Grains of Sand

by Varian Morn

  “Engine’s ready!”

  A sudden jolt made the wall hit me. It hurt, a lot, but I didn’t fall over. The world seemed to shake, and I didn’t need to see the nearby wall of the City of Sand draw farther away to know we had begun to move.

  The Front-Line was moving…!

  “Cannon’s ready, commander,” Jamthi said, almost too calm.

  “Turn that patch of sand to glass,” Noth ordered, and before I could even begin to understand his meaning… the whole world exploded.

  This time I really did fall to my knees, but even still I made sure not to harm the young girl in my arms as I did so.

  The whole Line seemed to rock, as if it was about to tilt and fall over. When I could actually feel that the floor was tilting, I began to panic.

  A bright flash, as if another sun suddenly appeared, lit up the whole world for a few moments… then the jolting of the Line stopped and the world returned to normal.

  Staring out the giant window, I fixated upon the cloud of dust in the distance. Although it seemed like a small storm… I knew that the Sand Worm which caused it was as big if not bigger than this Line I now was in.

  What possibly could their magic do at this distance? It was leagues away and…

  My mind went numb as once again I had to flinch and look away, as dozens of tiny suns gleamed off in the distance.

  Staring at Noth instead, for a brief moment, I watched as rays of bright sunlight danced around him, as if shining off something shiny or metallic.

  “Direct hits!” someone shouted.

  Looking back out the window, I wondered how they could tell. An even larger, and far darker, cloud of sand was now surrounding the area of the Sand Worm. And no matter how hard I stared, it seemed impossible to tell what had happened.

  “Is it dead yet?” Veronica asked quietly, her muffled voice barely heard over the silence.

  Wait…

  Silence?

  Startled, I glanced around and realized that the world had indeed gone quiet.

  No more shaking.

  No more rumbling.

  No more roars.

  There was still a small vibration… most undoubtedly from the Front-Line itself, but that terrible shaking and familiar grumbles of the giant Sand Worm were indeed gone.

  “Round the city. If it still lives, draw its attention towards us instead,” Noth ordered.

  Towards us…?

  Staring at the man, I wondered just what he could mean by that.

  Surely he didn’t plan to…

  As everyone obediently, and seemingly willingly, stayed silent and seemed to follow his order… the cold understanding sent a shiver down my spine.

  “Princess…?” the young girl noticed my reaction, looking up at me with concern filled eyes.

  “No movement still,” someone updated.

  “All cannons loaded, and ready! All are also re-aligned, and can now be used as well,” the clear woman’s voice said.

  Gulping, I realized that meant they could once again release that great magical burst of war.

  If it had actually harmed… maybe even killed a giant Sand Worm… then…

  Then why did these people even care about us? Why not just take everything we had, by force?

  We’d no more stop them than the very grains of sand they walked upon…

  Sands…

  Glass…?

  My eyes blurred as the realization of what his words had meant. Glass was made from sand. Although I myself have never seen it, everyone knew of it.

  After all, it was such glass that was seen as a symbol of wealth amongst my people.

  If you had glass… that meant you could make it.

  If you could make it, that meant you had magic.

  Because only magic could melt it hot enough.

  We no longer possessed enough materials, or resources, to produce such heat effectively. Or well, maybe we did now… what with everything we’ve received from Noth and his people.

  Looking back out the window, at the giant cloud of sand, which was turning a deep dark black… I realized it was smoke.

  Something was burning.

  And the only thing out there was sand.

  After all, even the Sand Worm was made of sand.

  Gulping at the thought of an entire city sized piece of land, becoming one giant melted lake of glass…

  “Still no movement sir!” someone said, and dozens of triumphant conversations emerged as they all congratulated each other.

  “Let’s round it anyway, before re-docking,” Noth ordered, sitting down in the solitary chair.

  “Aye, Commander!”

  Staring at the Commander of the Front-Line, and his calm smile as he talked quietly to Jamthi… I wondered if he realized just how powerful he truly was.

  Sand was power.

  It destroyed everything.

  It withered stone to more sand.

  It turned flesh and bone to sand.

  It buried anything it couldn’t dissolve.

  No matter how wealthy or powerful… your life was still at the whims of the sands.

  Whether you lived or died, was up to the sands.

  And Noth just showed he was something beyond even that.

  Not even the sands could best him.

  If that was so…

  “Princess?”

  Veronica stepped back, yet still clung to my shirt. As if she was too afraid to let go… and not because she herself was scared. She feared for me.

  Looking down at the young girl, I faked a smile and nodded. “Seems all is well,” I said to her.

  If only I could say the same for me.

  After all… what hope did I have drawing such a great man’s wrath?

  I who was nothing more than a grain of sand?

  What could I possibly do to incur his anger? To bring his fury down upon me and my house?

  What would it take…?

  And would I be capable of doing whatever it was?

  Veronica smiled up at me, and I felt sick as I smiled back.

  Chapter Thirty Four – To Stack the Sand

  “Everyone’s back to work, cousin.”

  Jamthi sat with a relieved sigh, resting his legs on a nearby table.

  “I like that table,” I said to him.

  “So do my aching feet,” he agreed.

  “Maybe I should introduce it to your face. I bet they’d make good friends,” I said.

  “Oh good. I’m they’ll get along just as well as that lamp from the other day.”

  I paused, since I had not thrown nor even threatened to do such a thing.

  “Your wife, actually,” Jamthi said, noting my confusion.

  Now I frowned. That woman was indeed a strange one… but I had not thought her capable of such violence.

  If anything it painted her in a new light. A better one.

  Maybe there was something appealing about her after all.

  “Ugh, I hate that look. You suddenly like her just because she doesn’t like me? What’s with that? And no, she didn’t throw it at me… She was trying to turn that tall crystal lamp on in your study, and accidentally made it fall on me,” he explained.

  “…”

  Now I was upset.

  “Yes. Your study. It’s a mess now, I fear,” he faked a melodramatic shake of his head… as if we were talking about a friend’s death.

  “You can’t be serious…”

  “You’re the one who told me to amuse her while you handled the docking and clean-up. I thank you though; I’m exhausted enough as it is. She’s a far more pleasurable chore,” Jamthi said.

  To think my attempt at avoiding her and the situation surrounding her would cause something like this…

  “I should lock the two of you in there until you clean it spotless,” I grumbled.

  “Threatening me with a long vocation?” he asked.

  “Permanent one then?” I asked back.

  He shrugged in defeat as he pointed with his right foot. “
What is that by the way?” he asked.

  “Some kind of present… I guess? I think it’s one of the bones from the crates the other day,” I said, ignoring it.

  Hard to do, however… since it took up nearly half my office.

  “A… a bone? And a present? From who? One of the Lords?”

  “My wife,” I said plainly.

  “Aha… Really now… wonder what it means then. Maybe it’s a culture thing, like our colored ice,” Jamthi said as he stared at the item.

  “Don’t even joke about that,” I said, glaring at my cousin and his stupid remark.

  Of all the cultural gifts to relate it to, he chose those…?

  Glancing at the giant bone, I wondered how that would even work. Grind it up into the drink maybe? If so, why bring the whole thing? And why not grind it up first?

  “I’ve heard of aphrodisiacs from bones before,” Jamthi said, as if it all made sense.

  “You would have. You need them, after all,” I said.

  “Kathrine's first present to me was colored ice,” Jamthi said, ignoring my quip.

  Now that was interesting. “Really now? I had not thought her the type. I mean, she’s an evil home-wrecker but…”

  Jamthi shook his head, but not in disagreement. “No, I don’t mean that type of ice. I just mean colored, as in different colors. It was an art attempt, I think.”

  “Oh. Is that better or worse?”

  “She didn’t take it kindly when I tossed them into that fish pond,” he said with a smile.

  “Is that why all the fish died?” I asked, I had never known. Most of those fish had been mine, even.

  “No. She did that afterward, I think. Out of spite.”

  “Hate that woman,” I said.

  Jamthi said nothing, but I knew he agreed with me. After all, that was why he was sitting here now as my quartermaster and not as her husband at their palace.

  “Nonetheless, at least you’re getting presents. Have you given her anything yet…? No of course you haven’t. How about one of your jewels?”

  “I gave her a bottle of wine the other night, remember?”

  “Such a gift,” he said sarcastically.

  Sitting back in my chair, I sighed. “I’m to assume you’re only partly joking. A gift to her, or given to the House of Derri, then?” I asked.

  “I mean, isn’t it proper? I know you all used the excuse of dowry and whatnot as the first segments of trade between us and them, but those weren’t real gifts.”

  “Does it matter? They all think it’s real. And we’re almost done. A few days after this charade, we’ll be long gone,” I said.

  When no sarcastic answer, or joke, came and silence ensued… I looked over to my cousin who was staring at me with heavy eyes.

  “Has she asked yet?” he finally broke the silence, and with a rather serious tone.

  Such seriousness deserved to be returned so I shook my head. “What’s the bet up to now?”

  “It’s insane. Bigger than anything in the last few years, at least. Most are betting on the wedding day itself, or the night… particularly,” Jamthi said.

  I groaned. “That may indeed be the winner…”

  “Only you bet she wouldn’t. Quite foolish, you’ve been on a losing streak lately,” Jamthi said.

  “Says you. This ledger proves otherwise,” I said, tapping the tiny notebook that had the estimated appraisals of the four compartments of treasure currently loaded on the Front-Line.

  Jamthi couldn’t help but smile at that, but said nothing.

  “She hasn’t asked yet, but… she…” I paused, and remember what she had said at that silly dinner the other night.

  “She…?” Jamthi furthered me.

  “Actually, in a way she did ask. But not directly,” I said, remembering it.

  Jamthi sat up, not even casually. The little table he had been resting his feet on almost fell over from the movement.

  “Well?” he ushered.

  “That dinner the other night, set up by Yevin and his apprentice. She mentioned it. She said something along the lines of me not giving her a chance to choose or something. To come with us or stay,” I said.

  “What were her exact words?” Jamthi asked, nearly ordering me to say it.

  I closed my eyes, and was a little disappointed in how easily I was able to remember them. “So, I don’t get to choose if I get to leave with you or not?”

  Jamthi slapped his forehead, rather loudly. “That’s basically it! Damn it all, I lost again!” he groaned as he sat back, exasperated.

  “You could just keep it a secret,” I said, amused by his reaction. He must have bet a lot of money again.

  “Ha,” he faked a laugh, for just a moment.

  “When’d you bet she’d ask then?” I asked.

  “I didn’t.”

  Frowning at that, I looked to my cousin and found him smiling softly at me.

  “My bet was you would.”

  It was my turn to fake a laugh, though I faked that I was faking it.

  Standing from his chair, Jamthi groaned. “May as well go deliver the bad news… though, wait…”

  He turned a little, and then came over to my desk. With a tap of his fingers, he drew closer. “Did you say yes?” he asked with a whisper.

  “Since when have I ever said yes or no to such a question?” I asked back.

  “She’s special. I have no idea what you’ll do when it concerns her,” he said defensively.

  “Sure you don’t. I didn’t give her an answer, she reached one all on her own,” I said.

  “Ah… so basically, it’s still her choice. That’s a rather underhanded way of dealing with it, but it suits you. I suppose the next bet will then be if she stays or not, of her own violation,” he reasoned, turning away from me.

  “Maybe I should bet she’ll just take up residence after the marriage… rather, I should just bet she’ll actually end up his wife instead…” he mumbled, opening the door and leaving.

  Watching him go, I almost couldn’t believe he’d actually say something like that so seriously.

  Just how in the world did he see me? Did he really think such a thing was at all possible?

  Did all of them?

  Maybe I needed a new crew…

  “Husband!”

  Looking up, I steeled myself as a bundle of white clothes ran into my office.

  With a leap, she came to a stop a few feet from my desk. With a great twirl, she danced in a tiny circle for a brief moment.

  As she did, I noticed the bright white clothing she was wearing was one of the dancing gowns from my own wardrobe.

  One of the gifts from the Queen of Ice.

  Frozen, I watched intently as Telleya happily twirled in front of me. Without a care in the world.

  I couldn’t tell what was more astonishing… her complete ignorance of the worth of the cloth she wore, or the very fact it fit her perfectly.

  “Well! How does it look?” she happily came to a stop, and somehow her giant smile grew even larger.

  Jamthi had indeed said I needed to give her a gift…

  “It’s as if it was made for you in mind,” I said, forcing the words.

  The jubilant woman’s eyes crinkled as she happily laughed. “Why thank you! Next time try not to look so pained while saying it, though,” she laughed as she spoke.

  “I meant it,” I said.

  “As much as sand is meant to be everywhere, I’m sure,” she said, and twirled once again… although slower this time. She was doing it to study herself.

  “It feels so light… I feel as if I’m not wearing anything at all!” she happily said.

  “Well, it is made of air. Nothing lighter than that, I suppose,” I said.

  Her twirling came to a stop, studying me. “Air? You mean that? How is that possible?”

  “It’s frozen air. Made into threads, which are then made into that dress. Just uh…Don’t tug on it too roughly, or it’ll all come undone in a magnificent mess,
” I said.

  Hopefully she’ll not do such a thing in front of me.

  “Oh? I see… must be some kind of magic. Well, nonetheless it is a wonder! I feel as if I could float away,” she said, hopping away from my desk a little.

  Although made of air, it didn’t actually make one lighter… though I suppose that was the best way she could describe how it felt.

  “There should have been shoes and a hat in there as well, as a set,” I said.

  “Oh I found those, but I don’t know how to walk in such shoes. Let alone run and dance,” she said happily.

  “And the hat?”

  “It looked silly,” she said with a laugh.

  I smiled at that, and knew it was a cultural difference. That hat had been seen as one of the most delicate and significant piece of the outfit. At least in the Lands of Ice.

  “Alright then, husband,” she then gave me a smile, waved and headed for the door.

  Watching her go, I stared at her bare back as she danced more than walked out of my office.

  I suppose the dress did in fact fit her.

  “Wait that’s it?” I asked, once I found myself alone in my office.

  She had left already? That was all she had wanted?

  Just to show me the dress?

  Such a strange woman…

  Grabbing a nearby report, I studied it far too long before I realized I wasn’t even reading anything.

  Instead I was still focused on something else.

  Something worse.

  Sighing, I waved and the door to my office closed.

  I couldn’t afford to do this much longer.

  To think the day would come that such a simple ploy… such a harmless façade would be enough to break me.

  It was getting to the point that I couldn’t even distract myself. The battle this morning, as quick as it was, had nearly gotten me in trouble… My people had noticed I was intentionally trying to prolong the event.

  When I had ordered them to circle the city for a third time, even after verifying the thing was long dead… I half expected Jamthi to summon Yevin from the tone in his voice as he argued my order.

  It wasn’t their fault… usually they’d put up with me and my strangeness… but there was far too much treasure laying in wait within those sandy walls…

  People had even panicked for a moment, worried some of the half-emptied crates would have been pilfered or stolen during our absence. More than a hundred crates had been left behind the wall, waiting to be loaded into the Front-Line.