The Home Stone

Shannon slept a dreamless sleep, until a gentle hand touched her shoulder. In the dim and dying light she could just make out Marrak’s face. He was not smiling.

“We must leave now,” he whispered. “There are those who search for our friend close by. Somehow they have found out about this entrance and are searching for it.”

Without another word or sound, the three were outside and using the dark moonless night made their way past the search party and out onto the wasteland. They walked for a while until Marrak stopped. He showed Shannon how to guide herself and Brendan by using a bright star and keeping it just over her left shoulder. He then doubled back to erase any signs of their passing.

The cold, crisp desert air was a welcomed change to the damp, musty smell of the cave. Brendan had recovered enough to walk without the aid of the elf. Shannon had helped the rogue by carrying some of his heavier supplies. Marrak too, had taken his backpack and one of the two water skins that he carried. They walked for about two hours before Shannon stopped to rest.

Suddenly, Shannon’s sensitive ears picked up a movement just out of her sight. Drawing her short sword, she cautioned Brendan to do the same. Something was out there and moving closer. Then came a short-gurgled scream and silence. She could now make out a shadow moving about in the dark. Closer and closer it came. Abruptly it stopped a few yards away, but still shadowed. A voice spoke softly. “Do not be afraid,” it said.

Shannon recognized the voice of Marrak and motioned him to step forward. Over his shoulder hung what looked like a large rat. The troll dropped it on the sand beside the rogue and turned to Shannon.

“It has been following you for a while,” he said. “You do not want to fool around with one of these. They are quick and very agile. Their bites are not poisonous, but can make one very sick. You were very lucky that I was not far behind and saw the creature stalking you. We will have to bury it, as we cannot have our friends back there finding their corps. They will then know which way we came.”

Using their swords, the three buried the animal and then resumed their trek eastward. Dawn approached and the eastern sky began to brighten quickly. They were exhausted from the night’s travel and could not wait to stop and get some well-deserved sleep. With two of the six water skin bags empty, their load became lighter and made it easier to travel. Brendan was still too weak to carry all of his share so the other two divided it between them.

As the desert warmed, Marrak called for the party to stop and rest. They would stay here all day conserving their strength for another night’s walk. Then the troll left again, leaving the two alone out in the middle of nowhere.

Shannon found some dead branches scattered about and with the aid of a blanket built a small tent. At least the sun would not burn them and with the two ends open, it created a wind tunnel that helped keep them cooler than outside. Brendan was asleep as soon as his head touched his backpack that he used for a pillow, while the elf kept watch, until Marrak returned.

“There is something strange here,” he said, as he slipped into the makeshift tent. “There is too much dead brush around. I fear that there has been no rain since the end of winter. If that is the case, the water hole at the oasis might be dry. We will have to conserve our water until we can be sure. But for now, get some rest while I keep watch.”

Sometime during the mid-afternoon, Brendan awoke. Hungry and thirsty he ate a cold meal of bread and cheese, washed down with a few swallows of water. By now, the heat of the day prevented anyone from sleeping. Everyone awaited the cooler night air to return and looked forward to arriving at the water hole, dry or not. Shannon hoped that there would be enough water left to replenish their skins. She and Marrak chose not to tell the rogue about their suspicions, as not to alarm him. He had still not fully recovered.

When the sun crept lower in the sky and the air began to cool, the party began to gather their possessions together and broke camp. By morning, they would reach the oasis and the middle part of their desert trek.