Free The Gauntlet ( A Fantasy Novella) by Michael Diack

things they may know we ate their friend. They are going to be aggravated,” said Ugg.
    “I cannot tell if they are armed but, regardless, there are more of them than us. Do we risk fighting?” said Janna.
    “No. We are ahead of them. Let’s keep it that way. They will surely stop at the trees before continuing, it would be suicide to not. I say we take our chances that the tower is the end and get to it first,” said Ash.
    “Me too. We are already wasting our lead the more we talk,” said Ugg.
    “What are we waiting for then? Come on,” cried Janna.
    All three of them scuttled down the dune and, with a fast pace, traversed the sands heading towards the gleaming spire – their guiding beacon. The dunes undulated up and down but none, thankfully, were as large as the first they had climbed. The sand sapped their energy but they were spurred on by the unsettling knowledge that they had strangers behind them, most likely pursuing their footsteps.
     
    The wind was dry and suffering as it blew the sand grains around them. It slowly washed away faint snake trails and the tracks of other creatures – beetles, scorpions and spiders.
    “I remember when I first stepped into The Gauntlet I was picturing myself fighting huge monsters with multiple heads or worse. Yet here we are, keeping our distance from beings which are, in many ways, very similar to us in shape,” said Ugg.
    “They are not similar to us, they are green. We are all heading to the same destination after battling our way through a series of physical and mental challenges. The end, if that spire is the end, I am certain is not a prize to be shared equally,” said Janna.
    “They will undoubtedly see our footsteps in these sands, if they haven’t already picked them up across the gravel plain,” said Ash. “They know we are ahead of them and judging by our footsteps, they too will know that they are not chasing monsters. They are probably just as confused as we are.”
    “How do we know we will be the first to arrive at the spire? We could just be the next in a line of hundreds who have made it over the years?” said Ugg.
    Janna stayed silent, she hoped Ugg wasn’t right and her gut feeling told her no one had made it yet. She wanted to win.
    Ash laughed out loud and proclaimed: “It wouldn’t surprise me if we got there and only one person could enter. If The Gauntlet was only ever meant to be conquered by one. That would be good news for you Janna, as you were first. But the short straw for Ugg and myself. Let’s just hope it isn’t death for second and third place!”
    “We are speculating too much, just like before. We’ve got so far because we’ve always kept our heads level, focusing only on the present danger and obstacle ahead. I would suggest a break but sitting down does nothing for our lead,” said Janna.
    The three knights continued and, more than they realized, kept checking behind them for their pursuers. There was no further sight of them, however, that did little to remove the growing feeling of unease that they all shared.
     

Chapter 9: The Suffering Sands
    The peak of the midday heat had passed and the cooler air gave some welcome respite to the three knights, although there was zero shade available. The rationed fraction of water they drank from their flasks did little to quench their parched mouths and headaches booming within their skulls. The distant tower loomed ever taller but it still appeared more than the expected day’s walk away. All three knights suspected they would die of thirst before reaching it but none shared their thoughts.
    The three of them had dispersed out in a line, separated by short distances. Ugg was feeling the worst. Janna and Ash could hear his heavy breathing behind them.
    “Let us stop to rest. Or we will collapse from exhaustion and our pursuers will catch us anyway,” said Ash.
    “Very well,” said Janna, concerned for Ugg.
    All three were suffering but Janna looked in better shape