Chapter 1: Love is Dead
A group of people traveled across the black sand and under the glare of the bright sun. A young woman and an older man lead the way. The young woman’s black hair was cut short, barely touching her shoulders. Her light brown eyes scanned the horizon cautiously for signs of life. But she saw only barren stretches of sand and crescent-shaped sand dunes. The heat was a daily discomfort as the sweat ran down her face and body. Her father told her stories about the Dead Desert---Explorers who strayed too far from their traveling parties, only to be flayed alive by cannibals. Travelers found frozen to death during the cold night. But the worst of all are the sandmen, undisputed kings of the Dead Desert who are known for their hostile nature towards outsiders.
As she walked, she tried to block out the sound of precious water swishing in her water skin strapped over her shoulders. It’s nearly empty.
She wiped the sweat off her brow and looked back at her group. There were eight hooded people behind her. Everyone including herself was wearing apricot cloaks made from fibers of the Tisio Tree that were hand woven together. The apricot cloaks gave protection to the wearers from the sunrays and irritating sand. She looked back at her father next to her. His skin was weathered and tanned from the many years under the sun. He was starting to show his age with wrinkles on his face and white in his gray hair. His cold, calculating eyes scanned the desert lying in front of him. Her father turned to her and spoke. He had a deep accent from the southern lands of Endi. The words came out slow and every syllable was emphasized. “We will stop between the two sand dunes over there and set up camp around the oasis before the sun sets. Tell the others that to have a perimeter enforced as soon as camp is set. We are passing through Sandavendi territory so we need to be very careful. Should we fall in their hands, death by our own hands would be a kinder fate.”
She nodded. She turned around to face the hooded group behind her. She trusted all seven of them with her life. But she never forgot the ones that fell, fighting by her side. She kept them close to her heart in honor of their memories.
She glanced at the hooded figure standing farthest right to her. He was a stranger to her. He came from a foreign city that she never heard of. Her father trusted him, but despite the reassurance from her father, she could not shake off her misgiving about him. She looked back at her father. She respected the man for his vision, honor, and loyalty and loved him as a father, but maybe his age was finally catching up to him.
Her father suddenly turned around to her and yelled. “Brace yourself! A sandstorm is upon us!” Her father yelled again. “Close your eyes!” She pulled her hood up just as the clouds of sand blew at them. The winds howled around her as she planted her feet firmly against the sandy ground. But she did not anticipate how strong the winds were and was knocked cleanly off her feet. The sand shifted around and below her, making it impossible to claw back up to the surface. The winds howled as sand piled up over her, burying her into the sand. She clawed desperately away at the sand piling up on her to breathe again. But with every second going by, her hope sank lower. Then something grabbed tightly around her right hand and pulled her out until she saw the sunlight. She took in a deep breath of hot air. Then she looked up and to her surprise, her rescuer pulled down his hood. He had green eyes and brown, short hair. But what caught her eyes was a dark scar that ran down the side of his left cheek. The scar was a thin line with jagged ends.
The winds began to quiet down and the sands settled down to the ground. She looked around frantically and to her relief, her father was safe, standing a few yards away from her.
Faster than a blink of eye, a figure leaped out of the ground, spraying sand everywhere. The sandman grabbed the old man and pressed a knife down on her father’s neck. The sandman was bald with small, dark eyes and long eyelashes. His face was flat with two serpentine nostrils instead of a nose. His olive skin was unnaturally grainy like sand. The sandman was a few inches taller than her father. The sandman was wrapped in a light brown garb. All seven of her sworns turned around and unsheathed their swords. Each sword was made of steel with single-edged blade. The tip of the blades curved slightly inward. The sandman spoke softly, but with deadly intent. “Put your steel down or the old man bites the dust. You are brave, but stupid to trespass in my domain with only ten of you. The sandman turned his attention to the young woman who was a few feet away from him.
She pointed her sword at the sandman. The sandman spoke. “Woman, do you not know who I am? I am Kingmen and my word is good as gold. Drop your weapon or he will die.”
She spoke, fire in her words. “Release him and your life will be spared. Sandavendi or not, you are outnumbered.”
Kingmen laughed. “Silly woman but it is you that is outnumbered. I am one with the elements here. I am god and you are in my domain. I decide who lives and who dies.” Kingmen blew a high-pitched whistle. Then out of the ground, spraying sand everywhere, monstrous bears emerged out. The bears shook the sand off their gritty brown furs. Their snouts were narrow with a black nostril. Their dark brown eyes were covered in thick, black eyelashes. Their size rivaled those of elephants. There was a sandman on the back of each monstrous bears.
Kingmen spoke. “Now lay down your steels and lower your hoods. I will not say it again.”
Her sworns looked at her father. Her father spoke. “Do as he says.” They slowly lowered their swords to the ground and lowered their hoods.
Her father spoke slowly. “You are making a grave mistake. Leave us and go on your way. You will only ignite a war that will lead to many death.”
Kingmen spoke with a smile. “A war that you provoked. Did you think you could pass through without paying respect to us, the Guardians of the Sand? Sandavendi law states that strangers who trespass without asking permission and paying homages to Sandavendi will pay with their lives.”
Kingmen turned, his eyes pausing at each person in the group. When his eyes turned to the last stranger, his eyes flinched slightly. Kingman spoke. “I didn’t know the Itipoi tribe took strays in.”
Kelan spoke. “My name is Kelan and I’m a friend of the Itipoi tribe.” Kingmen replied. “What a strange name.” Kelan asked. “What you are doing is the same thing as slavers who sell their human captives like cattle.” Kingmen snarled. “Scums of maggots. They are not worthy to be mentioned.” Kelan asked. “So then set us free.” Kingmen spoke. “You and your friends will be guests in our homes.” She interrupted. “I rather die than be your hostages.”
Kingmen spoke. “Now don’t take my gesture of kindness as a sign of weakness. I am more than willing to oblige your request, woman. You will stay with us and immerse yourself with our culture and in exchange for our generosity, your people will be required to pay us tribute until I see fit and then we release you one by one.”
Kelan spoke. “You are treading on thin ice.” Kingmen ignored him and spoke to the sandmen. “Bind their hands and legs well.”
Before the sandmen moved, Kelan flicked his right wrist, revealing a tiny rectangular card in his palm. The ID card was weightless in his right palm. Its appearance was transparent as the sunlight reflected through it. Tiny tendrils of white light radiated out from the ID card, attracting to his right palm.
Kelan spoke. “This is proof that I’m from the city of Leydeity. I am under the protection of the Chemlam and those who travel with me fall under the same protection.”
The sandmen moved to action, gripping their swords tightly. The Kingmen spoke. “Ah the great City of Lights. Tell me how is your Chemlam?” Kelan asked. “What do you mean?
Kingmen took his eyes off Kelan and stared at her. Kingmen spoke. “One more step and he will bleed.” She was inching closer with no indication of complying. Kingman pressed the knife down until a line of blood drew up. She ran forward, sword at hand. But Kelan wrapped his hand around her waist. She shook furiously to get free of his tight grip.
She yelled. “Get off of me.” Kelan glared at her intensely. Kelan whis
pered into her left ear. “You have to trust me.” She loosened her grip of the sword and Kelan slowly grabbed the hilt of sword away from her. Kelan turned and threw the sword down to the ground. Kelan spoke. “The Sandavendi made a peace pact with my Chemlam. If you make the wrong decision, you will be fighting against two armies. Release her father as a sign of good faith.”
There was an intense silence as everyone watched a second sandman leap off the back of the sandbear. The second sandman whispered to Kingmen. Kingmen snorted in disgust as he listened. After the conversation was over, Kingmen took his knife off the old man and pushed him away. She ran forward and caught her father in her arms. She had a white roll of cloth ready and wrapped it several times around her father’s neck to stop the bleeding.
Kingmen spoke openly. “I asked about your Chemlam because he is dead.”
Kelan yelled. “That is a filthy lie.” Kelan rushed at him. But before he could take one step, all of the sandmen pointed their blades at Kelan. Now she was holding Kelan back. She spoke. “Stop. Don’t do anything rash.”
Kingmen spoke. “I have been called many things in my life, but liar is not one of them. It was a few days ago when I passed through the City of Lights and news of his death spread through the city like wildfire.”
She spoke. “Well? What are you waiting for? Take us.”
Kingmen closed his eyes for a moment before speaking. “I had a change of heart. Go quickly now. But don’t run or my sandbears will chase you. I won’t be able to rein in their prey drive.” Kingmen sheathed his knife back into his waist holster and walked back towards the sandmen. A sandbear, much larger than the rest, emerged out from under the desert sand.
Kelan sank to his knees. Kelan let out a wild scream. When she saw his face again, his eyes were filled with tears. In between the sobs, Kelan asked. “What was the cause of death?” Kingmen replied. “They said his last moments was filled with great pain and agony in his bed chambers. Poison, I am sure of it.” She watched Kelan yelled into the clear sky. “May the Light Gods heed my words…” Kelan looked out at the sky. “You all as my witnesses, I swear...” Full of emotions, Kelan buried his head into his arms.
Kingmen jumped on to his sandbear and yelled. “Illia!” The sandmen rallied around him chanting. “Illia! Illia! Illia!” Then the sandmen and their sandbears took off. The sandbears ran powerfully with their padded claws pushing off the desert sand. Clouds of dust surrounded the departing sandmen and their giant sandbears.
A few hours later, they settled into the camp. But she was worried about Kelan. He seemed to have finally stopped crying. But he was quiet, avoiding conversation with everyone else. He sat on the sand, staring deeply into the fire. She walked over to him, but her father intercepted her. “He is strong, but he needs time alone to collect his thoughts and calm the angry monster within him. Come and keep watch with your sworns around the perimeter.” She gave Kelan a concerned look before turning away.
The fire crackled, spiting out red and orange embers into the air. Kelan felt the cold creeping towards him even though he was near the fire. He closed his eyes. He was in a room lying under the bed. Then loud banging on the door interrupted his peace. He climbed out from under bed. He walked over to the door. He reached for the door handle and pulled back. Then a mist of darkness entered the room. He stumbled back, falling on his butt. He crawled backward until his back hit the side of the mattress. His hand moving wildly under the bed until his fingers came upon a cold fist. He looked down to see closed fingers wrapped around a white candle that was lit. He turned and looked down. It was the hand of a body still under the bed. But a gleam of light caught his eye. It was diamond ring. He bent down and kissed the ring. After he pulled the fingers apart and grabbed the candle. He thrust the lit candle into the darkness. But the darkness engulfed the flickering flame and began to swallow him.
Kelan opened his eyes, covered in sweat. A woman was staring at him with worry. She whispered cautiously. “You were asleep and then the next moment, you were shaking uncontrollably. I restrained your arms from scratching yourself.”
Kelan saw a few red marks on her arms. Kelan muttered. “Sorry about that.”
She waved him off and spoke quickly. “You are a good man.”
Kelan replied. “I don’t deserve praise. One right doesn’t atone for many wrongs.”
She spoke. “But none the less, I want to thank you.” Silence settled in as she looked away before staring at him intently.
Kelan asked. “Is your father okay?”
She answered. “Yes.” She turned to leave before stopping. She asked. “The Chemlam, did you know him well?”
Kelan replied. “Please...I need some time alone.”
She was holding in her temper for a while now, but he pushed her away. She lost her temper and lashed out at him. She saw her father who was sharpening his blade, looked up at her and shook his head. No father, you said he is strong and he just needs time to settle down, but time is something we do not have enough of.
She screamed at him. “I am tired of seeing you sulking around camp! You can’t curl up into a ball and give up.”
For first time, Kelan stared at her with a new light. The anger and disappointment at himself was replaced with a burning desire for her. His heart seem to tingle and beat faster as his eyes lingered at her rosy cheeks and her black bangs swaying as she moved her head as she yelled.
She continued screaming. “You can’t bury yourself in the sand. I’m trying my best to cheer you up, but it’s like pulling teeth! You can’t keep beating yourself up for something that is beyond your control! You have to fight through it!” She turned and walked off. I hope that gets through your thick head, you numskull. Her father smiled at her before he turned his attention back to sharpening his blade.
The next morning as the sun rose over the horizon, she watched Kelan pack his clothes into his backpack for the journey ahead. Her father stood up, signifying that it was time to leave. “My sworns, we will soon be at the city of Basahar. Let us have a moment of silence for our fallen comrades who are watching us from above and protecting us from the dangers ahead us.” She closed her eyes.
A few moments, her father began to walk as her sworns following not far behind. She soon found herself walking side by side with Kelan. Kelan seem to be avoiding eye contact with her. For a while now they continued walking in complete silence. Finally Kelan looked at her. She studied his face. The skin around his eye was puffy and reddish pink from crying the day before. But his green eyes were clear.
Kelan spoke. “You know you have a lot of nerve telling me the things you told me yesterday.” She opened her mouth to speak. Kelan held up his right hand. She closed her mouth. “But they were all true. I let my emotions get the best of me and you opened my eyes to the truth.”
Kelan spoke again. “You know this entire trip, I never got your name.”
She looked away and spoke. “Does it matter? After we reach the city of Basahar, our journey together will be over. Your journey from then on will be seeking vengeance and serving revenge on a cold platter.”
Kelan asked. “And what about you? Where will you go?”
She spoke so softly that Kelan had to lean over to her to hear. “Where ever my father go, I will follow.”
Kelan spoke. “Family first, I respect that.”
Her father yelled. “When you lovebirds are done flirting, gather here because we will be reaching the gates of Basahar soon.”
She was about to catch up to her father and her sworns when Kelan grabbed her hand. Kelan whispered softly. “You still haven’t told me your name?”
She whispered back. “Suyzi.” Kelan let go of her hand. As Suyzi walked away, she heard a whisper from Kelan. “A fitting name for such a beauty.” They soon caught up with the rest of the group. Her father was barking orders. “Shu and Ri, I want you two behind me.” The two largest men in the group stepped forward and stood by the old man’s side. Her father then turned to her. “Suyz
i, do you have your necklace I gave you when you were young. I need it.”
Suyzi unrolled her skirt a little, revealing an inner pocket. She pulled a silver chain out of her pocket. On the center of the necklace was a tiny diamond heart. She handed it to him. Her father took it. Her father spoke again. “Now I need you all to form a circle around me, Shu, and Ri. But keep a safe distance away.” They formed a circle around the three men. Her father opened the diamond heart and the diamond heart split in half. He then tilted the diamond half-heart onto the ground. A drop of clear liquid fell from the diamond half-heart and onto the sand in front of him. In seconds, the sand absorbed the drop of clear liquid.
Suyzi watched her father close his eye. She turned her attention to the sand her father was standing on. Nothing happened at first. Then the sand began to crumble below her father’s feet. Quickly Ri grabbed father’s hand while Shu grabbed hold of his other hand. Together Ri and Shu swung her father away from the hole and to safer ground.
Her father stared down at hole and explained. “This hole is one of the many gateways to Basahar. Now listen carefully. You must say your full name loudly and clearly. Then you will be cleared to jump into the hole.”
Suyzi watched as one by one her sworns yelled their names and jumped into the hole. When it was her father’s turn, he threw the diamond heart necklace back at her. After she caught it, he gave her a reassuring smile. Then he turned and yelled his name. “Minou Orin!” His voice echoed as he fell down the hole. Now only Kelan and Suyzi were left. Suyzi looked back at Kelan and whispered. “You are coming with us right?” His green eyes stared back at her like two emeralds. Suyzi noticed Kelan looking away from her to hide his pained expression. When Kelan turned back around, he smiled and gave her a reassuring nod.
Suyzi peeked over the edge of the hole and saw darkness. As Suyzi teetered nervously around the edge of the hole, a warm hand grabbed her right hand. Kelan gave her a reassuring grip before letting go.
Suyzi stepped forward and yelled her name clear and loud. Then she jumped in. She felt the wind lashing around her as she fell into darkness. She began breathing faster. Her adrenaline skyrocketed as her heart had to work harder to pump blood to her body. For a few minutes, the fall dragged on until Suyzi began to slow down. A strong pressure of air blew against her. The pressure increased gradually as Suyzi slowly began to descend down. Finally Suyzi landed gently on something hard and grainy. Suyzi realized the unknown substance was sand. Suyzi sat in the sand and in the darkness, waiting for Kelan. As time passed, a disturbing thought crept into her mind. What if he decided to split? What a numskull! He lied to me and for a while I thought he was cute. Suyzi fixed her hair before getting up, combing the sand out of her hair with her fingers.
Suyzi walk slowly with her hands stretched out in front of her. Then a blinking of light appeared in front of her slowly dimming into a weak light. The glowing lime-green light was faint and weak. Suyzi followed the glowing lime-green light. The light could only show a few steps in front of her. I must be in some kind of underground tunnel. Suyzi walked on through the turning and twisting tunnel, following the glowing lime-green light. The glowing, lime-green light stopped moving, blinked once and disappeared into the darkness. She was alone in the dark again. Then Suyzi searched frantically around until she saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Suyzi ran towards the light and she heard the water running. Finally Suyzi stepped out of the dark tunnel. Suyzi checked her surrounding. The sand was gone, replaced by a green pasture. She was in some kind of cavern. Above her, there were white lights being emitted by millions of mushrooms growing on the top of the cavern. A waterfall not too far away from her was crashing down onto the river below. There is so much water here. She couldn’t contain her excitement. The next thing she saw made break into a smile. Her father and her seven sworns were resting by the river. A few of her sworns were washing their face of the sand and grime while the others were filling their waterskin bottles with clear cold water. She ran over to them, yelling. “Father. My sworns. I’m so glad to see you.” Her father gave her a warm embrace. He whispered to her left ear. “I’m glad you came.”
She replied back. “Of course. Was there ever a doubt I wouldn’t?” Suyzi then gave each of her sworns a kiss on the cheek. Suyzi looked around and asked loudly. “How is it possible for trees to growing here? I thought we were underground under a desert.”
A man with black, short hair stepped forward and answered. “Well there is plenty of soil, water, and light, all critical components of life. Though the light here is produced by mushrooms instead of the sun which is strange to me.”
Then her father turned to his old self, barking orders to everyone. “We have time to chit-chat later. Shu and Ri, forage the surrounding for wood and food. Leto and Tarai, get the fire started. Laoi and Suyzi, bring some water back to camp. Lapord and Babs stay and guard the camp. Keep your blades sharp, everyone.” Everyone split in different directions to start on their tasks. Her father yelled. “Suyzi, wait. I want a word with you.” Laoi glanced at Suyzi. Suyzi spoke. “Laoi, go on ahead. I will be there shortly.” Laoi nodded and walked southbound down to the river.
When Laoi disappeared into the woods, Suyzi turned to her father. His face was concerned with his stress creases etched across his forehead.
For a brief moment, her father stared into her eyes with concern before reverting back to his boulder face, as she would call it. “Did you know he was going to leave us?” Suyzi struggled to speak. Her father saw her face and nodded. “I see you have feelings for him. But he lied to you and now you’re conflicted. Part of you wants to help him while another part of you hates his guts for leaving you.”
Suyzi spoke. “Maybe I can go back and find him. I can convince him to come back.”
Her father’s face frowned. “No, I forbid you. Don’t forget we have our own journey to complete. He has his own journey to undertake. He’s done bad things in the past. Maybe he is trying to do good for once his life. But it is a fool’s errand. I see only death for him. I know you also have feeling for him.
Suyzi opened her mouth to speak. But her father spoke over her. “You are an Itipio. We are unmovable and unfeeling like the mountains we reside in. Your future is to be by my side and one day soon, take my place as chief. I advise you to erase him off your mind.” He turned and walked away.
A few minutes later, Suyzi was down by the river with Laoi. Suyzi dipped her bucket into the river, not noticing that her bucket was already filled with water.
****