Beneath a Desert Moon

by Mary Hamilton

  “No. But I don’t really know how to talk about it.” Now that Rintaur was there, she struggled to find a way to make her concerns sound rational.

  “I find it best to start with what’s first on your mind. You can work backward or forward from there. But you have to start somewhere.”

  Marzi took a moment, then expelled a long sigh before uttering one word—“Saige.”

  Silence.

  “You are aware of all that happened before we came here? She was going to come to the Bough then she changed her mind. And then she came, but something was different. It was like she was preoccupied with other things, if that makes any sense.” She forced herself to stop and wait.

  “I must admit that it would not surprise me. But what is it that you fear?”

  Marzi pulled the pieces together in her mind. “Two things. First, she doesn’t seem to recognize the danger of Dredwyn. We’ve seen his forces invade and kill yet she doesn’t seem to see the problem.”

  “Yes, I could see how that might be a dilemma, but the others—Ariessa and Elondiel, as well as the human captain—all understand.”

  “I know. But that’s the second problem. Saige seems… different now. It’s as though she wants some kind of power. I know that she wanted more knowledge and to open the borders and things like that. But this is not the same. I’m not sure what it all means or if it’s even my right to bring it up, but I sense a new danger.”

  “I will assume, for the sake of our discussion, that our goddess has placed this on your shoulders along with everything else.” Again, it was a statement.

  “Yes.” Marzi wanted to complain. She was only a kid, or was she? She knew that she had grown both physically and emotionally—still, she just wanted to be done with everything here and be able to go home. “And I want to do what is right. I want to help. I’m just not sure how to go about it.”

  “When the time comes, you will know. Of that I am certain. And before you object, I will offer you this. Saige might try to obtain more power through manipulation and playing the races against each other. Perhaps she feels that she has the ability to dictate terms to Dredwyn, or at the very least, negotiate favorable ones. But, if you are seeking my opinion, I would say let this not be about Saige. The races must come together. You have seen what Dredwyn can do. We, the elves, cannot defeat him alone. Nor can the ogres or humans. And if nothing else is clear, we all should know that this demon has no friends and feels no loyalty. One in league with him could never find safety or happiness. Never lose sight of that. And when the time comes, that is the argument you must make. Do not descend into Saige’s arena. It is beneath you. Do not try to confront or argue with her. You cannot win that battle. Keep to the high ground.”

  As she thought about it, clarity came. Her action must be directed to the ogres. Saige would try to influence them. It would be up to Marzi to offer a different vision, in a way that they would accept.

  Chapter 40: Crystal Sands

  The troop moved with a measured intensity that Tovi had never experienced. When he had traveled with Klunk and Kharla, they had moved fast sometimes and slow other times. But it had always been very casual. This march, with Captain Virgil in command, was different. Scouts ranged out in front of the squad, reporting back from time to time. The captain would occasionally drop back, apparently to consult with the rear guard, before catching up again.

  But mostly it was the lack of talking that unnerved the Azyrean. No one spoke except as necessary. Virgil’s orders came not as loud barking but rather as carefully considered words that left no doubt about who was in charge. The soldiers—the humans, Elle, and Tovi—listened and complied. There was no banter, no Klunk songs, or laughter. Tovi felt the seriousness of the mission. This was the business of war.

  As the oasis trees loomed larger, Rys and Mathias returned to the group. The human reported, “Captain, we surveyed the area. The oasis is clear. Half hour out.”

  Virgil nodded. “Very well.” He turned to the columns that had halted with the scouts’ return. “Okay, let’s move. When we get there, set standard perimeter guards. We’ll break for thirty minutes at the oasis before moving on to the mines. Let’s go.”

  The two advance scouts ranged out in front again, while the columns resumed the steady march. Tovi stared across the sands at the trees. A part of him dreaded the arrival. That was the oasis where he, Klunk, and Kharla had entered the caves. Although Tovi felt safe with this group of soldiers, the memories were strong and still haunted him.

  About thirty minutes later, they trudged into the shade of the tovar nut trees beside the pool of water. Rys and Mathias stood, watching the sands on the other side as though expecting an attack at any moment. To his surprise, Tovi felt little fatigue. He chuckled to himself, remembering how he could barely walk for ten minutes without tiring when he first arrived in Crystal Sands.

  “Thirty minutes. Guards post. Ten-minute rotation.” The band responded to Virgil’s orders with precision. Some of the soldiers shed their packs and took out snacks. Two dropped their load and took up position about ten meters on either side of the oasis, facing outward. “Tovi.” The captain turned his attention to the Azyrean.

  “Here.” Tovi walked over to where the leader stood.

  “I take it this is the oasis you talked about, the one where you accessed the caves.”

  “Yes. The entrance is right down there.” Tovi pointed into the pool. “It’s on the side, kind of a dark area. You can’t see it from here, but if you go in, it’s pretty near the surface.”

  “But we can’t get to the portal that way. Is that right?”

  “Yeah, that’s right. It’s really a long way inside and there are a bunch of rockslides.” Tovi pointed out toward a set of low, craggy hills, barely visible. “The mines are there. They have a regular entrance, but you can’t get to the portal that way either. You have to go around to the other side of those hills. Kharla said there is a back way in. It’s almost hidden, but she said we’d see it if we look for it.” He conjured up a mental picture of the tunnels and large open spaces within. “Oh, and you can’t get into the mines from the back entrance, because of those slides. But the portal is just inside the cave.”

  Rys and Mathias stood, listening to the account. The elf nodded in the direction of the hills. “Would you like me to scout around the back and find the entrance?”

  Virgil snapped his head in her direction and barked, “No!” He added, more softly, “No, I don’t want you getting separated from the troop. We don’t know what we’ll find there.”

  Mathias looked at his friend, Virgil, with a quizzical expression but kept his thoughts to himself.

  Rys retorted, “I am a capable tracker. I can take care of myself.” Her eyes flashed and she edged closer to the leader, staring directly into his eyes.

  Virgil appeared to squirm. After a moment, he responded, his voice once again soft and even. “I understand that. But I don’t want us to become separated. Once we start the final approach, you and Mathias will range forward as you have been doing. That should give you an opportunity to locate the opening. And by the way, in case you missed my initial directives before we left, Ryshara of the Twilight Bough or wherever you come from, those in my command never go rogue and run off by themselves. We move in pairs and keep to a buddy system for a reason. If you don’t like it, I suggest you either suck it up or go back to base camp and help set up cots for the injured, or cook, or do something useful there.”

  Ryshara tilted her head slightly, considering the captain and then nodded. “As you wish.”

  Tovi noticed Virgil clench his fists at his side. The Azyrean slid over and sat beside Ellemareth, taking his water skin from his pack. “Hey, Elle, what was that all about? The captain looked upset there.”

  “I cannot say, Tovi, but it almost seemed as though….” Her voice trailed off, and a slight smile crept across her face.

  “What?”

  “Never mind. It was nothing.” She popped several
dried talonberries into her mouth and leaned back against the tree.

  Chapter 41: Crystal Sands

  The trek from the oasis to the hills took barely an hour. Tovi’s memories grew stronger—the conflict between Klunk and Kharla, Dredwyn’s appearance, and the scorpions and bats that weren’t really there. He could feel it as though it were happening again. If not for River at his side providing comfort, Tovi would have found it all pretty spooky.

  “Hold up. Ten-minute break.” Captain Virgil raised his arm, signaling the troop. He dropped his pack and pulled out some dried meat. “The main entrance to the mine is to the south. We can reassess when we get there.”

  Ryshara leaned back against a boulder, her gaze fixed on the captain.

  Mathias said, “You want us to scout ahead?”

  “Umm… yes, but stay close. I don’t want you too far out ahead of us, just in case there’s something….” Virgil shook his head.

  Mathias seemed baffled. He stood, shuffling his feet in the dust, as though waiting for more.

  Rys smirked and took a sip of water.

  Tovi dropped down beside Elle. “I wonder if the captain always acts this way.”

  “What way?”

  The Azyrean shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s like he’s not sure about things. He wants them to scout but doesn’t want them to get out of sight—like he’s afraid or something.”

  Elle watched the exchange between Virgil and the two scouts with apparent amusement. A smile teased her lips. “I am sure everything is fine.”

  Moving once again, the squad made their way along the border of the rocky hills around to the south. Mathias and Rys ranged ahead but circled back every five to ten minutes, each time giving an all-clear signal.

  After about an hour, Ryshara appeared and beckoned.

  Virgil turned to the squad. “Hold here. I’ll be right back.” He broke into a run toward the elf.

  Tovi watched what appeared to be an animated discussion. Rys turned and pointed in the direction from which she had come. Virgil nodded a few times but appeared to be mostly listening. When the captain returned, he motioned everyone together.

  “They found the opening. It’s about a five-minute walk. I want the left column to move out from the hills and circle at about twenty meters. Ryshara and Mathias, you lead them. I’ll stay with the right column and continue to hug the edge of the mountain as we move around.”

  Rys closed her eyes briefly and nodded. “Yes, sir.” She and Mathias beckoned in the direction of the troops.

  Tovi stood. “I guess that means me.” He turned to Elle. “I’ll see you at the entrance.”

  ◆◆◆

  The entrance was little more than a small opening. It would have been easily missed but for the eerie purple glow emanating from it. Tovi stared, the light reminding him of the crystals that had magically lit inside the tunnels and caverns.

  The troop stood back about ten meters. Virgil turned and nodded to the scouts. “Ryshara and Mathias, with me. The rest of you, remain alert. We have no idea what we’re going to find in there.” And with that, the three of them crept toward the entrance as though stalking a dangerous predator, disappearing into the purple glow.

  Although he was sure it was only minutes, to Tovi, it seemed as though they were gone for hours. Finally, Mathias appeared at the entrance and beckoned the group in. “Captain says to start with guard rotation, two at a time, ten minutes. Stay sharp. You know the schedule.”

  The Azyrean boy followed the rest of them in. Kharla had told him and Klunk about the crystal and the pedestal, but this would be his first time seeing it… and he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. The small entrance proved misleading. It opened into a huge cavern, awash in creamy purple light. In the center, the pedestal, once pieces of shiny metal, stood intact and was nearly as tall as the tallest human. The crystal, a huge round thing, stood a good three meters high, nearly touching the top of the cavern.

  The entire troop stood gawking. Tovi found himself unable to take his eyes off the device. He reached down and touched the hilt of his dagger and felt the tingling in his hand. It seemed stronger here in the presence of the device than it had before. He resisted the temptation to draw it from its sheath. Staring at the crystal mounted atop the shiny metal, he found himself wondering if there were some connection between his weapon and this thing. “How does it work?” Not that the others were any more likely to know than he was.

  As he expected, no one answered.

  Virgil came out of the entrance first. “Looks like the tunnel is blocked off by a slide, just as Tovi said. So, there’s really nothing else to see inside. Let’s get out of here and survey the area outside. I’m sure that’s where we’ll be fighting.”

  Once out of the cave, the captain turned and looked back at the opening. “So, here’s my question. When it’s activated, will the army come through the crystal or does that device project some kind of beam that terminates outside the cave? If they appear inside, then we have an advantage. The tunnel is narrow and serves as a choke point. We can engage them there and not let them out into the open. If it terminates outside, well, that’s another story.”

  He turned to Tovi. “I take it you don’t know which it is.” The words came out more as a statement than a question.

  “Sorry. I have no idea.”

  Virgil scratched his chin as his gaze shifted between Tovi and the entrance. “Here’s something else that puzzles me. You, Klunk, and Kharla all know the location of this device. Dredwyn, or whatever that thing was inside the cave, was aware of that and yet he let you live. Why? It would seem to me that allowing you to escape with that knowledge was a bad move.”

  Tovi shrugged. “Dredwyn can’t physically hurt us here. He can change appearances, talk, and I guess he can cause rock slides. But he couldn’t really do much else. When he created the armies of scorpions and bats, they weren’t even real and didn’t hurt us at all.”

  “How do you know he can’t hurt you, though? All you can say for sure is that he didn’t at the time. What’s to say that he didn’t just choose not to do anything?”

  Tovi started to blurt out exactly how he knew, but choked the words back. Myhrren had told him. But if he related that information to Virgil, then he would have to explain how the old man knew. And Myhrren had told him that the others weren’t ready to know about him yet.

  Before the Azyrean could respond, Elle chimed in. “I rather suspect that Tovi had a voice tell him that. We saw the same thing in Menalor with his sister. And everything she was told turned out to be true.” She smiled at Tovi as though she knew his secret.

  “Is that the case, Tovi?” Virgil seemed to search for confirmation.

  Tovi nodded his head. “Something like that.”

  The captain stared at the young boy for a moment before shrugging. “Okay.” He turned to the squad, who had remained huddled close to the entrance. “Let’s spread out and survey the area. I want three teams.” He gestured with his hands, indicating which soldiers went with each group. “Team one, continue on around the side of the hill. Check for any other openings into the mine.”

  He pointed to the next group. “You six range out away from the hills. Look for natural cover or anything else that could help with an ambush.”

  Finally, he pointed toward Tovi and Elle’s group. “You work backward toward the main entrance to the mine. You’re looking for the same things.” He turned toward the entrance. “Ryshara and Mathias, stay here with me.”

  Making their way around the hill in the same direction from which they’d come seemed pointless to Tovi. They’d already been through that area, and there didn’t seem to be much to see. They rolled several boulders away from the side of the hill, checking to see if there were any hidden entrances—nothing. Elle and Tovi angled out away from the rocks, turning to take in the entire scene—perhaps something up higher would be visible—nothing.

  “Back to the entrance, now.” The voice was soft but urgent. Tovi turned to
see one of the soldiers beckoning, a look of alarm on his face. “Keep it quiet.”

  As a group, Tovi, Elle, and the other three turned and followed the one that had summoned them. When they arrived, the others had hunkered down. Virgil motioned them down as well and then gestured outward, away from the hillside. “Out there, looks like a small party, seven, maybe eight. Not regular soldiers. They look pretty ragtag.”

  The captain eased up from his crouching position and whispered, “They’re moving east to west. It doesn’t look like they’re taking any particular pains to avoid being seen.”

  Mathias scooted over closer to Virgil. “You want to take them down?”

  Ryshara chimed in. “Might I suggest that we try instead to capture them? So far, we haven’t been able to talk to any of the humans that have come to this area. There might be something to be learned from them.”

  Virgil rubbed his chin.

  For some reason Tovi found that amusing. It reminded him of Klunk scratching his ear when confused or in doubt.

  “We can try.” Virgil motioned to a small group of three soldiers. “Circle around behind them. There’s no cover that I can see, so stay low. Be prepared. If they spot you, take a defensive position. We’ll close from this side and the front. No lethal force. Use your hilts and, if necessary, the sides of your blades.” He turned his attention to Rys. “Sorry, no arrows. You’ll have to sit this one out.”

  Ryshara smirked. “How convenient.”

  Virgil blushed but didn’t respond. Instead, he addressed Elle. “You got anything in your bag of tricks that can disable them without hurting them?”

  “I can cast a blindness spell. It will last only about five seconds, but it should disorient them enough so that you can disarm them, if you are quick about it.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Let’s do this.”