“I always worried about losing Atlasi, that he would never return from battle and our children would grow up without a father. His promise to return comforted me, but it was Mirza’s promise to look after him that helped me sleep at night.” - Shadya, Sultanah of the Everlasting Desert

  ~*~

  The night of the Sultan’s murder was chaotic. The talk that ran through the city was causing panic, stoking the fires of imagination concerning the chase through one of the busier sides of the city. Questions were raised as to how, why, and who?

  All these questions had to wait as the new Sultan, Sultanah Shadya, took her husband's place. Her first order of business was the arrangement of Atlasi’s funeral, which would transpire the next day. In preparation, many great craftsmen were called to the palace to help open the prepared tomb where Atlasi would be buried.

  It was past midday when everything was set. The entire oasis was silent. Everyone, including the most rowdy of vagrants to the most troublesome of children, felt the emotions that hung in the air. It was sadness and respect.

  Shadya was informed that everything was set for Atlasi’s burial. Her children were waiting to follow her. She dismissed the messenger, but then just as quickly halted them.

  “Where is Mirza?” Shadya asked.

  “The captain is in the stables, Your Majesty,” the messenger replied. “He is preparing for the journey ahead.”

  “We all have our ways of mourning,” Shadya thought. “Atlasi...how often I wondered how you would mourn me when I was sick.”

  These dark thoughts turned to sadder memories. Yet, the sun shone brilliantly. The warmth was comforting, comforting enough to not let Shadya sink too deep in misery. She wiped the gathering tears, gave a short sigh and decided to collect Mirza. As she left, she bid her children wait outside the tomb. They all nodded and the daughters continued their silent weeping. Only the young prince tried to be resolute, even though his eyes burned.

  Shadya, after touching each of their heads, walked through the palace, towards the stables.

  ~*~

  Mirza was not alone. With him were two other Red Guards; Balthasar and Rahele. Balthasar and Mirza were preparing the camels, Rahele sharpening her arrowheads.

  Rahele watched the silent Mirza and exchanged whispers with Balthasar.

  “I have not seen the captain so focused,” Rahele whispered.

  “Nor I,” Balthasar replied. His voice was deep as he was tall. The strongest fighter in the Red Guard, this much Rahele knew.

  “Why am I here?” Rahele asked. “Mirza is the best rider, the best sword, and even the best tracker. I can understand why he chose you to accompany him, but why did you choose me?”

  “He told me to pick another...one I could count on,” Balthasar said simply, pulling a strap on his mountainous camel’s saddle. “You will do as he says first and what I say second. That is all.”

  It didn’t really answer Rahele’s question, at least, not the way she expected the question to be answered. If anything, it made her wonder why Balthasar thought she was so dependable to join him and the captain in pursuit of the assassins. These thoughts would have to wait, as she saw the Sultanah walking down the path towards the stables.

  Rahele immediately assumed a respectful stance, adding a bowed head to signify her sorrow for Shadya’s loss. Balthasar followed and Mirza shortly after. Shadya looked at Balthasar and Rahele.

  “Ba, Rahele, you are joining Mirza?” Shadya asked.

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” the two replied in sync. It was a response that saddened Shadya further.

  Balthasar, being a high-ranking Red Guard like Mirza, spent a lot of time around the family and the family had grown to enjoy his company. Especially the children, who liked to sit on his shoulders like parrots, giggling and whooping every time they realized how high off the ground they were.

  He was tall among men, but a giant among children.

  “Weren’t you working on tracking the bandit twins, Nozar and Ghazal?” Shadya asked Balthasar.

  “This is far more important than a pair of con artists and their hired thugs, Your Majesty,” Mirza answered for Balthasar.

  “Mirza, your Sultan is to be laid to rest,” the Sultanah told him. “You will leave today, as I know you wish to, but only when I say so.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” Mirza replied, following her formality with his own.

  “Respect should feel warmer coming from you, Mirza,” Shadya thought.

  Shadya placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned close.

  “Save your coldness for the journey that lies ahead,” Shadya whispered. “Don’t play soldier just yet. Say goodbye to him as a friend, for you were his best.”

  With that, Shadya led the three to join the head of the procession.

  ~*~

  At the end of the procession, Shadya, her children, and select Red Guard and nobles entered the royal tomb. Atlasi would be the first Sultan to be buried in the Red Mountain, but he expected a long line of Sultans to rule it after him. The stone carvers had been working tirelessly on his resting place at the very end of the crypt.

  Candles and torches were lit, words were said, and tears were shed. Mirza would not contribute to any of these, preferring his silence. Shadya bid him to say something once everyone had spoken their final farewells to the Sultan. Mirza dreaded being so close to his greatest failure, but did as she asked. He kneeled beside the body and whispered his last farewell to the Sultan.

  “Before our first battle, you saw me as a nervous young man, worried about losing his Sultan,” Mirza started. “You told me that no matter what I did, you would die by the sword one day. I told you I would be the one that takes that blade. You made me the same promise. We were both wrong. Now, I make you a promise I mean to keep, my friend. The one who brought about your death will die by my hands.”

  “No matter what I have to become,” Mirza added silently.

  Even though none could hear his words, Shadya could guess their nature by the darkness that clouded Mirza’s eyes.

  An hour later, Shadya gave Mirza leave to hunt down the killer. Mirza left the royal family in the capable hands of the next best Red Guard. He did hesitate once in leaving when he saw the face of Atlasi’s son, seeing so much of his father in his eyes.

  Returning to the stables, Mirza climbed atop his mount. Without so much as a syllable to Balthasar and Rahele, the captain led them from the stables, out of the palace, and soon out of the city.

  Falcons had been sent in every direction, delivering the news to every major city, and from there, the news would spread to the smallest oasis. Mirza, knowing this, still desired to be the first to find the assassins and steered his camel North. It was the direction that a civilian saw the assassins leave.

  Mirza knew that they could only be heading towards the next major city, which lay on the coast. He would not waste time in his pursuit, and upon realizing this, Balthasar and Rahele steeled themselves for a hard ride across the desert.

  ~*~

  The gap between the two adventurers and Mirza was gradually shrinking. The day they spent in the Porcelain City lessened it considerably. It was only thanks to their refurbished food and water stores that Athia and Bayek were able to travel further, while Mirza gradually slowed to ensure they reached their destination.

  Athia, having heard Bayek’s story of the hooded woman, was silent. It was not that she disapproved of their newly joined quests, but that she was worried about how Nef would react. More than that, she wondered if Nef didn’t already know what Bayek’s intentions were.

  To what degree she was watching, Athia could not be sure. If the gods could hear prayers, what else could they hear? Considering that Nef did not appear to strike Bayek down the next night, Athia could only wonder if Nef would sense godly power vanishing.

  “Or perhaps she fears Bayek now that he has a weapon to kill gods,” Athia thought. “Even now, I wonder who to truly fear. Death or the goddess who created her?”

  All these worries and her concern for Bayek kept Athia from breaking the orb in that moment. She would find Vel as she did Nef before she released his power, giving Bayek a chance to strike. Two birds with one stone, as Bayek said.

  “Have you seen the ocean, Athia?” Bayek asked.

  “No, but I have heard stories,” Athia answered. “People in large feluccas, using the wind to move them from one land to the next. It sounds incredible. It’s no wonder some people choose to live there and never be thirsty again.”

  “Ha, you cannot drink its waters, they will make you sick.”

  “Poisoned waters? How could one poison that much water?”

  “Not poisoned, but salted. Drinking it upsets the stomach and makes you thirstier than you were before.”

  “Must be another one of the gods’ miracles,” Athia muttered, most disappointed. “All that water and not a drop to drink.”

  “Yes, but it is beautiful, I assure you. The first and last time I saw the ocean was in my land. Water wouldn’t lap against the land softly like an oasis, but swell high and fall with a crash on the shore.”

  “At least you can still cool yourself in its waters.”

  “Yes, but beware the beasts within. Large fish, fast and filled with teeth that took many who went too far from shore.”

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  Athia’s eyes widened, picturing such a creature. What she imagined was fish with crocodile heads, which alone sent a shiver down her spine.

  “Tell me no more of the ocean,” Athia told Bayek. “The more you speak, the less wonderful it becomes. Also speak less of your homeland, the land of teeth and blood.”

  Bayek laughed happily at her growing fear of the ocean but assured her that it would be a sight she would appreciate nonetheless.

  ~*~

  Five days later, Athia did appreciate the ocean. There was a chill in the air, despite the sun. A distant roaring that rolled over the dunes with ease. Excitement was building with each heavy step the camel took. When they reached the top of one dune, Athia stood up, holding Bayek’s shoulder for balance, and marveled at the crystal horizon.

  The ripples of the water caught the warm rays of the sun setting to the West and even from their distance between Athia and the ocean, she could see the white crests of the waves that Bayek told her about.

  Bayek looked up at her, seeing that childlike wonder in her eyes. He recalled wearing a similar expression when he saw the ocean for the first time. Yet, what he most enjoyed at that moment was the fact that Athia wore such a look. Even without his warnings of the world's many dangers, she always muttered about fears and the worst things to come.

  It was one of the rare moments where Athia showed her age and all Bayek could think was that’s how she should be all the time.

  “I can see the city to the West,” Athia told him. “We must have strayed too far East.”

  “I should think so, there was a cursed city in the way.”

  Athia smiled. Another joke. The smile was short-lived.

  “Bayek, they no doubt know about the Sultan,” Athia said solemnly, sitting back down. Bayek sighed as he steered the camel to follow the edge of the dune. The moment had passed. “We don’t have a sandstorm to hide us this time.”

  “I know, Athia,” Bayek said. “But they don’t know it is us who broke into the palace. Our faces were covered. I can hide the swords, you can hide the Sultan’s jewel and Vel’s orb. We must take a chance and slip into the city amongst the visitors.”

  Athia resigned herself to following Bayek’s plan. They spotted the road that travelers were using to enter the city and saw others arriving. Two large caravans rocked gingerly toward the city entrance to be searched and admitted. There was another entrance to the East of the city, but this one didn’t have anyone entering or leaving, as it was farther from the main path. Bayek decided it would be best to join a set of travelers using the main entrance. Being amongst other travelers would further alleviate suspicion.

  The caravans were too far ahead to catch up with, so Bayek waited for a distant camel to approach so they could travel side-by-side. He would have preferred to move with a caravan. Athia eyed the travelers, raising her hood to cover her white hair. She blinked in recognition when she studied them longer.

  “Is that…” Athia began to think, but then the falcon gliding above them confirmed her suspicion. “It is!”

  “Basim, do you see what I see?” Abasi asked.

  “Yes and it is giving me goosebumps,” Basim replied in a shiver. “I never knew the ocean could be so cold.”

  “I’m talking about the camel ahead of us, with the rider in black robes.”

  Basim shifted his gaze and noticed the rider and then the girl on the back of the camel in white robes. Basim’s eyes widened.

  “It’s that girl, Athia, the one who robbed us!” Basim exclaimed loudly in Abasi’s ear. “Well, while we were robbing her.”

  “I know that! That’s why I’m telling you.”

  Bayek noticed the strange movement of the riders and Athia’s expression.

  “Do you know them?” Bayek asked.

  “Athia! Athia!” Basim shouted, waving his hands to get her attention.

  Athia chuckled. She could see Basim’s wide smile clearly.

  “I bumped into them back in Red Rock, I will tell you about it later,” Athia smiled, she was genuinely happy to see the two con artists again.

  “These two might bring more attention to us if they act like they did in Red Rock,” Athia thought. “Still, mischief makers and criminals work well together.”

  Bayek positioned the camel to ride alongside Abasi. The two drivers exchanged stern looks while the enthusiastic pair who sat on the back of their respective saddles made conversation, most of it silly.

  “This is a side of youth I do not miss or admire,” Bayek grimaced.

  “We’re surprised to see you again, Athia,” Basim started. “I guess you took your own advice and decided to leave Red Rock as well.”

  “Um, yes, we thought it best to move on,” Athia told him. “Were you always planning on coming here? I ask because you would have had a day or two on us and I don’t know how we could be ahead of you.”

  “Blame that on Basim,” Abasi told Athia.

  “We had an unfortunate encounter with some sharp-eyed merchants. Sometimes the marks are a lot smarter than they look,” Basim shrugged with a casual smile. “That slowed us down a bit. We also took the scenic route through a small oasis where we rested for a while. Nobody lived there, at least not for a long time…and we were able to lose our tail easily.”

  “Such arrogance,” Bayek thought. “The quiet one at least has some sense to be quiet about such things.”

  “Athia’s father, right?” Basim said, turning his attention to Bayek. “My name is Basim, this is Abasi.”

  “He isn’t her father,” Abasi said. “They look nothing alike.”

  “I was thinking that Athia took after her mother,” Basim argued, the two suddenly bickering amongst each other.

  “His name is Bayek,” Athia giggled, enjoying their company a lot better when they weren’t stealing from her. “He is helping me with my own journey. Speaking of which…”

  As they were nearing the city, Athia explained the situation to Abasi and Basim, leaving out the talk of gods and assassinations. As far as the pair of con artists knew, Athia and Bayek were unsavory sorts like them and needed a way of slipping into the city without being searched too thoroughly. Abasi and Basim could believe that much with ease.

  Abasi listened carefully, asking what they needed to keep hidden from the guards. Athia told them it was two swords and two precious stones, trusting them enough with so much information.

  Bayek was not too happy about this arrangement, but it was Abasi who turned him around. Taking a few minutes to think, Abasi formed a plan that would cover all bases.

  ~*~

  There were many guards at the entrance to the city, more than usual. News had reached them of the Sultan’s death and a vague description of a pair of culprits on a camel was spread. Unfortunately, most visitors to Hammerdown were a pair of travelers on a camel, so the constant search grew tiresome.

  Yet, they knew the pair consisted of one smaller than the other, a child and an adult. It was a ludicrous thought to think that one man and a child could assassinate the Sultan, so many believed that there must have been more people involved and certainly not children.

  Of course, the guards did not completely disregard the facts they were provided with, so when they saw the two camels approaching, they watched keenly. Their suspicions lowered and curiosity raised when they saw the travelers were fighting amongst each other. When they got closer, they could see why.

  The adult was a stern-faced man in his forties, tired and annoyed. The others, a young man, a boy and a girl were arguing amongst each other, the girl going as far as to pull the boy’s hair.

  The camels came to a stop, but the arguing did not. Bayek greeted the guards, trying to play the act of an exhausted traveler with a serious headache. It was an easy lie to pull off, but the other three stole the show.

  “Give it back! Give it back!” the young girl yelled. “It’s mine, mine, mine!”

  “You can get your own! I told you this belongs to me! Go dunk your head in the sea!”

  The children were fighting over what appeared to be a doll, although it was quite a poorly made one. Still, that was the way of all children and the guards steered their focus toward Bayek and checking the saddles.

  Bayek shifted his weight and yelled at Athia to do the same, giving the guard more freedom to search the bags and folds of the saddle. Bayek made sure to bend his leg away from the guard and do the same with the other leg when the guard searched the other side. Abasi did the same, while still adding to the mentally grating fight between Athia and Basim.

  “Give that here!” the guard said suddenly, snatching the doll from them.

  Everyone fell silent while the guard handled the doll, eyeing the young man.

  “Aren’t you a little old to be playing with dolls?” the guard told Basim. “At your age, you should be kinder towards your younger siblings.”

  The guard handed the doll to Athia, who took it and everyone quickly resumed their act. Athia played the triumphant child while Basim sulked. Abasi and Bayek blinked slowly, glad that nothing came of the exchange.

  “Everything is clear here,” one guard said after searching Abasi’s camel.

  “Same h-...wait, what is this!” said the one who searched Bayek’s camel. The guard withdrew an apricot from the food pouch on the camel, only it was one of the apricots Bayek got from the Porcelain City and was close to the size of Athia’s head.

  “We found it growing on an apricot tree...near a small oasis,” Bayek hastily said. “We couldn’t resist.”

  “I can see why, this has to be the biggest apricot I’ve ever seen in my life!” the guard exclaimed. He took a moment to admire it further, as did a few other guards who leaned from their posts to get a better view of it, before reluctantly returning it to the food pouch. “Okay, you can let them through.”

  The guards that blocked the entrance parted, making way for the travelers. The ones who watched the ordeal were quite happy to let them pass before another argument sparked. Yet, it was not the end of their tense entry.

  “Stop there,” another guard said, approaching them with a scroll and freshly dipped quill. “I’m going to need your names, the reason for visiting, and where you came from.”

  “Our arrival is being recorded, of course,” Athia thought fearfully. “We’re leaving a track in the sand that can’t be swept away.”

  Basim, ever the quick thinker, swooped in like Aida.

  “This is my sister, Eima,” Basim said, placing a hand on Athia’s shoulder. “My name is Uhp. This is my brother, Tanoh, and our father, Kuhd.”

  “Eima...Uhp...Tanoh...Kuhd,” the record keeper repeated, listing the names.

  “We’re here to see the sea, sea fish, sea sights and fish for sea fish, the sea having all the sea fish to fish and sea sights to see,” Abasi added without missing a beat. The bumbling record keeper did his best.

  “...fish..sea...fish...see...see. Right, I think I got all that...mostly. And, where are you from?”

  “White Tree Oasis,” Athia answered.

  One of the guards passed by the gate overhead this and looked at his friend next to them.

  “As far as White Tree?” the guard whispered.

  “That poor man, listening to those brats for so long…” the friend replied.

  “White...Tree...yes, I heard what happened there,” the record keeper muttered. “I heard the prince there got what he deserved. Shame it was too late. A pity, but you will find this a much better place, and home if that’s what you’re looking for. I welcome you to Hammerdown, the greatest port in the Everlasting Desert! I hope you enjoy your stay even in these unhappy times.”

  “Unhappy times? What happened?” Basim asked curiously.

  “Ah, I suppose news has not reached you on your travels,” the record keeper said surprised. “I’m sorry to inform you that the Sultan...the Sultan was killed in Red Rock just over a week ago.”

  Basim and Abasi gave genuine reactions of shock, Athia and Bayek following as best they could. Athia gave a nervous glance at the pair of con artists, to see if they could piece it together. It seemed they didn’t, but Abasi caught her look before she could turn away.

  “No, no, no!” Athia thought, avoiding his eyes.

  “We...we better find a place to settle,” Bayek said, urging the camel forward. Abasi steered their camel to follow.

  The city was smaller than Red Rock, but still bustling with trade, especially in areas closer to the ocean. Athia and the others had arrived when everyone was exhausted after a long day's work. It would be dark soon, so they stopped in a secluded enough spot to talk.

  Basim and Athia jumped off their camels while Abasi and Bayek removed the cloth that they attached to the sides of their feet. The cloth from one foot would run beneath the saddle, wrap around a sword then attach to the other foot. That way Bayek and Abasi could shift the swords from one side of the saddle to the other, keeping them away from searching hands.

  Athia tore the hastily made doll open to find nothing and looked at Basim with suspicion.

  “Where are the jewels?” Athia asked.

  Basim whistled softly and Aida descended carrying a small pouch containing the Sultan’s jewel and Vel’s orb.

  “Planning to run off with something of mine again?” Athia snapped, snatching the pouch from Aida’s talons and checking the contents.

  Basim was about to reply with something cheeky, but Abasi interrupted.

  “Like you have any right to judge us,” Abasi returned with far more potent venom. “Killers are worse than thieves.”

  Bayek stepped forward, confronting Abasi. Abasi did not back away. but he could feel fear building in his chest. Athia, ever the voice of reason when the occasion called for it, stepped between them.

  “Let us find a better place to talk,” Athia said, looking at the people that walked too close to Athia’s liking. “Although I hoped to save you the trouble, I trust you enough to tell you the truth.”

  “Don’t think us stupid, Athia,” Abasi replied. “You only trust us not to call the guards.”

  “Hear us out and then decide. You can give us that much.”

  Basim looked at Abasi, already willing to hear what Athia had to say. Abasi wondered if that was because of who he was, or if he had no clue what was going on and simply wanted to be informed without the silliness of asking.

  “What is she talking about?” Basim asked nevertheless, answering the silent question.

  Abasi sighed.