The Caravan
Augustus wonders how their caravan is supposed to make it through the desert with such a small number. By all accounts that he had heard in various taverns across Loria, merchants in the capital would speak about desert travel as if each journey could have been their last. The supposed dangers keep Augustus on edge, his feet tapping over the wooden planks.
It does not help that the assortment of caravanners preparing to make the trek seems an oddity to him. There are so many old people, he muses to himself while peering out the back of the wagon. There is one thing he is overjoyed about: Eustes would not be traveling with them. The thought brings a smile to his lips.
“No more yelling,” he mutters under his breath.
Khimi had ensured that even this journey across the desert would be profitable for the Cerulean Star. Though, Augustus thought it to be queer that the lord would care about coin in such a trying time.
Impatiently waiting in the shaded wagon, Augustus rises with a grunt. The six wagons in the caravan are finally loaded. Each of the caravan drivers wears a scimitar at their waist and a blue tabard with golden trim, signifying their loyalty to the Cerulean Star. The second wagon of the caravan contains the body of Rashid. Mido told Augustus that he was to be in charge of tending to the body along the journey, ensuring that the body would not decompose before his burial. Though he had only taken a quick glance at the body, Augustus was astonished by the restoration Lilith managed to perform. The skin is no longer cracked or peeling and is renewed, smooth without blemish.
Augustus watches from the back of the wagon while Mido and Khimi speak against the walls of the estate. After their quick exchange, Khimi drops a burdensome pouch into his hands. Augustus laughs to himself briefly, knowing that Mido somehow managed to secure a small fortune, whether intentional or not.
“Hells, why’re you smiling like that?” Mido mumbles. Augustus extends a hand to help him into the back of the wagon. “We’re next to a corpse…you shouldn’t be smiling and laughing.”
“Right,” Augustus whispers, hanging his head. “But I mean…he’s dead, he won’t mind.”
“S-Stop it!”
“You’re such a sourpuss,” Augustus croaks briskly. “Let me see how much.”
Mido looks up from the rucksack he had just dropped on the wooden planks, “No, you’ll spend it all.”
“On what?” Augustus quips, “whores?” He asks while raising his brow, his hand over his heart. “By my oath, I’ll never pay for sex.”
“Liar,” Mido chuckles while he fumbles through the rucksack. “I hope you brought an extra waterskin or anything to eat.”
Augustus recoils and begins to rummage through his own belongings, “Are we not going to be provided for?” He asks with a worried look, his mouth wide in shock. “I have a wine skin…”
“Please,” Mido sighs. He rolls his eyes, his ears standing on point. “Please tell me you at least bought a couple water skins for us. You’re supposed to be the smart one! We have weeks of travel in the desert!”
Augustus laughs and flops onto the wooden bench across from Rashid’s body. “I’ll be fine, I can just mooch off of you, right?” he questions mockingly.
Mido’s head whips to Augustus, “I’m serious! This is serious, you need to buy your own stuff.”
Augustus shakes his head gleefully. With a click of his tongue, he continues and brushes his strawberry hair from his eyes, “You…can always make water, Mido. Remember?”
Mido looks at Augustus with a look of anger. He scoffs and pulls his waterskin from the rucksack, then leans back against the wooden plank. “Whatever. I’m still not used to everything…Saint Nina barely even paid me any mind during our visit,” he pouts.
“Eh, she’s got a lot of shit going on,” Augustus says, wanting to reassure Mido. “I’m sure you’re one of her favorites,” he smirks coyly.
“I’ve shared all of a handful of words with her. I-I should have been more forward when I met her,” Mido stammers. “She’s just so cold! So hard to address!”
Augustus tilts his head and crosses his arms. “I mean…at least she listened to you when you asked about your family.”
“I suppose you’re right. I guess I just thought that things would be different. Being a cleric of the Faith. I thought we would be doing something meaningful for the order, but now she’s sending us to wat—”
“Are you seriously about to bitch about having to travel with a merchant prince and a saint? You’re basically traveling with royalty…it’s going to be luxurious, Mido.”
Mido hangs his head in resignation, but does not respond. He pulls the leather rucksack between his legs and continues to search through the bag. Coins jingle along the bottom. Augustus slides on the wooden bench beside Mido. His fingers tap against the edge of the leather bag. Mido grabs his fingers and gives him a scolding look before he cranes over the satchel to block Augustus’ view.
“Really?” Augustus whistles, raising his brow. “Must have been quite the sum if you’re trying to keep it hidden from me.”
Mido rolls his eyes, “Please, if I told you how much it was, you would only get more excited with all your talks of luxury and glamour. We aren’t in Loria anymore, things are different here. People get betrayed for a few silver here.”
Augustus pulls his hair back and adjusts the metallic headband. “People get stabbed in Loria for the same. Now, let me see!”
“I would rather you didn’t,” Mido insists, then pulls out a small map and places the satchel opposite Augustus. He unfolds its edges and peers across the region.
“Fine, just tell me why he gave you so much?” Augustus inquires curiously while Mido begins to trace a finger along their course of travel.
“Gratitude,” Mido snaps with a glance at Augustus from the corner of his eyes, “And because I suspect we will be asked to keep our distance once we arrive…I’ve been overhearing the servants. Something must have happened in Sidi. Maybe they want us to provide for ourselves after our arrival?”
“What! But I heard the place was…a palace. An actual palace!” Augustus protests. His hand leaps at the map. “Why are you even studying this? We’re being provided for, and they have caravan drivers to guide us. Stop worrying so damn much.”
Mido sighs and hangs his head. “How can you be carefree? Someone just tried to kill Lumi, and we know dangerous people dwell around these parts. We should be prepared for what’s coming, Augustus. Something just doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Ah, your beastkin intuition again,” Augustus groans with an exasperated sigh. “Who is going to know where we are, where we are going? Who the hells even cares? We’re transporting a corpse!”
“You know the answer to that!” Mido scoffs and shakes his head. He takes the map back in his hands, the paper crinkles at his touch. “You said mages could locate people. You said the empire uses mages to find people all the time!”
“Well, why in the hells would a Lorian mage be looking for Lumi?” Augustus groans. “I can see if the temple sent some cler—
“Exactly my point!” Mido says frantically, snapping in Augustus’ direction. “Nina said we couldn’t trust the sun priests…and I rememb—”
“Fine,” Augustus interrupts softly with a quiet growl. His hand tenses into a ball. “I see what you’re getting at, but there is no way the temple would swallow its pride and work with the mages of the court. The empire is complex, and everyone knows that the Sun Temple is too proud to work with the mages of the empire.”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t say. But I have no intention of sitting by and thinking that…things will just be easy because we’re traveling with Lord Zeybek,” Mido responds, his brow furrowed while studying the map. “And I could have sworn I heard Lumi say something about Cochon. Where in the hells is Cochon?”
Augustus stretches his back against the wooden planks. “What’re you thinking?” He inquires with narrowed eyes. “What’s going on behind those dark eyes?”
Mido glances out of the wagon, “Nothing, Augustus…”
“Just leave it to them. We’re just along for the ride, alright? Saint Nina said we are just here to keep an eye on Lumi,” Augustus whispers.
“And to learn,” Mido quips. “I feel like I’ve barely learned anything…even under Eustes’ care.”
Augustus purses his lips and sighs. “I wouldn’t call traveling with Eustes being in his care. More like we were his servants.”
The wagon shakes while the driver situates themselves at the front of the wagon. The tall man with a checkered headscarf opens the flap and peers into the wagon. Mido pushes the map back into the satchel and smiles up at the man.
The driver turns to them, his brutally pockmarked face causes Mido to visibly shift uneasily. “We’re nearly ready. Just a few more things left to load,” he says with a grunt. His eyes move over the wicker casket containing Rashid’s body. “You’ll take care of em’ right, priest?”
Mido averts his gaze from the driver and chokes, “I-I’m not a priest, but I’ll make sure he’s cared for,” he assures uncomfortably. “I promise.”
“I mean, he could be a priest if he wanted,” Augustus says with a smirk.
“Pardon. I didn’t mean any offense,” the driver whispers. His eyes move from Mido back to the casket. “He was a good man. It’s good he’s in your care.”
“Than—”
“Thank you for your kind words,” Augustus coos, interrupting Mido. “A smooth ride through the desert will make it easier for him to focus.”
“I’ll do my best,” the driver replies, “But the journey is a perilous one. And I can hardly help the bumps along the way, but I will do my best to keep the priest’s ride smooth.”
Augustus exhales sharply with a loud pfft. “During our journey from Loria, we crossed the desert and barely encountered anything but a single bandit and an overpriced wagon ride.”
“That is because Rhaz acts as a gateway which keeps the dangers of the desert from entering the comforts of your empire,” the driver offers with the smallest hint of annoyance on his features. He removes the headscarf and begins to adjust it. A grizzly scar adorns the man’s scalp and runs through his hair. “Bandits aren’t the worst of it.”
“What other things are you expecting?” Mido asks nervously, his ears twitching quickly.
“Antlions, lizards, scorpions, snakes, yilan cultists, slavers, and then you have the roaming undead,” the man states, tapping at the jagged scar in his hairline. “A necromancer’s lost pet, I’d reckon.”
Augustus slaps his cheek, “Anything else? Perhaps…demons or devils?”
“Could certainly happen,” the driver admits with a nod of his head. “There are sand worms and even legends that the efreeti’s armies remain. Fire spirits that wander the desert seeking their master’s freedom.”
“That does sound like a story,” Mido announces softly, before he presses his back against the planks and leans his head against the canvas.
Augustus raises his brow, “Oh, do you wish to share some of this knowledge, friend?”
The driver turns back on his bench and pulls the canvas open more widely. “I’d love to hear the tale from a foreigner.”
“He’s from Gomorrah,” Augustus quips.
“He’s right though, I am still a foreigner…regardless of my place of birth,” Mido smiles, his pointed ears shaking against the canvas. “When I was a boy, I used to read as much as I could of the tales of the Desert Cities. But…from what I recall. Revya and his sister, Enan arrived here some many thousand years ago. Their original purpose was unknown, but it wa—”
“You — know of Enan?” The driver asks, a surprise in his voice that is only matched by his wide eyes.
Mido nods, “A traveling merchant mentioned it once. He was with a scholar. She knew loads of stuff about the ruins that are all around the desert.”
“The stories of Enan are rare but not unheard of,” the driver replies softly. “She was known to be cruel and torturous…so many forgo her name from history. But please continue your tale.”
Mido clears his throat and opens his eyes. Turning to Augustus, he continues, “It was said that Revya and Enan collected the wandering tribes through the desert and enslaved them. Some were sent away to unknown realms, while others were forced to build structures in the desert. Rhaz became their seat of power and for years they ruled over the desert tribes together. Thousands of strange creatures from their realm served as soldiers here in the desert. But like many tales, love interceded! Revya fell in love with a human from the tribes. Somehow, she convinced Revya to turn on his sister, and a war began between the siblings. The story claims that Revya struck a fatal blow and imprisoned Enan in a sacred gaol. Legend has it that her soldiers still wander the desert, seeking to free her.”
The driver smirks, “Could not have said it better myself, but the woman who Revya fell in love with—”
“Andorra,” Mido says, “at least I think that was her name.”
With a heavy scoff, the driver hangs his head, “It does seem you’re aware of your history. But alas, that is the truth of it, it is believed that Enan’s soldiers still seek her freedom. There are rumors they appear from her realm from time to time.”
Augustus, having remained quiet, looks up to the driver, “Has anyone ever encountered any of these so-called soldiers of the efreet?”
“They have, on occasion, appeared,” the driver says quietly. “There was a salamander that appeared south of Porat…killed dozens of merchants and civilians. A group of adventurers managed to scare it off.”
“Salamanders? Like the lizard, they don’t sound so bad,” Augustus snorts and brushes his fingers through his hair. “I expect we could handle a lizard.”
Mido eyes Augustus in disbelief, then rubs his palm across his cheek, “Different type of salamander.”
“Like a big watery lizard?” Augustus asks, looking inquisitively at the driver. “Seen them in the forest. Really nothing to fear.”
The driver shakes his head, then smiles. “It’s more like a massive flaming lizard with a more human-like body. Some of them carry flaming weapons.”
“It’s a beast of fables,” Mido adds, “And one that we are unlikely to ever cross. So I guess you can count your blessings!”
A loud shout from the lead wagon brings the driver’s focus back to his task at hand. He turns back to the camels and closes the canvas flap behind him. Augustus stands at the sudden movements of the wagon and closes the back canvas. He returns to his seat beside and watches Mido’s head bobs violently with the jerking movements of the wagon.
“At least our driver seems nice?” Mido asks, offering a smile.
“We’ll have…a long journey ahead with him,” Augustus whispers, “maybe he has an extra waterskin.”
Mido scoffs, “I-I, what is wrong with you?”
“Nothing! I just am thinking he seems prepared,” Augustus offers in retaliation, with a quick glance from the corner of his eyes.
“You are…going to get us in trouble one day,” Mido sighs, standing to tug on his sarouel.
Augustus cocks an eyebrow curiously while Mido begins to undress. “What’re you doing?” he croaks while Mido pulls the sarouel down his legs.
Mido tilts his head at Augustus and laughs. “Getting comfortable. We’ve got a long journey…I figure may as well rest.”
“So…you’re going to sleep next to the dead man?” Augustus asks softly, his lips pressed against his finger in thought. “Without trousers at that.”
Mido’s short tail sways back and forth. “I was paid to look after him. And besides, I’d rather not be craning my neck reading.”
“Well then,” Augustus whispers uncomfortably. He stands and takes his own bedroll, tossing it out over the front half of the wagon. “Do you even know…how to do what they’re asking you?”
Mido’s cheeks turn scarlet. With a glance up, concern crosses his face. “I mean – I have an idea. Eustes told me what to do.”
“The old man?” Augustus laughs quietly. “Knowing him, he probably lied to you.”
“Shut up,” Mido whispers. “He’s not that cruel, he helped us when we needed it.”
“He certainly seems fond of pranks and jokes. Even if they aren’t funny. His sense of humor could definitely use some work.”
“He’s really not that bad,” Mido says while he kneels onto his bedroll and finishes straightening the length. “I thought he was funny.”
“Funny, was he? Was it funny when he bashed that bandit’s head in with his mace? I didn’t think clerics were supposed to be so…”
Mido sighs and pushes himself across the bedroll. “That’s enough, he was protecting us. We’d have died three times over if it wasn’t for him.”
Augustus raises a brow, “I think we would have been fine. We handled that goblin just fine. And those wolves.”
“We ran from just about everything else,” Mido says sharply.
Augustus tilts his head in thought, “I mean…that isn’t exactly true.”
Mido sits forward and looks Augustus in the eyes, “I wanted to ask you something,” He asks suddenly, crosses his legs.
Augustus looks up from his bedroll and reaches for his rucksack. With his wine skin to his lips, he releases a questioning, “Hmm?”
“Do you really think that Khimi is a good person? How do you know? Emir Ziad Zeybek is supposedly some sort of legendary figure of mythic proportions in the Desert Cities. His legacy is not painted in a kind light. And Lu—”
“You told me before that you believed that you misjudged him. Just because his father is a monster does not mean that he is,” Augustus interrupts. “Did you suddenly change your mind again?”
“No,” Mido whispers, his hand on top of the casket. “I…just feel conflicted. Why would the god’s choose Lumi? And why would Lumi choose Khimi?”
“Ah, are you truly concerned?” Augustus groans. Looking up at the canvas, the light from the sun filters through. “Can’t you just be happy for them?”
“It all just seems so odd,” Mido replies, “What if Khimi is usi–”
Augustus’ face screws up in annoyance. “Mido. Stop it, I’ve had enough of this. Grow up and move on. Lumi decided to stay with Khimi, even after that whole…thing. He didn’t want to travel with us when we asked him. Just let it go.”
Mido deflates with each of Augustus’ words. “Yet here we are, forced to travel with them.”
“We can leave. If you’re so conflicted. We can hop off this wagon and return to Loria!” Augustus announces, falling back onto his bedroll and elevating his feet on the wooden bench. “You won’t have to ask me twice. I miss Livia’s cooking more than this dross.”
Mido sighs and rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean, Aug–”
“You just need to move on,” Augustus snaps again, his cheeks growing red in frustration. “If we’re going to go on this journey…you need to stop.”
The wagon shakes and the wooden frame creaks, the wooden wheels roll over the cobbled streets of Rhaz. Augustus stares at Mido, his anger evident. His back rests flat against the planks while he rubs his cheeks. Mido sighs and remains quiet before he begins to chant a gentle incantation from the platinum plated book.
Sun Sickness
Eleven days have passed and the travel through the desert is sluggish. The wagons had suffered several casualties; broken wheels, ripped canvas, and even a fire from stray embers during their daily cookfire. Augustus had got to see Lumi for a few hours a day, but the longer the journey went, the more he would appear from the confines of Khimi’s wagon. While it is Khimi that has kept hidden away from others. On occasion, he would catch Mido glancing at them from the corner of his eye as if to size them up.
As the twelfth day dawns and the sun slowly rises, the wagons come to a stop in the shade of an ancient ruin. The desert landscape is interrupted by a small canyon filled with towering obsidian structures that seem to have a glass-like appearance. Strange symbols cover the smooth surfaces of the formations. The wagon drivers quickly organize themselves in neat rows and tend to their camels, while the rest of the caravan begins preparations for the night ahead.
Despite everyone’s comments on the mild heat, Augustus could not believe the cruelty of the scorching desert sun. He was most worried about Mido, who had pushed himself beyond his limits countless times. Every attempt to help him only seemed to aggravate him further, leaving him red-faced and irritable. After their brief argument, Mido had kept to himself for most of the journey. Augustus was annoyed by his friend’s behavior, but he knew that Mido would always be stubborn and unwilling to compromise.
Once the sun reaches its highest point, Augustus places a cool, wet rag on Mido’s forehead. Mido is silent, breathing shallowly and turning his head away. Despite being a native of the Desert Cities, he had never experienced such intense heat before. In his usual manner, Mido had done all he could to assist those around him; tending to camels and taking care of the caravanners before himself.
“Mido?” Augustus asks with concern, his mouth hanging open.
Mido turns towards the canvas cover, gripping his shirt tightly. “I’m fine,” he mutters weakly. “Just the heat.”
“You’re going to faint,” Augustus croaks as he takes hold of Mido’s hand. “I’ll go get Lumi.”
Mido suddenly grabs onto Augustus’s shirt with anger, “Don’t…don’t bother him,” he groans, worry in his eyes. “I’ll be okay!”
Augustus forcefully removes Mido’s hand from his shirt. “He’s the only other healer here! What good are you to me if you die?” He shouts angrily. “I am supposed to be your protector…”
Mido moans and reaches for Augustus again, “J-just leave him alone. He’ll just laugh at me.”
“You fool. You’d risk your health to avoid embarrassment?” Augustus stands up and walks to the back of the wagon. “I’m going to see Lumi. Just conserve your strength.”
Augustus stays for a moment longer as Mido lays back against the wooden bench. Mido’s normally tan skin is flushed an unnatural shade, sweat covering his entire body. Augustus pulls the canvas over Mido, obscuring him from view. A low growl escapes his throat in frustration with Mido’s recklessness before he heads towards Khimi’s wagon.
As he walks between wagons, Augustus notices strange structures rising from the sands in various shapes and sizes. Each one seems unique in some way. One after another, he watches as caravan members dismount and prepare for camp. The wagon driver, a man named Ganud, is off to the side tending to the camels. He nods at Augustus with a wide grin, almost as if he knows something they don’t. Augustus has started to suspect that Ganud may be someone of importance in the Desert Cities; despite being a mere wagon driver, he knows more about history and religion than both Mido and Augustus combined. Yet, whenever Augustus has tried to inquire further, Ganud becomes elusive and mysterious.
Lord Zeybek’s wagon is slightly larger than the others, but has wooden slats across the side for privacy. The eight pointed star is emblazoned into the wood and painted with a metallic golden paint. A canis woman with pointed ears stands before the door to the wagon. Her blue tabard sits over a chain shirt which extends to the middle of her thighs. Her hand rests on the hilt of a hulking greataxe, and she tosses her lengthy black hair back at Augustus’s approach.
“I need to speak with Lord Zeybek,” Augustus says with urgency. He peers around the woman at the lacquered wooden door. “Please,” he pleads softly, “it’s important.”
The woman shifts her black boots in the sand, her short cropped tail wags behind her. “Why?” She asks while she leans forward and places her chin over the handle of her axe.
“Mido needs to see Lumi,” Augustus lies. “He said he just needs a brief moment to confer on something. It’s urgent.”
The woman smirks at him, “I’ll see if Lumi is awake,” she grunts. Turning back to the carriage, she knocks briefly on the door between peeking her head inside.
Though Augustus can not see the full interior of the wagon, he can tell that it is well decorated. Gold and blue banners are draped across the window and a small bed has been built into the side. Lumi sits up from the bed, peering at the woman with a groggy expression. Lumi stands from the bed in his nakedness while he addresses the woman. The woman pulls the door shut, then turns back to Augustus.
“He’s coming,” she mutters. “But not alone. I’m coming too.”
“And Khimi?” Augustus whispers, almost unaware of his own question.
“Lord Zeybek is seeing to the caravan,” she replies with a haughty scoff. “Or looking at the ruins. He descended into the valley with a few others.”
Augustus attempts a smile, “The real adventurous type is he?”
The woman’s lips curl into a sneer. “What’re you suggesting, Lorian?” She asks in a gruff and angry tone
“I meant no offense,” Augustus interjects quickly, noting the woman’s change in expression. “I only meant that he seems to enjoy travel. More than the monotony of being cramped in the city.”
The woman smiles and tilts her head from side to side, “Admittedly, Lord Zeybek does enjoy his time away from the business. But, that isn’t to say that he doesn’t care.”
The door opens and Lumi steps onto the first stair descending into the sand. Lumi’s tanned linen sarouel expose maroon knickers beneath, which hug his lean form. Shirtless, he pulls a blue and gold shawl over his shoulders to shield himself from the sun.
“Mido needs me?” Lumi asks, speaking up against the whipping winds.
Augustus nods and looks up at the boyish figure. “He just needs a moment of your time,” he says, with a quick glance back to their wagon.
The woman moves aside for Lumi and walks beside him. His barefoot sink through the sand. Augustus is not sure how to explain the situation, and he knows that Mido will be wroth with him either way. Stubborn fool, he thinks just outside the wagon. The wind whips more harshly, and many of the caravanners struggle to keep control of their grunting camels. Augustus stops outside the wagon and grips the edge of the canvas flap. The woman with pointed ears steps up and pulls the back of the wagon open with a quick tug, revealing Mido laying across the bench with an unusual redness to his skin.
Mido sits up at the sound and looks at Augustus with a grim defiance. Angrily, he shakes his head and forces himself to plant his feet firmly on the planks. “I-I told you I was fine, Augustus!”
“Sun sickness,” the woman says with a nod to Lumi.
Lumi pulls himself into the back of the wagon, he pauses over the casket. “Does Khimi have anything for it, Jiya?”
“I’ll see if I can fetch some blankets and aloe,” Jiya replies with a harshness to her voice. “He’s got it bad. He’ll be losing a lot of skin.”
“Sun sickness?” Augustus asks, holding his hand over his mouth. “It’s…bad?”
“These canvas coverings can’t keep all the sun out, this sort of thing is more common with people of lighter complexions. Or in people who are exposed to hour after hour of harsh daylight,” Jiya replies with a nod at Mido. “It would be wise for him to stay beneath full cover during the daylight hours.”
“It can’t just be healed with magick?” Augustus asks while stepping into the wagon. “Lumi’s complexion isn’t that dark. Why aren’t you toasted like he is?”
Lumi cocks an eyebrow and kneels in front of Mido to look him over, his hands pass over Mido’s sweaty brow. “I’ve grown up here, and the truth is I’ve always been fond of the sun. My complexion changes a lot,” he pauses and wipes his hand across the shawl. “Maybe you should sta—”
Mido looks up at Lumi through darkened eyes, “I’m fine,” he insists, sitting up.
Lumi manages a smile, “Khimi said you took care of me when I was…unwell. You should take our wagon. You’ll be out of the sun. Maybe you just pushed yourself too hard.”
Augustus looks to Lumi. “The lord’s wagon?”
“Some people call it sun poisoning…it isn’t a true poisoning of course, but Saint Nina said even healing spells only lessen the symptoms but won’t cure it,” Lumi offers, taking Mido’s hand. “So, our magick can’t help much…but being in the shade might make you feel better.”
Jiya makes a cautious, hmm. “The aloe wrapped bandages will help with the pain. Recovery will be slow, but you’ll survive. Surprised that he survived this long without passing out.”
Augustus slaps a hand on Lumi’s shoulder, “Will Khimi be alright with giving up his wagon?” He asks with a glance back at Mido.
Lumi smiles, then chuckles nervously to himself. “I’m sure it’ll be alright.”
Jiya raises an eyebrow at Lumi, “Maybe we should try the aloe wraps first, Lumi,” she offers, motioning to the other wagons.
Mido’s ears twitch while he glares at Augustus with a look of disdain. Slumping forward, he places his hands over his eyes. “I told you, I am fine,” he insists. “I don’t need anything, really!”
“Aloe wraps,” Lumi nods in agreement, standing in front of Mido. “You’ll feel better before long. The aloe feels nice and once you’re under some more shade you won’t feel the sun so much.”
“It happens during many people’s first time in the desert,” Jiya, taking Lumi’s hand and helping him from the wagon. “We’ll be back in a moment.”
Augustus turns to Mido. “I know you’re being proud…or you’re mad at Lumi or whatever,” he mutters angrily. “But get over it.”
“It’s not that,” Mido whispers, grabbing his head and sighing. “They’re going to think I am weak,” he adds softly.
Augustus brings the water skin to Mido’s lips, “Drink it. Please.”
“What kind of sickness can’t be healed by magick? I would have thought…they’d have something for this,” Mido groans, “When we can cure disease, restore vision, and grow back limbs.”
Augustus scoffs, “Calm down. Just relax, Lumi seems to thi—”
“It’s fine,” Mido mutters through his teeth. “I’ll be fine. I just need to get out of the sun. I may have overdone it the last few days. Back when we were in Loria, I was out in the sun much longer.”
Augustus smiles. “This is the desert, Mido.”
“I-I know, but I am from the desert,” Mido snorts. “I am going to be fine. J-Just tell them I am fine.”
Augustus nods before sitting on the bench next to Mido. “You’ll be fine. You’ve got the Saint of Flames caring for your proud ass,” Augustus teases.
“It’s embarrassing!” Mido groans, agitation on his face. He brushes the dark wet hair sticking to his brow from his eyes. “A-And Lumi is equally the novice I am.”
Augustus frowns, “Are you denying that he’s the saint of flames?” His eyes narrow at Mido challengingly. “Because, the world seems to think otherwise.”
Mido grimaces but remains silent while he leans forward over the bench. Sweat trickles down his face and drips from his chin. Augustus can feel the heat emanating from Mido’s body, a feverish warmth, leaving his tanned skin slick with moisture. Despite their argument, Augustus can not help but tend to his friend. He hurriedly brushes the slick hair from his eyes and smiles at Mido.
“Sorry,” Mido murmurs after a moment. “Y-your right…I guess I just still don’t understand it.”
“Understand what?”
“What do the gods see in Lumi? I don’t feel envy…I feel sadness and pity,” Mido whispers. “He’s got a great heart, but he’s weak. He’s not that much stronger than us.”
“Kicked our ass in that barn,” Augustus adds quietly. “B-But I see your point,” he admits. After a long pause, he continues. “Maybe the gods chose Lumi because of Khimi. Because Khimi makes up for that which Lumi lacks…”
“But Khimi isn’t the chosen?” Mido questions himself.
Augustus smiles, “But there is no doubt that he is with the chose–”
Jiya and Lumi return carrying arms filled with linens. Jiya carefully sets a small jar with a clear liquid onto the back of the wagon before handing Augustus the pile of sheets in her hands. Lumi sets them down onto the planks and quickly sets to work tearing at the fabric. The gauzy fabric rips in uneven bands with each tug. Jiya pulls herself into the wagon and uncorks the jar while she looks up to Mido.
“We’ll dip the rags in the aloe and cover your skin with them,” Jiya begins, her pointed ears twisting at her words.
Mido nods and whispers quietly, “I-I’m sorry.”
“Mido,” Augustus chides. “Please. You have nothing to apologize for.”
Lumi looks up from his duty and smiles at the three of them. “It’s okay, sun sickness is terrible! At the temple, travelers would come and would be laid up for days. I’ve even seen where the skin peels off in big ole blisters.”
“Joy,” Mido croaks at Lumi’s words.
“S-Sorry,” Lumi snickers while he blows his hair from his vision. He continues tearing at the fabric, “You’ll be alright!”
Jiya dips the first strip of cloth into the aloe and motions to Mido to tilt his head back. With an unexpected tenderness, Jiya wraps the cloth around Mido’s forehead and places the ends near his cheek. Augustus can not help but smile when Mido releases a sigh of relief.
“Now,” Jiya says and turns to Augustus. “Either he can strip and I can dress him, or I’ll leave you to finish this task.”
Mido’s eyes burst open, “I’m fine! I don’t need anyone to undress me.”
Lumi snickers, “Traditionally, the whole body is wrapped for quicker healing.”
Augustus laughs, “Not like I haven’t seen your bottom a few hundred times, right?”
Jiya dips another cloth into the aloe, “I don’t mind seeing naked boys,” she laughs. “I’m more than happy to help. My boys’ first few summers in the sun were pretty harsh too.”
Lumi looks up. The fabric tears in his hand, “It’ll be like a bonding experience. We can all help.”
Augustus, enjoying the discomfort across Mido’s face, finally mutters, “I’ll see to the wraps.”
Jiya finishes wrapping another around the back of Mido’s neck and places an end near his temples. “Then we’ll leave you to it. I’ll see if we can throw up a second canvas or thicker cloth over this to provide more shade.”
“Shouldn’t we have done that from the beginning?” Mido questions under his breath.
Jiya’s lip twitches at Mido’s comment. “It isn’t customary to use such a dense cloth to cover a wagon. Most of us are accustomed to this type of travel. This is not even the sunny season, child.”
Lumi bites his lip and looks at Jiya, hopefully. “It’s just sun sickness. He must be exhausted…surely Khimi wouldn’t mind if they used our wagon.”
“I’ll see about additional coverings first,” Jiya insists before she hops from the back with a heavy thud into sand. She pauses to whisper to Lumi and gives his shoulder a tight squeeze.
Lumi chuckles to himself and watches the woman depart to the other wagons, “I think you’ve got it from here,” he says quietly to Augustus. After another loud rip of the fabric, he departs, rushing to catch up to Jiya.
“What was all that whispering about?” Augustus whispers, his gaze still fixed on Lumi and Jiya.
“It doesn’t matter,” Mido adjusts the strip of cloth about his neck, “I don’t need you to wrap my whole body,” he says with a defiant growl.
Augustus offers Mido a wide grin, “But you heard the lad, it’s tradition! What were they sayin’, I know you heard?”
Mido’s cheeks flush with color, “I don’t think you want to know. It will only make yo–”
“Oh, come on. Just tell me,” Augustus interrupts, ruffling Mido’s hair.
Mido’s sighs but remains quiet. He slowly slips his arms through the sleeves of his tunic and allows Augustus to pull the shirt over his head. Shirtless, Mido crosses his arms, shivering before him. Augustus quickly sets aside the tunic in his hands and begins to dip the rags in the aloe.
Augustus sighs, “Just tell me,” he pleads, slapping a length of the soaked aloe bandage across Mido’s chest.
Mido yelps and groans, “They said it seemed like we needed privacy.”
Augustus deflates at Mido’s words, “Oh,” he sounds quietly.
Mido’s affection for Augustus had always been known to him, but in instances when others became involved it was always more complex. Their relationship had always been that of close friends, siblings even. In their youth, Mido had confessed his feelings beneath an ancient oak outside Loria. Augustus never knew what to make of his confession, but the words still cling to his heart. ‘I love you, Auggie.’
“I’m sorry, Mido…”
It’s just a Bug
The powerful gusts of wind pelt against the sides of the caravan, rattling its sturdy frame. The caravan huddles together in the shelter of the ruins, seeking refuge from the harsh elements. Augustus breathes a sigh of relief. Mido had slowly regained his strength. After a day of diligently changing his bandages and ensuring he drank copious amounts of water, Jiya’s remedy had proven to be effective, just as she promised.
Although, he wanted to remain in the wagon with his friend. He knows he needs to seek out some form of entertainment. While Mido drifts in and out of sleep, Augustus ventures into the evening. The sound of loud cheers and claps carries through the air, along with a melodic singing voice that seems to dance up and down with ease. The unfamiliar song is filled with beauty, a clear indication that the singer had put in much time and effort perfecting their craft.
Augustus slides down the sandy valley towards the group gathered around the fire but stops halfway down. Sitting in the sand, he watches from a distance. To his surprise, it is Khimi who is singing. His voice rings out across the valley, filling the darkness with its resonance. The caravanners and guards join in with enthusiastic clapping, while Khimi finishes with a graceful bow. Lumi stands up from the crowd, cheering and clapping as he rushes over to embrace Khimi. This scene feels surreal yet comforting to Augustus; he had never seen Khimi interact with Lumi before, and their genuine affection for each other stirs emotions within him. It is not envy or pity, rather compassion that fills his heart.
After several songs, a figure approaches Augustus and sits beside him. Ganud, the caravanner sits beside him and smiles while he peers across the sandy valley. He removes the veil from his scarred face.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Ganud asks, his tone full of wonder and admiration.
Augustus hums, his hands joined together under his knees. “This is something that happens frequently?”
Ganud chuckles, “Khimi is well liked by those around him. The servants of the estate, the mercenaries he employs. Beastkin, humans, and others all feel a love for the lad.”
Adjusting his headband, Augustus can not help but ask, “But I have heard rumors about the Zeybek family.”
“Emir Ziad, mostly. At least I presume,” Ganud begins in a whisper. “But Khimi…he is nothing like his father.” He pauses and tilts his head to study Augustus’s expression. “If you have any doubts about Khimi, let them go. Things have changed for the better since he took control of things in Rhaz.”
“Changed how?” Augustus asks, his fingers move along the golden laurels, feeling their sharp metallic edges.
“The estate in Rhaz was controlled by a relative of Ziad, Harod. He would often vanish for long periods of time, but in his absence he would leave the most vile men in charge. Though Harod himself was equally vile,” Ganud whispers softly. “Those who served the Zeybek family felt the pain of having to deal with such cruel men. He had a fondness for drink, and fondness for taking his rage out on the servants.”
Augustus leans back against the sand and turns on his side. Khimi’s voice begins to echo through the valley once again. “Whatever happened to Harod? You said when Khimi came that things changed?”
“It was a curious thing. Rashid and Khimi showed up one day at the estate, and within a few brief hours Harod and those under his employ left on a vessel from Rhaz. There were rumors that the vessel encountered ill winds and never reached its destination. The last location it was seen was somewhere north of Betset around the scattered islands,” Ganud explains. The older man lays back in the sand and looks up at the stars. A sudden gust of wind blows the grit across them. “The truth is…we are all better off without Harod…and even better off without Emir Ziad. Thought you didn’t hear that from me.”
“But Ziad approves of Khimi’s tenure?” Augustus asks while he brushes sand from his form.
“It’s complicated. The Rhaz estate has always been controlled by a Zeybek, but there must always be a Zeybek in Sidi at the same time. There are few family members remaining…distant relatives. But only Khimi and Ziad are true descendants of the original line,” Ganud explains. “And,” he says with a quick gesture to Khimi and Lumi. “It does not appear that the blood will continue.”
Augustus whistles, “All that wealth will go to who in the instance something happens to Khimi?”
Ganud laughs, “That depends on if you’re referring to before or after Ziad and Aleyna’s departure from this realm.”
“After,” Augustus whispers quickly, his fingers bending the metallic laurel.
“That remains a mystery, but the current belief is that the estate will fall under the ownership of the various city’s leadership. The estate in Sidi will become part of the Sanctum of Balance, where the chosen Davani reigns. The Rhaz estate would become part of Revya’s collection. While, we are hopeful that eventually an heir apparent does show…as some of us have served the Zeybek family for generations,” Ganud whispers. “My father’s father drove wagons for the Zeybek family and even his father before him knew of the Cerulean Star.”
“So much history…are there those among your number that disapprove of Khimi’s partner?” Augustus asks, his eyes flick to the fire down the valley.
“While many people certainly wished for Khimi to bring forth a child to this world…others see merit in their relationship. The fact that despite the opposition they will face, they seem to care for one another anyway. It is an admirable thing. But yes, there are a few who would see their union as gross negligence. Even if Lumi had been a woman, they may believe the same. Beastkin and others are often unable to bring forth children into this world in any case,” Ganud replies before he releases a lengthy sigh. “In either case, the majority of us support them. Even if Khimi doesn’t continue the line, we’re hopeful for the future that he will bring.”
“My, my,” Augustus whispers. “It sounds like there are a lot of people who support them. And Khimi is certainly a favorite among the locals in Rhaz. After meeting him, I admit I did a bit of inquiring…people spoke of him with great fondness. There was even someone who said that the king met with him sometimes.”
“Revya,” Ganud corrects. “After Harod left, Revya’s initial meeting with Khimi left such a mark on him, that they became quick friends. And though it seems they maintain a professional relationship publicly, Revya visits the estate for a fair few drinks on occasion. Oftentimes, their laughter can be heard from the garden terrace.”
Augustus smirks, “He really knows how to work people over. How about we go down there and show our faces?”
Ganud slowly sits up in the sand. “I’m sorry, I need to see to the camel’s care. Assuming the wind slows, and the weather isn’t too harsh, we can depart at dawn.”
Augustus nods and leans back, “Thank you. I feel I have a better understanding of things now. Might I ask what he was singing about? The language feels unfamiliar.”
Ganud smiles, “It’s about friendship. It’s from the tale of Revya, sung in the language known before our tongue, spoken by the tribes. We know it as the old tongue, but it has many names.”
Ganud offers a shallow bow and trudges through the shifting sand back to the caravan. Friendship. Augustus pushes himself to his feet and slowly slides down the mountain of sand into the base of the valley. Jiya, among others, leap to their feet at his approach before relaxing once again to watch the entertainment. Sand shifts through his sandals while he wiggles his toes. Rugs and cushions are situated about the area, a large bonfire roars off to the side. The scent of roasting meat fills his nose.
Lumi looks back over his shoulder, his tail wags excitedly through the sand at Augustus’ approach. Augustus smiles at Lumi but continues toward the source of the smell. Around the cookfire, a man with several lengthy skewers turns them carefully on the edge of the flames. Augustus waves and the man extends the skewer to him knowingly. Roasted fowl and bite sized pieces of lamb, the smell is divine. Perfectly seasoned and coated in a spicy marinade, the meat makes his mouth water. His mouth salivates while he forgets his distaste of the heavy seasonings used in the Desert Cities.
A woman with a small tambourine slaps the stretched leather with her hand, the jingling echoes around them. Lumi stands and beckons Augustus over, while men and women begin to rise from the crowd and dance about the area. A crowd forms around Khimi, and he flashes a quick smile at Augustus.
Augustus takes a seat on the rug next to Lumi, “Khimi has a voice,” he says softly. “It’s beautiful. I wouldn’t have expected him to be able to sing with so much gruff.”
Lumi nods, his eyes still fixed on Khimi. “I had no idea he could sing, either. He sang to me on the wagon, on the way back to Rhaz.”
“It’s something special” Augustus whispers, biting into the roasted fowl.
Lumi laughs, “I guess, his voice is prettier than mine. I can sing a bit, but I don’t know many songs. And I can’t really read the words from songbooks. Well, I can…it just takes a long time,” he says quietly and measured, “like a really long time.” He glances at Augustus from the corner of his eye. “I’m not brilliant like Khimi.”
“We all have things we’re good at,” Augustus whispers, “And things we’re bad at. I’m horrible at plenty of things, Mido would love to tell you all about them, I am sure.”
Lumi leans back on his hands. “I am sure that Mido is appreciative of you. The good and the bad. It makes you…who you are. You both seem to be so close.”
Augustus blinks at Lumi’s words. It was not often he is faced with such honest kindness. There is something about Lumi’s words that resonate within him. “That is certainly true,” he replies with a chuckle. “He’s like my brother.”
“That’s curious,” Lumi says, turning abruptly to Augustus. “Because he seems like he’s so much more.”
Augustus wrinkles his nose, “Curious about our relationship? Well, I already told you that we’re friends. He’s like a brother to me…”
Lumi raises an eyebrow but flashes his teeth in a smile, “You don’t gotta answer. But there is just…something about the way you look at one another.”
Augustus sighs, “I have no interest in men,” he says, flicking a bone into the distance. “Mido is…Mido. He is my friend…my brother.”
Lumi lies on his side across the Rhazian patterned rug and crosses his legs. “So, how does it work? This oath thing that you both have?”
“Oath…? Right, men or women of the Faith sometimes can be bound by an oath. Usually you see these people traveling in pairs. I suppose I would be considered a warden. Whereas…if I were to be bound to a saint, I would be considered a paladin,” Augustus replies quietly. “Mido…truly believes that he will do good in the world, and I want to be able to help him in his journey,” he chuckles. “I feel I can help him. So I offered to be his warden.”
Lumi’s eyes widened, “And…do you have magick too?”
“What, no!” Augustus replies with a laugh, dropping the skewer on the rug. “I mean…the oath normally would allow me to use some of Mido’s energy to channel his divine magick,” he whispers. “But…Mido doesn’t have much to give in the first place. It would be selfish of me to draw on his strength. Whereas paladins can channel the gods through the saints.”
Lumi bites his lip playfully, “Rashid said he swore an oath to Davani. So he must’a been pretty powerful.”
“Then if he kept his oath with her…then he could draw on her power,” Augustus snorts while he picks up the bits of lamb. “I wonder what it would be like. Oathbound to a saint.”
“I wouldn’t know,” Lumi groans, “Khimi already has magick…so it’s not like I need him to swear an oath to me.”
Augustus raises his brow and slaps his knee. He chokes on the meat until he dislodges it from his throat, “Truly?! Tell me how in the hells does Khimi have magick on top of everything else?”
Lumi frowns, “Why are you laughing?” he asks with furrowed brows. “I don’t think anything is funny.”
“Really?” Augustus asks, “Wealthy, handsome, talented, and can use magick? Magick is something people spend their whole lives understanding! Some people dedicate ages to it and can barely fart out a gust of wind!”
Lumi tilts his head from side to side. “Yeah, well…Khimi has a different source than Faith or study,” he mutters with notable anger.
“Well then what do you bring to the table? Or can you just play with that spear?”
“Yeah,” Lumi replies and taps the spear with his foot at the edge of the rug, “I can fight with a spear…or my hands. But I’m not as good with magick like any of the other clerics.”
Augustus blows air through his lips, “They worked with their magick for years. You’ll learn in time. After all, you are the Saint of Flames, right?”
A sudden shout from around the bonfire draws everyone’s attention. A scorpion roughly Lumi’s size skitters across the sand at the crowd. The stray creature is quickly intercepted by a guard, their spear piercing the tough shell while the creature’s interior splashes across the sand and it chitters in retaliation. Claws reach up and pinch at the spear, snapping the shaft in half. Another guard runs forward and drops a heavy maul onto the scorpion’s head. With a resounding CRUNCH, the creature lays still. Augustus and Lumi crouch at the ready, waiting for their time to move.
“It’s just a bug. Just a bug,” Augustus mumbles to himself, reaching for the gladius nearby.
Lumi turns his head to Augustus. “Scorpion nest…” His tail rattles at his own words while the caravanners climb up the steep sand to the wagons. “I hear more,” he adds in a whisper, his rounded ears twitch and swivel.
“I should get to Mido,” Augustus whispers, standing and turning to glance at the top of the dunes.
“It’s coming from below,” Lumi replies, “Around the ruins, I hear them getting closer.”
Khimi runs to them and looks in the direction of the ruins. “Jiya and Nidhi are helping everyone out of the valley. There wasn’t anything when we looked down there earlier,” he breathes.
“If it’s a brood,” Lumi says, looking up to Khimi. “Then there could be a lot. Maybe…we should run?”
“We’ll see what emerges first,” Khimi says and pulls the lengthy shamshir from his waistband. “If it’s too many then we’ll flee. Augustus, you should get up top.”
“Well…if you’re staying down here. I wouldn’t want to look like a cowa—”
The sand shifts nearby, scorpions break through the yellowed sand. Dozens follow behind through the darkness, and behind them, rising from the dark path to the ruins, a grotesque scorpion standing twice Khimi’s height. Augustus feels his heart pound within his chest. He would find himself in trouble on occasion with Mido, but never against anything of this magnitude. The scorpion’s form becomes more clear once it enters the light of the bonfire. The number of them, more vast than he could have imagined.
Lumi shouts an incantation, one which Augustus had never heard Mido use. Rays of light fly at the oncoming creatures, reducing several to burning shells. Augustus dashes forward once Khimi surges forward. There is a level of discomfort fighting against so many alien creatures. Khimi’s shamshir cut effortlessly through the tough shells and with a single word the blade burns crimson. Khimi raises a veil of linen around his face, the embers fly from the flaming sword lick at his skin. Augustus follows his lead and dashes into the fray, to his surprise the heavy Lorian gladius penetrates the dark exterior shell with ease. Wave after wave, the scorpions appear with their claws raised and clacking aggressively.
Lumi shouts a second incantation and a large swirling ball of fire appears above the scorpions. Many of the creatures flee and skitter away from the heat, but even more erupt into flames from their proximity. I thought he couldn’t use magick, Augustus thinks to himself. He looks up at the swirling fire. Sweat drips across Augustus’s brow from the rapidly growing heat. His fingers drum against the handle of his sword, the group of scorpions on full display in the light of the orb.
The largest of the scorpions scrambles through the sand with unnatural speed. The massive stringer comes down with a horrifying strength. It jams into the sand and shakes, it bursts back through the sand and pulls back, poison spraying across the area. Khimi swings the flaming shamshir and smashes across the scorpion’s shell. The sword clangs against the unyielding shell, knocking Khimi off balance. The creature pinches at Khimi, the claws clacking together with bone crunching snips.
Augustus retrieves a dagger tucked into his caligae and flings it at the massive scorpion. The dagger flies off the shell and falls into the sand. There is no sign of weak points on the ancient creature’s shell. He dashes forward and thrusts his gladius into one of the eight legs. The sword makes purchase between the joints before the creature pulls back and screeches loudly. Lumi’s burning orb grows larger and floats overhead. With caution, Augustus flees from the heat and wipes his brow. The sword grows heavier in his hand by the moment.
“Lumi!” Khimi shouts, “Just burn it!”
Lumi raises his hand in the air then drops it, the orb following the motion. The fire burns across the sand momentarily before fading to embers. The giant scorpion remains unscathed by the flames. The smallest of the scorpions curl, their singed bodies lay across the sand. With the absence of the orb, Augustus finds himself staring into the darkness. Raising his hands, Khimi releases a crest of flames surging forth. The scorpion scrambles away from the heat, then dashes forward with its pincers raised, its tail ready to skewer him. The pointed stinger dives into the sand again, narrowly missing Khimi. Augustus grabs Khimi’s arm and pulls him back through the sand, the stinger stabbing in quick succession behind them.
“Khimi!” Lumi calls out in panic. His bare feet pad against the sand, he rushes towards them. His fingers clutch at his choker, his eyes glow, a burst of brilliant light blazes from his hand.
The scorpion’s shell sizzles in the light, smoke rising from its now many crisp eyes. It raises its claws in defense and pinches sporadically. The smaller remaining scorpions begin to flee back to the safety of the ruins. Blinded by the light, the massive scorpion chitters and screeches before turning its back and retreating with the others. Augustus releases a deep breath, his hand on Khimi’s shoulder. He calms himself slowly while the creature sinks deeper into the darkness.
“It’s dangerous to let it be,” Khimi mutters under his breath. He abruptly sheaths the shamshir, extinguishing the flames before turning back to the bonfire.
Lumi grabs Khimi’s arm, “Most of the smaller ones are dead at least,” he replies thoughtfully.
Augustus watches the last few scorpions vanish into the darkness. “I’m with Lumi…they’re gone.”
Lumi looks between Augustus and Khimi. “I don’t believe that we should let something so dangerous be. But perhaps we should leave the valley,” he says with another tug at Khimi’s arm. “Come on, Khimi,” he says, urging Khimi up towards the wagons.
Augustus follows up the sandy dune to the wagons, his eyes flick to the burnt corpses of the dead scorpions. He remains quiet during their ascent while he thinks about the brief encounter. Most caravans through Loria would not have survived such an encounter, and Augustus feels some good fortune. At the top of the sandy valley, they are greeted by cheers and excitement. The caravanners shout and rush to them, thanking them for their bravery. Augustus itches his cheek while people clap his shoulders and sing his praises. He looks over the wagons and spots Mido stepping into the sand from the back of the wagon, a smile on his face.