What indeed did old Malakai Hazkiyahu found in that forsaken place? Better question is what was he doing there in the first place? It has been known for years that no Water nor trees or even Grass ever grew there, having been grazed to oblivion by wild Herders or leeched to death by some defiler (Pick one of the above and cross the other). Well maybe the key to the question is not the what, but the how, and the whom. How did he got there and who had sponsored the strange exploration. A very few know the true answer of the secret. Hazkiyahu is of course one of them, but the last time I saw my old friend he was in no position for a chit chat. In fact, he wasn't in the position of doing nothing much, which is quite normal for a dead stiff. There is Miriam Hazkiyahu, Malakai's older sister, but it's easier to find an honest Elf than to find Miriam this days.

So if talking to the dead isn't your cup of Kank Honey, I'll suggest you listen carefully to my tale.

Athasian tales usually begin with the Blazing sun above one's head and perspiration that pours from forehead, chin and bodey. My tales never start like that. I like sitting in the shade. Better again, with a large skin of water at my side so I could take a swig whenever I feel the whim. That's where I am right now, positioned in a secured cool place beneath the Howdah roof. The Howdah itself is swinging dreamily at the top of the Kantinyaki styled wagon pulled by a couple of house Shom's strongest Mekillots. Here I'm perched with a nice hot breeze of the desert on my ugly face, happy I'm not one of the poor wretches occupying the levels below. Content with the privileges of being a caravan Master I'm surveying the endless sea of golden sand and the endless tracks left by our two wagons, looking very much like enormous snakes going on forever and ever, I cant help but to sink into one of my favorite daydreams. My dream takes me to the future, of times to come and of riches to be found. My imagination is quite good when it comes to material wealth, I imagine that the gold dunes are in fact made of gold which belongs to non other than my humble self. I see the grains of sand as numerous gold coins, my greedy bottom sitting at the top of the pile, and I'm counting myself to oblivion. I believe that this Idle non practical habit comes from my mother Elven side of the family, but I don't really have nothing to compare too, since I never met my old man. Times have not always been so comfy, for me. I have tolled hard for to gain the reputation I now hold (well maybe not so hard since I always shunned tedious work).

Let me Introduce myself, I am known as Handsome Seno or Seno of the Dunes. My first name is a sham since I'm not really beautiful or even remotely attractive. I mean I should have been since I inherited my mother's Hazel eyes and good looks (which is the maybe the only thing I inherited from the bitch), except that two scars running vertically at both sides of my face somewhat ruins the picture. My second name comes from being the best Caravan Master running the Tyr region. Well maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but exaggerating has always been a part of me and it's good for business anyway. Caravan master life is not simple, I have to excel in many fields. I know the best Routs, I can navigate them with my eyes closed. I know the best places to camp how to get there, and most important how to get there safely. I know How to tend animals and men. I know the push and the pull. When and how to press the men to their limits and when to let go. I know how to organize and how to plan ahead. I can find water in the salt flats of the desert or in the Barren dunes. I know how to win a battle and more important, I know how to avoid it. My master and tutor for twenty years was the famous Golan Yahbas, whom I am honored to call a colleague and a friend. A harsh master much like the desert he loved, Golan taught me the tricks and the pulls of the trade. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

I was born to the running silver Elven tribe of the Athasian desert. My coming to exist is shrouded in uncertainty. Being part elf part human I can't tell if my creation was an act of passion, violence or Financial benefit. The only thing I am sure of, is that my pregnancy was unplanned and unwanted.

My mother called me Seno which translates in the language of the desert runners to "One with a sturdy build". I reckon my physical traits inherited from my father, distinguished me at an early age from the rest of the tribe. Soon as I was big enough though, it became obvious I am not fit for as the saying goes "running with the runners". I was not able to keep up the pace of younglings half my age to say the least I would never be able to run the proper distance the adults were used to. My tribe, who was more tolerant of Half-Breeds as desert runners go, drew the line at that point. The next stop we had in Nibenay, my sweet mom sold me to the small merchant house of Artioch. That's the last I ever seen or heard of her (so much for motherly love). My next ten years were spent preparing for my next career, a Gladiator. You see, I got agility from my mother side and strength and stamina from my father. I stand over six ft tall and have enormous set of shoulders, including my two intimidating scars you can imagine the lovely picture.

My new master taking one look at me thought he had just bought the perfect next champion for the Nibenay's arena. In the Gladiators school I have learned the use of weapons of the deadliest kind. A coward at the core, I have soon found out that my favorites weapons were those used from a long distance (the longest the better). Irony was I have come to excel in the long bow used by the nomad Elven tribes. Even today I can hit a Kank Eye from a hundred yards (remember exaggerating is in my soul). By all accounts, it looked like I had a great future in the arena. Those days I was really Handsome it was a deadly combination that went hand in hand with young and cocky, and the prospect of championship looked secure than ever . I became a part of a team, of Gladiators prepared to fight at special occasions. My partner was Jasaika, a strong Mul (May the desert rest her sweet soul), who taught me everything, from attacking to defending to love making.

My first match at the arena has also been my last. Although the team sent to do us battle was a pair of veterans, we were the crowed favorites. The bets had at some point reached six to one in our favor (twenty to one in the illegal market). To my surprise, and to the crowd dismay, it took twenty seconds for Jasaika to lay dying in her own pool of blood and vomit, and two more seconds for me to find myself weaponless, on the ground, chocking at the heavy foot on my neck, waiting for the strike that never came. It was only an amazing stroke of luck (I always had more than a fair share of luck), the Templar in-charge of the games that day felt quiet generous. Maybe the fact that he have just won a hefty sum gambling against us at twenty to one have helped to better his attitude. Anyway, he gave the thumbs up despite the crowd loud boo's and shouts of a foul play. Before removing her smelly foot from my neck, the Mul standing over me gave me a farewell gift, she reached out and slashed me twice on both sides of my face.

As she leaned down, through the searing pain I could hear her whisper sweetly, "never play unless you sure of the rules".

As I slowly got up and limped away not bothering even to dodge the dung thrown from the stadium high seats I took a last glimpse at my beloved Jasaika, swearing I would never end up like that. "Never play unless you sure of the rules", the first and last battle in the arena I participated not from the viewers stand was rigged. My master and the Templar in charge of the games have pulled together a sting.

"Never play unless you know the rules" I never forget the lesson, I have my scars to remind me.

I ran away into the desert that same night killing three men in the process one of them a Templar. I had little on me and little hope for survival but staying would have meant sure death. Sooner or later one of the spectators having bet on me would have come for a payback. I wondered in the desert for almost a month. By all means I should have died, but then again my extraordinary luck saved me yet again. I found out I could locate water easily just by concentrating, I also found I could navigate to and from known locations using some wild mind talent that was hidden inside me and was awakened now to the call of the desert and my own dire needs.

Adopting the habits of a hermit I lived for the day, the prospect of tomorrow did not exist. The next time when I encountered "intelligent" life was when a band of Mantis People caught me, almost six month after I have settled down. I was to become main course of the night (Mantis men are known for their love of Elven flesh), but yet again luck intervened on my behalf. The band was traveling with my future master Golan Yahbas. He was famous and respected amongst the desert people even then. I can't tell what potential he really saw in me being in the state I was that fateful day. But Golan was gifted by special eye sight. For him, normal people were like a glass, he could read them with the clarity one reads a book. A deal was struck and I traded the role of being part of a Mantis Man digestive system with the life of a slave, yet again. At the age of sixteen, my real education has only just begun.

Golan shared with me all the knowledge he has mastered through his forty or so years. He taught me the skill of surviving the desert, of hunting, finding water and shade, of handling beasts and foraging. He taught me of the tribes the people and their cultures. He taught me of the caravans, of the outs and the navigation. All the knowledge and then add some, one needs to become master of the trade. You might get the wrong impression at this point that Golan was a creature of the desert. I mean you would be right to some extent, but he was also master of the cities underworld. He knew all the names the who and the how's. He knew whom to bribe and how much to spend. He knew how to squeeze a silver coin to its limits. He had a band of smugglers working for him all over the Tablelands and beyond. Shady people, dealers of illegal materials in every city. This small crime empire was a major part of what I called "My new life". Golan tutored me the rules of life under the shadows, and although he used me not once and not twice (forcing me to take extreme risks), I have nothing but gratitude for his education. Last and most important of all, Golan taught me to think, how to take full advantage of the gray stuff between my pointy ears. He educated me in the forbidden skill of reading and writing, he instructed me in the way of the Mind benders (for which I had showed only limited skill), and in languages I did not even know to exist.

Nobody really can elucidate why he chose me. For all his years as a major player in the Tyr region he had never been known to take an apprentice. Some people thought he took me as a lover, though I can assure you his carnal interests have been elsewhere. A friend of mine once opinioned that Golan saw me maybe as the son he never had. If Golan ever thought of me as a son, he had a strange way of showing it. The truth is that imagining the man with a family is not a pleasant thought. Knowing him he would have sold his wife for slavery, his daughters for whores and his sons to the Halfling stewpot if he would have seen ceramic coins in it. No, Golan wouldn't recognize kindness, if it kicked his bottom in broad daylight. The only theory I keep about the man is not to try and attach him any theories of any kind as none will stick. He will always remain an individualist, a free spirit of the desert, and enigma even to me, whom have been his shadow for almost twenty years. This is how I got my third name, "Golan's shadow" which I still carry with pride even after having made a reputation on account of myself.

After twenty years or so, Golan decided he have accumulated enough wealth and simply disappeared from the face of the Athas. His empire crumbled with the man departure. He took everything he owned (and some stuff he didn't) with him, when he left. I have found myself at the end of our relationship with the exact amount of possessions I had at it's beginning. But there was a great difference, I was now equipped with skills to deal with my new situation and I had at last what was taken from me so many years ago. I had my freedom back.

I started working as a freelance, hiring myself with the merchant houses of the Tyr region, building a reputation, first as a guide and then went up the ladder (double meaning) I became a caravan master and captain for hire. All this time I kept my old connections with the underworld, doing nice profits on the side. Nothing on the scale of Golan's network, but nice profits nonetheless. Even now as I ride the Howdah looking at the golden sand rolling steadily beneath the wagon wheels, I smile as I think of the stashed Matela weeds I have resting comfortably in the lower deck hold. Matela being highly addictive and the new rage in Urik (for that is our destination). I am familiar with quite a few dealers, more than willing to make the purchase. Knowing that some Aristo is going to blow his mind using my contraband is just an added bonus. I have a fourth name as well, some people call me "Seno black heart". They don't know half of it.

The profit from the Matela should be more than enough to compensate for the current messed up trip. And that's Messed up with a capital M.

Things have gone down the dune since day one. It began before we even started when my contractors, the merchant house of Shom, forced me to add Odieve and Faday of Shom to the Caravan. As a senior house member, Odieve has managed to push herself into a position of the Caravan Master thus lowering me to the status of Captain in-charge of security and the Caravan welfare. I would retain all my usual duties but Odieve will be able to Veto any of my decisions. If this would have been a regular situation I would have cancelled the contract immediately, I like being my own boss, having a superior authority makes me sour, Especially if that Authority is a city goof, and especially if the involving party is Odieve, whom can make a Kank go crazy on one of her good days. But as you might expect, this was not a regular contract. First there was my reputation to keep. Next the Matela price in Urik was at its pick. A Templar named Talok decided, the illegal weed trade was shriveling his share of Rounge Cacti Dust business (another addictive drug that causes strong hallucinations). Thus he declared a campaign for rooting out the weed trade. This has made the Matela price in Urik jump to its pick. knowing after such a rise, there will be a downfall of prices, I needed to get rid of the stuff as soon as I possible. There were other important reasons for my being on the caravan, but Ill keep those reasons for myself for the time being.

From the moment we hit the road, Odieve have been true to her reputation. She waged a war of command with me for every decision I've made, and when she was not picking on me, she was annoying everyone else. When a tortoise man managed to sneak in one night and drag a screaming guard out to the desert, she insisted we go next morning and hunt the brute, claiming that the tortoise man hide will be more then a just compensation for the lost man. I have tried to explain to her that the lost time is not worth the chance of obtaining a Tortoise shell plus the fact that one does not just go and hunt the tortoise man, since there is always an option with those monstrosities that the hunter and the would be quarry might switch positions. All my pleas fell on deaf ears, even as I explained her that the Tortoise man (Sometimes called Braxat) has now eaten and would probably leave us alone if kept undisturbed. As we found out later morning, when I led a group of fifty mercenaries for the hunt, we were not dealing with a single beast, but with a mating pair. We managed to kill one. The remaining Tortoise managed to escape with more than twenty arrows sticking out of it's back (A real shame since they all were Metal headed).

We have lost another good man to the attack, also my second in command Happy Jevad got his right leg shredded, and we had to move him back to camp in an improvised sledge (not a small feat since Jevad is a Giant Half Breed). All in all, two dead men and one injured against a Tortoise man is not bad trade at all. I thought that the Tortoise man event was the end of my arguments with Odieve and that from now on she would let things run the way I want them. To my amazement I miscalculated her by far, as if the incident only served to invigorate her, she started bossing me around in front of my men, trying to prove superiority at every chance. Lucky for me most of the Key agents of house Shom on this particular caravan knew me as they have worked with me before, so the damage was minimal, but nonetheless It caused me no small amount of headache. Her last accomplishment was two weeks after the journey begun. She managed to banish the Howling Tembo mercenary company thus depriving us from our entire Inix riders escort. Kiligan Brown, the leader of the Tembos, just took out a sack containing the company's advance payment, threw it at Odieve's feet and walked away, taking no heed of her curses and threats. "I promise the only contract you'll get, will be shuffling Inix dung at the stables". "No house will hire you after they find out about this". She was right of course to some extent, but every man has his Red lines, Odieve just had the talent for stepping over them.

And so it became that Next morning greeted us with half the force of soldiers, acceptable for defending such a large Caravan. What was more worrying, was that all were foot soldiers with limited mobility. In fact, two thirds of them were slave warriors of house of Shom which meant less than average quality. Considering the fact we still had almost a week of hard ride I had every reason to be worried, but things being the way they are and I being who I am (professional procrastinator) meant that I left worries to times when troubles will arise. Thus that fateful morning caught me daydreaming about mountains of gold and riches to be found.

I believe I have just finished counting the fifteenth pile (the largest of them yet) when I was rudely interrupted, snatched back to miserable reality by a strong poke in the ribs.

"Do you think he'll come back ?".

"Huh ?"

I was still partly in the pleasant plane of day dreaming (but regaining fast).

"Do you think he'll come back ?" again this time the question came louder showing irritation.

"Nope, I don't believe so, it is days of travel behind us". "I can't see a reason for it to come after us".

"It was not really my fault".

"Of course not hon. Nobody's blaming you for the Tortoise man attack" After a pause of thinking I've added, "Which cannot be said for almost anything else".

"The Braxat" This time I felt the anger building in her the voice "What yer talking about?".

"What were you talking about sweet Odieve?" I tried to look surprised though I knew the answer.

"Your trying to get cute with me again Half-Breed" (a nice one) "I'm talking bout bleedin Kiligan Brown" (Having been raised to a successful merchant house did not mean Odieve had a silver producing mouth).

"Well how the bleeding Hamanu's tail it wasn't your bleeding fault?". Odieve became red all over (which only added to her good looks), she raised her fist as if to strike me, but seeing the look on my face changed her mind.

"I hardly spoken with the man at all to say the least insulted him in any way, there was no reason for him breaking contract".

I sighed, how to explain to someone like her a lifetime of experience, "Sometimes dear, we make mistakes, we stumble through life without having a clue we have just stepped on someone's toes". "Sometimes we pay the price for our mistakes. At home you were used to being in full control but here in the desert you have to play by different rules". "Never play unless you know the rules" dear, I gave her my life philosophy. "Kiligan held you responsible for unnecessary death of a good soldier, he expected you to pay for the man's death out of politeness if not out of respect".

"Honor, crap, Life is cheap, he would have been given adequate compensation from my family once we have reached Urik". "Anyway mister smart ears (very cute) if you knew that much, how come you did not give him the money yourself ?"

Looking her up and down (there is a lot to look at, believe me) I thought again before answering, "I did give him the money sweetie, it's only that he expected the same gesture from you, and since it did not came, well..." I let the rest of the sentence trail off.

"So I scored a few bad points" she sneered, "Still, there was no excuse for breaking a contract, the man is mad, he got his reputation to keep". "I'll make sure he'll have hard time finding a job, that damn doublecross sonofabitch" here she added a few more niceties concerning Kiligan's future and his relatives well being.

I let her take it out of her system before continuing "Have to agree with you bout the reputation thing, Kiligan has a reputation to uphold, not just for trade lords like yourself, but for his men too". "You see, respect is funny that way, If he doesn't have the respect of his men, he can't lead, if he can't lead he can't get contracts". "A smart leader walks wisely on that shifty line called respect, and you my dear, are a disruptor of lines". "Anyway it is all Halawa now" I gave her my "Parental" look (The one that says "You are such a little Idiot, now shut").

"Halawa?" she rolled the unfamiliar word under her tongue.

"That's desert runners word for something that's in the past, buried under the dunes so deep, there is nothing anyone can do about it, Halawa".

"Halawa." She practiced pronunciation for a while, "I don't like that word at all". I knew why, there was no place in Odieve's world for uncertainties, being in full control was an obsession with her (There's an Elven word for that kind of person, but I won't repeat it here). "I'm going down to inspect the Mekillot wagon security, you coming?" she asked changing suddenly to a nicer tone.

"No, I think I'll keep my behind to it's current position" Her security inspections were getting on everyone's nerves, she kept the Mekillot wagon's guards at edge all the time. My eyes followed her decent to the level below.

Suddenly one of the huge lizards lurched to the left, causing the whole wagon to lurch. "Having trouble concentrating Najim?" I asked our driver raising an eyebrow.

"Yah you can laugh all you want boss but hell, I saw you ogling her too" He was Blushing like a school boy (though not at being caught staring as much as loosing control of the Mekillot). "I hate that bitch. She makes me dream myself wet at night" he added a surprising confession after an afterthought.

"I know, I dream about her too, though my dreams involve broken bones and a lot of screaming". I looked at the descending figure, which was carefully picking its way down the ladder. There was no denying Odieve was blessed with the looks. Perfect heaps, full luscious red lips waiting to be kissed, full firm breasts that just shouted "sin", Red long curly hair. The only fault I could found at her (except for her charming personality that is) was her size. I don't know which half giant her mother has been with, but all that beauty was stretched on a seven feet tall body. I don't mind tall ladies, but I draw the line at women taller than me. Anyway, wanting her or not it wouldn't have mattered, she walked like a goddess amongst us mortals and was unattainable to me as a goddess is to ordinary men.

While I was watching Odieve decent, which gave me a nice view of her magnificent bosom, speculating if I should order Najim to shake the Mekillots again, (hoping it might cause her to fall and break her neck), I was interrupted again. This time by Rouder, who pointed me to a small speck riding on the west winds. Rouder Hawk Eye Harpoon master, ever vigilant was already instructing the Harpoon team to swivel the firing frame westward at the fast approaching speck.

"Nothing to get arse over tit about" I stopped them in mid turn. "It's only Kiko returning from scouting, don't scrag it".

"So why can't I see Tain" said Rouder looking at the sky "The little twonk never leaves that beast of his to wonder by itself". "Do you think something bad might have happened" he continued hopefully.

"I reckon the little twonk is just fine" came a nasty voice from the roof of the Howdah, which made Rouder and the other two harpoon gunman jump.

"How long have you been listening up there Tain?" I asked the grinning Halfling who appeared as if by magic, swinging from the roof top into the Howdah's basket.

"Oh, me reckon Long enough to make some conclusions regarding some people" smiled Tain displaying two sets of filed pointy teeth.

"I did not meant no disrespect Tain, you know that" said Rouder looking as if he has just swallowed a dead Kank "now stop that funny talk of yours" he added nervously.

It is really strange sight seeing Grownups intimidated by a being the size of a small child, gives a new meaning to the word perspective. Nonetheless Tain the eye was master of intimidation. He projected a menacing aura that kept people in his vicinity on their toes. Tain was not named "The Eye" because there was something wrong with his eyes. Nor was he called so on account of him being one of the best scouts in the Tyr region. His name came for another reason entirely. He had a strange fetish for Eyes. As Halflings go, it meant he ate not just eyes of animals, but also the eyes of Humans, Elves, Muls, Thri Kreen, Giant half breed and Dwarves. Actually when it came to Eyes, nothing was Taboo for Tain, (except maybe Halfling and Kank, and I am not hundred percent sure about that too). Tain the eye and Happy Jevad have been with me for almost five years now. I always include both in any of the contracts I sign with the merchant lords. I feel much safer having them around.

"Ok that's enough, Now let's hear what you've got for me Tain" I interrupted the conversation thus cutting a dangerous evolving situation.

"Bad news Boss" answered the Halfling giving Rouder "I haven't finished with you yet" look. "Desert runners ambush, bout twelve hours ahead".

"How many ?".

"I counted only five, but there probably many more I reckon".

"Recognized the colors? were they Silt Stalkers?" Determining the actual tribe can sometimes help calculate the size of the opponent facing you.

"No, not Silt, I think Sand Strikers or Wind Dancers" said Tain.

"This could mean thirty to three hundred, and since you say they are stalking us, they probably know our state, this is bad news Tain". "Colin is still on the field scouting, does she?" I asked.

"She till is" answered Tain uncomfortably. "want me to send Kiko to gather her up boss?".

"Yep, quickly, tell her I have a special job for her". As he started down the ladder Rouder grabbed my arm.

"What yer planning to do boss?" he asked (Rouder being always the first to worry). I've worked with him on several occasions in the past, a good man very reliable, a bit edgy, but can't count that too much against him.

"We will have to take a detour to the north" I answered him "can't tackle desert runners without our Inix escort, we will press on through the entire day and most of the night".

"Thinking you can actually bypass them? They might not be fooled", he countered my logic.

"I know they won't, so I'm not planning even on trying". "What we are going to do is go directly into Alancor fortress". "It belongs to House Shom".

"But it's still under construction not even half way finished yet" wailed my nervous Harpoon captain.

"True, true, but that is why they keep there a small battalion, I'm sure they will be able to spare some troops for one of house Shom's Caravans in the need". "I'll send Colin with two Kanks ahead of us, it will take them less than three days to catch us half way there". "By the time the Elven raiders would realize we have made the slip, it is going to be too late for them to do anything about it".

Having shut up his complaints I started giving orders down the commanding tube connecting to the levels below. I called Felice, which served as my second in command now that Jevad was incapacitated, and gave him instructions, preparing the men for the possible attack. I used my psionic ability to instruct our two drivers with our new route. It might sound complicated way to achieve such a simple task, but for me it works fine that way. I have the special gift of determining exact locations and routes in the desert. All I do is to imprint the desired route in the minds of the willing psion drivers. I usually employ a familiar image such as an Inix or a Mekillot. All the drivers have to do is from time to time to reach out and to look at the imprinted animal which walks the right path. If they follow its steps, they can be sure of reaching the destination with eyes closed. As the caravan started its turn into the north I could hear the commotion below as the soldiers started manning battle stations. The firing slots were filled with archers, all the Harpoon positions manned. Foot soldiers stood at exits waiting for a command to pour out and deal death to any of the would be attackers. The Caravan was like a nest of desert wasps, almost like a living thing composed of many individuals. Everyone knew his role, from the meaningless warrior slave to the formidable Psion Master. I was the conductor of this great orchestra, fine tuning the tools, forcing them to work as a group. In the other wagon, the smaller one pulled by the Bulzai Lion, the same preparations were taking place on a smaller scale.

To anyone not familiar with the Bulzai Lion, I'll give a short description. It is a huge Lizard (some may grow up to five tons), resembling a big Inix. They can move quite fast for short periods of times when the need arises. Unlike an Inix, the Bulzai carry a long fin on its back, which means that it cannot carry Howdahs. It uses the Fin to absorb Water during the night and heat during the day so It doesn't need to consume water like the Mekillot , neither does it exhibit the Mekillot's savage tendencies, being much easier to control. On the downside, they are very territorial and can't tolerate the presence of their own kind unless it is the mating season. For that reason, only a single Bulzai can be harnessed to a wagon, which makes the capacity of what they carry rather limited. Another problem is the inability of mating Bulzai in captivity, a fact which makes them quite expansive. The Bulzai towed wagon was smaller in frame. It had only two levels (compared to the mekillot's wagon three levels), and the Howdah atop it could carry only four men. It meant that beside the driver only a three men harpoon crew could sit. On the brighter side, although it was much less defendable than the main wagon, I could always rely on the Bulzai speed and high maneuverability to help it get out of tough situations.

The Howdah I was sitting in was now crowded, it had sixteen archers alert and anxious for some action. More people were coming up, I needed the psion master, Ann'ar with me at the highest position so he could counter any serious threat that might come our way.

A commotion from below told me troubles were coming my way sooner than expected. I looked in dismay, though I was already sure at what I was going to see. Odieve was making her way up the Howdah's ladder again, her face all flushed and red (which was becoming rather the rule instead of the exception). Extending my hand I tried to help her climb but she did not take it ("vain to the core that bitch" thought I).

Felice's anxious face appeared from the level below. "Told her she can't go up right now Boss, but she wouldn't listen". My assigned second in command was a simple man. I do Not mean to say he was in any way stupid, on the contrary, it's just that he was a soldier. Used to receiving commands and giving them. Dealing with complicated red headed giantesses was not part of his military education. I knew he was torn between his loyalty to me and his obligations to his mistress of Shom.

I nodded him to go down "It's Ok, I'll handle things up here,". "I need you down on the field".

"OK my arse, Why the hell are we turning?" yelled the red headed giantess.

"We are trying to avoid some Elven raiders" I answered dryly, "Now go down, you are endangering yourself and everyone around you". Relaying to her quickly my plan of meeting up a fresh escort from Fort Alancor I hoped to intimidate her enough so as to make her leave me be.

"You are talking five days detour, this solution of yours is unacceptable, the merchandise should be on the market in time". "Well dear", I replied

"I can't see we have much of a choice, and since you are partly responsible for this "Detour",..." I let the rest of the sentence hang there.

"Mister Seno" Her voice became calm, "you give me no choice but to use the authority given to me by house Shom". "Now turn these wagons immediately or I will have you removed from duty this instant".

Well there is a limit to everything, even to a patience as short as mine. "You will get down this moment and let me conduct my job or else I will have you chained you mad woman". "I will not let a snub city dweller endanger me and my entire caravan". I lashed at her both Verbally and mentally, using my entire skill to try and implant the seriousness of my last two sentences".

This was a mistake, as I felt the first waves of a mental attack I remembered my first guideline, "Never play unless you sure of the rules". Odieve lashed with furious strength, focused and trained well beyond anything I have encountered before. I tried to put up a shield but found my limited ability was no match for her skill. I felt I was being crushed by huge pincers meant to squeeze my eyes from my sockets and sanity from my mind.

I tried to straggle, to find a hold on her and to push her back but to no avail. Here was a Psion master fully trained with the way of the mind, I had a better chance in trying to push a Mekillot with bare hands.

From the bottom of my private hell, I heard a sudden distant scream. The pressure, as fast as it came, ceased abruptly. Opening my eyes, slowly waiting for the ringing in my ears to subside I tried to get a hold back on reality.

To my surprise, no one was paying me any attention. Everyone eyes were on Rouder our Harpoon master, or to be more precise, everyone was staring at the spear jutting from his abdomen. Rouder was screaming like hell as life sipped away from his skinny body. I jumped on Odieve and yelled "Lay Down" in her ear. To my utter amazement

she complied. A second spear then a third came hurtling at the Howdah, each catching an archer. Another heavy missile came, this time it was a rock the size of a man head, and I knew a catapult of some sort has been brought into play. The rock flew past above the Mekillot, missing it by far, crushing on the sand left of the beast. The ugly face of a Gith suddenly appeared on the Howdah's plank. Using the spear jutting out from Router's body as a leverage he swung himself over the side and shouting blood curdling war cry taking a bone knife out from between his teeth he charged Odieve's Prone form. One of the Guards bravely put himself in front of the creature, raising his Obsidian sword high. His valiant attempt was the end for him, the Gith, nimble as a cat, ducked under the incoming blow and buried the knife in the Guard sternum. With the same motion, he took another knife from his belt and stabbed a second guard standing to his left. Having finished two men in a matter of two heartbeats he turned again on Odieve. Staring with white face at the charging Gith, Odieve raised one of the dropped guard swords and deflected his next strike at the last second ("no denying guts on that woman"). With mixed feelings I took out a one of my long Boot knifes, Holding my breath, I took aim and threw, whishing for the best. The knife found the Gith's Eye and buried itself to the Hilt, making him fall over on Odieve's beautiful body. A second boulder came rushing, this time it missed the Howdah by mere inches. The Shooter aim was obviously getting better, I wondered how much time we got before we will sustain a full hit. Another Gith flew with a great jump finding hold on the Howdah's left side. This one was the damn biggest, ugliest Gith I have ever laid eyes upon. Not bothering with drawing weapons, he charged the Guards with bare hands, lifted one and threw him over the Balcony to crush on the ground below. One of the archers turned and fired a volley at Mr. ugly, but to no avail. Using his ability to jump as a grasshopper the sonofabitch ducked the arrow and bulleted into me. I stumbled arse over tit, banging my already bursting head at the wall.

"Seno" he shouted, "this day I sing your death song and eat your liver". He gave me a stunning kick in the stomach. Using Both his bony hands, he found a perch around my neck and started squeezing. For the second time in five minutes I felt as if I was going to path out. The Gith's scrawny hands were strong as anything I have ever encountered before, made me struggle for every breath I tried to take. I squirmed, extending my hand for another knife buried in my boot, but it only earned me another vicious kick in the groin. One of the first rules they teach you at Gladiator school is that "a panicked man is a man with one foot in the grave". I can assure you that this is indeed a sound advice, trying to keep a clear head while being choked to death, is a nice trick though. Ignoring the pleas of my tormented lungs, and the pain between my legs, I tried to find my adversary's head. The Gith's unprotected nostrils are one of its prime weaknesses. A precise hit could stun it for several seconds. Easier said then done though, the sonofabitch above me, was squirming like a grub worm in a cacti. My attempts became more even more desperate as I started waving my hands, hitting the Gith randomly in hope I of finding the right spot.

The grip around my neck slackened abruptly, the Gith body was lifted from my aching body by strong hands. Looking at its dead form I observed the Red crossbow shaft sticking out of it's back.

"Thought you might appreciate the help Boss" Tain's smiling devilish face was looking down on me. I wanted to give him a smart retort but my crushed windpipe made me think the better of it. Trying to asses the situation inside the Howdah I rose on shaky feet. Three dead Giths with red Tail crossbow bolts sticking, Indicated Tain has been busy. Turning one of the bodies on Its back and removing the Crodlu hide tunic I searched for the clan tattoo. I had a pretty good idea of what I was going to find. The three blood tipped spears, on which a body was skewered, lifted the rest of my doubts. Red Impalers usually never went this far north on raids.

Another Rock came whistling through the air, this time it hit the Howdah's flank dead center. Splinters of bone shields and wood flew everywhere. The missile kept its course hitting the Howdah's other side, it opened opening another gaping Hole, taking with it two screaming men on its way down.

"Close the Gap" I tried to yell though just a hoarse whisper came from my tormented throat. "Protect Najim, don't let him get hurt". I knew full well what the death of our driver would mean. Being on a vehicle towed by a couple of uncontrolled Mekillots was not the pleasant of concepts. I turned to Tain who was kneeling on the ground Next to the fallen Mr. Ugly.

"Nice pair of Eyes on that one, the Damn largest I have seen yet". His capability of detaching himself from everything around was astounding.

"Leave it for Later Tain, I need you to take care of that catapult or this battle is going to be a very short one".

"Consider it done Boss" smiled Tain , "Alle Kiko, Seek Seek" he shouted. Perched upon his shoulder, the small avian creature (who looked very much like A giant blue Roach), took swiftly to the air. I knew Tain and the strange Insect were mentally linked in some sort of a way, but still I could not help marveling at their Teamwork.

Trying not to stumble on any of the bodies, or on the Howdah's floor which was already slick with blood, I made my way to the front. Looking down at the levels below the sight that greeted me was not too bright. A dozen Giths were hanging on the Wagon's third level Roof, using their long spears to scare any one who dared to poke his nose on the Balconies below. The balconies themselves were littered with bodies carrying House Shom dragonflies Insignias. This meant that there was almost no effective fire, deterring the warriors below from scaling the Wagon's roof. I knew what would happen next, the moment they feel they have enough manpower, the Giths will jump the levels below thus engaging house Shom's slave soldiers hand to hand. This will eliminate the Leverage we have while shooting at them behind the protection of the Wagon walls. They will slaughter us in a matter of minutes. One of the warriors on the roof who saw me looking down at them shouted a blood curdling war cry and leaped towards the Howdah's tower. His mighty leap took him twenty feet into the air. Grabbing the now unmanned Harpoon gun, I took aim and pulled the trigger in mid swing. The missile caught the Gith on its right shoulder, spinning him in flight like a broken doll. Not waiting to see him landing I grabbed one of the short bows and started pouring death at the Gith below. I can fire the short bow at an amazing rate of one arrow every three seconds, at this range every shot counted a hit. The wagon roof became full of furious shouts of wounded Gith warriors.

Taking after my example, the remaining Howdah's archers around me finished the job. I grabbed the one standing next to me, (A black guy, I think Kartel was his name).

"You are in charge of keeping the Roof clean, don't let anyone on the roof or on the Howdah". "Keep Najim and me safe, if you need, call more archers from below". Having taken care of that problem I sat down on the ground preparing myself for a full mental separation.

Taking long deep breaths, I cleared my mind and entered a deep trance like state. This trick taught to me by Golan many years ago, allowed me to fly out of my body and soar like a bird. Perceiving the world from an avian point of view, had two major benefits. First, I could see the whole battle scene, having much better perception about what my next move is going to be. Second, was my ability in mental separation to contact directly all of my commands, giving them direct orders in real-time situations. Looking below from the height of the bird flight, sights and sounds started to rush in, filling my mind with images from the battle below. The situation did not look very promising for our side. We were actually attacked by two groups of Red Impalers Giths. One coming to from the west, was the smaller of the groups. This group has all but managed to eliminate resistance on the Bulzai wagon. The remaining archers on the wagon balconies had difficult time hitting the Giths on the ground. The Giths agility and habit of taking huge jumps plus their talent of changing direction after each huge stride, made them almost impossible to hit when in full motion. From our east side, (to the Mekillots wagon's right side), a bigger band came pouring over the dunes. Their intention was clear, now that they have softened us, they were going to overwhelm us by sheer force from both sides. Giths tactics though not very subtle, were effective nonetheless. I gave Sultani, (The caravan Bulzai driver), the order to push forward. The usually timid Lizard lurched forward kicking with its enormous hind legs. Standing almost upright on its rear limbs in a motion I have seen done only twice before in my life it started to run in great strides. The wagon behind the Bulzai shot like a bullet behind it, throwing Gith that were perched on it's roof. I've counted twenty great steps before I ordered Sultani to turn. Taking a tight right turn, almost tipping the wagon on it's back, the Bulzai Lion continued his with his frightening run, facing the Mekillot's wagon. Knowing this is going to be a close call, I started to count again. The battle below me froze. All eyes were at the approaching unstoppable monster, waiting for the inevitable crash. At the last second Sultani managed to sever the Bulzai to the left, missing the Mekillots by mere feet. The huge Mekillots hollered in anger and fright, but Najim somehow managed to keep them under control. At almost a perfect timing the Bulzai crashed into the charging Giths, trampling warriors as if they were insects. At my command, the Bulzai Wagon, stopped on its tracks, forming an arrow head with the Mekillot's wagon, thus trapping the assaulting Giths between the two wagons. The trapped Gith group still had a Gap at the base of the arrow head triangle from which they could escape, but they did not figure the dire starits they were in. Keeping in long tradition of Gith confidence, they kept throwing javelins at the archers above them. This mistake I was going to exploit to its limits. At my command, scores of warriors, jumped from the Mekillot's interior. Some wore the insignia of house Shom, others, mercenaries, hired by contract like myself had their own Battle flags proudly raised. Swearing and Hollering at front, (as I happily noticed), was Happy Jevad, limping on his Bruised leg which was held by a Mekillot bone splinter. In both hands he held his favorite weapons. Two Iron headed Lotulises, custom made for his size. The Lotulis is a long shaft of Bone, onto which two or four cruel crescent hooks are attached. In the hand of an expert it can be a terrifying weapon, and believe me, Jevad was a master amongst experts. Wearing an armor made of several pieces of Kank black chitin, his Mohawk styled hair painted in rusty red, and with a chain made of former enemies skulls, Jevad usually won battles even before they begun. Only the very foolish or very brave managed not to turn tail at the sight of him. Facing his first adversary he rotated his long arm to its full speed, he buried the Lotulises in the Gith's helmet. The Gith's forehead, simply caved in, spraying blood and brain all around. As if at an afterthought, he brought the left hand weapon in a backhand half circle swipe, capturing a Gith that was sneaking behind him against the wagon wall. Not even bothering at looking behind him at the result, he swung again, agile as an elf at another warrior in front of him. The Gith raised a shield, trying to stop the descending Lotulises. He might have had more luck trying to stop a charging Mekillot. The Lotulis went through the shield, crashing bone and meat as if they were paper. Jevad carried on with the momentum, finding another Gith breaking it's back. Another brave soul made an attempt to stab at the Half Giant. My commander brought the two Lotulises into play. Faster then the eye could follow he swiveled them around capturing the Gith on both sides in a "hammer upon anvil" like strike. The brave warrior actually disappeared in a spray cloud of blood and gore. The rest of the Gith warriors, suddenly lost their appetite for battle. A commotion begun as Giths tried to get out of Jevad's way. "A wall, form a wall" he Boomed over the din of the battle. The disciplined slave warriors were fast to comply. Using their medium sized bone shields, and obsidian tipped spears, they formed three thorny lines. Two facing the Gith, one facing outside, ready for a rear attack. The arrow head was now complete, the trap has closed on the pray. Now the archers on both wagons came into full play. They started shooting without discrimination at the mass of warriors below them. This time the Giths had no advantage of mobility. They were too many and were wedged too tight, preventing them of using their famous jump skill. At last, the situation dawned on their thick skulls and , they decided to flee. Some chose to try and breach the Human wall, but only managed to spear themselves to death. Some tried to jump and scale the Wagons, and were stopped by arrows and javelins. Screams of terror filled the air, this time, they were of dying Giths. They should have tried a coordinated attack on the slave warriors, but Gith Tactics are almost nonsexist. As individuals, their great fighting skill makes them superior to a regular human warrior. But when fighting against a disciplined ordered troops, their lack of coordination shines.

Turning my sight from the slaughter below I searched the field for the smaller band of attackers. The one who tried to attack the Bulzai towed Wagon. I located them soon enough, making a fast run for it over the red dunes. Circling down I tried to trace amongst the fleeing figures a familiar face, one I was pretty sure I was going to find. Checking each face I finally found the one I was looking for.

"Nice day for a little running, ain't it Gunash", I sent the Gith a mental call. Breaking hard in mid stride, Gunash stopped with a stupid, confused look upon his face. It didn't take him long to come to his senses though. He smiled and sniffed the air as if trying to sense my immaterial body.

"Is that yo Seno ?" he sent me a message back.

"Whom did you thought it was? , you double crosser sonofabloody Kank?".

"What do you want, half breed ?" he smiled revealing a set of pointy teeth, "If you mean to throw insults like a youngling then piss off, I'm busy".

"I just wanted to give you some good advice", said I.

"Advices come cheap Seno, better keep it to yourself Elfshit" he smiled.

"This one is especially for you, I want you to start looking behind you on a regular basis". "I'm coming after you Gunash, and I'm coming hard, nobody crosses me, and lives to brag about it".

"Yeah, Yeah" answered the bastard, "words come cheap too Seno", he gave the finger salute to no one in particular. "Until we meet again Seno of the Dunes" resuming his running he joined the rest of his clan.

"It's just might going to be sooner than you imagine, you bastard" I thought. And that was that.

Going back to the battle I saw the remaining Gith were throwing down their weapons as Jevad was supervising their swift and efficient capture. Turning my sight from the scene yet again I located the Catapult hidden behind a small hill. It was a curious construction, one I haven't seen before, and it was attached cleverly to a wagon dragged by weary looking Kanks. Scattered around the device were four dead bodies. A fifth warrior was still alive but he was also lying face down twitching as if he had no command of limbs and mind. Every now and then the poor wretch was puking his guts out in an uncontrolled spasm.

Tain used nerve poison on some of his arrows. The toxic substance, a byproduct of Kiko's digestive system was so deadly, even the smallest of grazes could prove fatal.

Returning to my body I regained my physical senses. With them came all the pains and the aches that were ignored in the heat of the battle. My body felt as if It was trodden by a herd of Mekillots. Odieve was staring at me, still shaky and white in the face. Not bothering in giving her a second glance I limped slowly down the ladder to the ground below, and started giving orders for a swift departure. The dead I ordered removed from the wagons and stripped of valuables. I divide the remaining soldiers between both wagons. Some of the mercenaries whished to give their fallen comrades a last honor burial, but I managed to skip that dune by promising extra Bonus at the end of the trip. The Kank drawn catapult wagon had proven too heavy for the Kanks to pull with enough speed. After failing to lift it into the Mekillot's wagon interior, we torched it in a true "scorched ground" Athasian fashion. Only after everything has been preformed to my full satisfaction , I gave the "Five minute to go" command. Only when everything was set I felt ready to climb back up, but a big feminine hand caught my wrist.

"You are not going on with your plan of continuing towards fort Alancor, do you?".

"You sure can't take no for an answer, do you Odieve ?!" I removed her hand gently. Damn but I've should have stuck a knife in her when I had the chance, she was lucky there where too many witnesses up on the Howdah. "Nothing has changed my plan, there is still an Elven ambush waiting for us up ahead". "In our sorry state we wouldn't be able to take on a bunch of Lame Kanks, to say the least a band of fresh desert runners".

"So you still rely on that stupid Halfling Tracker of yours?" she shouted.

"Tain is by no means stupid, and I suggest you be polite around him, he has long ears and an even longer memory" I replied, wondering how I was going to survive the current argument intact.

"If he is so good, then how come he missed the Giths, or more likely" she smiled evilly "he confused them with Elves".

"Tain doesn't miss anything nor does he get confused" I defended my short partner. "He was aware of the Giths activity" (which wasn't a lie) "and was sure they were not going to attack" (No lie here also). "This is Wind Dancers raiders territory, and they allow no one to hunt in their own turf" (A bold lie but I counted on Odieve's ignorance for it to stick). "The Gith's attack was unexpected, I take it to be wrong judgment on my part. Tain should not be blamed for my mistakes". "What I am certain of is that right now, a Wind Dancers band is waiting for us up the road". "In less than an hour they will start speculating of why we haven't showed up yet", I concluded, hoping in vain some sense might find it's way into that thick skull of her.

"Wind Dancers ?" she asked, "never heard of them, they can't be that frightening", once she had her mind set, not a herd of Mekillots will make it budge, that woman was impossible.

"They are not well known, they were once a big tribe of traders but an illness of some sort has almost wiped them out, forcing them to go into raiding". "Their leader, Santhaal Wind Dancer is not someone you whish to meet face to face, believe me dear, even though they aren't famous as silt stalkers, Wind Dancers are a force to reckon with", I turned my back on her but she caught me again.

"We should keep with our planned route" she kept ignoring me, "We could move most of the Goods to the Bulzai wagon. If we are attacked, it could make a run for it". "The Elves wouldn't be able to catch that Lizard", she reasoned.

Trying to convince Odieve of something, was like convincing a Mekillot to give up on the latest piece of meat he just digested. "First, you have never seen Elves on the move if you talk about outrunning them, secondly, the Bulzai running sprint is limited to a few dozen strides" I myself was running out of my limited patience and time.

"That's enough", My help came from an unexpected source. Faday Shom appeared limping on her short legs from the Wagon interior. I have almost forgot about her existence. The other house Shom's member forced on me for this trip kept to herself for the entire trip. She has only on rare occasions peeked her nose out from her cabin. As a house representative she had full rights equal in power to Odieve. They were of course related to some extent being second degree cousins I believe. You could even notice the resemblance in the set of the jaw and somewhere around the eyes. But here the it ended. Faday was five feet two inch tall, though she looked smaller, on account of her crooked back. With black straw hair and a yellow sickly hued skin color, of someone who kept too much indoors, she looked like a crone (though I believe her true age was thirty something). When she spoke (in a whisper very unlike Odieve's rich tenor) you could see two sets of yellow bleeding gums. Compared to Odieve who always wore merchant silk, Faday always managed to look like a beggar. In short, Saying Faday was plain, would have been an insult to plain women everywhere.

"You will stop this instance Odieve" whispered the diminutive merchant baroness. "Seno here has proven himself over and over again to be the only person capable of managing things around here". "You have been a nuisance to him from the start, now let him run things the way he see fit".

I wish I had paper and a paint so I could have taken a picture of Odieve's face. I knew instantly that Faday's command counted the same or better than hers. For the first time since our journey begun, I saw Odieve beaten. I tried to imagine what her next move might be but couldn't. She turned back to me as if to say something but was interrupted by Jevad.

"What do you want me to do with those Boss", he pointed at the group of twenty or so Gith warriors bound near the wagons. "I'm afraid we can't make much profit on them from Hamanu's Templars" I replied. "I believe Hamanu had the Obsidian Murderers Gith tribe wiped out a month ago". "The city will have plenty of Gith warriors for its arena games". "No, keeping them will prove too much trouble for too little", nobody likes bad margin. "You know what to do". "Keep ten of them though, I think we might have a need for them later". For the second time this morning, Gith cries of despair filled the air. Jevad was a professional through and through, he didn't gave them time to realize what was happening. In less than a minute he was done with the gruesome task. Odieve had a change of mind at the merciless violence. I believe she was a bit shaken at the new angle I have just exposed. "Welcome to life on the desert Odieve of Shom" I thought. Instead of addressing me, she turned and climbed back into the wagon after her diminutive colleague. I show the world the same sympathy It has given me. Some people call me "Seno black heart", they don't know half of it.

Five minutes later I was perched again at the Howdah, looking down at the rolling sand. The battle ground was already behind us, obscured by the same dune that used the attackers for ambush. The only hint that something out of the ordinary has taken place, were the excited sounds of the Lirrs, drawn to the scent of blood. I knew that any traveler who might stumble upon the site in an hour or so, will be oblivious to the drama that took place. That is the way of the Athasian desert, a place without memory. Maybe that is the reason of why so many people get lost in it forever.

The next two days were a test of endurance to the men and beasts.

We pushed through the entire day, not stopping even to rest in the hot

hours of the Athasian noon, through the entire night and the following day. There is a state of mind, the desert nomads call "MoachYavesh". When you have eaten enough dust, so that no matter how much water you drink, your throat feels like a sand, have felt enough hot wind upon your body, making the skin feel like sandpaper, and on the top of that being forced to stay awake , then you probably have the "MoachYavesh". A person who has the "MoachYavesh" rarely blinks, his sight becomes fixed at some point in the air (usually forward), never straying left or right. His all being is focused only in reaching his destination. People in that state sometimes forget to drink causing them to dehydrate or in some worst cases even to develop hallucinations. The hallucinations derived from "MoachYavesh" are called "ZakukLeabarbanel", and have five stages. The first includes mild hallucinations, during the fourth stage you become a babbling freak and the fifth means death. The only way to avoid "MoachYavesh" is to force yourself to drink regularly. Since we were almost third of our original size, and had no trouble of water, I ordered every person (including the slaves), triple of the regular quota. Even so, at the end of the second day we were all on the brink of collapse. Pushing the beasts another single step would have proven disastrous. Najim which has been pushing to limits he didn't know he had, summoned me at last to the Howdah.

"The Mekillots are becoming almost impossible to control". "They are extremely hungry and angry for not being able to rest, and I for once must agree with the stinking lizards" exclaimed our driver through clenched teeth. "So unless you want to become their next meal, I suggest you order that tracker of yours to go hunting" he concluded.

Najim and Sultani our psionic skilled drivers were actually permanent agents of house Shom and not hirelings like myself. Being Mekillots and Bulzai wagons handlers, they were treated as a low to medium ranking house merchants, which meant they could afford rather comfortable life style (that was, when they were not on the road of course). Najim for instance , whom had the same good looks as one of his Mekillots, kept four wives (In Balic, Tyr, Urik and Nibenay), each ignorant of the other three, believing she is the only flower of his life. He claimed it worked to the benefit of all involving sides. Knowing some people who keep all their wives in the same house, I can't help but to think the bald midget has it correct.

I do not mean to imply in any way that Najim was pampered by his lifestyle, on the contrary. What I mean is to display him the way he is, a respected professional, whose skill bought him his current position. This is the reason, when he called me I knew we had to stop immediately.

Picking two dunes that would keep us from the night wind and from prying eyes I ordered Sultani to stop. He and Najim positioned the wagons horizontally, thus making a safe buffer zone, in which we could make a safe camp for the night. I didn't allow anyone off the wagons though, knowing that the Mekillots were hungry enough now to take a bite at anyone near them. Me and Jevad had the Giths captives lowered carefully by ropes and pulleys used for hauling merchandise from the Bulzai wagon. The first lizard sniffed the hanging bound Gith all over, maybe pondering if it was edible before risking a chow. The other one displayed none of its partner's hesitation, it's long black tongue lashed forward, engulfing the screaming unfortunate warrior with a long swipe. While it was happily chewing, we fed the other Mekillot and the Bulzai in similar fashion. After a second round of Giths treats, I felt it was safe enough for us to go down. I quickly gave permission to open the wagons and begin with the night preparations. Between the two dunes and the concealing wagons, I was sure, no one would be able to see us. Nonetheless I allowed only a single fire lighted and ordered double the regular number of guards. Calling Ann'ar our psion master, I ordered him to try and contact Colin (our young Mul scout), since now we were sufficiently close to fort Alancor. Feeling at last content, I gave Felice command for the night and settled down in a quiet spot behind the wagons for hot Cocoa cup and a game of Phahngi Nibenay style with Jevad.

Stretching our legs we both gave a synchronized almost comical sigh (Would have been comical its just that no one dares to laugh at Jevad (not to his face anyway)) as we both lighted our ceramic pipes. Phahngi is a strategic game played on a small board of black and white Triangles, each pair of Black and white Triangles forms a square. The game has one hundred and twenty squares on it. A player figure stands on a single Triangle. Movement is made between triangles touching at one of their bases only if the two triangles have opposite color, a piece can move between two Triangle's of the same color only at certain events of the game. Phahngi has many forms of play, the rules for winning and figures movement change from place to place. What is common in most of the forms I know of, is the players part. One side plays the moons Ral and Guthay and one side plays the Crimson Sun. Every four game turns each of the sides is at its peak of power giving his soldiers some special abilities. Me and Jevad play the Nibenay style. The game is ended when four special triangles (called Nibenay's forts) are all occupied by one player at the peak of that player power.

Me and Jevad have a long history of games, the current one we were running for almost a month now. You might consider Phahngi too complicated for a Half Giant, and you would be absolutely correct. But the fact remains, Jevad beats me five games out of six, and I am a mean Phahngi player.

Happy Jevad (called Happy on account of a strike he got in the arena caused the right side of his mouth to be forever pointed up in a smirk) is a freak. It is not that he is extremely bright by his dull race standards, he is actually a genius by every race's standards. Born to the wrong body, happy Jevad should have been one of the era's greatest scholars or mightiest wizards. But fate chose differently for Jevad, being half giant meant he was forced to grow as one of Urik's Gladiators. He became a champion of the arena, whose name remained even today, seven years after his retirement, respected in the city of his birth. No, Jevad was not really a Half Giant, he displayed none of that race mental instability. I never saw him have shift in mood, nor did I ever seen someone as focused as Jevad. He did everything with the determination of a Lirr whom has just smelled a fresh corpse. On the top of all that, he managed to master alone the psionic arts to a skill that rivals many whom were tutored at it from birth. Jevad is a gem amongst his kind, in fact I believe he is not a true half giant at all. Like one of those freaks being born to the desert sometimes, Jevad forms a race of his own. I have never discussed it with him though, preferring to keep my theories to myself.

Looking at the board, I was trying to figure whether to move my defiler as if to threaten Jevad's Giantess when Tain joined us.

Tain on the other hand couldn't be taught Phahngi. It's not that he wasn't intelligent or curious enough to sit down and learn. He even tried once, but the whole concept of playing a game he considered dull was foreign to him. He held a steaming ceramic bowl containing a suspicious looking substance in which an even more suspicious looking lumps were floating.

"You want some Boss?" he asked fishing a round object with nimble fingers.

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass this time Tain" I said signaling him to sit beside us on the ground.

"Need me to go out into the desert and meet someone Boss?".

What I love about my two partners is that years of working together have made us able to guess each other thoughts.

"I'm fraid you are becoming too smart for your own good Tain" I said dryly.

"What should I tell her when I find her Boss?" Tain was drinking noisily the dubious looking soup while talking at the same time, some of the liquid landed on me. I gently removed the drops from my Quitchaktul (A sleeveless shirt made in Draj fit for the coldest nights of the Athasian desert).

"Tell her we have a change of plan but schedule remains the same". "Be careful", I've added at an afterthought, "She is a sharp one, don't try to trick her or she'll get suspicious, tell her the truth but only what she needs to know".

Tain made an offended look of "you don't have to tell me that" and disappeared into the desert air without saying a word.

"Where is he off to now?" asked Najim who came striding behind the Mekillot's wagon.

"Oh, I just sent him sniffing around, you can never be sure you know" I lied.

"You should come over Boss, that bitch of a merchant has gone completely mad".

I sighed "Looks like we will have to postpone our game for another time" I told my smirking colleague. "What is it now I asked, no let me guess, she decided we should go back to Balic by foot".

"Not funny Boss", said the short Mekillot driver, "She is making us take the Mekillot wagon apart, she says we have to inspect what was broken during the fight". "I mean it's like an obsession with her and that wagon", he continued " I wonder what's she's hiding there that's so damn important?".

Me and Jevad traded a quick glance, well, hell, I thought, you sometimes discover intelligence in the least expected of places.

Walking swiftly back behind the wagon, the sight that welcomed my eyes was not pleasant. Instead of resting like I ordered, the entire crew was busy at unpacking the Big wagon. Ceramic pots from Balic were strewn near salt blocks. Entire bands of Lirr feathers bound in numerous packages. Inix raw Leather, sacks of grain, rat wool, ten sets of armor made of tortoise men shell, Red and Yellow Cacti seeds, Silk made from the cocoons of the giant silk snake, copper from the Red hill mine, crates full of coal from the smoking hills of Ketal, Tiger Beetle chitin, Desert fox fur, Balician Olives Sap, Zephyr kiss Fruits, Thyme, Nana dried leaves and countless of other house Shom riches.

Distinguished amongst this wealth, were a bunch of slaves, who stood beside the merchandise, they were chatting happily, glad at the unexpected opportunity to stretch outside of the smelly wagon compound. They were all prime stock, being of the infamous Ushom farm near Balic.

House Shom, whom years of corruption have made their wealth and merchandise quality to deteriorate was still number one in prime slaves handling. When they decided to go hard into the slave market, they took to it with a vengeance and the zeal they lacked in every other territory. As first Step, they opened up two farms outside the city of Nibenay and Balic, with the sole purpose of producing slaves. Breeding intelligent races, the way one might breed cattle, they begun on a program of making better slaves. I heard they had quite a few difficulties in the earlier years. The farms were attacked many times by slave tribes, and I suspect to some extent by subcontractors of house Stel whom would have had been the first to lose profit to house Shom's new endeavor. Most of the first experiments went bad, insufficient food bad housing and other problems caused a high mortality rate. Also inner breeding between the slaves resulted in less than satisfying offspring. But the Merchant lords of house Shom are not easily deterred, having patience and the long sight of people capable of planning years and years ahead, they kept with their efforts, which now, almost forty years after the farms have been founded, have begun to bear fruits. House Shom produced now the best quality of slaves stock. You required a Gladiator, Shom's Muls were the sturdiest and the quickest, you needed an artisan, Shom's half elves could not be matched, you desired beautiful concubines, and house Shom's girls were the prettiest and the most skilled. I have once been to one of the farms, picking a caravan full of slaves for delivery in Tyr. Most of the farm is kept under security and secrecy, though what I was able too peek at were the stables. Big compounds, each containing up to two hundred females, all in some state of pregnancy. I learned that most have been there all their lives, being the selected for some sort of distinguishing trait to serve her life as a breeder. I heard that for each slave, they kept a family tree as much as five generations big, thus preventing inner breeding mishaps. They fed the slaves with some sort of diet that made them give birth to more than a single child each time. Birth of trios was rather common, and four and five were not unheard of (Though those births were quite dangerous for both mother and child). One of the Merchants proudly showed me a beautiful female elf slave in her possession whom have had eighty four children, all female all pretty like her, and was expecting many more years of child bearing. The males I did not see, but was told a selected few were kept in a different compound, and were only allowed to see the females at times of coupling. I can think of a much worse ways for a slave to spend his entire life on the harsh world of Athas than being one of the pampered stocks in Ushom farm. But even now, as I look at the small group standing near the wagon, I can't help but to reflect sadly at my visitation. Those breeding slaves in the farm have become nothing more than animals, although cherished and well cared, but still nothing but animals.

I was picking my way amongst the merchandize, searching for Odieve, when suddenly one of the slaves begun to sing. Afraid that his voice might attract some unwanted attention I thought of shutting him up, but then something stopped me. His voice was a clear soprano at first, rising high to octaves unachievable by human throat, then he went into the lowest of basses, going down below the ability of Half Giants. Listening to his him was a weird experience. His voice resonated down the spine and stomach, descending until you could feel it in your toes, only to soar the next moment into the tip of your hair, making your eyes burst of their sockets. Another singer and another followed him, they were all Half Elves, and displayed the same voice ability. Looking closer I saw that they were clearly of the same mother (if not of the same father), it was obvious why their parents were chosen for breeding. It wasn't the astounding sound though that captivated me and prevented me from stopping their singing, it was the song itself. An ancient Elven melody it was, a tune I must have not heard in thirty years or so. It sung of ancient times, before Athas was a barren dying desert, devoid of life and hope. It spoke of a happier times, when Elves have been proud race, shining brightly like stars above all other races. Of time where forests, the size of entire continents existed. Of a time when the words kindness and honor had a true meaning. The song had an impact on me as if running head first into a wall. Old memories rushed in like a storm on the sea of silt shores. I remembered the old Elven tribe of my childhood, the faces, the people, the clan, the tribe. I remembered the rain dance and the hunt dance and the raid dance. I remembered the happiness of living and the joy of the run. I remembered the wind and the Moons reflections upon the naked dunes. I remembered the old shaman Mariko star dancer, making her magic in the light of the fires. I remembered frightening chief Suan fast arrow, urging and invigorating his warriors before the raid. Last I remembered my mother, eyes always cast down, always sad, almost an outsider like her unwanted son between the happy people around her. "Alia" I whispered to myself, reflecting in shock that I haven't thought nor uttered her name for almost thirty five years.

"Why have you given up on me so easily Alia?" I thought, "how different things might have been for me".

I felt strong big arms grabbing my shoulders, "Your OK Boss?" asked Jevad with a worried voice "You look like you've just seen a ghost".

"No, nothings wrong" I lied " just feel like taking some air".

"Those singers, you want me to shut them up?" he kept giving me a troubled look.

"No, let them play, nothing in the vicinity to worry about anyway" I answered trying to give an imitation of a smile. I went and found a place to think by myself, Jevad didn't follow having guessed I need some space, and I thanked him in my heart for being as smart as he was.

As the melody continued, nine of the slave girls joined in with a dance. They formed a circle of beautiful figures, at its center danced the most exotic creature I've ever seen. Displaying two pointed ears and slanted eyes, she wasn't Elven or even Half Elven. She was one of the new races, the freaks, sometimes created by the desert. She had huge eyes that shown purple in the firelight, long glistening almost white hair, and skin color as gold as the dune. The only thing she wore while dancing, was a belt of bronze bells that jingled softly with her every move. She began with slow movements rising from a sitting position with a snake like slow motions that emphasized her strong body. She then picked up speed synchronizing with the growing intensity of the song, stretching herself to full view of the captivated men. The dancers around her were no less beautiful, some even more beautiful (as hard to believe as it may sound). Nonetheless all eyes were upon her and her alone. I don't think that Aildin (for that was her name as I later learned), ability to enchant men and women alike with her dance came just from her being exotic and pretty. She had a mysterious ability to force upon ones mind, that the dance she was dancing is being preformed especially and only for that person.

"They sing superbly, don't you think master Seno?" Odieve managed somehow to sneak on me (well maybe not so surprising since I was so enthralled by the beautiful display).

"That bunch of singers are like nothing I had ever heard before" I admitted.

"Yes" she smiled, "as a group they worth more than the entire content of that wagon, that was why I was so worried, I was afraid they might break."

If she was ever worried, none of it showed, in facet she looked more relaxed than I've seen her in a long time.

"That dancer is very beautiful too" I said "you must be the envy of many people to own such a rare gem".

"A natural indeed" she flashed me a mouthful of white teeth smile. "The fun part" she continued "is that I possess her thirty sisters, all equal to her in looks at home, and her mother has just begun another cycle of pregnancy". "Her mother's breed are really wild and can't be tamed, but when mated with an Elf or Half Elf they produce this lovely well behaved result" she concluded.

"You seem to bee in a good mood", I told her "I might suggest that you've found things in the Mekillot wagon to your satisfaction?" I asked, giving my voice an intonation of sarcasm.

"Oh don't start with that again Seno" (as if I were the one to start), "It's a lovely night, let's enjoy it without quarrelling like two kids".

She gave me a mysterious pat on the cheek, "thanks for saving me from the Gith Seno", she said suddenly". "Don't think that I have forgotten or that I'm not grateful".

I sighed "Odieve dear, you owe me nothing, what deeds I've made or haven't, were all part of my job, they are all Halawa now, buried under the sun and the sand".

As I rose on my legs, she grabbed my head, raising my lips to hers, she gave me a kiss. Short as it was, that kiss has been ferocious and passionate, I felt blood on my lips. I turned and walked away quickly, I could hear her laugh behind me.

As soon as I got to back to the fire, giving orders to pack the wagons again, I ended the dance to everyone's dismay. Next I ordered anyone who wasn't packing or on guard shift to get some sleep as we would be starting tomorrow before dawn. At last I allowed myself to curl into a tight ball and fall asleep. The best place to lay your head in a Caravan is under a Mekillot's wagon. First It is hot, having accumulated heat all day from the sands while the wagons flanks that protect it from being attacked from the underside, also prevent most of that heat from running away during the cold night. The flanks also protect you rather well from the chilly night wind. And as an added bonus, it is not half as smelly as the wagon interior above. On the downside, you have a slight chance of waking up in the morning only to find the Mekillot decided to move in the wrong direction shaping your head to an integral part of the wheels mechanism. Nonetheless it is my favorite spot. My method of surviving a night without being crushed I've learned from Golan, my mentor. What I do is to hang a hammock between two huge stirrers, thus in case the Mekillots decides to take a night stroll I am safe from harm. Golan also taught me my most important rule about sleep. Never lay down unless you put a mental Alarm whenever or wherever you are. This mental Alarm, that saved me a lot of inconvenient situations in the past, was ringing now.

I woke up with a start, knowing I was not alone under the wagon. I inherited my mother Elven night vision to some extent, but the interior was so dark, it didn't allow me to see the person sneaking on me. Leaping to the ground with a swift motion (which was rather tricky considering the ceiling was so low it allowed me only a crouch), I drew out one of my Boot knifes (I sleep fully closed and with armor on (better un-comfy than sorry)). One of the figures lighted a small lantern.

"Nothing to get head over tit about Seno" Odieve imitated my voice perfectly. I swear, when this trip is over I'm taking a long vacation, one in which my chances of meeting red headed giantesses are as good as meeting a two headed Kanks.

"Who is your friend ?" I asked wearily, wondering what her being here at this time might mean.

"This is Aildin", she said, letting the amazing bells dancer step forward, "I want you to have her as a gift, I thought you displayed some enthusiasm over her tonight" she smirked.

"I told you Odieve, delivering you safely to Urik is part of my job, your gratitude is appreciated if somewhat misplaced".

"Nonetheless Seno, I want you to have her as a gift". "In fact I already signed the ownership trade", she gave me a piece of trade parchment.

"You can brand your sign on her anytime you like", she was standing on her knees, since the ceiling height didn't allow her to stretch, and she was smiling broadly as if she just won a good match of Phahngi.

"Come on Seno, I can read you like the palm of my hand", "You are dying to get a bite, the only thing that holds you is a silly fear you might not like yourself in the morning". She licked her perfect lips and removed her halter displaying perfect breasts, swaying invitingly in the lamplight. I began to feel itchy below the waist line.

"Don't play the hard to get on me Seno, you don't know what you are missing". "Dancing is not the only thing she is trained at" at that she removed the dancer's small belt of bells, that wasn't hiding anything much in the first place.

"I stopped playing with myself when I was ten Odieve" (I lied). "The Two perfect ladies and, Mr. ugly Seno, is an appealing fantasy, but not my cup of Kank Honey".

She laughed "You are a strange man Seno, stronger than most I've met, I like strong men". "Aildin" her tone became commanding, "go back to the wagon, I have decided you now belong to Master Seno, understood ?".

"Perfectly lady Odieve", answered the dancer with a singsong voice and turned tail.

As soon as she was gone Odieve was on me, not waiting for us even to spread a blanket on the ground she threw me down ripping armor and garments. Tender skin and strong caressing hands. Sugar and spice, I knew I was going to hate myself in the morning.

Two hours later I was alone again hanging back at my hammock, thinking of what have just transpired, trying to guess what my next move should be. I handle life as if they are a vicious game of Phahngi, one with no rules and no rematches. It is a game I play better than Jevad. Golan once told me "A good player always knows his opponent, not just the exterior, but the inside as well". "What does he really desire, what makes him do what he does, how does he plan to achieve it" in short: "what makes him tick".

As for Odieve I knew more or less what she wanted. I had no delusions she really meant to thank me for saving her life. No, having saved her life would have earned me nothing but a knife in the gut if she would have suspected me of being in her way. Faday intervene on my behalf on the other hand, tipped the scales in a way she didn't like at all. She probably figured that a short love affair would tip the scales back in her favor. Odieve was famous for the army of lovers she kept at Nibenay, all ready at her disposal. I guess she filed me as one of those small lackeys. Little Seno is not going to give any more trouble, he is going to be a good boy from now on, and in case he is still not content, he can always play with his new toy. And that's that, case closed. The dancer is probably just another tool, I was given the gift for her to be able to keep a close eye on me. I had no doubt the dancing lady was reporting directly to her previous mistress.

While I was pondering optional next moves, my sensitive Elvish hearing picked out the sound of a shallow breathing, like someone trying to remain inconspicuous.

"Tain, is that you? " I whispered, knowing it couldn't be, since if Tain would have chosen to snick out on me, there wouldn't been a chance in the world of noticing him.

"It's me Aildin" whispered the dancer's in a sweet voice.

"I thought Odieve has sent you to sleep in the wagon tonight" I said nervously.

"Well since you are my master now, I don't take orders from her anymore" she reasoned "Do you mind if I sleep here for the rest of the night master? " she added after a pause.

An Ushom farm slave with will and intelligence of its own, life is full of little surprises. "Then Come on here into the hammock sweetie, you will freeze your buns seating on the sand".

"You danced extremely nice tonight", I said as she snuggled next to me.

"Thanks master", she whispered, "it is the dance of the Elven lost pride". "Odieve told us to perform it".

"Sweetie, will you stop with the Master thing, it's giving me cramps" I nudged her a little.

"So how should I call you master?" she whispered. If I did not already mark her to be a spy I might have felt sympathy for her. I could swear the girl was terrified of me, either that or she was just an excellent performer, far smarter than I suspected.

"Just call me Boss like everybody else does", I like being "Boss", while not being too respectful, it keeps a proper distance. "Wait a second", I suddenly yelped, "what did you just said?" .

I shouldn't have been so sudden, the girl jumped to the ground and covered her face, as if waiting to be struck. I looked at her trying to figure if I should intimidate her further (which didn't seem to be much of a problem), or should I leave her be instead.

"What did you said about the Dance?" I asked trying to make my voice calmer.

"We danced the Elven lost pride dance, master boss Seno" she stammered, "did it not please you? " she sounded on the verge of crying.

"I didn't mean the bleedin dance" I raised my voice again, "you say the song was not a spontaneous display of joy?". She was really crying now,

"No, mistress Odieve have told us to perform it when we were released from the wagon hold", "we would never have dreamed of performing without her permission".

But of course I thought miserably, how so stupid of me, it all fits perfectly now. Odieve preformed a superb diversion, and we were all fooled like little children. As for the impact the song had on me, I was beginning to have strong doubts too. Odieve, being a powerful Mind master could have exploited her abilities to force me into such a curious state of strong feelings. The music from my past plus gentle probing on her part could have caused me to lose emotional control without being aware of it. The thought of her mangling with my brain sent cold shivers down my spine. How deep did she go ? how much more does she know?. I lighted a candle from my pouch and turned again to Aildin who was now sobbing freely,

"Now listen very good and answer truthfully, cause your life depends on it" I sounded menacing even to myself,

"What did Odieve sent you here for?". "Nothing Boss" she stammered on the second word,

"she said I would be given to you as a present and that I should pleasure you with all my might, please" her voice was almost unheard "please don't throw me to the Mekillots".

"Is that all there is to it Aildin, think hard and be wary, I am trained in the way of the mind and can sniff a liar ten miles away". I held up her chin and looked into those huge almost hypnotizing purple eyes.

"I swear, Master, this is all I know" she wailed.

Truth is I am psionic, but my skill has never gone so far as to be able me reading of people thoughts. I am very good at reading people though, a skill I learned from working so many years under Golan, and damn me, if that girl was lying.

"It's all right Aildin, you have passed the test", I was certain that if she was part of a conspiracy, she had no knowledge of her part. Anyway I intended treading with care around her. She didn't stopped her crying though, "Come on, it's a bad habit wasting so much water on the desert" I tried to smile, knowing in the candle light it didn't improve my looks one bit. I wiped out a tear with my hands. Her cheek had a strange quality and I found out to my surprise that her golden skin was actually some sort of a delicate fur. I guided her to my swinging bed.

"Go back to sleep now sweetie, I need to go and do some thinking, you'll be quite safe here in the hammock".

She panicked again, "Odieve instructed me to keep you happy during the nights", I realized her fear from her previous mistress was even bigger than her fear from me.

"I don't doubt for a moment she did", I smiled, "go back to sleep, I promise you Ill tell her you preformed superbly". At last satisfied, she gave me an odd look, as if trying to assess me again, then curled herself into a tight ball and went to sleep. I waited till I could hear her soft breathing then I got out from underneath the wagon.

I needed to find Tain and Jevad, I needed to make another change in plans, and most of all I needed to clear my head. "Two can play the game of diversion Odieve", I thought. "And You have just got yourself a match".

Desert caravans on Athas usually start their day at the hours before daybreak, in order to evade walking in the hot midday hours. And so it was that the cold dawn caught us already on our feet. I was perched at my usual seat inside the Mekillot wagon Howdah's Basket. Aildin was standing next to me. She was peering curiously around, trying to capture the unfamiliar sights.

"It is beautiful" she said pointing at the rising red disk.

"Some people opinion might differ" I said, "though I myself would have to agree with you". "No matter how many times I have seen this, It still takes my breath away each morning anew".

"It's so cold" she was actually shivering, "I thought the desert was supposed to be inferno all the time".

I took off my Quitchaktul coat and gently placed it on her delicate shoulders, it came down below her knees.

While we were sharing the sunrise together Heavy steps were heard from below and the Howdah lurched to the side. Happy Jevad's stern face appeared over the side, he was carrying hot Moulocata drink and steaming Vaneylo bread made from silver cacti worms. I noticed he was using his bruised leg with better agility, once again I was astounded by his tremendous stamina.

He gave Aildin a long appraising stare, "look like you found yourself a girlfriend boss" he exclaimed dryly. It wasn't really a question so I didn't bother answering. "How much time to the hawk Badland?" Jevad was referring to a set of rocky canyons located between south of Tyr, it also was the location of the fort Alancor, our destination.

"Less then half an hour ride", I looked at the Sun calculating distance and time, "We should just be able to see the first ridge in a moment when the sun will be fully up".

Aildin recoiled in fear from Jevad, placing herself at far as she could away from the ladder. "Aildin, this is my partner happy Jevad", I said, "a professional and a gentlemen through and through".

"You dance beautifully Aildin" said Jevad "you have a rare talent to give people Joy".

She smiled weakly "I thank you for your kindness master Jevad", but kept her distance away from him.

With a surprising gentleness he placed the food on the ground, and tore the Vaneylo bread in half giving one part to me and extending the other to her. Aildin didn't take it, still to afraid to approach.

"Are you scared to take an offered gift?", he asked her gentling his voice almost to a whisper. The Harpoon crew at the Howdah moved with inconvenience at the small drama taking place, but none dared to intervene or comment. I myself was very curious to where this conversation was getting too. It was the first time since I met Jevad that he expressed any kind of disappointment from people reaction towards his person, he was much too smart for that kind of behavior.

"The stories about you in the slave hold, tell of a warrior of whom to face means to face death, wouldn't you be frightened if you were myself master?" She answered lowering her head (that girl was not just good looks).

"And so you have made your judgment of me without ever meeting me while I have yet to determine who is really Aildin the dancer of the bells", he extended her the bread again.

She took it this time with a graceful node (smart kid) "I am sorry to have offended you master Jevad".

With a mighty leap that might have suited a Cat and not a twenty hundred pound humanoid he jumped into the Howdah, making the whole structure creak in protest. Giving Kalai, the new Harpoon master a meaningful "I dare you to say something" look he crouched beside me.

"Ever play Phahngi Aildin?" he asked her.

"I can't say that I know how master Jevad", she answered shyly.

"In that case, now is a good time as ever to start", I answered, finally realizing his intentions. I gave her the cup of steaming Moulocata drink, and sat down explaining the basics. My partner plan was simple, while I would distract her, he would be able now to probe her gently thus determining her role in Odieve's plans.

"How old are you Aildin anyway?" I asked as she was setting the pieces in the way I have instructed her.

"I don't really know" she said in a small voice. I wondered how could someone who danced so lusciously display such an insecure and shy attitude.

"You were born on the on the farm I guess" I kept the chit chat.

"Yes ,been there all my life, this is my first time out".

"She is not lying" I suddenly heard Jevad's voice in my head, "keep asking her questions, there is something interesting here I want to check".

"Any kids?" I inquired dryly not thinking of anything smarter to ask. My question had an impact I didn't expected though, Jevad jerked as if he was hit by an invisible force.

"Yes, one" her answer was almost impossible to perceive, "Nalean I called her" she said after a pause.

"Keep her talking in that direction" Jevad's mental voice instructed me.

"A very nice name, Nalean means a desert flower is it not?".

"Yes" she continued with a chocked voice and I was afraid she was going to burst into tears any moment, "she was the flower of my life". "I guess then she was left back at the farm" I reasoned this was the cause of her distress.

"No master boss Seno", she was really crying now, "Nalean was taken from my care when she was five, almost a year ago".

Athas is a harsh place to live in, some people whom are not survivalists like myself find themselves crushed by its cruelty.

I made a feeble attempt to comfort her by wiping the tears and making her drink another cup. Surprisingly Jevad is much better at those situations but he was busy looking into the darkest corners of her brain.

"What did you do?", I asked after she looked like talking again, though I guessed myself.

"What could I do, what can you do when they pull out your heart? "I died". "I stopped eating, not having any whish to go on living", she was crying softly again.

"And then what happened?" My curiosity now aroused.

"Odieve" the name was uttered with extreme hatred. "She said that if I wouldn't start to behave, she would personally make sure my daughter would suffer". "She promised on the other hand, that if I start eating again, she might enable me to meet with her", "though I guess that now it's not an going to happen", she added after a thought.

So that was the perch Odieve had on the girl, I heard Jevad's mental nod.

"It's more complicated then that Seno", "Odieve has some sort of a psionic hook into Aildin's brain. "It allows her to see and hear through the dancer's eyes and ears, I don't know how deep this thing goes, but be very careful around her".

"Did you expect anything less from me" I sent what I hoped was the equivalent of a psionic frown.

"I also didn't expected you to take her into your bed so quickly, you have tendency to think with your genitals sometimes", he criticized.

"I'm sorry to hear that Aildin, if it's any comfort to you, I'm sure that your daughter is safe, Odieve only used her so she could get leverage". I was probably right, no decent merchant will deliberately diminish the value of the house property. On the other hand describing Odieve as decent, well she was anything else but.

"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said me" Aildin gave a brave smile. She had the strange ability to make me feel like a true bastard (not that I wasn't). "I don't know why people call you black heart, they have you completely wrong" she added innocently. I swear the girl had the manipulative skills of a six years old, her feeble attempt to suck up to her new master was pathetic, yet it made her even more sweet.

"Seno Black heart", "not one I haven't heard before, "They don't know half the story dear, they don't know half the story".

Taking a long drink I looked to the north, "there, see the ridge, hawk Badland ahead" I cried.

"Ok Boss said Najim nervously, which canyon". Najim nervousness was grounded by his knowledge of the badlands.

Numerous caravans were lost each year in the area due to raiders, monsters, and getting lost. The canyons were like a maze, snaking between unscalable walls. Their directions varied greatly, some crisscrossed the pass of others, some ended after a few kilometers in a dead end and some even doubled back, so you might find yourself after few days of hard walking back at the start point (which might prove fatal to a Mekillot's Caravan, since the beasts needed watering every few days). Only a small number of people knew the good routs and only fewer knew all the routs like I did.

"See the big one north west, the one whose entrance looks like a woman's gate to paradise, now count three to the right, that is our destination" I said.

"How can you tell them apart, they all look the same?" asked Aildin. Surprised at her curiosity, I gave up teaching her Phahngi for later, and sat down again explaining my methods of memorizing the numerous sites of the desert.

Distance in the desert can be misleading, it took us half a day to reach the foothills of the Hawk Badlands. By the time we got there Aildin, Jevad and I were chatting freely. When in need of smooth tongue, you can use mine for silk production. I even managed to make the little dancer smile once. If Odieve had been screening us through Aildin eyes remained unclear, though even if she did, all she might have gotten for her trouble was idle chit chat.

I gave the order to stop just before the Canyon opening. Assembling the high rank people I addressed them about the rules of conducting our journey through the Canyon, "We are entering the canyon" I said, be alert for an ambush, there has been a small group of Tembos living here the last time I passed couple of years back". "Also, there is still the possibility we didn't fool the Elves, highly unlikely as it sounds, they might still be lurking ahead so keep your brains sharp". "Najim and Sultani, I want the wagons to march side by side instead of a column".

"Inside the canyon?" asked Sultani in astonishment, "the Gap is too small, far too risky boss, the Mekillot might just decide to check if it likes Bulzai meat".

"Nonetheless, I want you both close as much as you can, Najim will hold the Mekillots at check, in case we do run out of space, I want the Bulzai always to go first".

"What cause we have to risk the Bulzai Lion in any way?" asked Odieve, always suspicious always on the guard.

"Seno wants to decrease the chance for an ambush" answered Jevad gently before I could. "Marching in column will enable our would be attackers to cut us in two", Jevad had a way of being polite yet sound offensive at the same time.

"Alright" I said, "everyone knows its job, we are already far behind schedule so let's go". " People who doesn't have a specific job defending the Caravan should stay inside the wagon" I gave Odieve a meaningful look.

As everyone were dispersing, Odieve leaned into my ear "I can see you are getting well with your new present" she whispered evilly and nodded towards Aildin whom was trying to make herself invisible behind my back. "I'm glad you do" she continued "though you are spoiling her by letting her follow you to meetings meant for her betters, she might get confused into believing herself a equal". "Such a behavior is unacceptable by house Shom's standards" she gave Aildin a small pat on the head.

"Well Such a behavior is very much acceptable by Seno enterprises standards, and now if you don't mind Odieve, we really should get going".

As she withdrew her mouth from my ear, she gave me a libidinous lick with the tip of her tongue and a small wink. Great, now everybody will think she owns me like anything and everyone else on this Caravan, that will do wonders to my prestige.

I don't like Canyons. I always feel bad upon entering and relief when exiting. It's not that I'm claustrophobic but the walls always seem to close on me. Maybe the reason is linked to the fact that I have yet to exit a Canyon unscathed. I don't know if its true for every caravan master, but for me there is a certainty that something interesting is going to happen between the point of entry and the point of exit. I hate the word "interesting", I like my life as boring as could be. It's not that I'm afraid to take chances, I don't, else I wouldn't be in the trade, but the chances I love most are those that are hundred percent to zero in my favor. Chance is a factor I like to decrease to its lowest limit, and the word uncertainty makes me itchy. Canyons are full of uncertainties. That's the reason why Aildin asked me after five minutes of travel into the canyon if I'm feeling alright. At first I insisted for her to remain below, but she almost became hysteric. Trying my best, I couldn't reason if her behavior originated from her mistrust of foreigners or from some mental conditioning her former mistress inlayed upon her. To tell the truth I didn't care, even if she was her mistress tool in a perfect disguise, the girl was absolutely harmless and fun to be with. Being free of the stinking hold, traveling at the luxury that offered the Howdah was a new experience for her. She delighted herself with every new sight and sound, and In her excitement she displayed the same strange quality of her dance, absorbing anyone watching her into her enthusiasm. Looking at her was almost like reliving those old sights, it was a rejuvenation like experience. "You looked so tense" she asked after awhile.

"Want me to give you a body rub?" She smiled "I'm an expert" she added after seeing my hesitation. As I leaned, surrendering my back to her arms, elbows and fingers, I couldn't help reflecting that I could think of some worse ways for passing time. She had a surprisingly strong grip, unaccountable to her delicate like figure, but it only added to the pleasure of the act.

"I am very sorry to interrupt boss" Najim's harassing voice ended my fun. He wasn't looking very sorry though. "I am very sorry to interrupt boss, but there is something on the pass, I think you should take a look". "What is it" I said in a voice I hoped displayed my annoyance. Najim simply pointed ahead. At the middle of the canyon, less than a hundred strides away, stood a roadblock made of heavy boulders. The boulders looked at first as if they fell from above by an avalanche of some sort (not an uncommon occurrence in the badland's canyons), but as we drew near, it became obvious that here was a man made thing and not an act of nature. The rocks were not thrown but carefully assembled, one on top of the other, they formed a crude pyramid shape.

"There is no chance I can get through that Boss" said Najim sullenly , "I mean, Sultani just might be able to squeeze the Bulzai wagon from the left side here, but our wagon is just to damn big".

"Well, we will have to dig our way through then" I replied with annoyance.

"Look, there is something at the top", young Kalai, our sharp eyed new harpoon master shouted excitedly. As we moved closer, we all saw it too.

At the strange pyramid top, about the same level as the howdah, rested a smooth block of black granite with something lying atop it.

"Stop the wagons" I ordered Najim And Sultani, "I'm getting down for a check, everybody stay were you are". "Aildin sweetie, I need you to go into the wagon interior" I said quietly, "and no arguing, things can get complicated pretty soon". She was reluctant to depart with me at first, but at last agreed after I promised her she would be able to get back at my side the moment we left the current obstacle behind.

Though I made it clear that I wanted everyone on the wagons, Odieve was already on the ground waiting impatiently. I didn't even bother to argue with her.

"What is it Seno?" she asked pointing at the strange monument.

"Sand Devil if I know" I said impatiently, "though I can give some educated guesses, none of them pleasant". "I'm checking this thing, want to come".

She was scaling the rocks before I even finished the sentence, displaying far more agility than I would have ever attributed her with. I'm in not such a bad shape myself, but when I reached the top puffing, she was already there looking around.

The Pyramid top was flat, almost six strides across. The granite tablet rested against three stone pedestals, making the tablet stand erect facing the Athasian sky.

"Now this is odd" exclaimed Odieve, "what do you think it all means?".

As I've stated to her before, I had a pretty good idea of what I'm going to find, though I had no intention of sharing it with her.

"This is an Elven monument, this is Elven writing" I pointed her to the thin elegant markings on the Granite block, "though I can't read what it say of course" I replied (Few can compete with my lying capabilities).

"So what does a Gith's severed head does on an Elven monument, eh?", showing no inhibitions, she picked the gruesome object that was sitting nonchalant like on top of the Granite block.

I found myself eye to eye with Gunash AKA Red Impaler. The bastard was smiling that "you don't know shit" smile of his even in death.

"And so we meet again old Kank face" I thought, " much sooner than you expected was it not".

The Granite slab read "Here lies Gunash Red Impaler, a traitor to his kind and a Kuruga, his seed forever dead --- Santhaal Wind Dancer".

Kuruga translated in the language of the Elven traders to, "one who flunks a treaty". Elves ever consider themselves to be above the law of Kuruga. No matter how many times they double cross the person they have just made a deal with, they see it as an act of ingenuity. On the other hand if an outsider double crosses them once, he is immediately branded a Kuruga.

"I thought that your kind are a lazy bunch" thought Odieve aloud, "why would they take the bother to build this thing".

"I said it's an Elven monument, not that it was raised by Elven hands", I replied irritated at the blunt insult at my origin.

"But what does it all mean, Seno?" being unable to solve the riddle made her restless.

"It means little trader, that you haven't got a clue" said a voice from behind us.

I bet we've broken a record trying to turn.

The speaker was standing only three strides behind us, occupying a space I could have sworn was empty the last time I checked. She also had an Elven bow and a sword, both were not readied in her hands. Nonetheless she looked every bit in control of the situation. Tall for an Elf though shorter by an inch from Odieve whom she just referenced as "little", with scar covered the length of her face which only added to the fierceness and the powerful picture she projected. The scar did nothing to damage Santhaal Wind Dancer's beauty though. She is as pretty as an Elf can get, and Elven women can go a long way in that direction.

"You are standing on a Haui Daisan, it was built so long ago most people have forgotten what it was made for or even that it exists". "Elves have a longer memory than anyone", she added.

"Who the bleedin Desert is you? " shouted Odieve whom regained her lost senses.

"The less you know little trader, the best it is for all sides involved, what I can tell you though is that I am the one who is taking responsible on that wagon" she pointed at the Bulzai Lion.

"Like hell you do" screamed Odieve. "Odieve No" I shouted trying to stop the inevitable knowing it was already too late. The psionic trained mind is amongst the fastest deadliest thing alive on Athas, and Odieve was pushing hers, full force on the Elven warrior.

An arrow shot from an unseen hands to our left hit Odieve in the chest. The impact threw her to the side with a yelp of pain, she tried to regain her footage but then the ground shifted, where she stood now was another Elf. The Bastard gave her a well aimed kick in the arse making her lose balance even further, she finally lost her grip on the pyramid falling down with a shout of despair and rage. More and more Elven warriors were appearing out of thin air and the Pyramid top was becoming crowded.

"You didn't have to do that, I could have talked her to reason" I pleaded the beautiful leader.

"The bitch asked for it", replied Santhaal, "don't worry though, Alitheno is an excellent shot, the only thing you'll find damaged is her pride, now go join her before we stick an arrow in you too".

With a curse I jumped down the pyramid before the so called Alitheno would have a chance to display his superiority with the bow once again. I tried to make my decent as even as possible but my leg got caught on one of the boulders spinning me around and landing me head first in a miserable heap near Odieve. My luck held as it usually does and I didn't break anything important, Odieve on the other hand was spitting blood. So much for Alitheno's marking,

" Shit, you Ok?" I was hoping she wasn't.

"Forget about me" she spat, "don't let them get the wagons". The Wagons were already open and confused slave soldiers were pouring outside. I noticed Aildin was beside me kneeling on the ground.

"Incoming", someone from the Howdah shouted. Like a nest of angry desert bees arrows rained down on the wagons and men on the ground. Looking around I saw they didn't make much of a damage.

"Jevad" I yelled, "Get everyone back to the wagons".

"Take cover Take cover" boomed my trusted captain "Fold back Fold Back".

"I told you to stay at the wagon" I yelled at Aildin, "get back".

The confusion was tremendous people were trying to get back to the relative safety of the wagons while at the same time people still tried to push out. Suddenly there was a great roar, to everyone's horror one of the great Mekillots bellowed and started going wild. I knew what happened even before the shout came. Someone from the Howdah top screamed, "Seno come quick, It's Najim, they got Najim, they got Najim". I cursed as I sat down on the sand, conscious to the vulnerability of my position I entered deep trance.

I didn't bother checking on Najim, instead I went directly to the now out of control Mekillots. Trying to handle a wild Mekillot is very much like trying to handle a two year old very stupid and stubborn child. Although wild animal handling is not one of my psionic skills, I knew the basics. The trick is to try and make them believe that ahead of them is a shimmering oasis (very much like a mirage in a hot day), this way you both calm them and make them step in the direction you wish. The problem as I said this child weigh four plus tons and is sometimes very hard to get through. A scared angry beast like I had on my hands was almost impossible to control, and I knew I needed help. I made a mental cry for help to our Psion master Ann'ar. It took me three long seconds to get respond from him though.

"What are you doing?" I sent him an angry thought "I need you right now". In the psychic domain of the psion Ann'ar wears the form of a dragon made of light (some sort of alter ego kink of his). The dragon didn't look a bit apologetic,

"Boss there is more trouble, someone is attacking Sultani someone very strong, and he needs my help".

"Fuck Sultani, he will have to manage", I shouted mentally, "If you don't help me right now, we are all dead, I am going to jump that Mekillot again now you give me force, I need to ride you".

It is possible in the mysterious domain of the psion masters for one mind user to use the force of another thus expanding the task in hand possibility of success. I tried again at the Mekillot, this time it went smoothly, I felt the same pressure as before only this time it slowly but surely gave way under Ann'ar probing mind. My consciousness mingled with the beast and I found myself looking through Its eyes. It was at first like looking through a smoke screen all hazy and shifty, but still I could discern the sights in front of me. People on the ground around me looked like small blur of fast movement, like insects fit for a small snack. In front was the Bulzai whose presence at the moment was the cause for my terrible anger, I knew I just have to sink my teeth in that bulbous neck or I'll go crazy. The other part of my brain, the human part, noticed a strange thing about the Bulzai, it was no longer standing on four legs. Erect on its hind legs only, the Bulzai was preparing again for the run, this time I realized, there will be no stopping it. Sultani no longer had control of the Lizard, the Elves did. Even as those thoughts were shooting through my confused mind the Bulzai and the wagon shot forward, causing men to fall out of the open cargo hold. The run came to an abrupt stop as the Wagon wedged itself between the Pyramid and the canyon wall, the pass has proven to be too tight. The Bulzai feet struck the ground in vain effort to make progress, as I recall the sight now, it was almost hilarious as if an out of proportion mime actor was trying to appease a nasty audience with a lousy joke. A great crash made the Mekillot turn in panic, something broke, and I can't remember whether it was the canyon, the pyramid or the wagon. Argosy and cargo shot forward with high speed trailing behind the fleeing monster disappearing behind the canyon bend. I put the fleeing Bulzai problem aside and set my mind into solving my current dilemma, the Mekillot. Having lost sight of its subject of hatred the beast calmed down almost without help. At that point Ann'ar wanted to go after the wagon kidnapper, instead I ordered him to replace me in keeping the Mekillot in check. Disengaging myself from the Lizard brain was a bliss, getting down to my own body on the other hand was a different experience. The first thing I noticed was that we were no longer under attack. As swiftly as they came, the Elves disappeared, taking with them whatever they came for. Looking around me I could perceive little damage if any, Nobody was dead or even seriously injured. Actually, if not for the missing wagon, then there was almost no telling of what have just occurred. The raiders were so swift nobody managed a decent response, interviewing the men later on I found out no one actually saw any of the attackers, except for myself and Odieve.

"Get back to the wagon everyone" I shouted "we are getting out of here". "Jevad, make sure everyone is onboard".

Odieve was still spitting blood, but when she heard me she turned like an enraged Tembo, "you don't intend on chasing that bitch?" she was having difficult time spitting the words out.

"Call it a tactical withdraw or call it just plain running away, but you got the right picture honey", I answered.

She set her disbelieving eyes at me, I suppose that only now the true impact of what have just took place dawned on her. She became so red I was worried a vein is going to pop of her head. "That bitch got my wagon, I want it back" she cried stupidly.

"And how do you suggest we bypass this lovely pyramid, when it hardly was fit for the smaller wagon?" I asked trying not to sound too sarcastic, she was pissed enough already.

"Now listen here master Seno and listen good, I WANT THAT WAGON BACK, I hold you responsible for its theft and I don't care how, even if takes you to go there and chase it by foot, you are going to get it back to me, CLEAR!!".

"Look Odieve, these are Wind Dancers and not Silt Stalkers, they came for the steal and not for the kill, otherwise we would have all been corpses by now, we should be happy for what we got, cut our losses and run for it before they have a change of minds". "They will probably even dump the men and the slaves a few miles off, they don't deal with human merchandise so the losses are not so great as they may seem to be" I tried a feeble attempt to appease her.

"I don't give a friggin shit about the men or the slaves, I want a search party and I want it assembled five minutes ago, now if you are not going to be help with this then get out of the way I'll deal with you later", with that she spat on the ground and turned to address Felice.

"Odieve", My voice became so calm it could have frozen the Dark Sun ", I am counting to three, by three you should be back at the Argosy with the rest of the crew". "If you do as I say, then I'm going to forget this conversation has ever took place". "If on the other hand you decide otherwise, then my best whishes to you, though I hardly believe anyone else on that wagon is going to feel the same way". "I have an entire crew to take care of, I can't make exceptions for a stupid, snobbish, spoiled merchant whom just don't know when to quit".

At that she smiled and I found out to my amazement that Odieve could sometimes look less than appealing, maybe even ugly to some extent. "You have just made yourself irrelevant Master Seno" she declared sneering.

"ONE" I held my finger up.

She turned again to my second in command, "Felice, assemble the remaining guard we are going after the stolen goods".

"TWO , Felice, get yourself and the men back to the wagon and prepare for departure" that's from me as I held another finger up.

Felice hesitated for a second. On one hand, he wore the three white dragonflies insignia of a house Shom agent, on the other, for every caravan there was a single authority standing above all, that of the caravan master. There was a moment of silence and indecision, I knew from the beginning of this trip that it is going to come to this, an open confrontation between the two of us, I just didn't know it is going to be so dramatic. To my relief, common sense won, Felice giving Odieve a final look turned without a word and headed back to the wagon. The rest of the guards took after his example did the same.

"THREE" I said in a low voice, "Say hi to the wind Dancers from me Odieve", I kept holding my three up fingers in triumph and started to make my way back.

"Don't turn your back on me you freak, you're going to regret this, you're all going to regret this" She had the voice of a person whom has passed a point of no return.

When the attack came it was not really of a great surprise. I was aware of what she was capable of now and was prepared. Even before she lashed with her psychic whip, I had my shields up and running. I knew I was not going to beat her but I didn't have to, in a sense I already did. All I had to do is concentrate on not letting her get through my defenses distributing none of my skills for attack. Keeping a clear head I stood good chance of getting out of this battle unscathed. I didn't expect her next move though. That just comes to show you that no matter how good you plan ahead, a small miscalculation can send all your plans down the dune.

A string of unknown substance was wrapped around my throat by invisible hands from behind my back. The noose tightened and found a perch at the exact spot the Gith's long fingers strangled me only two days ago raising an unpleasant feeling of deja vu. I tried grabbing and pulling at the choking cord but found myself incapable of moving a muscle. As the silent assassin from behind me gave another pull, the cord gave a soft jingle of small bells and I realized with horror I've heard this sound before.

"Aildin" I tried to shout though only a whisper came out "What the Bleeding desert are you doing?".

"She is doing what she was trained to do half-breed", Odieve smiling face appeared only inches from my own, "I told you she was trained for more than just dancing didn't I". "What you are now experiencing" she continued, obviously very much content with herself, "is the effect of a Palil Ray cord, do you know what it means?".

I knew exactly what a Palil Ray meant. The Palil Ray is a sleep inducing poison used by hunters who seek to capture dangerous animals for the arena games. It causes the muscle to paralyze thus enabling the hunter to entrap monsters without damaging them. An overdose or too much exposure can easily cause death. Yes, I knew exactly what it meant for me, a quick death unless I manage to do something. I opened my mind for broadcasting fully aware it left me vulnerable to Odieve's attack and screamed for help.

Time froze, the hands holding the cord loosened their hold letting me go abruptly. I remember seeing Odieve, astonished, staring at some unseen spot down her silk blouse, and I remember Jevad's booming voice shouting for help. Unfortunately for me Aildin's hands that choked me just a moment ago, were also the hands that supported me. The poison now worked its way through my entire body incapacitating everything down the neckline. Next thing I recall was the fall, like a tower with no foundations I crushed down, breaking every bone that somehow managed to stay whole through the last days ordeals. My head banged on the hard rocs and twisted in angle so I found myself again only inches from Odieve's head. She was not smiling anymore nor will she ever be, her mouth was open with a silent scream and her eyes still held that astonished look of, "I can't believe this shit just happened to me!". I heard more shouts and people milling around me shouting confused orders. I wanted to tell them not to hurt Aildin since none of this were her fault but couldn't find the strength to move my lips. Everybody stares was on me, no one was paying attention to the dead merchant baroness so I was probably the only one to notice a spider like yellow striped insect the size of a man's fist that dropped out from her blouse, from somewhere between her ample breasts. When it went by, I was able to give it a closer inspection which revealed it held out proudly a diminutive human like female head. I don't know if the poison made me hallucinate, but I could swear that when it went past my head it gave me a knowing smile and a wink. After that all became a blur and I happily sank myself into the bliss of oblivion

Next thing I recall was voices from far away, familiar voices. One urged me to do something though try as I might I couldn't comprehend, another wept softly close by. What became even more annoying was that someone was forcing some evil substance down my throat while someone else was slapping my face. Not the most convenience of ways for waking up. I blinked an eye to show them I was alive and to make them stop, though it only served to invigorate them. Using some inner strength I didn't realized still resided in me I pleaded my tormentors to a halt. My voice sounded strange and distant as if coming from another person's mouth. Opening an eyelid I was happy to find myself face to face with a weary looking Jevad and Tain.

"I never thought I'll ever be so happy to see your ugly faces".

"Phew Boss, thought that was the end for you, Tain here said a few more seconds with that poison cord around your neck and you would have gone stiff as your girlfriend the merchant did".

"How long have I been out?" I managed to croak.

"Oh no more than a few minutes, we brought you back to the Argosy for safety" Jevad replied "rest now everything is under control".

I surveyed the room, Aildin was crouched in the corner and I attributed the previous crying voices to her, "Like hell it is, why aren't we on the move?".

"We are waiting for Sultani driver and the rest of the crew from the other wagon to get back" answered Tain smiling, he was holding and stroking a very familiar yellow striped spider like creature.

"You didn't have to kill the bitch Tain" I said, I raised an unsteady hand and very gently stroked the little creature.

He just shrugged his child size shoulders, "She called me "a stupid Halfling Tracker". "You heard yourself, anyway its Halawa now".

He was right, it's Halawa. I should have known better to warn Tain myself if I wanted Odieve kept alive. Not that I cared much, only I believed this was not the appropriate of times, it might cause us serious problems later on.

"Anyway, we cant wait for the Bulzai team any longer, they will have to catch us later on foot, we cannot wait here" I said.

"How come boss? " the Halfling made an attempt at a surprised visage.

"Oh, just that I have a very very strong hunch that staying here means another meeting with the Wind Dancers, only this time I doubt they'll display the same politeness".

"I'm fraid you are becoming too smart for your own good Boss" he imitated my voice perfectly.

"You live and learn, you live and learn buddy".

It took two hours for the Bulzai crew to catch us up. True to their nature, the Wind Dancers set the guards and the small wagon personnel free. They even set the slaves on the loose since they do not deal with human merchandise like house Shom. Half an hour later we met with the escort from fort Alancor led by a smiling Colin. She managed to convince the commanders at the fort to assemble the dune rider Battalion, an Inix riders professionals composed of almost one hundred fifty good men. Under pressure of both myself and Faday Shom, Muasaraf, the dune rider commander was forced into giving us a full escort all the way to Urik.

The rest of our journey has been rather even. Except for a small encounter with a hungry Tembo, too stupid to recognize a lost cause, (like taking on an entire battalion), there were no more alarming occurrences. Protected to an overkill we presented too much effort for too little gain. The rest of the trip would have been a real Bore (just the way I like it). The wagons crews whom were stretched to the limit of endurance in the last couple of days could now finally rest, having the guard duty taken off their hands. Najim as it turned out, didn't die in the attack only drugged by some substance. Waking up after a day of sound sleeping he had to be told of everything that took place. So now we had two drivers and only a single wagon, which allowed them to work in shifts. And me, well I had Aildin of course. She provided a nice distraction from disquieting thoughts about house Shom and how will I be able to explain a missing wagon and a dead house member. Aildin turned out to be a box full of surprises. She managed to learn Phahngi in a record time and became an enthusiastic player. She looked upon the world with the eyes of those newly born, drinking in full each new sight. I spent every free moment, (and now I had plenty of those since I didn't have Odieve to quarrel on every decision), with her. Through her innocent eyes I was perceiving old experiences from anew. I didn't hold a grudge for her assassination attempt. Not that I think anyone could on such a marvelous creature, She was no more to blame than a knife used for stabbing. Odieve utilized her the same way she did with everyone around her. Later I've learned she belonged to a special program of house Shom. Highly trained in the murderous art of assassination, slaves participating this program were conditioned to be unaware of their true abilities. It made them the perfect concealed weapon for house Shom, the dagger in the boot. Almost Impervious to psionic scrutinizing on account that it's almost impossible to draw a secret out of a person's brain if he is not consciously aware of it, their true nature could only be activated by their master's mental command. A very useful tool in a world where most people had some psionic ability, and where anyone worth assassinating usually had a battalion of psionic masters guarding him. As Odieve has already implied, she was very talented and what she lacked in skill, she made up with youth and enthusiasm. Nights under the wagon became less lonely if somewhat shorter. I want to believe the time we spent together was an education for both of us.

At any given point of time there is more than a single caravan being loaded or unloaded inside the Shom's compound in Urik. The system goes by the rule that whoever gets in first gets to be treated first. Waiting time can actually stretch for a few days on the rush season. Being responsible for the caravan from the time it embarks till the time when the last piece of merchandise is unloaded and accounted for, I couldn't just get my pay and depart. Nonetheless, when we finally made it to the compound our caravan went right through the gates bypassing three astonished looking caravan masters. They started raising a protest until they saw it was me cutting their line and thought better of it. You see, I've got this reputation of someone you don't want to mess with though I can't figure out why.

The docking yard was a buzzing hive of people going hither and thither. Sturdy looking Slaves were packing and unpacking crates full of merchandise. Every Item pre shipment and post shipment were inspected and accounted for by special agents of house Shom. Here and there Hamanu's Templars were patrolling, searching and prying trying to discover any illegal contraband. To an outsider a docking yard might look like pure chaos. The truth couldn't be further off.

In the midst of the mess stood a lanky looking figure wearing a silken robe. Barley humanoid in form, it had high forehead that ended in a bald almost conical shaped top. A long thin neck carried that out of proportion head. Actually it reminded everyone of a lizard in more ways than one. I believe the leather like skin and the tail took major part in creating the impression. He's name was Yamill (it had a different name used by his own kind, but no one is able to pronounce it) and he was the master of the Dock, in charge of all coming and going merchandise. His kind had an amazing capacity for remembering details. You could ask Yamill how much grain was brought by Shom caravan number sixty four, twenty years ago, and he would recount the exact number to the last pound. Surprisingly, the concept of mathematics was foreign to him like flood was a stranger to Athas. If you asked him to calculate something a bit more complicated like giving the average amount of grain brought in the same year, you would get a blank look for an answer. He was loyal ,precise and knew his limitations which made him a perfect employee for house Shom. He held the duty for as long as everyone could remember including Golan my old master. Like a lizard, Yamill stood motionless in the middle of the yard, not even blinking in the harsh noon sun. I knew it was just a ruse, nothing escaped his sight, he noticed everything to the smallest grain of rice. I winked at him as we stopped at the unloading ramp.

"Master Seno", Opening he's mouth, he revealed a long almost lizard like tongue, "Five days late and missing a wagon?" he made what was probably for him a surprised visage though I really couldn't tell.

"There is a first time for everything" (That was not actually the first wagon I ever lost, but I had a clean record at house Shom). I knew he wasn't really surprised. It's amazing how fast news and rumors always travel. I was certain that full details of our journey were already circling the entire city. "Be careful with that laddie", I tapped the shoulder of a young Mul slave who almost tipped over a heavy crate. The crate had a false bottom which held part of my Matela shipment.

A word of clarification here about illegal contraband. You might believe at this point that it was pretty cheeky and unprofessional on my part to endanger the house I was serving by using it's caravan as a vessel for smuggling illegal substance. Well I was in a way, but no one expected me to do otherwise. Even the merchants knew I would be doing some illegal stuff in the background (they probably did to). Nobody cared, as long as you didn't became too obvious or too careless so that you got caught. In the Matela case for instance, I made in advance arrangements through a third party (a small time crime lord going by the name of King Mulinial) to bribe few of the Templars checking the compound. All they had to do was look the other way when the Matela was unpacked and hidden in a safe place. As You can clearly see, everyone played the game and benefited from it.

It took us three hours from the moment we arrived to unpack the Argosy, which is pretty good considering we had ten wagons ahead of us in line. I gave the mercenaries the thumbs up for going to the hirelings checkpoint, there they will get their well deserved fees. I knew most of them will blow it in less than a week from now on prostitutes ,gambling and drinking but that's a mercenary for you. For me there was nothing left to do but to sit down and wait for a summon from house Shom. As it turned out I had to wait till next morning which forced me to sleep in the compound. It should have made me very sour except that I had Aildin to entertain me. As usual house Shom moves very slowly, (some attribute their slowness to their declining condition, some attribute their declining condition to their slowness), so I was not too surprised at having to wait for so long.

The merchant lords sent me an escort of four guards which was rather insulting. It should have been obvious to my employees I do not intend to sneak out on them. Sending a contingent as an escort meant to deliver a clear message, one I didn't appreciate at all. The Shoms have several villas In Urik, nothing extravagant as the Nibenay headquarters, but impressive nonetheless. I bypassed a lush garden that must cost a fortune to maintain and a great hall supported by black granite. The walls everywhere were decorated by famous house members portraits and by lavish carpets of exotic animals. Near the ceiling hovered hundreds of glowing dragonflies. Some sort of trick (probably magic) kept them in line shaping them to the pattern of three huge dragonflies of house Shom Insignia. At the end of this hall my escort silently left me without

giving me further directions. One of the glowing dragonflies detached itself from the rest and hovered close by. A clear voice coming out of nowhere, instructed me to follow it. The Shom lords were known for their extravagant ways. I wasn't much impressed.

Following the insect up a set of marble stairs I came upon another hall, decorated in the same fashion of the first if somewhat more tastefully. At last it came to a halt in front of a decorated door. The door decoration was a marvel unto itself but the most noticeable thing about it was the fact it was made entirely from Iron. I was still calculating the amount of time and money spent here when I was admitted into the room by a burly looking slave. Four people greeted me, all were House Shom high ranking members, which meant things were more complicated than

I thought them to be. One of them I knew personally, since I have dealt with him first hand on several occasions in the past. His name was Amiaz and he belonged to Jebea fraction which was fine with me since I was on a pretty good terms with Jebea.

The Jebea fraction was the new blood in the family, who seriously needed someone to veer it from the seemly inevitable decline. Consisting of merchants bent on the task of restoring house Shom's former glory, they were led by the young and energetic Jebea.

So Amiaz was good news, on the other hand he was the lowest ranking person (excluding myself) in the room. Amiaz was sitting behind a brown plain wooden desk and he motioned me to take a sit opposite to him. Next to Amiaz sat a tall sour pale faced character which I didn't recognize, I decided to call him Muffy, after a desert Cacti which had sour fruits. I guessed Amiaz presence was due to our intimate relationship, which meant probably that he was here to make me feel more comfortable (and careless). In that case, sour face must be the real interrogator, probably a powerful psionic. Another one of the occupants I knew by face, name and reputation if not by first hand. He was a heavyset heavily built and wore black velvet that served to emphasize an athletic body. Several wild rumors concerning him and an inhibition for small boys circulated around. Some even darker rumors, hinted he was a powerful magi dealing with necromancy. The bastard name was Bashara and he was not sitting down. Instead he chose to paste up and down the room behind my back which caused me no small amount of discomfort. Belonging to the Temmnya (Jebea's older sister and arch enemy) fraction, his presence was an enigma a wild card which made my stomach lurch.

The last house member I knew by name if not by face. Actually I believe that only few can say they do. In the true fashion of House Shom elder members, Falian master of Shom's facilities in Urik, kept himself behind the curtain of his palanquin for the last thirty years or so. Old house members usually kept the everyday dealings to their juniors and hirelings. The presence of Falian here meant that I drew enough attention, an honor I would happily give up. It was obvious that no matter what went here, Falian word is going to be the final saying.

Besides us the room was occupied by six slaves. I knew they have to be deaf and dumb so I didn't include them in my first counting.

Amiaz started with niceties, "Don't be so tense master Seno, this is not a trial yet, just a small clarification we needed to make, Something to drink, maybe cool Kaokoa", he took the part of the good investigator.

"Do I look tense?" I asked with nonchalant (I think I have mentioned before I am a master of deception).

"Should you be looking tense?" asked Bashara from behind my back. Ok so now I knew whom mister bad Investigator was.

"Well wouldn't you be if you just lost a Bulzai mount and a wagon and on top of that let an important house member to get herself killed?" I raised an eyebrow.

"As I recall from our earlier interview with Faday, none of those incidents were attributed to any fault or lack of skill on your part" continued Amiaz. "quite the contrary actually, she claimed only your quick and smart actions saved the entire caravan from certain doom on several occasions".

Well, well, it seems like the little merchant has made some ground work, or maybe it was just a trap. I decided it was a trap and continued with the "I'm to blame" line. "Still, I should have foreseen the danger to Odieve, and forced her to stay in the wagon, thus I might have saved her life".

"Force Odieve", Bashara snorted, "this is something I would have liked to witness, force Odieve indeed".

"We all know Odieve can be difficult at times" Amiaz emphasized the difficult, "we were all devastated to hear about her demise".

If anyone in the room was devastated, they were real good at hiding their emotions. I guess Odieve wasn't very popular which wasn't much of a surprise.

One of the slaves went out of the room only to come back minutes later with wooden food tray laden with delicious beverages. I was offered a drink but preferring to stay sober I declined.

Amiaz took out a long parchment of probably issues prepared in advance and went into heavy duty questioning. He had me tell from the start and in great detail each part of the journey. The Tortoise man, the Gith's attack, and the Wind dancers ambush. He even questioned me of my romantic episode with Odieve delving into the tiniest insignificant details.

"So you say Odieve was struck by an arrow which caused her to topple off the strange Elven monument?", Amiaz took another cup of drink of the tray, to my count it was his fourth.

"That's more or less what happened, there was an Elven boot in the butt involved, as I've stated before", I felt the eyes of Bashara on my back and suddenly had a great urge to blink.

"And you claim that this was what caused her death?", Amiaz was unrelenting, and he was supposed to be my friend in the consortium.

"No, I don't know what caused her death, though it might have been that arrow, she was spitting blood the last time I saw her", the only loyalty a merchant knows is the loyalty to his house.

"And how come you were so certain of her death?", he kept pushing but I couldn't guess towards what.

"Well, I saw her body like everybody else did", I was trying to figure a way out of this without lying.

"And you left her body back to the elements? so nothing can be proved?" this from Bashara.

"As I've already explained I was unconscious at the time, on account of the poison fed to me by that dancer assassin Odieve Shom sent to kill me", I noticed Bashara has stopped his nervous pacing. "When I regained my senses we simply ran of as fast as we could, there was no time to take care of dead bodies".

Amiaz continued "You said she gave you the night before she died a gift, the same dancer who tried to kill you the next day?".

"Exactly, she wanted us to chase the Wagon kidnappers and I refused, knowing full well it was a lost cause, not to mention such an action might have cost us the other wagon as well.". "When I didn't play along with her dangerous plan she just freaked out and attacked".

And so it went on and on. Basically I tried to stick to the truth knowing that Muffy was probably scrutinizing my surface thoughts all the time trying to catch me with a lie. I kept some small facts, like yellow striped spiders to myself of course.

After what seemed like an eternity Amiaz finally drained his stock of queries. "Well Monthergar?" he refrained to mister Muffy.

Monthergar coughed a little, trying to stretch his moment in the sun, I bet I'm not the first to call him Muffy. "Generally speaking, master Seno here tells the truth. I couldn't detect a single lie through the entire conversation but I can surely observe he is holding some details to himself". He coughed again to build up the tension (bastard) "you must be aware though that he is psionically active and thus impervious to deeper scanning without the use of special methods".

"Kank Shit" Bashara burst in furiously, looks like he was holding it for some time, "I don't need special methods to see this half breed is feeding us Kank shit". "He is a bleedin liar like the rest of his kind", he landed a strong fist on the table to emphasize his words or maybe he thought to intimidate me.

"Now wait here" Amiaz intervened on my behalf, "Seno has worked with us on many occasions for many years, his record is spotless, what makes you think he suddenly chose betrayal?".

Bashara snorted "You must be more stupid than the rumors imply if you can't read between the lines here". "I can tell you what really happened". "Seeing an open opportunity, a cunning half breed conspired with a tribe of cunning Elves to steal a wagon full of house Shom's goods". "Odieve Shom found out about his plans, so he simply got her out of the way". "Desert and snakes, there he probably tried the same trick with the Gith raiders, only he failed the first time". "Deny this Seno Just try to Deny this out loud", he stared at me triumphantly. "I want you to pay attention closely Monthergar, see if you can't detect a lie this time ", he stuck his sneering face inches from my own.

Letting go of a breath I didn't know I was holding I stared him right back. "So that what you deem me to be, you stupid sonofabitch", I thought in relief, "Just a common thief who grabbed an opportunity". Comes to show you that being a Wizard, doesn't mean you have to be wise. I tried to keep my smile of triumph to myself but I believe that some of it showed cause his face lost some of its "I just caught you" look.

It was time to draw my dragon up the sleeve card. I whished it to be more dramatic but at last decided the direct approach was the most suitable.

"I do believe your stolen wagon is intact and already on it's way to Urik" I said.

"What" they all cried simultaneously, I am almost certain that one of the "What's" came from behind the palanquin curtains.

"You know me" I continued not waiting for the first impact to subside "like house Shom I have my own connections". "As it happens, I know a guy who knows a guy who deals with this sort of situations ". Amiaz tried to interrupt but I didn't let him, "I already contacted this guy yesterday, and this morning I got the word back that the Wind Dancers are willing to make a deal". "So you see, I am certain the wagon is already on its way here and will arrive in a couple of days".

"Kank Shit" exclaimed Bashara though now he didn't sound so certain of himself.

"He is not lying" said Monthergar blinking in amazement.

"No not lying", I thought to myself, "just stretching the truth a bit".

"How much is it going to cost?" cried Amiaz.

"Well, For such a Hot merchandise where there is almost no cooling time the usual fee is ten percent of the total value, I believe I'll be able to drop them down to seven percent, even less, depends on how stressed the seller really is".

Amiaz stared a moment into space and I knew he was calculating how much this was going to cost, "Seven percent is still a fortune" sneered Bashara "Sounds to me like you still trying to rip us off".

"Fret not master Bashara" I gave him "go and screw yourself" smile, "none of it is going to come out of house Shom's pockets". I made a small pause to build up the suspense, "I deem myself fully responsible for this mishap and feel obliged to bear the consequences". "You see", I continued, "In my line of work, I have learned that the most important thing is a reputation". "If your reputation has a stain like this, be you the most skilled person in the world, it will avail you not, none will hire you". If I would have grown tail and Inix scales I don't think I would have gotten a better reaction. For a merchant lord giving something without getting its equal value in return was a foreign concept as table etiquette are foreign to a Thri Kreen.

"I still think he is bluffing" said Bashara, not willing to give up though he too sounded confused.

"What have you got to lose Bashara?" I smiled again. "I'm not going anywhere, you know were to find me!!". "All you have to do is wait for a week, if you don't get your wagon plus its entire contents till then, you can personally come and have my head" ("Just you try you bastard piece of a wizard and I'll introduce you to some of my friends" I thought happily).

"That's enough" came a throaty voice from behind the curtains "You have tormented Master Seno enough, he have proven himself honest time and time again". "If he is holding some information on us, well I believe every man has a right to keep some little secrets to himself, else life wouldn't be much fun anymore would they Master Bashara?" (Right you are you old devil). Since the question was rhetorical, Bashara didn't bother replying. "As for you Master Seno, you have the deepest gratitude of the house of Shom". "I can assure you that your reputation has not just remained spotless, but has risen to a higher level". "In fact I mean to recommend you at the next house council as a candidate for becoming a full house Agent".

"I am honored and flattered by this generous offer Master Falian But regretfully must turn it down". "I like being my own boss, having someone ordering me around somewhat makes me compromise my enthusiasm".

I swear there was a giggle coming from behind the curtain. Maybe Falian had someone with him or maybe it was his real voice and that deep throaty thing was just a psionic ruse of some sort. "Very well then master Seno, house Shom remains in your debt, if there is anything you whish which is in my power to grant, you may ask".

I allowed myself to smile openly now, "Actually, well, there is one small thing".

Aildin waited for me back at the Shom docking compound, she waved me happily across the street. Bless her sweet soul and damn mine, I was the envy of all passers by. She was not wearing the flimsy dancing cord of her anymore, as we left the murderous thing back in the desert. Instead she was fully clothed now with traveling gear, high boots, and a protective hat. Despite her shapeless clothes, she managed to look marvelous.

"How did it go?" she asked smiling "you looked a bit worried before but now you seem happy again".

"That's because I have you to look at instead of a bunch smelly merchants, you can brighten the day of a melancholic Mekillot" I grabbed her both arms and spun her around.

"Thanks, I thinks" she laughed, a thing she did more often the last couple days. It sounded like small bells. "Come on she said, "no time to waste, we got a whole new city to explore".

"No wait Aildin, wait, there are things I got to do before exploring, obligations to keep".

"Oh", the disappointment on her face would have melted the heart of a sorcerer king. "Can I come with you then?" she brightened.

"Actually, you should", I said starting to walk. She wanted to gawk at everything on the way but I had to hurry up.

"Where are we going?" she asked after awhile.

"We are going to meet Jevad", I answered. "He will to take you to a tavern called the prancing Kank, they got an opening there for a dancing girl, I think you'll fit there just fine, actually you will probably perform better than anyone there".

The meaning of what I was saying finally dawned on her, "you are selling me up?, but why?" She stammered, giving me the look of a trusting pup whom has just discovered his beloved master sold him up for the butchery block.

For the hundredth time since we met, I wiped fresh tears from her face. leaning down kissing her softly I whispered, "I am not selling you Aildin, Eithen the owner is a friend, plus he owns me a few big ones". "He will let you have a room for yourself and will give you food plus you get to keep tips, which is not a bad offer for a beginner".

That didn't appease her one bit, "Don't worry, after he'll see you dance, you can lean on him to give you actual salary". "Look, I know you are afraid now, but you will be alright". "Just stay away from Templars and Nobles and you'll do fine". "Eithen will look after you, Jevad promised to serve the man his own testicles if he'll let a single hair fall off your head".

It finally stopped her crying but the betrayed look remained, "why are you giving me up?", she asked bitterly.

"Oh sweetheart, as tempting as it may sound I can't keep you with me, you are not cut to life on the desert", I stroked her silk like hair.

"I can learn, you said yourself I am a quick learner" she argued hotly.

"I know you would, but somewhere along the way, you'll get fed up with it" I answered. "You will become fed up with the never ending sand, the danger, the dry hot days and the chilling nights".

"I will never become fed up as long you keep me with you" she shouted.

"Oh yes you would, by the end of it, you will be fed up of being with me too". "We are not cut from the same material Aildin". "You are young and innocent while I have so many sins on my back I had to hire a Mekillot jut to follow me around and help me carry". "You got a whole life to experience, you are better off away from the types of me".

She finally understood the full implication of what I was blabbering about, "you are not selling me?" she asked in amazement.

"No, I'm setting you free Aildin, there is Jevad, go now before I regret it, I already do".

"Free" she hesitated, savoring the word, "I don't know what it means".

"It means, well it means being responsible of your own choices girl, I have made mine, now please go, I hate long goodbyes".

She still looked uncertain, "then how come you chose not to keep me, you once said you needed me?".

"I did, I still do, but it has nothing to do with my choice". "Besides, there is someone else who needs you far more than I do".

She looked even more confused than ever, standing there on the street I just wanted to pick her up and hold her close for comfort but as if struck by that poison cord again, my hands remained glued to my body. Across the street from us Jevad suddenly cried out "make way, make way". His voice had a magical affect on the people of Urik, everybody wanted to be out of the way of the well known Gladiator. The crowed parted and formed a canyon with walls made of people between us and Jevad. He just stood there like a statue of an angry war god, and behold, on the hands of the god rested a small creature, a child by the age of six I'll guess which looked like a doll in the Half Giant's hands.

Suddenly the little girl gave a squeal of delight and jumped down to the ground. Aildin looked at me in confusion for another second, but then she too gave a heart breaking shout and started running.

They met in the middle of the street falling into each other arms oblivious to the curious glances from strangers passing by, crying and laughing at the same time, sharing an eternal hug only a mother and daughter can. Looking at them together I couldn't help imagining another picture. It was of a small Half Elven boy about the same age of the girl in the street, and he was holding his Elven mother the same way that girl did, but unlike that little girl for him I the future was shrouded in frightening uncertainty. I whished I could reach out for that kid, to tell him things will turn out ok in the end, but the breach of more than thirty years separated us. A druid once tried to sell me his theory about the universe, every action had a counter action and for everything there is the opposite. Maybe he was correct, maybe for every mother like mine who was willing to give up on her son for a few coins there exists a mother whom is willing to walk through fire just to get a glimpse at her child again. I don't really know, all I was certain of was that for once I felt like one of my life circles was complete. I left them there on the street still hugging, with Jevad the angel of death as their guarding angel watching, always silent as a rock. Some people say that Athas is a world devoid of mercy. Some people call me "Seno black heart" , they don't know half of it.

There was an Elf watching outside my apartment in Urik trying to look inconspicuous. I keep several such fixed residences all over the cities of the Tyr region. This one in Urik was located in the free merchants district, a big name for a lousy neighborhood. The Elf had two partners watching from a nearby open store, and I was certain there were more. Well, I didn't expect it to be otherwise. There is more than one way to skin a Kank though, the best of I believe is letting someone else do it for you. My apartment stood on the second floor of a butcher shop.

Unknown to the waiting Elves I had a back entrance from a deserted apartment in a back street, which shared a common wall with my home.

When I purchased the dump a few years ago, I had in mind a quick route for clearing out fast in case trouble arises. Well, I could now use the same way getting in unnoticed. To my dismay, the apartment in the back street was no longer unoccupied. Someone fixed it and even added a sturdy door. No matter, it only meant a little nuisance for someone with my skills, after making sure there was no one at home I made a short work of the lock. Inside, the apartment looked even worse than I remembered it to be. It was obvious the new residence was dealing in something illegal making use of this hole on rare occasions. I took a mental note to check it out later on. Lucky for me, whoever chose using the apartment, didn't notice the false wall leading to my dump. Removing the small painted board concealing the door I was content to find out everything was the way I left it. Opening the door I crept silently forward, ready for any unpleasant surprise.

The first thing I noticed was the smell, so strong it was almost substantial. The next thing that caught my attention was the sounds. Cursing silently I swore I'll kill Daida, the skinny pimp I allowed living here for letting things go so bad. On the other hand, considering the voices he was making it looked like I wouldn't have to bother much. It sounded as if he was about getting a fit any moment now.

The slob was currently mounting from behind what looked like a Half Giant whore (yep, their kind exists for those with the taste ), which was smoking some evil looking weed oblivious to the panting little man behind her. Her huge mound of flesh vibrated like some great dune hit by a sand storm with each thrust. The whole scene was quite revolting. I gave a polite cough in order to announce my presence. It caused Daida to jump ten feet in the air, when he saw it was me he relaxed a little.

"Phew, Seno you gave me the freaks, you should have dropped a word you'll be coming. I would have tidied up a bit".

I scanned the apartment in the dim light coming from the half shattered window. Heaps of Refuse and unwashed dishes were everywhere, a nasty looking rat, the size of a dog smiled at me from the top of one heap. "I think torching the place might be the only solution now, come on Daida, give me one good reason why I shouldn't kick your sorry ass?".

"Give me a break Seno" the guy was seriously shaking, I didn't know if it was because of his fear of me or because he was hooked up on some new substance, "I have enough troubles the way it is" he whined. "When you came in I thought first you were one of Dristram goons".

"Been gambling again?" I gave him the arched eyebrow act, "I thought you were banned from all gambling dumps in Urik?".

"Hey" Boomed the Half Giantess finally detaching her lips from the Weed Smoker, seemed like only now she became aware there was another person in the room. "Hey you Fickin son of a Mekillot dung, you think me stupid or something?" "No free tickets on this show, you want to bring a friend along to watch, he pays full, understand".

I sighed, I have no time for this, dealing with |Daida is something I will have to (happily) postpone , "Ok that's enough, piss off both of you, I need some privacy" I pointed to the door.

"Come on sweetheart" he pleaded with the hooker, "I've got us another place we can continue this without interruptions".

She stood up obediently and walked to the door not even bothering to cover herself up, "Well, Ok" she grumbled, "but you be sure be prepared to pay me double for that peeping bastard friend of yours, me momma ain't raised no fools you know".

After they left I moved quickly to the other room. The only piece of furniture in the house occupied this room. It was a nice looking cabinet made out of real wood that seemed out of place amongst the disheveled scenery. Some of Daida smelly stuff was thrown inside. It had a hidden panel in its back side, that opened to a small box, I used to keep some things there best kept hidden.

As I was reaching to the panel, the cold blade of a knife attached itself to my throat. "Give me one good reason, you double crossing Half Human, why I shouldn't just cut your Kuruga throat right now" came a feminine voice, as sharp as the blade in use.

"I'll give you two excellent reasons Santhaal Wind Dancer", I said carefully. "The first is simply that if you do, then my colleague Tain who is smartly waiting behind your back will stick an arrow through you so fast, you'll be stone dead before you'll know what hit you".

"Oops, Mark that one off Boss" came the muffled voice of Tain the Eye.

I turned around slowly, Tain's small crossbow sat undrawn at his side. A hooded slender figure, stood beside him, pointing two deadly looking crossbows at the distraught Halfling.

"She sneaked on me boss." He sounded really sad like he just lost a precious valuable. I knew why, I believe it was the first time someone managed to "sneak on" Tain, that made him lose some of the prestige he had in himself.

"I am fully aware of how fast you are master Tain" said the hooded figure (indeed she sounded feminine), "one wrong move towards that crossbow of yours and I'll let off". "It goes too for that large insect of yours" she added as an afterthought, "if I feel it looks at me in the wrong way, I'll stick both of you".

This seemed to lighten up his face a little, it was obvious the hooded person knew of Tain and respected him.

"Put your weapons down and we will Talk Santhaal". In addition to the knife she was holding a beautifully crafted metal sword, it was currently pointed at my loins.

In almost a gentle like motion, she placed the sharp blade between my legs, "Now think very carefully Seno before your mouth will get you into some serious mishap, where is IT?".

I gave her my most innocent smile "You mean my point of stimulation? It's a bit higher but I would rather you use something softer".

I felt the tip of the sword touching my nether regions which made me think I might have pushed her a bit too far.

"Very cute Seno, very cute but this is your last chance before I start carving you up starting from below". "Now, where is the chest Malakai Hazkiyahu brought with him from the Crescent Oasis?". "Don't tell me it was on the Bulzai wagon, It wasn't, we took the damn thing apart".

"Well of course it wasn't Santhaal, what did you expected?". I knew that fast talking is not going to get me out of this, the only way out is sticking to the simple truth. Santhaal Wind Dancer was actually a very nice person if you came to know her on a personal level, but this was a tribe matter for which she was a pure professional. I knew she was fully prepared and capable of executing any type of threat. "Look", I said "what chances did I have of ever seeing the Wagon or the chest ever again?". "Don't tell me you didn't plan on a disappearing act after you had both in your hand". "You wouldn't even have to worry about me coming after you since you knew I'll be too much busy dodging House Shom Assassins" I concluded.

My monolog didn't draw any sort of respond, and I didn't expected any. It is easier to teach Mekillots how to fly than to make an Elf admit he was planning to con you.

"I had to have some insurance policy, in case you decided to forgo our agreement". "Jevad and me switched the chest's wagon on the night prior to the attack". "Actually" I continued not giving her a chance to drop a line between my stream of words "Actually Odieve almost fooled us on that same night, she switched the Box position herself, I'm not really sure of her reasons, but maybe she suspected something after the Gith's attack".

"Gunash that bastard of a Gith wanted the entire pot" she spat. "He gambled on stealing the chest for himself alone and lost". "It cost him his life and the lives of the entire Impalers tribe". "Anybody who thinks he is able to double cross the Wind Dancers and walk away clean is a fool, and that's includes you Seno Half Human".

She didn't look at me as if she was believing me to be stupid though, on the contrary, having beaten her in the game of deceit probably made me rise a few points (from scum into just plain lowlife probably).

"Well Santhaal, your argument brings us to my Second reason of why it is worthwhile for you to keep me alive". "If I will come to any harm, Jevad is going to make that chest disappear from the face of Athas, and believe me, despite his size that Half Giant sure knows can hide".

"But I really doubt things have to come to such a violent solution, we are both business men". "I'm sure we can solve matters in a more of a civilized way, No?". "What do you say?" again I didn't give her time to reply, I believe the first offer was thirty percent plus I'm willing to drop in the Gunash's thirty percent as well". "It is a generous offer Santhaal, I don't believe you'll get a better one".

She lowered the sword and looked me up and down calculating her chances. Finally she said, "I do believe you are right master Seno, I'm not going to get a better deal". "But I swear on my clan honor that if you try to swindle me again I will personally make sure nor you neither your friends will enjoy the seeing another sunrise, treasure chest or no treasure chest", I knew she meant every word of It. "Ok master Seno you lead the way, master Tain I want you to walk beside him. And no tricks, Kelain here is most skilled with the crossbow".

Kelain, that name rang a familiar and unpleasant bell. The hooded Elven figure lowered one of the crossbows and removed the cowl. She had the regular Elven feral visage, high gaunt cheekbones, slanted eyes and a small mouth. Her hair was sun bleached almost to the color of the desert sand. She didn't have the classic Beauty of Odieve whom has been curves all over. Neither did she display the attractive Innocent youth quality Aildin projected. No, her stature shouted of a professional, a tigress ready for the kill.

The moment I saw her I was totally and utterly smitten, only to reconsider in the next moment when I noticed her earring, It was a Dark Moon earring and I realized where I've heard the name Kelain before. Kelain Dark Moon, high ranked assassin of the Dark Moon clan belonging to the notorious Night Runners tribe, was the sister of one Keelorr Dark Moon which meant serious trouble. It also meant she was way way out of my league. The stories told about her clan and her sister atrocities reached a legendary status. The fact that Santhaal has hired her and didn't rely on her own tribe fighters pointed out she took me very seriously. I was flattered and scared shitless at the same Time.

Seeing my distress Santhaal gave a cruel smile, "I see you are somewhat familiar with Kelain's reputation, I'm glad, it saves me the bother of the tedious niceties of introductions".

"On the contrary" I replied "I would be more than honored to be acquainted with her ladyship, maybe at a more convenient time?" I added quickly after I saw the look on her face.

We went back to the street, there we were joined by the trio of Desert Runners whom were watching the house before. I guided them through a series of winding allies and dark shady corners. Me and Tain walked at front, Santhaal and the Elves followed behind. Kelain walked at my left, she wasn't holding any visible weapon at the moment, but I knew one or several were pointed at me, I couldn't help giving her admiring stares.

"Don't be so nervous Seno", Santhaal chided, "her bite is worse than her bark".

"It's not nervousness, it's just that the stories about Keelorr tell of the most beautiful maiden ever to walk the Athasian dunes". "What's that got to do with anything?" asked Santhaal angrily. "Well, I realize now those legends must have been a lie, Keelorr must be only the second most beautiful maiden ever to have walked the Athasian dunes". "I'm having a moment of a legend breakdown over here, cant you see".

"All I see is a big mouth smart ass buffoon, now keep walking and keep your eyes on the road". Kelain kept her face strict all the time, but when we rounded one corner where Santhaal couldn't see us she gave me a wink that sent shivers down my spine. If she would have asked for the Crown of Hamanu that moment, I would have gladly went to fetch it. I gave myself a mental spank, "A wink can mean anything Seno, get a grip, you really are thinking with your penis like Jevad says". We continued walking in silence.

At last we came upon the poorest part of the city, It is called the warrens, but the residents have a different name for it. This area was seldom visited by Hamanu's Templars, and although it was considered a part of Urik, It was not the word of the sorcerer King that ruled here. Tiny disheveled houses made of mud, straw and bricks stood back to back. Whole streets were currently black full of debris from the last a fire resulted from the latest gang war. Two streets in the middle of this area , Hazel oasis and Hamanu's victory, formed what is known by everyone as the Quade. All the houses in the Quade were made of brick and very tall. Two or even three stories tall, they served as one of the biggest and most known entertainment centers in the Tyr region. Most of the signs showed beautiful girls, but there were also many gambling houses, show houses, bars, and restaurants. Some of the houses supplied specialized in special types entertainment. To name few I can mention Rasham Dome of death, where clients were invited to test their battling skills against Rasham's gladiators. Another was Hatuytug Salim, which looked like a restaurant but actually was a narcotic den where you could spend your life smoking yourself to an oblivion on any sort of substance known or unknown. And let's not forget mistress Tanaya house of pleasure, where you could name your Kink, the only limit was the size of your purse.

Here I led them to a shabby looking store opening. The sign on the wall displayed a happy naked fat man on top of a happy naked fat woman, but everybody knew Grahakams never contained a single working lady. Instead it served as a neutral ground for conducting shady business. The owner, Grahakam junior, another minor crime lord and an acquaintance rented the place on a daily basis. A thirteen year old boy was leaning casually against the doorframe, chewing and spitting Gaj (not the Monster, the leaf of a certain plant that causes the same effect of alcohol).

Noticing me he brightened up, "Ola Seno, you be late, everyone already inside waiting".

"Ola Carim", I laughed "I see you are running the guard master position now, keep going like that and you will run the city when you are fifteen".

The boy suddenly became very serious, "Master Jevad Told me to let in Only yourself, Master Tain and Mistress Santhaal". "He mentioned nothing of a troupe of Elf clowns" he pointed at the Wind Dancers fighters escort.

Kelain gave Santhaal an ironic smile, "Looks like you're been expected". She turned to me with new appreciation. "Do you play Phahngi master Seno?" she asked suddenly, "you must be an excellent player".

"I play some, nothing too professional" I tried to sound as humble as I could.

"I would sure whish trying my hand against yours sometimes" she said, I was liking this lady better and better each moment.

"This is natural ground Santhaal, violence is not tolerated". "You will have to leave your men behind".

She thought for a moment before agreeing, "very well", she said, "but Kelain will tag alone for this show, you have your backups and I will have mine".

Inside the place actually looked like a real brothel, there was a long open space with decorated carpets strewn around the floor. A large crate which served as an improvised table stood in the middle, on it rested few empty cups and an empty tray. Carim was true to his word, everybody was already inside waiting. Jevad stood against the wall facing both stairs and entrance. He rested a huge menacing crossbow against his strong arm. Kiligan Brown, the defecting mercenary was sitting idly at a table, he was drinking slowly from a decanter. Last was Faday Shom, even now she was dressed in the same disheveled ugly clothes she wore the entire journey, she was looking bored. When they saw us they jumped (except for Jevad who didn't move a muscle). "You sure took your time Seno", Kiligan looked and sounded annoyed, he had a good reason. Being in the same city with strong Shom presence after defecting one of their caravans must cause him indigestion problems. I didn't hear of any contract put on his head, but I won't be surprised if one would eventually be signed.

"Rumor say you did very well at today at the Villa", Faday even sounded bored, "I heard Falian was especially pleased".

I shrugged my shoulders, she spoke in a monotone like voice, I was sure she was not entirely with us. Many of the Shom house lords indulged themselves on mind abusing drugs, Faday wasn't an exception.

"Well, where is it?" asked Santhaal nervously, "I too whish to get it over with".

"Just a second, I want to make sure everything is agreeable on all sides involved, before we close this deal", I said. "Tain, could you bring along some of the Chay, this might take some time".

"First there is the matter of Gunash the Impaler". Kiligan wasn't familiar with the Gith attack part, since he abandoned the caravan prior to that event, so I gave him in brief report of what have transpired. "Red Impalers were supposed to cause diversion while the Wind Dancers would steal the wagon, instead Gunash chose to betray us all, believing he could win the whole pot knowing he would be attacking a caravan devoid of it's Cavalry escort". "He ambushed the caravan two days before the planned attack, and the rest is Halawa". "As it happened", I turned to face the Elven tribe leader, "me and Santhaal managed to come with a plan that took care of our sudden lack of manpower". "Santhaal also permanently solved us Gunash problem, so don't expect him to be coming for retribution in the near future". "My point here, is that only myself and Santhaal have a claim for Gunash's thirty percent, and I agree to forgo my claim" I looked around to see if there was an objection, and saw none.

"Next, there is the Matter of the Bulzai wagon which currently is in the hands of the Wind Dancers". "I need to have some guarantee that the entire wagon will return intact and including all content, to house Shom, no later than this week". "Therefore I will keep half of the Wind Dancers earning, which amounts to thirty percent of the total booty, and keep it safe". "Only when I get the message, that the wagon is back and safe with Shom, then will I let the money go back to the Wind Dancers". "Is that agreeable by you Santhaal?".

She hesitated for a few seconds and I thought she is going to back down, I wasn't sure of how far she trusted me. At last she said, "How do I know you don't disappear with the money the first moment you have the chance?" she asked.

"If I do Santhaal, then I buy me two powerful enemies, both the Shom house and the Wind Dancers, no, I think I'll stick with my five percent, anyway Santhaal, we are all going to swear a Muhatai on the agreement".

At that she became satisfied. Muhatai or blood oath, is performed usually at the presence of a sun priest, but a magic scroll containing the oath will suffice. The blood of everyone involved is smeared on the oath. Breaking the oath while having your blood on it is not recommended (as an understatement). Everything might happen, the least of is horrible death. Jevad produced a long scroll made of Crodlu leather. The scroll had arcane writing all over and the signature of Kiem, a more or less honest sun priest I sometimes work with. It also cost me a small fortune. The scroll was shifted around allowing everyone to read the detailed contract, in the meantime, Tain playing the hostess role served small Chay cups. I noted Kiligan only made a swift glance at the script, his pride not allowing him to admit his inability to read. Santhaal took the longest to study the scroll, she was the brightest of them all and the one most prone to suspect foul play.

"I see no point for delay said Faday, let's all sign on the damn scroll split the loot and get it over with", Santhaal gave her an angry stare which made her keep the rest of the sentence to herself.

At last she said "I can't see anything here that leaves a loophole for you Seno, though I'm sure there is one". She sipped her Chay, "I agree" she said finally, "but I swear by the name of my clan, if this is some trick of yours Seno, then you are a walking corpse".

The Oath taking is really nothing flashy. Blood must be taken from each participating member and smeared near his name, then each participant repeats the words, "This Muhatai is mine, this blood is mine. Let this blood bind me forever, let this Muhatai tie me to eternity". After saying the oath, the scroll must be put in the sun. The first rays of light which capture the scroll, cause it to burst in flames. Thus (I have only the sun priest version to relay on), the Muhatai is sent to the Sun for safekeeping, and it is forever vigilant for anyone breaking the oath. After everyone shed their drop of blood and said the words I was willing to continue.

"Well, were is it?" Santhaal sounded impatient. Now that she was bind by a blood oath and wasn't entirely in control of the situation she became uneasy.

"Much closer than you think it is" I said. Kicking the Table smoothly, I let its top crash to the floor. "Jevad, give me a hand here", I motioned the Half Giant. He gently removed the bone made planks of the crate revealing a big decorated wooden made chest.

Saying the chest was decorated was an understatement. It was not even a chest in the rectangle sense of the word, its body was in the shape of a four legged animal of unknown origin. The animal head served as the chest lid and the body served as the container. The beast front feet were drawn backward in as if planning a leap towards the sky, the entire picture gave the feeling of real like motion. A beautiful tree whose foliage encircled the entire creation was engraved in silver by a masterful artist. It was big, it was magnificent, and it was old. I can't tell how but the instant we all saw it we knew it was ancient. It was so old, I was certain, it dated far older than the city of Tyr or Urik, and even older than the sorcerer kings who built them. Yet as old as it appeared to be, the chest had a fresh and youthful like scent about it. That vibrant smell was like nothing I have ever felt before, it made you think of a fresh start. Literally, it made you whish you could just shed down years of sin, of narrow mindedness, and of evil deception games. Looking at the splendid work of art made you whish you could forgo an entire life under the Dark Sun. It made you want to become a blank paper, thus with the retrospective of an old person to live a better life from now on. I looked around the room, my feelings were mirrored on the faces of everyone. Even Kelain whom kept a professional stone face up until now looked astounded. Santhaal was the first to regain her senses, when she spoke her voice sounded hoarse and crude in the awed inspired silence,

"What do you think the writing means?", she was referring to an elegant looking script that was engraved with golden letters on the lead.

"It's ancient Elvish, I have no clue what it say" I was lying. I knew exactly what it said, and I had a copy of the same translated script I took from Malakai dying hands. Malakai Hazkiyahu, a last remnant from the old desert foxes, for so we called Golan's net of smugglers. A colleague ,a friend , and the first person to have ever show kindness to a young half breed. "You cannot spend all your life hating Seno", I remember him once telling me, "life is too short to waste on hatred and anger". It was him whom I met four months ago in Balic. He sent me an urgent message asking me to contact him on some exciting new discovery he made. As long as we were acquainted Malakai was always "hot" on a wild Kank chase after some hidden treasure or buried knowledge. They have always proved to be a lot of nothing. This has never deterred Malakai from charging head on into the next adventure. He would buy a two copper worth of treasure map at the Elven market, and next day you'll see him digging. He was an extinct species. the last naïve on a naïveless planet. I believe his inability to grow up and to learn the basics of not trusting people was part of his natural charm. Anyway, for these reasons, when Malakai sent me the letter saying "Urgent", I took my time contacting him back. It was only when Miriam, Malakai's older sister, sent me an urgent message to find her brother, when I actually started looking for him. By the time I arrived to Balic, it was too late. They nailed him to the wall of his apartment and left him bleeding to die. He hanged there for a day and a night before I found him. The only thing left for the priest Tain has managed to drag in was to give a short rest in peace ceremony. On the last hour when we have spent together Malakai told me everything. He told me of how he found a Map to the City of Silme (silver in the language of the ancient Elves), buried in a dusty library of some noble family. He told me of how he had planned for a year an expedition to the Crescent Oasis, and how he had to sell his soul to a devil of house Shom, also known as Odieve, in order to finance the voyage. He told me of the exaltation coming from the unexpected treasure he had dug from a concealed tomb buried under the dunes. At last he told me how he was betrayed by his Shom partners, left to die by greedy merchants for whom life was valued with money. In his final moments he made me take an oath, "You must get the chest back Seno, you must get it back, it is too a valuable thing to sit in the hands of those vile creatures". "What I have uncovered is more precious than any fortune, you must promise me".

I mourn him still.

The rest is pretty much known to you dear reader. Needing an inside man in Shom house, Faday was a natural choice. She served as a silent partner for Odieve. Basically she was a part financer of the expedition. It was easy to convert her to our cause since Odieve had planned on giving her only a minor portion of the booty. I promised her fifteen percent which was ten times more than she might have gotten from Odieve. With the info she brought me I was able to plant the seeds to my plan. As I found up, Odieve wanted to move the treasure chest from Balic to her Villa in Urik. The reason was simple. The treasure was too hot. She didn't inform house Shom about the expedition and the newly found fortune. It placed her in a most difficult position. Unable to get rid of the merchandise in Balic, as the merchant houses dealt harshly with traitors, Odieve contacted a powerful house member she trusted, which for a hefty sum, could take care of the problematic wealth. The only catch concerning this mysterious new partner, (whose identity Faday didn't manage to uncover) was that he agreed only to operate in Urik. For me it presented a great opportunity, I devised a plan for getting my hands on the treasure yet keeping my "hands" clean while in the act of doing so. What's better than stealing something from someone who is not aware he possess it in the first place? There was no fear of retribution on house Shom part. As for Odieve, once the chest was mine she could have done nothing. Unable to call upon house Shom resources thus exposing her betrayal, her only choice would have been to swallow the bitter reality, or (if she felt like it) go against an entire Elf tribe and myself alone. For the theft itself I rounded up Santhaal Wind Dancer and Gunash of the Red Impalers (which was a mistake, since I didn't realize until it was too late how deeply goes Gith greed and stupidity). I dealt with their tribes on a few occasions in the past. Kiligan Brown was the easiest, as the caravan master I was responsible of hiring mercenaries. When I reflect back on my original plan and of what went wrong I can feel rather content. First, there was Odieve whom decided to join the trip and to personally protect her investing. Then there was Gunash whom thought he could do better with one hundred percent of the treasure instead of a meager thirty. At last was the interview at Shom, which could have turned out uglier. All in all, I believe I did pretty good, I give myself a mental pat on the shoulder as I look back to the chest lying at my feet.

"Well I suppose I can slink along a burglar whom can open this thing" Santhaal always the most pragmatic is again the first to bring us back to reality.

"Unnecessary when one has a key" say I, and remove a small golden key from a chain around my neck. They all look at me as if blaming me for something, I think that nothing I'll do right now will surprise them.

"Do you want the honor?" I ask Santhaal and offer her the key.

She wet her luscious lips with her tongue, her gaze shifting nervously from me to the chest. "No Seno, it is your show, it has been yours all along, now go finish what you started".

The chest/animal displayed no keyhole, but when I moved the key close to the place where its mouth is supposed to be, a small keyhole appeared.

"That's a trick I like you to teach me sometimes" Kiligan Brown laughed nervously. Like many of his occupation he was suspicious to anything that even remotely smelled of magic.

I tried to appear calm though some of my own nervousness must have slipped out too. The method of the chest opening was given to me from a third party, and I had no guarantee that it's actually going to work. You might expect that something made of metal would be rusty after lying thousand of years in the sand, but the key turned smoothly in the lock, as if it has been oiled recently. A mechanism inside the box started ticking as I knew it would. The animal mouth parted open in a yawn like motion, until the entire thing was fully exposed. Nobody breathed, nobody even dared to blink. Even Kelain lost her professional attire and stared with amazement at the fortune lying at our feet.

"I should have bargained a better price for this contract" she mumbled, "I thought your tribe was broke Santhaal".

Rows upon rows of large golden coins stood neatly tucked like soldiers, they were pressed so thick that none of the coins budged an inch despite the fact that the treasure chest has been shaken countless of times over the last few weeks. Some were larger than others and had a silvery blue hue about them. Santhaal picked one of the coins between thumb and forefinger, "It's Mithral" she whispered in awe. Even though I have never seen Mithral I knew it was priceless. Some sort of enchanted metal used in ancient times to craft wondrous tools. I lifted a coin myself. It was heavier than it seemed to be, smooth and cold. An outlandish face was portrayed beautifully on one side, and a majestic tree on the other. Giving the portrait a second scan It suddenly became clear I was not looking at some alien being at all, but at the face of an Elf. I looked at Santhaal and tried to find the resemblance but there was little. Santhaal was a tribe leader but the Elf on the coin was, well, majestic and not just because the crown he had on. He displayed none of Santhaal Gauntness or suspiciousness, yet it was obvious they were of the same race. This small stern face on a coin projected more royalty than I've ever seen on a real face before .

I don't know why, but people who has their faces drawn on coins, feel like they must present a respectable visage to the world. I'm sure if they created a Seno coin, well I would be grinning from ear to ear in the picture.

"I never thought I would admit it to your face Seno, but I'm impressed", Santhaal caressed the coin like one caresses a baby.

"I have to admit it too" I said, "I managed to impress myself".

"This kind of fortune can sure turn a person head upside down", mumbled Faday, "and to think that bitch Odieve only planned on giving me a measly thousand silver, if only I knew..." she wet her dry lips in a nervous like gesture and sipped again from the Chay.

"Ok, lets split the booty the way we planned, and get out of here", I was suddenly too very anxious to finish.

My words had the wanted affect, they all woke up from their trance like state. We took out the coins and arranged them in rows according to size and type into seven neat mounds. Since no one was sure of the coins true value and nobody trusted the other to be honest with the numbers, we divided each heap according to the agreed percentage, thirty percent for Santhaal, another thirty percent that were supposed to go to Gunash (and now will be kept by myself until the Wagon safe return to Shom), twenty percent to Kiligan Brown, fifteen for Faday Shom and five for myself.

"I don't know about you" Kiligan rose after piling his loot in a small box, "but my company is on its way to Tyr, "I need to catch up with them". "The air in Urik is no longer healthy for me to breath". When he found out the box was too heavy for him to move he cursed, "never dreamed I'll have problem moving money around", he laughed suddenly and sat down panting.

"If you don't mind Seno, I'll call my two servants from outside, they will help me carry my share", Faday looked at her pile, reluctant to leave it out of her sight as if afraid it might disappear.

I gave her a wink, "Tain already went out to fetch them for you". "I think I can hear them both coming right now".

She looked surprised, "I didn't mention I had servants waiting outside, they were supposed to remain inconspicuous, how did you know?".

"I know a great lots of things Faday, for instance I don't just know you have two henchmen outside, but also there names and purpose, one is Tadaum Half Giant and the other is Datarius Half Elven, but why waste words, they will come inside in a second and you can make a formal introduction".

Heavy steps from outside indeed announced the coming of a Half Giant. A second later the burly form appeared ducking the low doorframe. Tadaum had a face of small innocent child blown into grotesque proportions, currently this face held a visage of utter astonishment. He gave his mistress a despairing stare. Abruptly his legs crumbled under him and he tumbled head first into the tray holding the Chay spraying liquid everywhere, he twitched twice and went silent.

"What folly is this" Santhaal was on her feet with her sword drawn, Kelain displaying an inhuman speed was already holding her crossbows covering the room. Kiligan was the last to react, his hand went to his sword but he didn't draw, shifting fearful glances between me and the dead servant on the floor.

Suddenly Faday started to cough, she made a long wheezing sound of someone in great distress, her cough lengthened beyond anything reasonable. She pinched her nose as if attempting to stop the strange seizure, and a stream of blood gashed out of it. Finally in front of our astonished eyes, she threw herself to the floor and started twitching.

"The Chay" Santhaal sounded both furious and frightened "what did you put in our Chay?". "Nothing Santhaal, you can put that sword down, there was nothing in your Chay Kiligan, you can relax".

Faday howled a great shout of pain twitched once more and went still, "I care not for the way you handle business Seno" the Wind Dancer leader growled, "you dispose of partners too easily just for the sake of a greater profit".

I shrugged my shoulders, "Look, we swore Muhatai together, I cannot touch her share just as you or Kiligan cannot". "No she died for entirely other reasons".

"Such as?" asked the Elf when it was obvious I'm not going to share the information with her.

"Well, first she was a loose end, she was too close to house Shom and she is both stupid and careless". "Also she has a serious drug addict, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to trust her to spend her new fortune with care". "Sooner or later someone of house Shom would have caught her, and we would have the Entire House panting at our backs". "She was right, this kind of fortune is too big for anyone too let it slip by" I concluded my set of arguments.

"Wouldn't her disappearance attract the same attention you wished to avoid by killing her?" Kelain asked squinting, she didn't lower her crossbows, and the arrow heads gleamed evilly.

"Not really, look at her yellow gums, she is a Matela addict, nobody is going to be surprised if she dies of an overdose".

Santhaal eased up a bit and lowered the sword, I don't think that she had any qualms about using violence but she was not the bloodthirsty type, and my almost casual act of disposing Faday disturbed her.

"So what do you suggest we do with her part of the loot?", she pointed at Faday's pile.

"Since none of us can use it, I suggest we bury it, I don't mind if you do it Santhaal, if you or your tribe can find a way in the future to make use of it without breaching the Muhatai oath, well, lucky for you".

Maybe the prospect of getting wealthier or maybe she was frightened I was going to spring another surprise because next she said, "I will need to call my men here now, to help me carry, or am I'm going to find them slaughtered too?" she gave me a questioning stare.

"I'm too smart too try and double cross you like that Santhaal, I hope you feel the same about me". She gave me another one of her meaningful stares but kept her silence.

A dozen Wind Dancers waited outside the house, they had with them three Kanks which were led inside. They started packing fast distributing the gold and the Mithral into small piles, I noticed they were careful to separate Faday gold from the rest.

Feeling suddenly very tired I sat down, I guess the stress of the last few days finally took its toll, looking at The Elven tribal chief it was obvious she also was exhausted. Last days must have taxed her greatly, her capabilities as a leader were put to a test again and again. She looked at the pile of Gold and Mithral that was divided quickly amongst small sacks, "We were once a great tribe" She said silently.

I looked her in surprise, her back was turned but she was obviously addressing me.

"We were once a great tribe", she repeated, "not a bunch of scavenger thieves". "When disaster struck, I led the Wind Dancers to a new way, the way of the raider, the way of survival". She was almost whispering now and I had to strain my ears in order to hear her. "But now there are others voices, voices saying we must return back to our old ways". "This gold is our chance, our breath of air that will let us start from afresh, I thank you master Seno for helping us achieve this".

To my surprise I heard myself mumble "You are welcome Santhaal Wind Dancer, you are welcome".

At last they all finished and left, including Kiligan who was forced to buy a carrying Kank from the Elves at the outrageous price of twenty gold coins (he had no chance, since he didn't trust any of us keeping his gold while he go and fetch another at a more reasonable price). The room was left in silence with only myself, Jevad and Tain. I should have congratulated them on a job well done at this point but just couldn't find the strength.

At last I sent Tain to make sure everyone was really gone.

"It was really a great luck that no one noticed we kept the chest here you know" Jevad lifted the now empty casket with one hand.

"Yeah, I was counting that they will be too much enthralled with the gold to take notice" I replied tiredly.

"You leave too much for chance in your plans Boss, that is why I usually win our Phahngi matches", Jevad started knocking on the chest planks the echoes of his strikes made a hollow sound in the small room .

"Yeah, but that's the reason I always win in the life game, chance has always been with me Jevad, now try to find the damn thing and let's get out of here".

Jevad turned the chest over above his head, he inspected the thing interior feeling with his huge fingers every inch. Finally he sighed "here, found it", there was a loud click like sound and something fell out of the chest. Jevad caught it easily in mid air. It was a small green pouch made of velvet like substance.

"Is that it?" he asked. A small tree, a mirror image to the tree decorating the chest was sewn with silver strands to the pouch,

"Yes, this is it" I answered, "let's go, Jevad you get rid of the chest".

"Well what is it?" came a voice from behind me. We all turned around to find Kelain peering curiously at the small bag in Jevad's hands.

I gave Tain an accusing glance, and he bowed his head in desperation. There was a moment of silence, as I tried to calculate if the three of us might have a chance to take her, but at last thought the better of it.

"Good choice Seno", she gave that marvelous smile of her, I don't know if she was a mind reader, she sure could read me easy enough.

"I must protest lady" wailed Tain, "it is the second time you manage to sneak on me, and that's twice more than anyone ever did".

"So, Santhaal had a change of mind and she sent you here?, or maybe that was the plan in the in the first place?" I asked though I was sure that if murder was on her mind I wouldn't be standing here talking.

"My contract with the Wind Dancers tribe ended when they walked out this door", she frowned. "I'm here for my own reasons".

"Which are?" I asked carefully.

"Well, mainly curiosity, it was obvious you wanted to kick everyone out, I couldn't figure out why you gave up so easily on that Merchant Woman part of the money, nobody I will let Go of such an amount of money so easily, not even if he did swear Muhatai, not unless he has a very good reason. It was obvious that there was something shifty here". "Now if you be kind enough to answer my question, what is master Jevad holding in his hand, then I might depart in peace".

"I will answer truthfully Kelain" I said after another moment of silence, "the truth is that I have no Idea what Jevad holds in his hands, all I know is that I swore to retrieve it and worked hard for it". "Also I know that I'm willing to do anything in order to keep it in my possession, even if it means taking on you Kelain, or the entire Dark Moon clan".

Both my partners gave me astonished looks, surprised at the sudden honest state of mind that attacked me.

"You know what, I believe you do Master Seno, I believe you truly mean what you say", the Elf gave me a mischievous grin, "Don't worry, I don't intend on dispatching you yet, you still owe me that Phahngi match".

"The Kelain I've heard of would not let an opportunity like this to go by, I heard you killed people for much less" Jevad raised his crossbow, "I say we finish this right here right now Kelain Dark Moon, what say you Elf?".

"Don't be stupid partner" Tain raised his arm to block the huge weapon line of sight, but the Half Giant arm was far out of reach.

"Your friend is smarter than you Seno, one must never trust an Elf especially a Dark Moon Elf", she smiled sadly, "though Jevad is wrong on both accounts, I'm not a Dark Moon clan member and I'm not even a true Elf". "Don't believe anything your told Jevad", at that she gave us a courteous nod and disappeared through the door.

Jevad squinted his eyes , his fingers fidgeted around the firing mechanism but no shot came out. At last he relaxed and gave a lengthy sigh, "here goes an interesting young lady" he said.

"And add some", smiled Tain.

After dividing equally our share of the loot (five percent, which was a huge sum for a single person), there was only one thing left to do. I parted with my colleagues and headed directly to the merchant district. It was noon when we entered the negotiation room, and it was early night when we finally left it. After I made sure I wasn't being followed, I made my way to a small shop. The sign on the closed and locked door indicated the owner was an herbalist. I knocked gently four times and waited for three heart beats till I gave it another knock. No hint came from the other side of anyone hearing my call. I was about to try again when the door suddenly flew open. Looking past the dark doorframe I could not discern any person standing on the other side. As I entered with care, the door behind me slammed leaving me lost in utter darkness. A candle was lit by unseen hands followed by another and another, until a set of stairs leading to a second floor was revealed. The room at the top was decorated with style and grace. Delicate artworks of Elven origin covered the walls and the floors, causing a joyful yet distinguished atmosphere. A heavy wooden table laden with plates of fruits, recently baked bread and other goodies stood in the corner besides a window. Despite the fact that two windows were fully open, letting fresh air inside, I could feel none of the night chill. A door in the southern wall led to what appeared to be a kitchen, from which cooking in the making could be heard.

"Sit down at the table Seno, I'll be right there with you, how do you like your Chay?" came a melodic voice from the other room.

"Strong, put at least three leafs inside the cup", after looking at the scenery below I added, "Aren't you a little too careless leaving those curtains open, someone looking from the street might catch you at an inconvenient moment?". "Unless I'm mistaken Hamanu didn't change his attitude towards Magic Users tolerance in his city".

"Don't you worry dear" came the reply, "the window is open from the inside only, on the outside anyone looking will see only a brick wall".

"By the way, you can feel free to dig in the food anytime you like dear".

"Already ahead of you Miriam" I sat my tired bottom at one of the comfortable chairs and started loading mouthfuls of tasty bread, I suddenly discovered I was famished.

My hostess appeared in the kitchen doorway holding a tray with two steaming cups. Malakai Hazkiyahu's sister was the feminine mirror image of her younger brother. Born as twins they shared the same silver hair and the same two dimples that appeared whenever they smiled. I can testify the Hazkiyahu family smiled a lot. Even though she was more than sixty, the lines of old age did nothing to diminish Miriam's beauty. I heard that at her youth she was quite a notorious heartbreaker. A rumor circled about an affair she once had with my former master, Golan. The story hints there was even an offer of marriage she has turned down, (Which says a lot about the lady, since any woman Golan deem to be his equal must be made of stern character indeed).

A new sorrow line that hasn't resided there last time I've seen her, crossed her forehead. I knew its origin. Malakai and Miriam shared a unique bond between them, and I mean that literally. I was once on a scout mission with Malakai, we were hiding in the bushes for shade waiting for the caravan when Malakai abruptly crumbled in pain.

"What happened" I cried, thinking the man was bitten by something.

"It's not me, it's Miriam, she is in trouble", he panted.

"What are you blubbering about, your sister is two thousand miles away from us in Tyr, I'm sure she is safe".

As I found out later, Malakai and Miriam were bonded at birth, something that happened in their mother womb. Each could share the other emotions if they took the time to concentrate. Sometimes it happened on its own accord, triggered by a stressful situation. They could when they whished, to converse between them regardless to the distance. They could even lend their senses to each other, allowing for instance Miriam sitting comfortably in Urik view a scene through Malakai eyes, hundreds of miles away in Balic. It was the same gift, Malakai used when he shared with his sister the riches he uncovered in the dead city under the Crescent Oasis. Considering this it was no wonder Miriam took Malakai death very hard. She didn't just lose a brother and her entire family, but also a part of herself. Reflect on losing an eyesight or your hearing and you might understand what it meant for her.

"You look very smart Seno", she leaned down and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. Right now I was feeling anything but. "Still like smoking that nasty weed of yours?", Miriam smiled making her dimples show and took an already lit pipe off the tray.

"Do Kanks make honey? Do Mekillots smell like shit?", I happily took the offered smoker and inhaled deeply.

Lighting another pipe for herself she sat down facing me. We sat there for a few seconds smoking in silence, enjoying the moment.

"Dinner is ready Mistress", a voice that sounded of the thin air made me jump. "Don't act silly Seno, its only Albrecht my helper, I use him for those tedious tasks around the house, you can serve the meal now Albrecht".

A tray appeared at the kitchen doorframe, it hovered in mid air and was laden with a king sized meal.

"Your servant seems a bit insubstantial to me Miriam, aren't you afraid he might spill something?", I eyed nervously the floating tray as it was gently lowered on to the table.

"Albrecht never spills anything, he is the best help a woman can get", she smiled, "He cooks wonderfully, clean relentlessly, and is quiet as a cat, never complains, never late for work, and he doesn't take up much space either".

Well I can't testify about Albrecht other traits, but his cooking was indeed superior. For the first course we had Maulitaney, which is a soup made of yellow Cacti with shriveled Detaugs (a small blood sucking worm) floating in it. The second course were appetizers, Fenalians which is Crodlu yolk made with small onion and Lavay seeds. Goolitier which is spiced Crodlu balls mad with Zaaphran sauce. And Jebel which is Janxs eyes.

For main dish we ate stuffed Bantai, a cat sized lizard, (looks a like a small version of a Bulzai), stuffed with Crodlu hearts and desert mice filled with rice and Kank honey. For dessert we had Mikitay which are small white cooked ants that make a nice popping sound in the mouth and drank more Chay while sipping Kank honey biscuits. It took us almost an hour to finish the entire meal, during all the time the only voices that could be heard were those of chewing.

At last Miriam gave a nice Belch and offered me the lit pipe again.

"So", she said and lighted another pipe for herself, "So" said I letting a feeling of content I haven't felt for a long time take me over from head to fingertips.

"Where would you want me to start Miriam?" I took myself another cup of Chay, knowing Miriam I was probably due to sit there the entire night.

"Why not start from the beginning, from day one", she took a cup of Chay herself and ordered Albrecht into making more. Miriam is a great listener, if there were contest held at listening she would have won first prizes. When listening she is so attuned with the speaker, thus making him sense he is occupying her full and entire attention. I found myself retelling for the second time this day the entire journey tale, only this time without excluding any details.

"How did you manage convincing that mercenary Kiligan and his entire crew to defect in the middle of the trip?", she offered me red Cacti fruit at which point I felt inclined to resist on account that there was just no space left to put it in.

"Kiligan and me go a long way, we know each other since the valley of sulfur war, when he was only a field soldier". She lit yet another pipe for herself (that girl was no delicate lady). "Its not like he have to worry about getting new jobs Miriam, he has enough hard cash to last him and the entire company for a long time, you know you have seen the treasure yourself". She smiled sadly and that new line of pain on her forehead turned more transparent, "Yes, I indeed saw that chest through my brother's eyes, sometimes I still wish I wouldn't have".

She took a big scroll out of a drawer and unfolded it on the table. It was a detailed view of the Tyr region, crafted by the hands of a true artist. I knew this particular map from prior experience, it was magical. If you concentrated on the map enough, there would be a moment of weightless falling and then the scenery you have just looked at will unfold, as if looking at the map with a huge spyglass. Closing your eyes would cause the opposite effect. At Miriam request I drew a rough sketch of the caravan entire trip from Balic to Urik, marking what she deemed as important sites. She was especially interested in the Elves ambush site.

Trying to draw a precise rout on a map from memory is not easy, "Why are you so interested in that particular Canyon?" I asked even as I was erasing the line for the twentieth time or so, "I know if the need arises, I will be able to find it again with eyes closed".

Miriam annoyed, took another charcoal as I've almost completely used the last one, "I'm certain you could Seno, but I'm afraid others might not. "I'm not interested in the Canyon itself, I'm interested in what's inside, the Haui Daisan Santhaal used. Have you any idea of it's true meaning?".

"I know it is ancient and that it is some sort of heavy duty magic, that's enough for me to know I should keep my distance", I concentrated again letting my view fly into the map.

"Seno Seno", Miriam sounded a mock sigh, "you are sometimes so narrow minded for a broad minded person", she sharpened the coal made pencil and handed it to me. "Haui Daisan are indeed ancient, there are few known left. The name means Magical Foci , they are used to focus and duplicate mage spells".

"Like making an invisibility spell envelop an entire tribe", I granted finally satisfied with the black marking I left on the chart.

"Very good, very nice indeed, we might make a wizard out of you yet", She critically explored my graphic creation.

"Now tell me", she suddenly changed the subject, "What about the mysterious Shom member here In Urik, the third party merchant Odieve has planned using for dispatching the gold? Have you figured out whom the man is?".

I gave her an assuring smile, "I'm not one hundred percent certain but I can give a pretty good guess, anyway we have nothing to worry about the guy".

"You know Seno, overconfidence is the fool's attribute, I hardly reckon you are one", she frowned.

"OK, let's consider his options", my stomach begun acing on account of it being overstuffed so I sipped some more Chay to calm it up, "He suspects a foul play on my part, that's true, and he is powerful that's obvious too, but on the other hand he is very limited in using that power unless he whishes to jeopardize his position in the Shom merchant house". "You see", I continued with my chain of logic, "The moment he betrayed his house by not sharing the information about the treasure he started walking a thin rope, if he acts with too much force he'll be exposed". "Another thing to take into consideration is the fact that he probably has no clue of the treasure true value, since he never saw it and I bet my black heart that Odieve never told him". "Chances are, we'll never hear from him again, if we do, well, "Daya Zara Bisheata", I quoted an old desert runners saying which translates to "Let's worry about the problem when it comes to seek us".

The look on her face told me she was only partly satisfied, Miriam was a perfectionist, and she didn't like loose threads.

At last she asked "There is another thing that bothers me about your story, how did you figure Odieve switched the chest location, and more so, how did you manage to find it and switch it back, all in one night that is?".

My pipe had gone out, before I had a chance to light it with mundane methods Miriam snapped her fingers and the damn thing begun smoking on it's own, "Well, luck had more to do with it than anything else", I said ,letting out a smoke ring. "As it was, after I found out Odieve was a powerful psionic master with few if any inhibitions about killing any who stood in her way, Tain launched one of his trackers as an insurance plan, incase she became too much of a problem to deal with".

" His trackers?" Miriam raised a quizzical eye brow.

"A small spider like creature he calls Dianin, She's both vicious and deadly, very much like Odieve only on a smaller scale", I explained,

"It was attached to her just after the Gith battle, and has perched on Odieve's shoulder when she switched the chest's wagon". "Dianin is semi intelligent, she can if she likes to converse with Tain, which was how we knew exactly where was the crate".

The invisible Albrecht came carrying another tray laden with Chay and more cookies. "And so you switched the crate location back to the Mekillots wagon?".

I'm a swift talker but my throat felt dry as the desert so I gulped another cup of Chay before answering, "Exactly, I wanted Odieve to think the chest was stolen and the same time I didn't whish it to fall into Wind dancers hands since it would have been the last we would have heard of it".

"Wait, wait a second", she stopped my flow of words, "why going through all that trouble of convincing the merchant Baroness the chest was stolen if you planned to kill her in the first place?".

"I didn't, it was a mistake, It's that she had gone berserk, and both Jevad and Tain thought the only way to subdue her was to order Dianin on attack, I never planned to kill her in the first place".

Miriam looked at me critically as if she just detected a lie, "Yet you killed Faday of Shom only because she was a loose thread, if Faday was a thread then what was Odieve? A rope?".

I thought for a great deal of time before giving her the answer, at last I decided to tell her the naked truth. "Faday Shom didn't die on account of her being a loose thread, I lied to Santhaal. Her death was a simple payback".

Miriam gaze remained judgmental, "Since when did you become a hit man, or did you joined the Bards guild?!".

Avoiding eye to eye contact I concentrated my stare at the Chay cup, "It wasn't a hit, it was personal ".

"And what did Faday of Shom do to bring out the wrath of Seno Black heart?", she asked suddenly tender.

"Do you really whish to know Miriam? Cause sometimes it's better to remain ignorant".

Her eyes opened up in realization, she had the quickest perception I've seen in a human, "Yes I do whish to know", she whispered.

I noticed my hand was holding the cup of Chay so hard, it begun to smolder, "It was Faday whom came with the Idea to eliminate the treasure seeker in the first place". "The Less partners, the better, she thought". "She was also the one responsible for the execution, she and her two bodyguards tortured your brother for a day and a night before he gave out the place were he hid the chest". "They blocked his psychic calls for help, but even they couldn't block entirely his connection with you Miriam". I stared in the Chay, as if searching there for answers to unasked questions. "You know what the shittiest thing about it Miriam? Can you guess from whom did I learn it all?". "It was Faday herself who told me, she was proud of it". "She even knew Malakai and I were acquainted, she simply didn't care". "Her kind measures everything in money, the concept of friendship doesn't exist at all".

When I finally pulled my face from the Chay I saw Miriam had risen from her chair and was watching the street below, It was hard on a woman like her to expose the fact she was sometimes fragile, "I'm sorry you had to hear all this Miri, I loved him too you know".

When at last she turned away from the window Miriam's face were composed into a mask of calmness. Only a little moistness on her cheek gave a clue to the turmoil under the surface.

She sat again facing me and reached out her hand, "Give it to me Seno", she said.

Without ceremony I took out the small bag and laid it on her open palm. Miriam gently picked it up exploring it at eye level she turned it several times, finally satisfied she opened it and let the contents spill out on the wooden table. I didn't know what to expect, I mean through the last months of planning and executing the chest abduction I imagined this moment on numerous occasions.

I knew it held no trifle thing since Miriam and her peers of the veiled alliance wanted to get their hands on it at any cost. From the moment they discovered of the existence of the chest and it's interior seen through Malakai eyes they acted like men possessed. Many a times when I sat in alone in my hammock beneath the wagon I amused myself with thoughts on the contents of the small bag. I imagined a diamond the size of a hand, I imagined a magical ring that grants whishes, and I imagined a small wand that turns sand into gold.

Nothing of what I imagined resembled even remotely to the true content of the bag. I looked astounded at the small shower of seeds that came out. They were big grains, yellow hued that stood in contrast to the table's brown. If I had plenty more of them I might have been able to bake myself a loaf of bread, but there wasn't enough even for that purpose, there were only a few dozen.

"Is That it ?" the look on face probably exposed my disappointment, I grabbed the bag but it was empty.

"What did you expect ?" Miriam face in contrast to mine was alive and excited.

"So much bloodshed so many dead?", I stared in astonishment and hatred at the grains as if they were to blame.

"What's this Seno, you have grown a conscious after all those long years?", Miriam smiled tenderly.

"Don't be mad, those deaths, the death of comrades, the death of my brother, they were not for nothing". "Malakai once told you, what he had uncovered is more precious than any fortune". "These grains represent something far better than earthly fortune, for they represent our hope and our salvation". "Just a second, everything will become clearer in a moment".

She went to a small cabinet and brought out a leather bound book. I have seen books before, Miriam had quite a few, though I never saw this particular one. It looked old, ancient, yet the scrolls inside were fresh and white, not yellowed by age. What caught my eye though, was the picture of the marvelous tree, the same I've seen on both the chest and the seeds bag. She sat down again, opened the book in a marked position and started reading.

"I'm translating from ancient Elvish Seno, so some of the beauty of the writing might get lost, anyway it's the content that counts".

"And On the Yestare (year) of the Syilacili (High king born) Midlothian gathered the entire enwina (elders) council at telempe (silver) taure (forest). The enwina (elders) council at telempe (silver) taure (forest) debated for a month and a day. In the matter of the ambarta (fate) of the noore (race). After a month and a day, the enwina (elders) council at telempe (silver) taure (forest) sent forth runners from to all of the great houses, Fadain of house Metherain was sent to Abdure, Milaochol of house was sent to Laurina". At this point Miriam skipped a few pages, saving me the necessity to hear a long list of meaningless old Elven names. "And so in our great hour of need, each house performed the Haim (ritual) of Sylvensaliy sacrifice". "Our blood shed and our nande (glens) gone with the Sylvensaliy we became only a shadow". "And so it was I Miletoroirenin that was given the final and sacred task, to hide the Sylvensaliy sacrifice until such a time when our glory returns.

Miletoroirenin of house Abdure

Year of sorrows

In a dramatic like fashion, Miriam closed the book and returned it with care to its resting place.

"Well what do you think?", she asked smugly.

"I think this is a lot of Kank dung, what is this obscure old Elven text has to do with those bleedin grains?".

"It has everything to do with it, didn't you listen? The hidden Sylvensaliy sacrifice, this is it". "Those are the Sylvensaliy seeds".

"Sylvensaliy Seeds? I think that reading all those mage books of yours have addled your mind. ", I grinned.

She pinched me in anger, "Look Seno, I don't care what you believe, If you choose to act stupid it's your choice, but I think you deserve some explanation after all the trouble you have gone through".

"That document describes the last days of the wars of the races". "The forest Elves were summoned by there high king Midlothian the last to find a way to save their dying nations". "At last they came with a plan, that would not save them, but at least conserve their inheritance for future generations". "At each of their sacred Glens which was the spiritual center of their culture, stood a magnificent eternal tree, called a Sylvensaliy". "The Sylvensaliy was believed to hold the essence of the forest around it". "They decided to sacrifice those trees in a special Ritual, turning them into Seeds thus destroying the Glens but preserving the Trees from capture by Rajjat's champions". "Those seeds lay hidden under the dunes for thousands of years, waiting for the right person to unveil them".

I looked dumbly at the small grains at the table trying to understand how can such a small thing can have such great importance,

"What, What are you planning to do with them?" I stammered.

"The alliance will study them for a time, and then we will probably start planting them back". "You don't even begin to understand the implications, with these we can restore dead and polluted land to life". "We can bring out the rain and recapture the olden glory of the ancients". "I don't say it's going to be easy, or that it's going to be short, it might take years, centauries even, but the alliance have patience Seno".

I studied her flushed face for awhile, "from what I heard, the ancients weren't so great, in fact I believe that they are to blame with the current state of Athas".

Miriam looked at me if to a small child, "but we are different, we have learned from the mistakes of our predecessors, never again will we let the whimsical nature of men get out of control". "The new world we are going to build will replace the current tyrannical rule of the brutal sorcerer kings, It will be run by veiled alliance preservers".

"Sounds too good to be true", I said with sarcasm and rose up from my seat, "I thank you for your kind hospitality Miriam, but I think I'll go home now".

She looked confused and hurt, "Won't you please stay for the night? The streets are dangerous now".

I snorted, "Not for the likes of me, you are probably itching to call on your friends, you got a whole new world to start planning, and I don't think there is a place in it for people like Myself, Jevad or Tain".

"That's because you have lived in the shade all of your life Seno, when the alliance wins, it will be time for you to get out into the sun".

At the stairs I turned to her one more time, "To me it sounds much too familiar Miriam, looks like we will be replacing one set of Tyrants with another, I'll soon be running errands for a new Veiled alliance".

"You and your friends have yet to discover what your brother have known all his life". "Do you know what where his last words Miriam? Before he closed his eyes he spoke of you, he wanted to be sure you are forever safe". "It's people, not great ideals, people were always first on Malakai Hazkiyahu priority list, and not even the biggest treasure in the world could have changed that".

I left her there with the Sylvensaliy Seeds and made my way cautiously into the shadows.