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

had assured her this would keep her on a straight course.
    The hillocks flattened, but the soil remained stony. By the time Jadira had walked half a notch, the eastern sky was lightening. She hurried her aching legs on. But fear and need tangled her normally quick limbs, and she fell heavily on her face.
    Jadira knew she had failed. They were lost, lost in the vast Red Sands, and they would die. Her vaunted Sudiin heritage had not helped them a bit. And the worst thing was that that whining, city-soft thief would be right.
    She unclenched her burning eyelids and caught a single cold tear on her fingertips. One drop of water. One lone salty drop.
    She stared at the tear . . . and saw moss on the stones.
    Jadira picked up a rock that was spotted with gray-green moss and pressed it to her heart as if it were finest gold. Moss meant water! Somewhere near, there was water!
    Her long shadow reached out four paces ahead of her as she stood. The last breaths of night wind brought her a scent she knew well.
    "Water," she said aloud. "Water and camels." She hurried on, racing with her giant shadow. She ran, feet lifting off the stony ground with the ease of one reborn.
    The jingle of brass on camel harnesses, the bawl of contrary animals rose out of the ground. Jadira ran right to the edge of a sharp drop-off. From there, the copper-colored desert turned green—green as far as her parched eyes could see.
    The disc of the sun lifted from its purple bed of sleep and shone brightly onjulli Oasis and Jadira sed Ifrimiya.

Julli
    The fugitives sat on a rise at the edge of the oasis and looked over their destination. "Any sign of Faziri soldiers?" asked Marix.
    "No obvious ones." Tamakh shaded h is eyes and looked around. "I had no idea the place was so large. One, two, three wells, and a lake? It looks like a town with caravans and tents—and so many people! I imagined a muddy pool and a stand of palms."
    "Oh, no. Julli is famous for its water and abundant fodder," said Jadira. "In olden times, it was the custom of each caravan to plant a tree or bush here when they arrived. After a century, the practice had to stop; there wasn't enough land to support so many plants."
    "What does 'Julli' mean in your language?" asked Uramettu.
    Jadira swept her arm around the ridge. "Do you see how the entire oasis is sited in this sunken area? 'Julli' means 'navel'."
    "Enough prattle," said Nabul. "I'm going down there!" For once there was no dissension.
    Being ragged, dirty, and on foot, they gathered a few curious stares, but no one challenged them. The crowds were thickest around the wells, so they went straight to the bean-shaped lake. Camels and horses looked on stolidly as, one by one, the fugitives threw themselves into the water.
    "Have you ever tasted anything so wonderful?" exulted Marix. Jadira laughed and ducked him. He came up spouting and returned the favor. Tamakh waded in knee-deep and sat down. His toga floated out across the surface, making him look like a dirty white water lily.
    Uramettu went in only shin-deep. She splashed her arms and face, then returned to the shore to watch the others sport. Marix and Jadira joined her after thoroughly soaking themselves and feeling their parched skin begin to breathe again.
    "Where's Nabul?" Marix said, shaking himself like a foxhound.
    "Filling his belly, no doubt, or searching for someone to rob," Jadira said. She pulled her sodden, cloth-wrapped hair over her shoulder and began wringing the water out of it.
    "I saw him near the camels wearing the black harness fringe," Uramettu noted.
    "Zimoran traders," Jadira said. "Most likely bound for Rehajid. Nabul must be trying to talk his way into the caravan."
    "Good luck and good riddance," said Marix fervently.
    A concerted cry of "Hai-ai-ai!" rang across the oasis. A band of men on horseback, wearing red and white burnooses, galloped past the lake. Jadira chewed her lip as she watched them ride up to one of the wells.
    "Do you know them?" said