing in ... out ... in ... out. She felt her muscles relax, felt herself fall into a more natural sitting position.
"How's that?" she asked nervously, not opening her eyes.
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Nov 15, 2007 19:18:08 GMT -5
Amos watched as Roze began to find her natural rhythm. She was still a bit wobbly, but the rocking canter of a horse was reletively easy to sit to, compared to a trot and if she hung on, she'd be fine.
"Good, just straighten your legs, you're trying to crouch. Push them down, long." He watched her struggle to follow his instructions on the unfamiliar motion of the animal. "OK, we're going to pick up the pace. Don't worry about steering, just sit up and hold on to the saddle at the front there." And he pushed his mare into a gallop, Roze's horse following obediently.
Amos took a moment to look ahead to their quarry. Far off, he could just make out a small dust cloud over the dunes if he squinted, the mirages nearly swallowing them up. And further off, a range of mountains was merely a cloud hugging the skyline. Then they rode down a dune, following the tracks of many horses and they were lost to sight.
The chase had begun.
|
|
|
Post by blossom on Nov 16, 2007 13:09:44 GMT -5
Roze felt her confidence begin to cautiously grow as she rode, gripping the saddle tightly and pushing her legs down. The memories of her few horses rides as a child came back and she felt herself relaxing. She was still unsteady and bit wobbly, but she was no longer petrified of completely falling off. And the horse seemed to know what to do. It followed Amos as they rode away from the Oasis. Tracks in the sand made Roze's heart swell with hope and determination.
She was going to get her sister back.
|
|
|
Post by twilightblade on Dec 30, 2007 20:22:19 GMT -5
Mik let his horse jog easily across the desert. He'd been supposed to meet Trista at some oasis tonight, but...well, he was a little late. No matter. He had the right sort of information that should bring a smile to her face. A fat trading caravan...and one with everything she had been looking for. Who knew what she wanted with it, but hey, at least he'd have something more interesting to do than sit around a pool of water in the sand.
Funny though, she wanted one with lots of kids. Shrugging off the questions that brought up, he urged his horse into a lope, and topped the next rise. The moon stretched out over the desert, huge in the night sky, silhouetting the forms of a band of riders, and stretching their shadows across the sands. He grinned. Time to go see what was up...
He slapped the stallion on the flank, startling it into bolting forward. He swept down the hill toward the lead rider, the wind whipping through his clothing. Ah, refreshing. Such a nice breeze. So, what would be the greeting this time? An arrow or three? Daggers? Or perhaps a sword...or a spear?
He laughed.
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Jul 21, 2008 18:36:20 GMT -5
Amos urged his horse into a light canter, the motion would be easier for Roze to sit to. Together they travelled forward, following the deep tracks of the raiders. They were now at least half a day ahead, and they had to shorten that lead before the shifting sands obliterated their only way of tracking their quarry.
The sun beat down on the two horses, bounding through the sand. Behind them, the noises of the busy oasis quietened quickly and the great silence of the desert spread out around them. Before a very few minutes had passed, they were alone and surrounded by quietness - the hush of the desert.
Amos glanced back to see how his companion was doing. She was sitting straight enough, she'd have to do. Looking ahead again, Amos was already mentally calculating their next move. They had no hope of entering the camp and freeing the children - just two against many. And then there was the problem of returning the children to the oasis with two horses and limited supplies. They would have to follow and bide their time - hoping for a better opportunity.
It wasn't much of a plan but it was all they had. He knew that the raiders would slow and steady their pace as soon as they believed themselves to have won the day and didn't have anyone following them. That meant they had a chance to catch up.
Amos squinted ahead, far off in the distance he could see another dust cloud not belonging to the raiders. He wondered who it may be and how they would react to meeting other travellers.
|
|
|
Post by twilightblade on Oct 2, 2008 18:43:39 GMT -5
Mik wheeled his horse around on its haunches near the lead horse--Trista's horse--and sent it bounding forward again at a choppy canter. "A fine catch!" he called brightly, gesturing to the riders who followed her. "And soon, more to add to it. There's a fat caravan coming along in two days!"
***********
Daniel looked about sharply as this new rider came plunging across the sands, calling out to the leader of the bandits. What was this? A spy for the bandits?
|
|
|
Post by jessimyre on Oct 15, 2008 1:34:57 GMT -5
Trista didn't bother to state the obvious. She was always distant and cold with Mik, always wary. He openly showed no loyalty nor obedience to her and she was content for now to accept his ways, as much as it rankled her.
"I've seen the signs." she answered.
"I expect you will be travelling with us to Imbarden?" she asked. It would be a good month's journey to the city over the mountains where she sold her catch. The weak ones didn't make it, but the stronger ones who did more than made up for that, the prices in Imbarden were always good.
***************
"Roze," Amos spoke to his travelling companion, worriedly noting her expression. "We're going to have to travel hard for a few days to keep up or we'll lose the trail." he told her.
"We'll rest when they do which means we'll probably be riding well into the night. Can you manage?" he asked. He didn't want to seem arrogant by implying Roze was not up to the journey however he fully knew the toll it would take on her half-starved body.
|
|