Aran and Jhary had relocated their camp after Aran had expressed his concerns over Kario’s possible real motive for his departure early that next morning. It was prudent to be careful. The bard knew it was best not to fight the large warrior with his seemingly endless suspicions, and feral animal intuition, and just play along. His companion was like a wild force of nature, and it was fruitless to argue.

  The two men sat out the lovely day and waited, they said little to one another. Aran spent most of it sleeping, and his unfortunate captive remained bound hand and foot. Jhary on the other hand just sat by a tree admiring the view, wondering, if Kario had really meant to retrieve those horses, or if he had just said he would as a cover to depart? At times he had wondered why the strange man had tagged along with them at all. He sure was an enigma, and some of the things he said were unnerving, to say the least.

  The man of song had decided that he would at least wait the agreed forty-eight hours, to see if there was a horse in the offing. Aran owed him a new mule after all. He would then accompany his companions a bit further north, where he planned to resume his life singing and storytelling on the road, as he had always done. He would offer, or rather insist that he take the young Imogen home as he traveled his usual routes.

  *****

  They did not light a fire that evening and Aran had not hunted, so there was no food to be had. Jhary took a measured sip from his canteen and paced about the camp, a flock of rainbow lorikeets passed overhead, resplendent in their greens, oranges, and purples. Deafening were their screeches. He watched Aran get up and take his hostage into the bushes for a bathroom break, then return her to her place.

  The dunes grew dark and the wind died, the stars winked into existence, one by one. Jhary had gone back to his place at the base of a large sheoak, there was comfort to be had on the cushioning bed of needles beneath it. His stomach rumbled loudly and he willed his hunger to subside.

  Aran had walked some way into the dunes and it was just he and Imogen in the darkness.

  “I'm hungry.” The girl complained.

  “Me too.” Jhary commiserated.

  “I want to go home Mister.”

  “I know.” Jhary said kindly. “If it were up to me, you would.”

  “My hands are numb, and I want to see my Dad and Ewan again.”

  She was sobbing softly now.

  Jhary rose, and indeed he could see that Aran had tied the girl's hands unreasonably tightly, he was about to loosen her bonds when there was a voice behind him.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  Jhary turned about to see Aran, his enormous arms folded over his chest and his strong legs planted wide.

  “She shouldn’t be here.” Jhary answered.

  “Collateral damage.” Aran shrugged.

  “Have you no feelings!”

  “It is, what it is, Jhary.”

  “Fuck you Aran, for god’s sake she’s just a girl!”

  Aran sniggered. “Yea, a girl who framed me for rape.”

  “It wouldn't be the first time.” Jhary quipped.

  *****

  Kario had retrieved his robe and dagger from its hiding place and was glad to be again in his usual garb, the peasant wear he had stolen was very itchy indeed. He then remounted his patient mare. “It’s not far, just over the dune there, we are close to the river so we can water the horses.”

  Aurianne nodded, and they rode up the final sand hill to where the camp was situated. The two of them stopped and looked about, there had been a camp here but the fire had long gone cold. Beauty ran in circles scenting old trails.

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  “Well they were here.” Kario assured. “I hope nothing has gone wrong.”

  “Shush, did you hear that? Aurianne questioned. “Over there, it sounded like yelling.”

  They both went quiet and sat for a time in the darkness, just listening intently. All they could hear initially was the vague sound of frogs in the distant estuary and the chirping of crickets. It was not long though before the sound came to their ears again. Two men in a heated argument.

  “Over that way.” Kario pointed to a tight stand of dark sheoak trees that lay beyond a sward of long dry grasses. He urged his mare forward slowly.

  Aurianne followed his lead, her stomach flip-flopped with the idea that shortly she would see Aran again. She really didn’t know what would happen, and she was not going to submit to being his captive at any cost. She hoped that Kario could protect her as he had alluded to earlier. If not she must be ready to protect herself. Her hand already subconsciously caressing the smooth pommel of her dagger.

  They moved toward the source of the commotion, there was no evidence of a campsite or fire, and Kario wondered if there had been an incident. He had seen no posse’s on the hunt for Imogen and Aran in his travels anywhere.

  As they rode up on the two men they could see Aran standing above Jhary, glowering at him and holding him by his shirt front. Aran all but dropped the bard at the unexpected intrusion. Both men just stared in a state of surprise. Aran embarrassed by the fact that they had managed to creep up on him so easily, and Jhary was just relieved they had.

  “Dang you actually did it!” Jhary exclaimed, brushing down his crumpled shirt front.

  Kario rode his flashy mare up to the two men, handing off the gray gelding to Aran and the bay to Jhary. “They need a drink bad, I pushed them hard today. We should take them to the river.”

  Aran took the reins of the horse, but he had eyes only for Aurianne.

  Kario had noticed, and he positioned the bulk of his horse's body protectively between Aran and Aurianne, who still hung back on the verges of the tree line. Her pale face striking in the wan light.

  “She is not to be harmed Aran.” Kario warned.

  “What! You steal three horses and suddenly you’re super man? You don’t tell me what to do!”

  “Look, she has agreed to come with us so you can rejoin your people. In return we have to either negotiate for, or rescue her clansman. Fair is fair. Furthermore I will defend her.” Kario said softly.

  “Hrumph.” Aran growled to no one in particular, taking one more meaningful look at Aurianne, and commencing to lead his thirsty horse to the river.

  Aurianne slid from Isabou’s high back after Aran had retreated, and hugged Jhary. “I’m sorry she said, “I really should not have left like I did. It was wrong of me.”

  Jhary returned the hug, he was just glad she had returned. In his mind, the moment deserved a sonnet.

  “Who is she?” Aurianne suddenly exclaimed on sighting Imogen tied in the half-darkness under the tree.

  “Oh, it’s a long sordid story.” Jhary added. “I will tell you on the walk to the river.”

  *****

  The four rode deep into the desert. Spring was almost over and all knew that they had minimal time to make a relatively easy passage to their destination. Jhary led the way, he knew where all the stops were for reliable water and rest, and as they got further from the Bridge he felt more comfortable and commenced to play to audiences again to earn some much-needed coin. Business in these parts was not nearly as lucrative as the Bridge clientele, however, the prices of goods were less, and they got by admirably.

  Aurianne’s return had somewhat dampened Jhary’s plans. He had after all promised to go with her and rescue Darius, and now he must keep his word. Knowing he really did not wish to meet Aran’s clan of bloody savages, and wondering how it would even be possible to broker any kind of deal that appeased all sides. What little he knew of Aran’s clan told him this mission would be foolhardy. They were probably riding into their deaths, or at best a lifetime of servitude. The prospect did not cheer him. However he was delighted that Aurianne had not completely vanished from his life, and for the time being he was content.

  For the most part, the brutish Aran had been well-behaved, Kario had not had to make good on his promise to protect Aurianne, at least not yet. The warrior had even been persuaded to leave Imogen at the first settlement they had passed so that she could be safely returned to her family.

  Aurianne was very angry that he had stolen the girl, and she didn’t keep those feelings a secret. It was very plain that she distrusted, and loathed Aran and his boorish ways.

  Aran spoke little, mostly riding behind the group, he was glad to be finally, going home to his clan. He could prove Bennett wrong, and show his prowess with success on his highly improbable mission. He would not worry, for the time being. He would let Aurianne believe that she would remain free. There would be time to collect later. Both Kario and Jhary could not protect her from him.

  As the mallee tree stands grew more prevalent and dense, Aran sensed that the slaver's compound was somewhere in the near vicinity. He could recall that much, the place he now rode through had a distinct topography, that he recognized. He did not know this area very well, and his recollections of the way were muddled at best.

  Yet as they rode further inland Aran felt strong twinges of a need to recover Blacksteel, but he had no idea how that would be feasible. Yet the thought tortured him as he rode, or lay down to rest at night. He felt like he was riding away from something he dearly needed. It was an odd desire for a man who had for the last eight years lived off the land and needed next to nothing. He tried his best to push the strange feeling aside, but still, it gnawed at him relentlessly.

  He desired to ask his exact position, perhaps Jhary would know? But he said nothing, as he found he could not stomach even the tiniest chance of being enslaved again. It struck a fear into his heart that he had not anticipated, and he would reveal that to no one. Still, he fretted, after the loss of the great sword, and longed to have it returned to his possession.