A Twist of the Sands

by P R Glazier

  Chapter 20. The Nomads

  A few days later, Nar’Allia raised her eyes to the ever-present orb of the sun shining down relentlessly upon them. She was beginning to wonder if the nomadic tribes that JDC described really existed. The monotony of their passage across the red sands was starting to get to her. Jonas was also starting to show signs of frustration. She was not surprised. The daily drudgery of sitting in the saddle looking out over a monotonous landscape of red dust and sand, the heat shining down from above mirrored quite literally in the heat being radiated from the sand back up into their faces was testing to say the least. Then the cold of the night was no better in many ways. This was a land of extremes; nothing was moderate here, no gentle comfort or the slightest welcome.

  JDC’s warning back in Port Town was coming true, the desert pitted itself against them, threw every obstacle it could devise at them, day and night. It was wearing her down, she knew, she could feel it. Amndo had withdrawn into himself, he hardly said a word, rather he seemed to be with them physically, but his mind was elsewhere.

  They all coped with the desert in their own way.

  Only JDC seemed to remain his normal self, his years of traversing the desert obviously gave him an accepting attitude, he even seemed at times to be enjoying the experience, he said it was infinitely preferable to the mundane life that he led in Port Town and he felt surprised at himself for not leaving earlier. He even thanked them for bringing him to his senses once again and giving him the excuse he needed to get away once more.

  About midday on what Nar’Allia was sure was the eighth day of travel, although she admitted to herself she was losing count, all four of the Duagnuats seemed to become increasingly restless, they kept glancing across the desert in the same direction, looking towards a ridge of dunes along the bottom of which they travelled. Nar’Allia had grown to understand her beast’s mood and Quinak was definitely displaying anxiety. The beasts clicked occasionally at each other, more and more often and in ever increasing rapidity. Nar’Allia tried to pat the flanks of her beast to try and calm it and although Quinak seemed to respond to her touch, this did not dissipate its strange behaviour.

  The area they travelled through was a series of low dunes on one side of them. These dunes stretched away into the distance right to the horizon, the sand was quite stable and the beasts could easily and without undue effort keep upon a straight course across the low dunes. But to the other side of them rose a series of higher dunes all interconnected like a ridge. It was like a wall dividing their side of the desert to whatever lay beyond on the other side. Occasionally the ridge would drop low enough to see between two of the dunes from which it comprised and looking through the narrow gap could be viewed glimpses of another similar area of desert. Similar low dunes stretched away into the distance. Nar’Allia likened the landscape to some vast creatures back, in her imagination they traversed along one side of the knobbly spine of a dragon perhaps sleeping upon its stomach. Nar’Allia wondered what danger, if danger it was, the beasts sensed beyond the ridge, the other side of the backbone. She, like the others, had learnt to take notice of the behaviour of the Duagnuats, for their early warning system never failed and they trusted in the instincts of their beasts. Nar’Allia therefore kept looking towards the direction to which her Duagnuats along with its companions seemed to give concern. Suddenly through a gap in the dunes she saw a figure upon a Duagnuats stationary and looking in their direction. The figure was dressed all in black and a hood pulled up over the head. But she lost sight of it behind another dune as they passed by.

  Nar’Allia spurred her beast on and caught up with JDC. “There is a figure in the dunes to our left I just saw it a few moments ago.”

  “Aye milady. I have noticed that we are travelling in parallel to a group of nomads, we have been doing so for most of the morning. It is why the Duagnuats are a bit unsettled; they sense another group of beasts strange to them and are a little wary.”

  Nar’Allia subconsciously fingered the hilt of one of the swords that hung around her waist beneath her cloak.

  “Nay milady, I would not advise any rash act, the figure you saw is a scout sent to test our reactions. The scout would have made himself seen on purpose just to see what would happen, to see what we would do. The rest of the group remains unseen but will be close by. Any move construed as aggression on our part will be met with swift retribution; these people do not suffer outsiders easily. Remember milady no one can find dead bodies in the desert. They will not hesitate to attack if that is what they deem necessary, believe me.”

  They carried on the same course through the low dunes for most of the afternoon. They had regular glimpses of the nomad they had seen earlier through gaps in the ridge, but they only ever saw one, whether or not it was the same one that was impossible to say. As if in confirmation of what JDC had said it was as if this single nomad wanted to be seen at regular intervals to remind them of the presence of the nomad group. The nomad made no attempt to make close contact with them however. At least not until they came up the slope of a small dune and on cresting the top they could see just below them the nomad that had been keeping pace with them, he was stationary right in their path, they could not help but ride slowly up to him and stop about ten metres away. He was holding the pommel on his saddle and looking at them, well at least Nar’Allia supposed he was looking at them. He wore a long black flowing robe, the material looked light and airy yet strong, it was quite loose fitting and flapped a little in the gentle breeze that was blowing across the sands. His hands were both inside black gloves of a similar material and he had a loose hood pulled over his head. Across his face he had some kind of face mask so that no skin could be seen. The face mask was featureless except for two glass lenses set at a position where Nar’Allia guessed his eyes would be. She could not see his eyes for the glass material of the lenses seemed to be tinted black in some way. Across his lap was laid a long thin tube, a kind of handle at one end, obviously a weapon of some kind, probably a range weapon at that, as no obvious sharpened blade or point could be seen and it certainly didn’t look heavy or strong enough to be a bludgeoning form of weapon. Quinak grumbled a few times from deep within her throat; the Duagnuats on which the nomad was mounted returned the noise and its eyes opened wider as it stared straight at her beast.

  JDC put up his hand slowly and asked the companions to stay where they were, he pushed his Duagnuats forward a few paces and dismounted, he slowly kneeled onto the sand and placing his hands in front of him he touched his forehead to the sand for a few seconds before again standing and saying. “Fair greetings, we come in search of knowledge and ask the tribes for safe passage.”

  The nomad didn’t move or reply.

  JDC again spoke, “we humbly seek the aid of the tribes, for their knowledge of the desert is great.”

  Again the nomad made no movement or any acknowledgement to JDC. But then the head moved slowly in a nod, the nomad obviously scrutinised each of the company in turn. Then with a slight movement of one foot the nomad stroked the side of the Duagnuats upon which he sat, the beast gave a series of clicking noises and almost immediately several other nomads rode over the ridge, circled around them and came to a halt surrounding the party. These nomads had similar weapons to the first, ornately adorned projectile weapons and all were pointing in the direction of the four companions. The first nomad, the nomad leader Nar’Allia presumed, turned his beast about and started to ride off into the desert. The nomads that surrounded the party gestured with their weapons that all should follow him.

  “Where are they taking us?” Asked Jonas.

  “I don’t know but hopefully they realise our friendly intent,” said JDC.

  They rode onwards in this way for some hours when suddenly out from nowhere it seemed, ran several nomad figures on foot, but these although dressed similarly to the nomads that escorted them were much smaller in height, they also had a playful air about them running alongside the party, jumping and gambling about.
If it wasn’t for the masks they wore Nar’Allia could almost hear them laughing. ‘Children’, thought Nar’Allia, we must be quite close to an encampment of some kind if there are children about. Sure enough they rounded another dune and there in front of them stood several tent like structures, the shape of them obviously designed to look like the small sand dunes that dotted the desert. The colour of the material from which they were made although the same red colour as the sand surrounding them seemed to change and shimmer, it reminded Nar’Allia of the curious way the sun reflected off the red sand sometimes, the effect was to camouflage the tents very effectively. As they moved towards them, Nar’Allia thought how impossible it must be to see this settlement from a distance or from above, the ever-changing camouflage was so good. Only when they were fully inside the boundaries of the encampment did they see anyone else, for suddenly many nomad people came out of the various tents obviously inquisitive to the new comers. The nomad that had led them into the encampment stopped his Duagnuats and dismounted, another nomad that had been standing watching stepped forward and made the same gesture towards the nomad leader as did JDC in the desert, kneeling and the touching of the forehead to the sand, he then stood and walked forward to attend to the nomad leaders Duagnuats.

  All were bid to dismount and they were led between the tents to where a much larger tent structure sat centrally amongst the others. Outside this tent there were banners set on poles standing in the sand, the main one seemed to be a dark green background onto which was overlaid a depiction of the weapons that the nomads carried set in gold coloured thread, the two weapons were crossed in the centre as if leaning against one another, beneath them and within the triangular shape the weapons formed were some words in a language that Nar’Allia did not recognise:

  15th

  Rifle

  Brigade

  The nomad captain disappeared inside. They stood a little distant from the large tent for a few minutes, then a nomad appeared from within the tent, Nar’Allia assumed it was the same one that they had first come across, the nomad captain. Their remaining nomad escort stayed back at a respectful distance, Nar’Allia assumed this was some protocol as yet unknown to them, but the four companions were bid by the nomad captain to follow him, he had turned and was again strolling back towards the larger tent. As he approached this tent, the entrance flap was opened from the inside and he turned to gesture to the four companions once again that they should wait where they were. The nomad captain entered the tent and the flap closed behind.

  Several minutes past and eventually the tent flap again opened. A female voice said in perfect common speech, “you will enter.”

  The four looked at one another and hesitated, but they found themselves coaxed forward by a sharp shove with the butt of a weapon in the small of their backs.

  The four of them filed through the doorway. They found themselves in a small square space, obviously some sort of entrance hall, or reception room, another flap on the far side obviously led into this large tents main area, two nomad guards stood to attention either side of this inner flap. These nomads had no head covering or long black robes, they wore trousers tucked into long boots and loose fitting shirts of a brightly coloured material. Their hair was cut very short so that it looked like a covering of velvet upon each head.

  After several minutes one of the guards completely unprompted leaned to one side and grasping a cord pulled gently and held the inside flap to one side as he beckoned for the four to go on through. They looked at each other, but they had no choice so they moved forward as one. Nar’Allia gasped as she stepped inside, what met her eyes was amazing. Cloths of all colours and hues hung from the walls, tapestries she assumed depicting nomadic life adorned the walls. Nar’Allia gazed in awe at the richness of the fabrics. The four poles that held the tent up were highly polished wood of some kind, they had obviously been chosen for the natural patterns in the grain, for swirls and twists could be seen running the length of the poles, the impression of natural beauty of the wood made Nar’Allia smile. She had not seen so much as a single piece of driftwood for many weeks and now to be presented with something so exquisitely beautiful was a joy.

  The floor was covered in many plush luxurious carpets and rugs woven of many colours all in intricate patterns, the skill of the artisan that made these was exemplary. They were ushered forward to where a low table had been positioned, much of the wood from which it was made the same or similar to that of the tent poles. The table top was intricately carved and inlaid with gem stones and veneers of many different coloured woods.

  Beyond the table upon a low stool sat a human male, his bright, intelligent eyes stared at them intently. At first Nar’Allia thought he must have been the same nomad that had led the party to the encampment. He looked middle aged with slightly greying hair which like the guards outside had been cut very short, very close to his scalp. He had a well-trimmed moustache and neat beard. At his side stood a young girl probably in her late teens, she was stunningly beautiful. Her slender well defined features youthful and lovely to behold, her eyes brown the same colour as her hair which was loose and flowed about her shoulders and arms right the way down to just beneath her waist, one side was neatly tucked behind her ear, the exposed hand was laid on the hilt of a sheathed dagger strapped around her waist, its scabbard hanging upon a thin cloth girdle that was intricately woven and stitched with two long tassels to the front. On her head she wore a simple coronet of gold strands twisted intricately into a complex pattern. Her clothing was of a robe of a fine mesh material that shimmered in the light inside the tent, it looked beautiful and delicate but also functional and strong. The material was quite shear for beneath this outer robe Nar’Allia could see she wore loose fitting trousers and a shirt similar in style to the guards they had seen earlier in the entrance. Across her arm the other hand could not be seen for she held a black robe upon which could still be seen traces of red sand from the desert outside. Also in this hand she obviously gripped her weapon, the handle, or butt of which was resting on the carpet in front of her feet. By the Maker thought Nar’Allia it must have been she who had led them to this place, she was the nomad captain. She looked away for the young girl was smiling at her whilst her brown eyes burned into Nar’Allia’s.

  The older male stood and smiling said, “welcome strangers to our tentmeet. My name is Vaughnel, I am the Headlord of this clan. “This,” he gestured towards the young girl whilst keeping eye contact with them, “is my daughter Alicshea.”

  The girl bent her head down slightly in a quick nod but kept unwavering eye contact with Nar’Allia.

  JDC stepped forward and bowed toward Vaughnel. “Our thanks Headlord for your hospitality and agreement to meet with us, we have travelled far to seek you and your people.”

  Before he could say more Vaughnel raised his hand for silence and said, “yes, this is as may be master gnome, he who calls himself JDC, but first we must sit and drink caffeen as is traditional with our people.” He clapped his hands.

  In came two women; both were adorned similarly to Alicshea. Maybe it was her imagination but she thought she heard Jonas sigh. One of the women carried a tray on which stood a tall pitcher with a lid, steam was floating from a long ornately carve spout that protruded from its base. The other woman also carried a tray but on this one were several small cups. The first woman stood ceremoniously to one side whilst the second woman placed her tray upon the floor, Jonas walked forward and made to aid her, but she managed admirably on her own, she giggled at him and hid her mouth with her free hand. She stood again and moved towards one side of the tent and retrieved a folding table out from a cabinet, this she assembled and placed in front of the first woman who placed her pitcher upon the table. Nar’Allia smelt the most delicious aroma emanating from the pitcher. The first woman stepped back from the table and went to stand at the tent wall. The second woman with great ceremony proceeded to pour a thick black liquid from the pitcher into the small cups she had also brought on th
e tray.

  Once done each guest was offered a cup of the steaming liquid. Nar’Allia held her nose over the liquid and breathed its aroma, it truly smelt wonderful, but not like anything she had smelt before. She waited until the other three had cups of their own and on an encouraging nod from Vaughnal they drank the thick black liquid. It tasted rather nice, slightly bitter but pleasant none the less. Obviously satisfied with the contented look upon his guest’s faces Vaughnal offered a cup to his daughter who took it with a smile and then picked up a cup for himself. They sat there in silence for what seemed like hours, their cups were refilled by the attending women, Jonas had many refills, the woman who served him giggled gently and quietly every time she poured some of the hot liquid into his cup. On more than one occasion Nar’Allia was amused to see that Jonas blushed whilst she did so. Alicshea must have noticed this for she smiled knowingly and with some amusement at Nar’Allia when their eyes met on occasion. Well thought Nar’Allia at least these people seem friendly enough, at least for the moment.

  Nar’Allia had a million questions to ask, least of all the one highest on her mind, for the nomad Vaughnal obviously knew JDC. Or at least knew of him for he spoke his name. But she decided it would be more polite to wait until and appropriate time for at the moment they obviously observed some form of social etiquette of greeting and hospitality. So they all sat in silence sipping at the liquid after their cups had been refilled. She contented herself with observing the body language and playful attitudes of Jonas and the serving girl.

  Eventually Vaughnal stood slowly and said, “welcome strangers to the Rifle Brigade Clan, my daughter especially welcomes the one called JDC who is known to her.”

  Nar’Allia looked questioningly at JDC, he was staring at Vaughnal’s daughter Alicshea, but with a blank expression upon his face. JDC bowed and said, “I am honoured, but I am afraid I do not remember our meeting, this sorely troubles me, please forgive my rudeness.”

  Alicshea looked towards her father who nodded at her. She then addressed JDC and said, “do not chastise yourself master gnome, for I doubt you would recognise me in the great outside because of the robes we wear.”

  JDC just stood there and nodded then stepped forward slightly and introduced his three companions formally.

  Vaughnal nodded to each in turn, but his eyes strayed back to Nar’Allia, he stared at her whilst he asked, “may I inquire as to what purpose brings you all to the Great Red Sea?”

  Nar’Allia went to speak, but JDC held her arm and smiled at her, she got the distinct impression that he was asking her to be quiet.

  He then spoke, “we seek aid from the nomad peoples of the Rust Desert in the form of knowledge and guidance for we are searching for someone, in fact Nar’Allia’s mother,” he indicated towards Nar’Allia with his hand, “she disappeared from our company some time ago, events and certain other factors have given us reason to believe that she may have been abducted. We believe she may have been brought here, perhaps held against her will, for we have not had contact with her from the time she was no longer seen to this.” JDC paused.

  Nar’Allia saw a deep frown appear across Vaughnal’s features, JDC must have picked up on this to for he quickly added, “we do not suspect the nomad clans I might add, we do not for one minute think that this act was perpetrated by your people Headlord, you have no reason to do this. But we suspect that others of evil intent may have instigated this act as part of their misguided plans.”

  Vaughnal’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Indeed, and why do you suspect that it is here that you may find her again?”

  Amndo reached into his robes, Alicshea tightened her grip upon her weapon and lifted it slightly from the floor. Amndo lifted his other hand in a gesture to try and allay Alicshea’s suspicions. He slowly withdrew his hand from his robes, he held out the Donal Gate seal.

  Alicshea lowered her weapon once more and nodded in some sort of satisfaction. Amndo offered the Donal to Vaughnal who keeping eye contact with Amndo slowly reached out and took it.

  Vaughnal lowered his eyes to the object he now held and looked carefully at it before saying, “this has the mark of the Mecharmy Clan upon it, where did you find this?”

  Amndo explained the whole story to Vaughnal who sat and listened intently to each word being said. They did not leave anything of importance out, for they sort the aid of these people and they wanted to quickly establish trust between them. Nar’Allia also input certain details into the related tale, but she had learnt quickly that Vaughnal would not take any notice of her words unless she had established Amndo’s permission to speak before hand. This frustrated her, yet she realised they were in need of the nomads aid, so she complied with what she thought was a ridiculous protocol.

  Vaughnal stood and slowly moved around the tent deep in thought, his hands grasped behind his back. “I do not believe that the Mecharmy clan would have anything to do with this abduction, like you, I can see no gain for them in such an action, I suggest that the item you found which carries their mark is pure coincidence.”

  “Nar’Allia said, “neither do we believe that this clan you mention are responsible for my mother’s disappearance, but never the less why then does their design appear upon this device.”

  Vaughnal frowned at her, “you may not speak woman unless you are given permission. Then addressing Amndo he said, “you must understand that each nomad clan has displayed their identifying mark for a time long forgotten, as is with all I do not know where my clan got their mark from, it is a badge, the mark of our clan just as the mark you carry on this item is the belongs to the Mecharmy. These marks have been part of us forever, longer than any history has recorded. So long in fact that it may not seem surprising that a clans mark upon an object may appear from time to time in many places in the world, especially if found in the Great Red Sea. Some scavenge the desert in the hope that they will find items of value, some seek to find their fortunes, others answers to the past,” here he looked towards Nar’Allia. “I am surprised she cannot answer some of these questions?” Before Nar’Allia could say anything however Vaugnhal continued. “Many look for twists in the sands for many reasons, they are all deluded, driven by greed or misguided by stories of old. The sand is the sand, what lies beneath belongs to the desert and should be left to the desert.” Vaughnal glanced towards JDC momentarily as he resumed his seat upon the rug.

  “How many clans are there?” Asked Jonas wanting to break the uncomfortable, brooding silence that followed.

  Vaughnal looked towards Jonas and shrugging his shoulders said, “there are many, too many perhaps to count, for when clans became large, sometimes some leave and start a new clan. Large clans do not survive in the desert, food is scarce and water almost non-existent, this is our way. Apart from my clan and the Mecharmy, I know of many others, The Lightinfantry, The Airborne, The Grenadiers, The Engineers, The Dragoons. The list goes on.” He waved his hand nonchalantly in front of him.

  Jonas asked, “but what are these names, what do they mean?”

  “We do not know, none of us know, they are names that we have always had, names given us in the ancient past in a language that we no longer use or understand.” At this he gestured towards Alicshea who nodded toward her father and after leaning her weapon against one of the tents poles, she disappeared behind a flap of cloth at the rear of the tent. When she reappeared she was carrying a large book with a gold tassel attached to the spine. She proceeded to lay the book on the carpet in front of them, then she bent down and opened the book at what looked like a random page. They all looked down to where the book lay open. There on both pages where beautiful coloured paintings of devices, some kind of emblems, badges Nar’Allia thought.

  Alicshea turned more pages and finding the one she sought pointed at one in particular and said, “here this is the mark of our clan.”

  Nar’Allia recognised the same crossed weapons with the writing below as appeared on the pendants outside the tent. Nar’Allia bent down and said,
“may I?”

  Alicshea nodded her consent. So Nar’Allia started to turn the pages one by one. She noticed that two words were repeated on just about every page, she had no idea what they meant but they spelled out ‘R-e-g-i-m-e-n-t-a-l E-m-b-l-e-m’. She assumed this was a common description given to each of these devices. But she did not find any clue as to their origin or history or what they represented. She wondered if Amndo understood the language, he said he did not. Nar’Allia continued to turn the pages of the book, looking at each device. Then, with a gasp of breath she came across the Mecharmy device, it was unmistakable for it did indeed have upon it the same round slant eyed face that appeared on the Donal. She touched the outline of the device in a thoughtful manner. Beneath was written the same two words in the same unknown language – Regimental Emblem, then following this some other writing she ran her finger along the letters that spelled out ‘o-f t-h-e M-e-c-h-a-n-i-s-e-d C-y-b-e-r-n-e-t-i-c A-u-t-o-m-a-t-e-d A-r-m-y’. She wondered what these words meant, she desperately wanted to understand what was written here, perhaps these unknown words held the key to understanding further what may have happened to Minervar. She wondered if in Solin’s library there were any books that could translate these words, she would have loved to know more.

  She then stood and went to speak but remembered Vaugnhal’s words to her earlier. She felt anger but decided upsetting these people especially through disregard for their customs would be a mistake. So looking towards Alicshea’s father she sort Amndo’s consent to speak, this he gave. So she asked, “Headlord, is there anyone who can translate the words in this book, do any of your people understand what is written here?”

  Vaughnal shook his head, “no. There is none who understand this language, it is said to be the ancient written word of our ancestors. They lived many ages ago in a world very different to this. They were called the A’kath and we know nothing of them except this book you now hold. Even their language is lost to us, for many ages now there has been no one who can recognise these words and there is no way of knowing what they mean.”

  They sat in silence for a while deep in thought. Then Vaugnhal requested that Nar’Allia give him the book, this she did. He thumbed through page after page until he came to the one he obviously sort. “The only clan able to read the language died out long ago, they were reputed to be the elder clan and that is what they called themselves.” He gestured towards the book, “see here.”

  Nar’Allia stepped forward, what she saw on the page made her gasp. She looked long and hard at the device shown. There was a circular badge, in its centre staring back at her was a clear picture of a T’Iea man. But no words of description were written. “How can this be? Who is this?”

  Vaugnhal just shrugged. “We do not know, yet you seem to be one of the same people,” he looked at Nar’Allia’s pointed ears. “They were reputed to have been teachers, those who led our people into the desert, where from is not recorded. But we have not seen any of their kind until now.” He pointed towards Nar’Allia.

  She drew herself up, had her people met with these humans before? If so when? But she wanted to ask something else, mysteries of this kind would have to wait. So again seeking Amndo’s permission she asked the only other question that could possibly help them, the only remaining course of action she could think that may aid their search. “Then Headlord could you guide us, aid us that we may find the Mecharmy Clan, see if they know what this item is that you hold, perhaps they can tell us more, give some answers and direction to where my mother Minervar may be found?”

  Vaugnhal smiled, He looked towards Amndo and said, “if that is your wish. This I can do, sooner than you think in fact. There is a time coming soon, there is to be an annual meeting of all the clans, at least many of them will come. I have no doubt that the Mecharmy will be represented at this meeting.” He turned towards his daughter and smiling grasped her hand.

   “The Jethrent”, said JDC under his breath. 

  Vaugnhal looked towards JDC and nodded in agreement. Then by way of a brief explanation he said as he looked around at all their faces, “many get together in a special place every year to swap stories, meet to gather news, to trade with one another and generally socialise. We have games to test each other’s warriors and many feasts.”

  Vaugnhal turned once more to look at JDC, he nodded. “indeed, master gnome, the Jethrent. We are at this moment travelling to the Jethrent, we gather more clan members as we pass, they will come to us when our Duagnuats call. Other Clans will be doing the same, all will meet in the Jethrent at the gathering of all. I will gladly have you travel with us if you wish.”

  It was Alicshea who spoke next after she had gained the nod from her father. “Master gnome, it was at the Jethrent we met, you will not remember but it is for this reason that I trusted you when we first saw your party in the desert. It is for this reason that we trust you now, but I warn you, do not do anything to betray that trust. If you are to travel with us we offer this freely, but if you break the bond of offer, we will leave your remains to dry and wither, to be forever buried and lost at the whim of a twist of the sands.

  JDC coughed somewhat nervously at this unexpected warning. Nar’Allia thought that although they had been welcomed into the world of these people, they were to remain outsiders it seemed.

  In an effort to lighten the mood Jonas asked, “where is this Jethrent?”

  In response and in a slightly more cheerful voice Vaugnhal responded by saying, “the Jethrent is in many places. Each year it is different, but this year is a time of the tenth counting so it will be in a place further west, much farther into the desert from here, you will see. This is a special place, you will see.”

  JDC then said, “thank you Headlord for your kind offer, we will do this, your hospitality knows no bounds.”

  At this Vaugnhal nodded and with a great smile on his face replied, “so be it, we leave in the morning, the journey will take us several weeks, but what you see at the end will amaze you. For now let us eat, the daily dark will be upon us and rest will be needed.”

  He clapped his hands and several nomads entered the tent carrying plates of all kinds of foods and drink. Much of the food was dried or in some other preserved state, but everything was nourishing and full of flavour. Some of what they ate had a highly spiced flavour and some had Nar’Allia coughing and spluttering, on more than one occasion Alicshea offered her a glass of water which she drank from thankfully. 

  At some time during the meal, Nar’Allia spoke to JDC and asked if he remembered Vaugnhal’s daughter. He said that he did not, at least to the best of his knowledge, however he added, he had bartered and sold things many times to the various nomadic groups in his many years travelling the desert and also on occasions at the various Jethrent meetings. He went on to say they are a very private people they kept themselves covered up from head to toe. He had rarely actually seen the features of any nomad person whilst doing business with them, for they would cover their faces when presented to outsiders, so it was quite possible that he had met Alicshea before and not recognised her in the same way as she had recognised him.

  After the meal Alicshea came over to Nar’Allia and offered her the use of her tent. Nar’Allia accepted the offer and together the two women left Vaugnhal’s tent and strode across the sands to another large tent nearby. The brighter stars were starting to shine through the gathering twilight; Nar’Allia couldn’t help but look up in wonder.

  “You like the daily dark lanterns milady?”

  “Umm, the stars you mean, yes, yes I do, they remind me of home.”

  “Where is the place you call home may I ask?”

  “Well, a long way from here from other lands where the trees grow tall.”

  Alicshea looked questioningly at Nar’Allia she repeated “Trees? I know not that word, what is trees please?”

  Nar’Allia was astonished at this question, could it be these peoples had spent their entire life in the desert and never seen a tree. But then
why would they, none grew here in the desert, nothing grew here at all. “Trees are, well they are plants, umm they are living things they grow out of the earth, they feed upon the earth and grow to the sky. They spread great arms in every direction and sprout leaves that gather the sunlight which is part of the way they feed.”

  “They eat sunlight?”

  “Well, no, not exactly, they absorb the light, it is part of a chemical reaction that turns sunlight and mineral matter into energy and growth.”

  Alicshea thought for a while and said, “they sound like monsters, destroying sunlight and eating the sands.”

  “No, no, not like that at all, they are friendly, they are beautiful, they provide food for us, and shelter, they provide materials for building our homes, without them we would be lost.”

  “Are we, the clans lost then?” Asked Alicshea.

  “No, of course not, but your life, your culture is based upon a wholly different set of standards.” Nar’Allia searched for a way to explain, then suddenly she thought of the ornate poles that held up the nomads tent, so she said, “you know the tall poles that hold up your tents, those are made from a material that we call wood, it is a material from the trees of which I speak. You must have seen trees to get that material”

  Alicshea thought for a while, “No, you are wrong, we have not seen trees. The poles as you call them, they are gifts from the teachers, gifts to us as a favoured people.” Here she looked closely at Nar’Allia’s ears, she reached out as if wanting to touch them.

  Nar’Allia drew back not knowing what Alicshea’s intent may be.

  Nar’Allia then said, “We may seem different you and I, but really you are the same as us, it’s just that your people look slightly different to my people. But all peoples are the same underneath if you strip them of the varying ways they look, or the things that have influenced them.”

  Alicshea seemed to spend some time thinking on this, then she turned to Nar’Allia and said, “this is good, being the same is good, difference is bad, difference causes bad things to happen, our history tells us this.” Alicshea then strode forward towards her tent; Nar’Allia followed a little perplexed at what she had just heard.

  They entered Alicshea’s tent. It was lavishly decorated much the same as the tent they were in before. Alicshea looked at Nar’Allia’s garb, “you are you a great warrior?”

  “Me? No, hardly. I inherited this mail and these weapons. I have had some training with the sword, but all my life I have shot a bow,” she took the black bow from across her back and showed it to Alicshea. “This one I only acquired recently though, but I pride myself as being quite a good shot with it.”

  Alicshea looked at the bow, but didn’t seem that interested in it, she suggested, “perhaps you would like to change into something less formal?” 

  Nar’Allia was slightly taken back by this sudden change in topic, but she composed herself. “Yes, that would be nice, thank you,” responded Nar’Allia who had spent the entire time travelling the desert in the clothing she now wore and she though with a little embarrassment that she most probably would be in need of some fresh clothing.

  So Alicshea retrieved a gown similar to the one she was wearing, along with a pair of the baggy trousers and loose flowing shirt, these she placed over an ornate silk screen. Nar’Allia changed out of her travelling gear behind a screen, but before she could put on the clothing that Alicshea had produced a servant girl appeared with a bowl of sweet smelling liquid. Nar’Allia felt a little embarrassed by this intrusion on her privacy and a little more embarrassed by her appearance which must be less than clean. But the servant girl did not seem to take any notice, or even bat an eyelid as she took some of the oil from the bowl on her hands and proceeded to rub this gently into Nar’Allia’s skin. At first Nar’Allia was taken aback by this action. But when the girl then took an ornate blunt blade of wood and scrapped the oil along with the dirt from her body and her hair she began to feel a little easier about the process, although slightly more embarrassed by the dark stained colour of the oil that now lay in the bottom of the bowl. All the while the servant girl seemed to take a great interest in Nar’Allia’s ears, she felt embarrassed by the attention to a part of her body that did not normally rate so much attention both from this girl and Alicshea before. Nar’Allia assumed her ears were the only part of her that differentiated her physical looks from that of the human race. The servant girl went out three times to get fresh oil. But after this was completed Nar’Allia felt much better, rejuvenated and certainly smelling a lot sweeter. So after the girl left taking the final bowl of dirty oil with her, Nar’Allia put on the fresh clothes that hung on the screen and came round back to where Alicshea sat eating some dark wrinkly-skinned fruits.

  As Nar’Allia joined the nomad girl she asked her, “Alicshea, what about you, are you a warrior?”

  Alicshea shrugged, “all our women carry arms, the speciality of my father’s clan is the long rifle, you may have seen them, all of us carry them when crossing the desert. We found long ago that all our people should be proficient in firing such weapons. All should fight against the differences or fall trying”

  “Is there a lot of danger then, here in the Rust Desert?”

  “Enough, yes. Sometimes raiders come into the desert, where they originate we do not know, perhaps from the gnome town on the coast, or perhaps the sky city to the southeast. Many come with the promise of riches beyond their imagination buried beneath the desert, they wish to search for them, some wish to steal from us. Sometimes feuds boil over between clans. Others, sometimes the gnomes attack us if they think us an easy target, but not very often, most know otherwise now.” At this last comment she smiled mischievously.

  “What about the Pnook, I mean the gnomes like JDC, the ones that also live in the desert?”

  “They live in the desert as do we. Most we believe they are outcast from the gnome sky city. They are very few now though.” Alicshea thought for a while then said, “once long ago a larger group appeared and started to harass us. This was before I was born, when my father was a young warrior. The story tells that several gnome sky ships landed in the desert and threw out upon the sands a group of gnomes about five hundred in number. These gnomes were led by a one who called himself Trynacs. Firstly, Trynacs tried to ally himself with the gnome population in the desert, he approached many with promises about a better life in the sky city many knew what he said to be false. But all the same some joined him, romanced by his words of a better life, an easier life, all they had to do was join him and attack the sky city and take it for themselves. But many refused. When Trynacs realised that most would not have anything to do with him he was angered and started to systematically attack them, killing many who would not cooperate with him. The remaining gnomes asked us for refuge and help, we agreed, for we thought that once the gnomes of the desert were subject to Trynacs rule, he would then turn his thoughts to us and try to rule over us as well. We surmised it best to bring war to him before he had the time to gain strength and bring war to us. So, it was decided and the clans grouped for war. The clans and what remained of the desert gnomes attacked Trynacs and a great battle ensued. Trynacs did not have great weapons or as yet great numbers of warriors and quickly he was overcome. He died in the battle as did many of his followers who are even now scattered and leaderless roaming the desert like their desert kinsmen. They remain ignorant of the ways of the desert however and if the desert hasn’t ended their pitiful lives then we kill them whenever we come across them.”

  Nar’Allia was shocked at what she heard, she understood the mistrust exhibited by the human nomad clans, but even so she assumed them to be docile, but again it was made obvious that they were not at all docile under certain circumstances. She decided to try and change the subject so she asked, “so what about your people, how long have they been living here in the desert?”

  “It is said that our clans have lived here in the desert for all of time. But I do not believe this. Our cult
ure has many loose ends, unexplained history and stories of another place. Our clan names for instance and the language they are written in. I do not think this is something of our creation, but draws its origins from another older people. Many of our people have arllooms, a lot of these are made from materials that we do not possess, neither do we have the knowledge of how to make them. Many arllooms have a function that we do not comprehend, so I wonder where did these things come from?”

  Nar’Allia was curious, “what are these arllooms?”

  “They are many different things, the only commonality is that they have been handed down from generation to generation within a family, my father has many, some he has given to me already, would you like to see?”

  “Yes, that would be most interesting, yes please,” nodded Nar’Allia.

  Alicshea moved over to one side of the tent where a large wooden trunk sat. Nar’Allia followed her over and gasped. The wooden trunk was covered in T’Iea designs of all kinds. Trees and plants, depictions of T’Iea people in elegant dress. Alicshea kneeled in front of it and placing her hand carefully upon a shiny pad at the front of the lid.

  Nar’Allia heard a click. But she was running her hands across the carvings that adorned the trunk. “Where did you get this?”

  Alicshea said, “we have always had it, my families stories tell that it came originally from the teachers, “she pointed at the carvings, “these are the teachers. Alicshea looked at Nar’Allia, well at her ears actually. “They were like you, they had the same long ears?”

  Nar’Allia nodded, she was completely taken aback. “You have had contact with my people before. You must have done to get such a thing.”

  Alicshea continued. “The stories say that when we first arrived in the great sands, the teachers instructed us on how to survive. They taught us many things, we still rely on many of the skills they showed to us, such skills are always taught to the next generation, always we remember what the teachers told us.”

  Alicshea said, “this trunk was itself a gift from the teachers the lock mechanism has been adjusted so that only my touch will operate it thus. I know nothing of how it works, neither do any of our wise men or women, only my father knows enough to adjust it, that knowledge has been handed down from generation to generation. Maybe one day he will teach me, so that I may adjust it for my son or daughter when the time comes when I to must pass the way of my ancestors. Lowering her eyes back to the trunk she lifted the lid. Reaching inside she took out several items wrapped in cloth. She seemed to choose one at random and unwrapping the cloth carefully beckoned Nar’Allia to join her. She then handed the object to Nar’Allia. It looked like a circular disk, it was about seven centimetres in diameter, on one side there were colourful patterns and devices that looked like letters in the old language similar to that of the book of devices she had been shown by Vaughnal. Nar’Allia turned the disk over, the other side had no such coloured patterns, but as she moved the disk around what looked like rainbows reflected off its surface and flowed in a circular manner around the disk. Next out of its wrappings was a peculiar little thing that had four circular disks at each corner, it looked a little like some kind of cart of sorts, a sort of vehicle but there was nowhere for any horses to be hitched to it, a row of little windows ran completely around the top part, inside Nar’Allia could see a tiny little statue of a human sitting down with his arms extended in front of him holding another spoked wheel. She handed these things back to Alicshea, who had unwrapped another thing. Nar’Allia now held a small black box that had several buttons and dials upon it and a circular glass piece set into the front. There was also a square glass window above this that was repeated on the back. Alicshea motioned that Nar’Allia should hold this up to her eye, she did so and found she could see a small picture of the inside of the tent through this little window. She gave this back to Alicshea with a shrug. Alicshea explained again that neither she nor any others of her people knew what these things were, she only knew that they had been handed down from generation to generation for as long as people could remember.

  “What about the weapons you carry, where did they come from? How do they work.”

  “Ah, these came from below the sands, many things can be found there if the wind has uncovered areas where the old-ones city can be accessed.” Alicshea stood and retrieved her weapon from where it leaned against a post. She shouldered it and pointed it at an empty glass bottle standing on a table, all of a sudden with a noise like a clap of thunder, a bolt of light fired from the tube, this beam like an arrow of light hit the bottle and instantaneously the bottle exploded into millions of pieces. Almost immediately two nomad guardsmen ran into the tent holding their own weapons at the ready. “It’s alright brothers, be stilled, I was just demonstrating my weapon to our guest here.” The two men lowered their rifles and nodding to Alicshea they both exited the tent again.

  “Hmmm an effective weapon no less,” said Nar’Allia. “You mentioned the old-ones city, what is that?”

  “Stories from our ancestors tell of a place beneath the sands, no one knows how far it extends, but it is big, perhaps it lies beneath the whole of the Rust Desert, no one knows for sure, but many have been into this place, only briefly though, because like I said access can only be gained during a twist of the sands, when the wind blows the sand in such a way that such access is uncovered. But it is dangerous, for what the wind has uncovered, it can easily cover back over again.”

  Nar’Allia thought about the trip they had made across the desert and how Jonas had gotten split up from them, she thought of the metal structures that had appeared and disappeared. “Yes, we have experienced such as we travelled. JDC also told of such places.”

  Alicshea nodded as if in acknowledgment. “Many have lost their lives in such a way, but sometimes it is worth the risk for many things may be found in the city, things of great interest and value. It is these things that many search for, my father does not encourage us to search for these things, he says that to search is to succumb to greed and greed leads only to death. He doesn’t stop us though if we wish to explore these things, but he is right in one thing, there is great danger within. Once our clan managed to get access into the city but many of the brothers and sisters that went in fell ill within days and died mysteriously. On another occasion once inside we were attacked by a clan of ravenous beasts, but they did not carry weapons of any sort and were easily fought off. We have found books within the place also, the book with all the clans pictures that my father showed you is one such book. It is said that long, long ago there was one among us that could translate some of these books and thus was born the story of the great difference.”

  Nar'Allia’s interest was captured, a story from the old city must be interesting and may be helpful in understanding what happened to Minervar. So excitedly she said, “perhaps you would tell me this story?”

  Alicshea smiled “It is just a warning, not really a story, it says that to live in peace is right, to do this we must all agree, we must all be the same, of same thought and deed. For to be different is to disagree, for to be different will destroy us. That is why we have the Jethrent. Because we are numerous different clans, we must meet to stay the same, if we did not meet we may eventually become different and wars will be fought.”

  Nar’Allia saw some logic in this, but she also had some misgivings, but rather than voice her opinions on the matter she asked, “have you been in the city beneath the sands Alicshea?”

  “Yes, of course, many times, but do not tell my father this,” she smiled mischievously. “But it lies in ruins, the sand and wind erodes much. It infiltrates everywhere covering everything. I have known some of my people, and some gnomads, that have tried to get further into the city, to get down further, for it obviously is only the upper level of the city that is uncovered by the twist of the sands, I think much more lies beneath, further down. But many times we came across a hardened rock that looks like sand yet is solid and we cannot penetrate any further dow
n. The gnome you travel with, the one they call JDC, he has been in the city, when I was younger he employed many clan children to be lookouts for him, I was one, that is why I know of him, but I have grown and he does not recognise me. He used to pay us for information on areas of the desert where a twist of the sands had exposed the city beneath.” She leant over and retrieved something else from the box of arllooms. It was a small box similar to the one she held before, she depressed a button and a strange hissing noise emanated from the device. “JDC gave us this to communicate with him wherever he was in the desert. Always when we pushed this button he would answer and we could tell him where the wind had exposed the city, where the twist of the sands had occurred. He would come and pay us.” She suddenly looked at the device she held for it had stopped hissing and gone quiet. She started to speak closely into the box, she said, “is someone there? Respond. Master JDC is that you?” They heard some noises coming from the box, something that sounded like breathing a regular intake and exhale of breath, then there was a series of clicks and the sound of feet walking across what sounded like a metallic floor. Then it went quiet and the hissing sounded again. Alicshea shrugged and dropped the device back into her box as said, “but he has not answered for a long time.”

  Nar’Allia looked from the device which Alicshea had dropped into the trunk back at her face. The girl looked her in the eyes and continued, “some of our wisest men say that the city was once our home and it is where we came from. They say that the city holds many answers for us should we wish to brave an attempt at exploration. I know some clans have organised such exploration attempts, but to my knowledge none have returned to report on whatever they have found. Maybe they still live down there, maybe there are far greater dangers the deeper into the lost city, who knows. I’m sure though there will be other attempts and one day we may understand more.”

  Nar’Allia yawned, she found herself looking forward to a night in a comfortable bed inside a warm tent rather than a thin covering over the desert sand trying to keep the cold out of her bones. “I’m sorry Alicshea, it seems that I must sleep, forgive me, perhaps we could talk further tomorrow?”

  “Yes, of course, please I did not mean to tire you, but tomorrow we pack and move on, so it may be a good idea if we both get a good night’s rest as the clan will be rising early to work in the cooler temperatures.”