by Rex Hazelton
Black as a scribe's ink pot, the eastern horizon marked the beginning of the Stone Desert. And as the intolerable hot day passed by, the blackness grew closer like the ink pot had tipped over to send its contents slowly flowing their way.
Then, at the point where the Oakenfels thought things couldn't get worse, the tufts of sinewy grass disappeared when they were confronted by a vast expanse of sand dunes that lay between them and their destination.The change would have been no less abrupt than if the desert had given way to a sea. And indeed it was a sea filled with sand that rose and fell in great swells. But unlike the briny deep that was in perpetual, undulating motion, the hill-sized waves of sand were as motionless as warriors slain on a field of battle. Only the thickening black line that marked the Stone Desert on the eastern horizon broke up the monotonous sight.
The beads of sweat on faces hidden in the shadows that their hoods and hat mercifully provided, was the only visible sign that the young men's bodies were losing vital moisture, since the perspiration, that should have soaked their garments, quickly evaporated in the rising heat.
The only hope to be found in the dire situation was the sight of a mountain peak that rose like a purple blemish on the northern horizon, beyond the sea of sand dunes. Sky Master, as the massive mountain was called, marked Ar Warl's southern boundary. Twice the height of any of the peaks known to man, its presence meant that the Black Mountains were not far off to the left of where the purple cone stood. White could be seen on top of the steep heights, though it was nearly lost in the pale sky that threatened to swallow the brilliant blotch that was, in reality, a glacial field of ice that tenaciously clung to Sky Master's upper reaches.
Sadly the hope that Sky Master's appearance engendered was a false one. It was too far off to reach without water being found. And if water was located, it had to be a sufficient enough supply to see the depleted travelers safely across the indeterminable stretch of barren terrain that separated them from their goal, the ruined city of Mishal Parm that sat on the great mountain's lower slopes.
Ay'Roan's size made him more vulnerable to the inclement conditions than his brothers. Needing more water, so his larger body could cool itself off with the greater amount of sweat it exuded, his powers of reasoning were being assailed by his worsening condition. His thoughts were losing their focus. His temper, though muddled right along with his intellectual faculties, was taking control. "Burn it to ashes, I can't die this way," he complained with a voice weakened by his ordeal.
Loving the Bjork as much as he did, Ay'Roan was a seafarer at heart. The long, thin braids that fell in front of his ears, and the tattoo of a blue hammer that lay upon his neck, gave proof to his affinity for longboats and the proud seaman that sailed in them. Like the Bjork, he deemed that dying in battle was an honorable thing, especially if the battle took place on water. But to die of thirst with his sword sheathed, and in a place that was the antithesis to the seas he loved, was intolerable.
"We won't die," Kaylan said after he made certain his mount was sheltered in the shade cast by the last of the rock outcroppings that stood like a watch tower overlooking the sea of sand dunes. "Ahrnosyn and the others wouldn't have sent us this way if water couldn't be found."
"Has the old man crossed the Madara Desert?" Draped in the large boulder's shadow, two ring's of amber light could be seen as Travyn worked mindlessly on reshaping the wide-brimmed hat he held in his hands. The first of the brothers to finish tethering his horse, he took a moment to rest before setting up camp for the day.
"None of them have. Not Illumanor. Not Alynd. Nor Marta," J'Aryl said in an attempt to curtail Travyn's inherent cynicism, "But that doesn't mean their counsel is bad. Besides, Mother said we should come this way. And she would never place us in needless peril."
"Aye, brother," Travyn lifted his head to look at J'Aryl. "But even the Prophetess can make mistakes." The memory of the times he had told his mother lies so he could go off and do what he wanted to do, mostly things Muriel didn't approve of, stirred in his mind. But this wasn't why he was being contrary. He was still angry that his plan to enter Ar Warl had been cast aside so easily. And Travyn never handled rejection well.
Travyn wanted to enter the Ar by crossing over the Black Mountains like his father had when he went looking for Andara's tears. But this idea was quickly rejected because it would bring the Oakenfels into contact with the Ar Warlers too soon. Crossing the Madara Desert, on the other hand, would prevent this from happening before they reached Mishal Parm, the birthplace of the Hammer of Power. Once they gathered what information could be gleaned from visiting the ruined city, for the brothers' advisors believed Jeaf would come to the place where the Hammer of Power was created early on in his search, the young men could then choose a course of action without outside influences complicating their decision.
"Ashes, Kaylan," Ay'Roan grunted out his words as he leaned his back against a boulder after clumsily sitting down. "If there's water in this fire-blasted place, you better find it soon. I don't think I'll last another day if you don't." How he missed the sea and the cool breezes that danced atop its perpetually moving surface.
Studying the monochromatic landscape that spread out before the rock outcropping, Kaylan marveled at the dunes' beauty. The slopes whose smoothness elicited a sigh of pleasure from the man who valued nature's artistic inclinations, and the stark contrast of the pale sand set against the blue sky.
It was common place to see larger dunes that looked like they were trying to run over the top of smaller ones that had inadvertently gotten in their way. No doubt this feature was created by the wind patterns found in the region. The larger dunes identified the direction that the primary winds blew, ever eastward toward the Stone Desert; while the smaller dunes gave proof to lesser winds that rose up to challenge the dominant ones' primacy. On top of all of this, the thread-like shadows that rippled across the dunes' surface gave the illusion that a breeze was blowing, though none was.
One sinewy shadow that worked its way up the nearest sand dune revealed the path a serpent had recently taken. At least we know snakes can live in the sand, Kaylan said to himself as a mirthless smile crossed his face. And where there are snakes, there are rodents and the like. And where there are rodents, there's water. But is there enough of it to keep four men and their horses alive?
Inhaling the air like he was enjoying the savory aroma of a meal that was about to be served, Kaylan's smile deepened. "Wait here while I go looking for water. I should be back before morning. And if I don't miss my guess, I think I'll be carrying good news with me once I return."
With that said, Kaylan unpacked four empty waterskins and set off for the dunes. In spite of the merciless attention the sun paid him, Kaylan knew time was of the essence. He needed to find water before the painful side effects of extreme dehydration took hold of Ay'Roan, and there were the horses to think of. With all of this taken into account, the intolerable heat would have to be endured. Finding water could no longer wait.
Watching his brother follow the serpent's winding trail up and over the nearest dune, Travyn put his hat back on his head before sat down next to Ay'Roan, whose uneasy repose was filled with quiet groans and nonsensical mumbling. Leaning against the same boulder Ay'Roan was, Travyn shook his head in disbelief as he saw Kaylan disappear down the back side of a dune that was farther off. Though he had no water, no shade, and little hope of success, Kaylan did have his brother's admiration for the bravery he displayed in going out into the dunes in daytime. Shaking his head once more, Travyn reached up and pulled his hat's wide brim over his eyes. With nothing to do but wait, sleep was a better alternative to the nagging thirst that dominated his thoughts.
"Get up," Kaylan's voice forced its way into Travyn's sleep to pull him out of the dreamless void his conscious mind had been pulled into. "I found water." His brother's simple declaration acted as the catalyst that completed the journey to wakefulness.
"Where?" Two rings of amber light followed Kayla
n's shadowy form as he moved quietly through the darkness that had descended on the desert while Travyn slept.
"It's not far away," Kaylan answered.
"Get up," he repeated his earlier directive. "I need your help."
"Here," Travyn heard Kaylan say to J'Aryl who was keeping guard as his brothers slept. "Tend to the horses."
J'Aryl took one of the skins that Kaylan was carrying and poured its contents into a water-proof feed bag before he carried it over to the horses who snorted as they waited impatiently for the life-giving fluid.
Travyn, after taking one of the skins from Kaylan, took a quick swallow before he went over to Ay'Roan. Not letting his brother have too much water at first, Travyn took sips in turn to break things up until Ay'Roan was revived enough to take a long drink. Once Ay'Roan was done, Travyn threw his wide-brimmed hat onto his back, where it was held in place by a thin strip of leather that lay against his neck, and took a long drink of his own. Once he was done, he handed Ay'Roan the skin with the admonition to go easy on the water they would need to help them reach the place that Kaylan had found it. Then he went over to help his brothers finish tending to the horses.
In time, the Oakenfels were on the move. Buoyed by the promise of more water, the brothers headed out onto the dunes whose forms were lost in the moonless night that surrounded them.
Moving up and down the mounds of sand, Ay'Roan was the only brother riding on a horse as he continued to slowly hydrate himself. When his vigor returned, embarrassment came with it. Though he had been regularly switching mounts, making certain to not overly tax any single animal, Ay'Roan growled out, "Enough of this foolishness. If everyone else is walking... so will I."
With that said, he dropped to the ground and slung the water skin he had been drinking from onto the saddle. Known for his strength, his pride wouldn't let him do otherwise. But strength had not been the issue since thirst could fell a large man as easily as it could a small man. Size was no defense against its ravages.
As a full moon rose above the eastern horizon, the brothers' spirits rose with it. They wouldn't die today. And if the distance to Sky Master was not greater than the water supplies they planned on gathering once they reached the spring Kaylan told them about, the threat of dying of thirst would come to an end.
"You're sure you can find the spring again?" J'Aryl's wavy, black head of hair was silhouetted against the silvery moonlight that filled the quickly cooling night sky.
"Most certainly." Kaylan's confidence was not misplaced. His sense of smell, if that was what it was, had changed after the time he spent with Lylah in the Realm of Vapor. Now the scent of water was compelling in a way it had never been before, even if it came from the smallest of sources. A cup of water, a miniscule puddle that gathered after a light rain, and the like would assault Kaylan's nostrils as strongly as a feast long anticipated.
His nose wasn't the only thing affected by water, his heart and all that lay behind his rib cage was equally moved by a scent that made the core of his being ache with longing. And whenever the water's fragrance reached his nose, memories of Lylah flooded his mind.
"It's not far now," Kaylan said to his brothers with a smile that a lingering memory of the enchanting waterkynd engendered.
After ascending to the top of the seventh dune they had climbed since J'Aryl had asked his question, Kaylan ran his hand through his long, honey-colored hair before he pointed down into the swell that lay before them.
"There," he said.
But his words held no excitement in them. For a strange light flickered in the midst of the darkness that sat in the bottom of the narrow valley, a darkness that the bold moon's light couldn't touch. Like the dregs in the bottom of a cask of wine, the unexpected shadow was weightier than the silvery night sky that lay on top of it. Someone or something was at the spring. And the unusual darkness that filled the trough-like valley warned the brothers that they carried magic with them.
After discussing their options, the Oakenfels felt they had no choice but to enter the foreboding darkness. The spring was there. So, that's where they would go. The darkness, and the disturbing light that danced in its midst, would have to be faced. Whatever waited for them there would have to be dealt with. Still, discretion was called for.
That's why the brothers slipped behind the ridge they stood on to hide from sight. Making their way northward, they reached a point where they passed over the top of the dune and into a part of the winding little valley where the darkness didn't reach. Here, Kaylan and J'Aryl took out two of the Candle Maker's candles they carried with them. Ay'Roan and Travyn withdrew their swords. No longer armed with elven leaf-blades that would draw unwanted attention in Ar Warl, the brothers now carried conventional weapons. Their mounts were left to their own devices. But the scent of water that came from the spring prompted the horses to follow the men into the darkness.
"Look at this," Travyn said as he knelt to examine the sand beneath them. A trough that was a hand's width deep and four hands wide wound its way along the narrow valley floor. "If a snake made this, it would be the largest one I've ever seen."
"And if my guess is right," J'Aryl stared at the pool of darkness that lay before them as he spoke, "it's heading for the spring."
Touching the rounded trough he knelt over, Travyn's eyes narrowed as he said, "Surely, the creature that left this track in the sand is dangerous. If it's a shape-shifter, the form it chose to assume portends ill tidings."
Ay'Roan rotated his neck and shoulder muscles to loosen them for what would come next. "Aye," he replied. "I think you're right brother. Still, we must reach the spring, even if we have to fight to get there. The horses need more water."
Two circles of amber light appeared as Travyn gazed up at Ay'Roan. The silvery moonlight revealed the smirk that was on his face as he spoke, "The horses need water? Right! I see you eyeing the waterskins." Laughing as he stood, Travyn slapped Ay'Roan on the back before saying, "Don't worry Little Brother, nothing will keep us from reaching the spring and filling up our waterskins, be it a giant snake or shape-shifter that gets in the way."
Ay'Roan, who was a head taller than Travyn, accepted the name his older brother patronized him with, though he hoped there would come a time when he would quit using it.
With a wry smile on his face, Ay'Roan replied, "Why would I be worried when I have a big brother like you to protect me?" After huffing in mock disdain, he added, "Like I need to have someone look out for me."
"And why would I be worried when I have three older brothers to look out for me?" J'Aryl , the youngest of the Oakenfel boys, chimed in while he shook his head in disbelief over the squabbling he was witnessing. "Now if you children are done, we have work to do." And with that said, J'Aryl stepped into the darkness that waited for them like it was a black cat ready to pounce on a mouse, actually four mice to be precise.
A moment later, three men and five horses joined him. A moment after that, a Word of Power was spoken and two candle flames came to life. Though they found that they could see farther than they expected to once inside the field of darkness that enveloped them, J'Aryl and Kaylan weren't taking any chances. Not only would the flames' light increase their field of vision, being lit as they were, the candles' magic would be readily accessible.
Ay'Roan chose not to use the Wisdor Stone that sat on the ring he wore, uncertain if its magic would work in the cloud of shadow they walked through. Besides, he thought it wise to keep its magic in reserve encase he'd need it later.
Looking sooty-gray, the moon's silvery brilliance was extinguished by the darkness the Oakenfel's moved carefully through. The sand itself took on the spectral aspect it had once had before the moon's clarion appearance.
The hissing noise stones make when they roll down a dune was heard off to both the right and left.
"What's making that sound?" Amber rings of light could be seen moving about as Travyn's eyes searched the dunes' expanse. His right hand re-gripped his sword. His left hand pulled hi
s long knife out from the belt it had been tucked into.
Though all the Oakenfel men are Woodswane, who were expert in traveling through the dark, Kaylan's night vision was the best. Many thought this was due to the love he had for the elves and the extensive time he spent living with them in Forest Deep. "It's just noise," Kaylan said in reply. "There's nothing to see."
"Something has to be making the sound." Ay'roan sounded angry. "Either there's something there we haven't caught sight of yet, or it's meant to be a distraction to keep us from focusing on what lies ahead."
"You might be right Little Brother," Travyn said as he quickened his step to match J'Aryl's steady pace.
Calling Ay'Roan Little Brother, partly because his impressive size and big personality made him anything but that, Travyn called J'Aryl Baby Brother whenever the patronizing inclination came over him, even though the childhood moniker didn't fit J'Aryl in the least. His willingness to enter the threatening darkness first was ample proof of who he was, and he certainly wasn't someone who would hide behind his older brothers. In fact, being the youngest of the four, he had to fight the hardest to earn a place among siblings who not only didn't receive coddling when they were children, but were loathe to give it to others, especially to another brother. In the Oakenfel home, though each would choose to die to protect the other if the situation warranted it, everyone had to carry their own weight. Everyone had to be able to take care of themselves, even in the direst of situations. After all, the family's history made this a necessity.
In time, after negotiating a bend in the valley, the strange light came into view. Though it flickered more than a normal campfire would, a campfire is what it was. Built in a crook the wind had carved into an outcropping of limestone the dunes had failed to cover up, its flashing quality was magnified by the pale backdrop it stood in front off. To the right of the flickering campfire, a single cloaked figure stood with a long walking stick in hand that was as tall as the figure itself.