The Elder's Curse by Andrew Walbrown (superbooks4u .txt) 📗

a pampered life for this, one filled with fluffy pillows, long baths, and food at the snap of a finger. Admittedly he did not know much of her earlier life, but their trip from Thornsgrave to the Crescent Fort served as a precursor to trekking across the Alakuum, and that ill-prepared mission nearly ended in disaster. Nonetheless, he was pleasantly surprised by how well she handled the ash storms, the skittering of scorpions, and the rationing of supplies. She might be better at rationing than I am.

Ulam stood up suddenly, sending a deluge of ash pouring from his lap back to the ground. “Do you see that? By the obelisk.”

Amantius turned as Nilawen climbed to her feet, both looking across the valley to the next hill, where another obelisk stood like a beacon of hope. At the base of the pillar was a black shape, its outline contrasting on the ever-increasingly orange and pink horizon. Amantius only saw the silhouette for an instant before it vanished.

“Someone is watching us,” Nilawen whispered. Though the night was warm, her words sent an icy chill down Amantius’ spine. Knowing someone had been watching them was unsettling, but not knowing for how long heightened the apprehension growing in his gut.

“So it seems,” Ulam muttered, “but the true question is whether they are friend or foe.”

“Is it possible we’re just seeing things that aren’t there?” Amantius asked, unsure of what he saw. “Mirages happen in deserts.”

Ulam grunted. “I doubt that was a mirage. It disappeared as soon as all three of us started looking. Whoever, or whatever, is over there realizes we know they exist.”

“So what now?” Nilawen said. “Do we continue? If that was a person perhaps there is an oasis or a village nearby. Do we have any other choices?”

If we turn back now we will certainly die from either thirst or hunger, Amantius thought as the initial wave of fear had passed. Better to chase desert ghosts than become them ourselves.

Amantius hefted his backpack from the ground. “There is no other choice.”

Without another word, he started descending the hill into the valley, a long stretch of land covered in prickly plants waiting to rip open any piece of flesh that came too close. The lack of strong winds, as well as the absence of fauna, created such a quiet environment that he could hear the three individual sets of footsteps on the desert floor as they marched through sunrise. The air quickly dried Amantius’ throat, his lungs burning from the fragments of ash he inadvertently swallowed. By the time they reached the base of the next hill the sun was already high in the sky, baking everything its magnificent rays touched, and forcing Amantius to drink the rest of his water. I can’t go on like this for much longer.

Ulam was the first to the summit, crashing into the base of the obelisk as soon as he reached the top. He drank what little water reserves he still possessed as he rested in the pillar’s shadow, no longer caring about rations. Nilawen was not far behind, also taking refuge from the sun’s onslaught by staying in the shade. Amantius was last, dragging his feet and ready to collapse into the ash. As he neared the top he tripped over a divot and stumbled outside the obelisk’s protection, exposing himself once more to the sun’s oppressive rays. It took a second for his eyes to adjust to the explosion of light, but when they did, he was dumbfounded by what he saw.

“By the Gods,” Amantius shouted as he broke into excited, if not slightly maniacal, laughter. “I can’t believe it. We found water!”

Ulam and Nilawen shuffled around the obelisk and began cheering as they laid eyes on the oasis at the base of the hill. Together all three darted downhill, falling over themselves in a mad dash to reach the glorious paradise that awaited below. Amantius was the first to break through the outer wall of vegetation, slapping away broad-leafed plants heavy with flowers of fuchsia, emerald, and periwinkle. He fell onto his knees and submerged his head into the crystalline waters, slurping away happily as a cool, refreshing river flowed through his body. Around him he was vaguely aware of Ulam’s presence, his foster-brother’s big Orcish head creating a tidal wave as it was plunged into the water somewhere nearby. Amantius looked up and saw Ulam on his left while Nilawen was on the other side, both seemingly on a divine mission to drain the oasis of all its water.

The oases they had found at the beginning of their expedition were little more than large puddles of water surrounded by a few trees and some shrubs. This one, however, was much more expansive. This oasis was as large as a lake, with a thick barrier of palm trees and tall grass that shielded the heart of the oasis from invasive ash flakes. Date trees grew in abundance, heavy with ripe fruit just waiting to be picked. The canopy above provided a more temperate environment as well, as a constant shadow kept the edges of the water in perpetual shade, a blessing for the weary travelers. Even the sand was softer than outside the oasis; it was much finer, similar to the sand on the shores of Accaria.

Amantius laid back after quenching his thirst, staring at the oversized dates hanging above him. He opened his mouth in anticipation, hoping a fruit would fall directly into it so he would not have to move again. He flinched as he heard an incoming breeze rustle through the leaves, expecting to feel the coarse ash carried on the wind. When the breeze reached him, though, there was no ash; the wall of green captured any unwanted flakes like a spider catching flies. A new wave of joy swept over him as he felt the wind caress his body; he loved this enchanted place so much the thought of leaving was outside his realm of understanding.

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