Sand 9
Detour
Sand...
I moaned and rolled over. Too bright....
Shooting upwards I realized what time it must be. I checked to assure that my mask was on as I walked from the tent. I looked around and saw no one. There was the remnants of a capfire, though in it nothing burned, and a few bags laying in the sand. I scowered the sand dunes all around and then whistled for Adonnis... Nothing.
Now I was mad.
I tried to calm myself as I walked to a nearby natural peak in the sandcliffs but it really wasn't working. The sand shifted under my feet in the way I loved but I didn't even pretend to care about it or the unnatural wind I felt rustle my the hooded cloak of my uniform. From here I had a clear vantage point of the lower lands and, after searching, I finally spotted what I was looking for.
My horse was in a valley as were the others. The men that belonged on their backs were all crouched down at a watering hole and, even with my acute hearing, I could only make out the sound of laughter. I scowled.
As if on instinct Adonnis looked up to me and then after studying me for a few short seconds decided it was best to join me on the cliff. He silently made his way toward me without anyone else even looking up. I watched him approach, still scowling. He must have sensed my anger and he lowered his head in apprehension. "Traitor," I mumbled as he finally stopped in front of me. He raised his head in an offended way and snorted a scoff.
Grabbing a fistful of his beautiful maine I heaved myself onto his back and he turned in a circle to make sure that gravity worked with me. I kicked him up as I turned him towards the camp and he felt his tense muscles. He needed a run.
After grabbing the bags and re entering the saddle I rode as quietly as possible back toward the men. They sat with their backs facing me so it was easier than it should have been to sneak up on them. It was also easy to determine which one of them was who, from the shape, position, or size of their backs even though they all wore hoods. They were laughing right until the shadow of me sitting on Adonnis fell over them and then silence fell over the group. They looked at each other, hoping that they had forgotten one of their friends back at the camp and it was him, instead of me, that had appeared.
Defeated, it was Bear who turned to face me first, closely followed by the others. My scowl was easy to discern, even in the shadow of my deep hood. They all stared up at me for a few seconds, the Prince glancing slyly away, before I raised my clenched fist, extended my thumb and jerked my hand backward sharply, indicating that they should move their asses. They scrambled to their feet and raced back to their horses. After climbing into their saddles and the horses letting out their protests Bear, Tulli, and Salem, with a fresh horse from an Atcom trading post, rode off toward camp to finish packing. Gabriel stayed.
He looked at me, undisturbed by angry glare and said, "orders Boss?"
"Finish packing," I nearly whispered it but the order had venom in it and even he knew not to joke with me right now, "and then start moving toward the sun. I'll meet you at the Lighthouse. That is, if you think you can lead for a while?"
Frowning at the sarcasm in my voice, he nodded. He moved his feet up, preparing to kick his horse into motion, the horse felt it coming and took a step forward, but then he hesitated and pulled the reins back to hold her in place. He looked at me with a questioning look on his face. "Where are you going?"
I didn't answer for a second, finally I responded, "I have business to take care of in Raleigh. Don't worry about missing me for long, chances are I'll beat you to the rock."
He nodded and kicked his horse forward.
Adonnis had needed a run, and now I had time. Plus, a merchant in Hannah Square owed me something, it wasn't often I was out this way so I decided to stop in and collect. I didn't have to kick Adonnis to let him know it was time to run, he responded to me shifting for a better hold. I turned him back, pointing slightly to the right of camp and let him fly.
The individual grains of sand disappeared below me and I was only able to see the general color of it as the beast below me began his journey. It didn't matter that we were far from home and familiar soil, sand was sand and he lived for sand. We passed Gabriel who was just making it to the camp on Tyhil and she whinnied as she watched the black blur by her. And that's all I was and that's all I could see was blur.
I was faintly able to see a nod from Tulli as I streaked by him and asked the horse for greater speed, he happily obliged and I had to time my breaths with his strides so that the air was not ripped from my lungs. I closed my eyes and let him determine the trail to Raleigh, his feet seemed to barely touch the ground before extending into the next move. Wind whistled by and I could feel him playing with the speed below me. Faster at times, harder to breathe, harder to hold on, and slower at others to let me gather the air back into my lungs. Next to Raleigh, then the Rocks.
The Rocks were exactly what the name implies. A giant pile of rocks that mark the spow where, a thousand years ago, someone thought it would be funny to build a lighthouse. It serves as a beakon not to give up hope. The magnificent light shone miles through the naked desert sky and led the way to the capital. We were so close now. Soon.
I moaned and rolled over. Too bright....
Shooting upwards I realized what time it must be. I checked to assure that my mask was on as I walked from the tent. I looked around and saw no one. There was the remnants of a capfire, though in it nothing burned, and a few bags laying in the sand. I scowered the sand dunes all around and then whistled for Adonnis... Nothing.
Now I was mad.
I tried to calm myself as I walked to a nearby natural peak in the sandcliffs but it really wasn't working. The sand shifted under my feet in the way I loved but I didn't even pretend to care about it or the unnatural wind I felt rustle my the hooded cloak of my uniform. From here I had a clear vantage point of the lower lands and, after searching, I finally spotted what I was looking for.
My horse was in a valley as were the others. The men that belonged on their backs were all crouched down at a watering hole and, even with my acute hearing, I could only make out the sound of laughter. I scowled.
As if on instinct Adonnis looked up to me and then after studying me for a few short seconds decided it was best to join me on the cliff. He silently made his way toward me without anyone else even looking up. I watched him approach, still scowling. He must have sensed my anger and he lowered his head in apprehension. "Traitor," I mumbled as he finally stopped in front of me. He raised his head in an offended way and snorted a scoff.
Grabbing a fistful of his beautiful maine I heaved myself onto his back and he turned in a circle to make sure that gravity worked with me. I kicked him up as I turned him towards the camp and he felt his tense muscles. He needed a run.
After grabbing the bags and re entering the saddle I rode as quietly as possible back toward the men. They sat with their backs facing me so it was easier than it should have been to sneak up on them. It was also easy to determine which one of them was who, from the shape, position, or size of their backs even though they all wore hoods. They were laughing right until the shadow of me sitting on Adonnis fell over them and then silence fell over the group. They looked at each other, hoping that they had forgotten one of their friends back at the camp and it was him, instead of me, that had appeared.
Defeated, it was Bear who turned to face me first, closely followed by the others. My scowl was easy to discern, even in the shadow of my deep hood. They all stared up at me for a few seconds, the Prince glancing slyly away, before I raised my clenched fist, extended my thumb and jerked my hand backward sharply, indicating that they should move their asses. They scrambled to their feet and raced back to their horses. After climbing into their saddles and the horses letting out their protests Bear, Tulli, and Salem, with a fresh horse from an Atcom trading post, rode off toward camp to finish packing. Gabriel stayed.
He looked at me, undisturbed by angry glare and said, "orders Boss?"
"Finish packing," I nearly whispered it but the order had venom in it and even he knew not to joke with me right now, "and then start moving toward the sun. I'll meet you at the Lighthouse. That is, if you think you can lead for a while?"
Frowning at the sarcasm in my voice, he nodded. He moved his feet up, preparing to kick his horse into motion, the horse felt it coming and took a step forward, but then he hesitated and pulled the reins back to hold her in place. He looked at me with a questioning look on his face. "Where are you going?"
I didn't answer for a second, finally I responded, "I have business to take care of in Raleigh. Don't worry about missing me for long, chances are I'll beat you to the rock."
He nodded and kicked his horse forward.
Adonnis had needed a run, and now I had time. Plus, a merchant in Hannah Square owed me something, it wasn't often I was out this way so I decided to stop in and collect. I didn't have to kick Adonnis to let him know it was time to run, he responded to me shifting for a better hold. I turned him back, pointing slightly to the right of camp and let him fly.
The individual grains of sand disappeared below me and I was only able to see the general color of it as the beast below me began his journey. It didn't matter that we were far from home and familiar soil, sand was sand and he lived for sand. We passed Gabriel who was just making it to the camp on Tyhil and she whinnied as she watched the black blur by her. And that's all I was and that's all I could see was blur.
I was faintly able to see a nod from Tulli as I streaked by him and asked the horse for greater speed, he happily obliged and I had to time my breaths with his strides so that the air was not ripped from my lungs. I closed my eyes and let him determine the trail to Raleigh, his feet seemed to barely touch the ground before extending into the next move. Wind whistled by and I could feel him playing with the speed below me. Faster at times, harder to breathe, harder to hold on, and slower at others to let me gather the air back into my lungs. Next to Raleigh, then the Rocks.
The Rocks were exactly what the name implies. A giant pile of rocks that mark the spow where, a thousand years ago, someone thought it would be funny to build a lighthouse. It serves as a beakon not to give up hope. The magnificent light shone miles through the naked desert sky and led the way to the capital. We were so close now. Soon.
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