Free D & D - Red Sands by Paul B. Thompson, Tonya R. Carter Page A

spite of the hardship, he was in good spirits. Now that the imminent dangers of the city were behind him, he had begun to enjoy this new adventure.
    He hummed a marching song, punctuating the beat by striking the ground smartly with the heels of his boots. His pace proved too much for Tamakh, who dropped back with Nabul.
    Marix marched in place four beats and fell in beside Jadira. She smiled at his martial air.
    "What is that song?" she said.
    "This? 'The Company of Bren.' It's about a free company of men-at-arms who worked in the Eight Provinces in the time of King Barrus II."
    "I didn't realize you were a soldier."
    "Oh, aye. All noblemen's sons learn arms," he replied. "My eldest brother, who will be count one day, is a battle captain to Prince Lydon, and my middle brother is a knight."
    "And what have you been trained for?"
    "I was to be a man-at-arms, had I reached Lord Hurgold as planned."
    Jadira lowered her voice. "When we find Prince Lydon's seal, Lord Hurgold will make you a knight."
    His face shone. "Do you think so? I—"
    " AAIII!" The thief was shouting. Where the fine, dry sand had given way to crumbling shale, the ailing horse had stumbled in the loose rock and was down.
    "Get him up," Uramettu was saying. "Once down, they quickly die!"
    Nabul tugged on the bridle. "Stand, you wretched animal! Don't you dare die!"
    Tamakh came over. His ragged sandals had been cut to shreds by the rocks. "Will it be all right?" It was then Jadira noticed how drawn his formerly sleek face had grown.
    The horse kicked feebly. Uramettu said to Tamakh, "Can you do something?"
    "I have no knowledge of horses," he said sadly, shaking his head.
    It was soon over. The poor beast gave its last gasp and was still. The five stood around it, saying nothing for a long time.
    "This is the fate that faces us all," Nabul pronounced.
    "When we get to Julli—"
    The thief howled and grabbed for Jadira's throat. She clawed at his face and hands, and Marix wrenched
    Nabul's arms back.
    "We'll never get to the oasis'" Nabul cried. "It doesn't exist! We're going to wander around out here until the sun bakes us into hard red bricks! How will you lead a band of bricks, O wise desert-dweller?"
    Jadira bent over slowly and scooped up a handful of pebbles, which she flung at Nabul. "Rocks, you alley-rat! Do you know what that means? Where there are rocks in the desert, there is water. Julli is near, I tell you!" she exclaimed.
    "We could have walked past it in the dark and never known it!"
    Uramettu put a strong hand on Jadira's arm and said, "He's right. He may be an uncouth scoundrel, but he is right. Now that the horse is dead, do we have any chance at all to reach this oasis?"
    Before Jadira could answer, the eastern horizon flashed red. "False dawn," the nomad woman said. "Only one notch of darkness left. I will make you all a bargain: I will scout ahead for signs of Julli. If I am not back by sunrise ..." She finished the offer with a shrug. "Let everyone thereafter fend for himself."
    Jadira knelt to unhook the empty waterskins from the dead horse's saddle.
    "I'm coming with you," Marix said.
    "No." She stood and looped the handles of the waterskins around her own neck. Looking into his concerned, pale eyes, she smiled and said, "I'll be back."
    She started off in the presumed direction. Uramettu came after her. "I will go with you. I can. smell water a league away."
    Jadira shook her head. "I must do this alone." Softly she added, "You must keep them together, Uramettu. Men have no heads for journeying."
    "As you wish, my sister. Ronta go with you and guide your steps."
    The rocks made the way treacherous. Twice Jadira slipped on the uneven surface and scored her hands and knees on sharp stones. At the top of a low hill, she turned and looked back. Tamakh's white robe stood out in the blue-black night. She waved. Jadira could not see if anyone returned the gesture.
    She walked northwest, always keeping the star Qalax dead in front of her. Tamakh