A three day trek from Taz took the Fernland men from a balmy seaport mecca to a stony, uninhabited desert. The three men, in their search for the white powder, journeyed through these desolate plains relying on a hastily drawn map reluctantly given them by Rabar the Physician. Rabar had cautioned them that he could not promise his ship would be waiting for them in Venito.
Muller, Tandor and Hilgard walked alongside their mounts to give the horses a rest. They were all tired, men and horses alike, and growing very thirsty. They were not even sure they were headed in the right direction.
The river marked on the map was in reality a dry river bed with puddles of water here and there. In Fernland, such a river would have been called a ditch, if that. Perhaps they had not even crossed the river shown on the map. The grasslands they had crossed were dry weeds. It was possible they were quite lost in the desert with their water gone.
"We should be just outside the oasis," Muller said, shielding his eyes from the harsh glare as he searched the undulating horizon.
Tandor stopped walking, steadied his horse and jumped up to stand on the saddle and have a look. The land was quite flat and he could see far in the distance from this height.
"I think...". He rebalanced himself as his horse moved slightly under him.
"I believe I do see some palm trees up ahead. Could be rocks, though. I'm not sure."
Hilgard was finding it hard to swallow, his throat was so dry. "If it's not the oasis, we're finished."
They resumed walking, a little faster now. After another mile they could see the palm trees clearly. And palm trees in the desert meant water was there as well.
The horses smelled the water and picked up their pace. The three men were able to mount up and ride into the oasis with some degree of dignity.
After they had drunk their fill and the horses had found some grass to graze on, the three men began to explore the oasis. Locating the cave outside the oasis could wait until they had rested.
The oasis held over a hundred palms, many a variety of date palms with ripe fruit. The men ate their fill of the sweet fruit. They located the spring that fed the oasis in a rocky outcrop and filled their water skins. A little beyond the outcrop that held the spring, they came across a small hut made out of palm fronds.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Muller called out.
A voice answered in a language foreign to them and a small wizened old man appeared in the doorway .
Hilgard tried greeting the man in the languages he knew and the two settled on the Barburee tongue. The old man was about as proficient as Hilgard which made for a stilted conversation.
"What is he saying?" Muller asked.
Hilgard waited until the old man stopped speaking. "He says he can get us camels from a town a day away."
Muller looked impatient. "We already have horses."
"He knows that. He says camels are better. He will trade camels for our horses and a little money."
"Ask him about the cave. Tell him we are looking for the white powder that makes the plants grow big," Tandor said.
Hilgard nodded and phrased the question with many hand gestures.
"He says there are many caves. He wants to know if we have money for a guide."
"Who is the guide?" Muller asked.
"He is," Hilgard confirmed.
Muller frowned. "Tell him we have a little money, but it must be the cave that has the white powder."
Hilgard listened for a few moments. "He says we are well-dressed gentlemen with fine horses. He is sure a little of our money would be a fortune for a poor man like himself. But he would like to have two silver coins before he agrees to be our guide—just to be sure."
Muller took a deep breath and fished out a silver coin. "Tell him we will give him one coin now and the second when we find the white powder we are seeking. And ask him how far away the cave is."
"He says he is sad to think you do not trust him. He cannot think well when he is sad. Perhaps he is too old to remember the way."
Muller spat in the sand and brought out another silver coin. "Ask him how far the cave is again." He handed over the two coins.
The old man bowed graciously and pocketed the two coins. Muller listened carefully before translating.
"About an hour away on horseback."
"Has he anything we can eat before we leave?"
Hilgard smiled. "For another silver coin he will give us a meal fit for kings or very rich gentlemen."
"Tell him, all right, if he can do it quickly."
Higard laughed. "He says it is almost ready. He began cooking when he saw us coming far out in the desert".
They set out for the cave with full stomachs and rested horses. The old man rode double with Tandor. A low line of red rock outcroppings came slowly into view. The old man directed them to a jumble of rocks set into a hillside with a cave entrance close to the ground.
Muller, Tandor and Hilgard dismounted and stood at the mouth of the cave. The entrance was small and as soon as they stepped inside it was difficult to see. The three came back out and searched their saddlebags for candles and flints. They each lit a candle and returned to the cave.
Inside the cave, their candles illuminated a large cavern. The smell of animal waste was so pungent, it made their eyes water. They looked up at the ceiling, all thinking they would see bats hanging down. But the ceiling was free of bats. A slight breeze hinted at unseen chambers beyond the one they occupied. A steady dripping sound confirmed the presence of water further along in the cave.
Once again, they exited the cave. Muller looked at the large sack the old man had insisted on bringing. "Tell him we will need a rope and some torches."
Hilgard listened to the old man's reply. "He says he may have some torches and a long rope in his bag. He could lend them out for another silver coin."
Muller sighed and dug deep for another silver coin. The old man emptied the bag of its torches and rope. He asked if he might return to the oasis while they searched the cave.
Since the old man had nothing left to offer them, Muller said he might as well go. The three men lit their torches and returned to the cave.
They saw faint traces of the white powder in the large cavern, but it was obvious others had depleted any quantities it might have once afforded. They walked around the cave, searching for the source of the breeze that would lead them further inside the cave.
Hilgard's torch light began to flicker as he held it high over his head.
"I think I've found it. Look at this." As he held the torch high, the flame flickered in the breeze. When he lowered the torch, the flame held steady. Just as they began to plan how they could reach the opening, they heard a sound like the flapping of a million wings, along with a myriad of high pitched squeaks and clicks.
"Bats!" Hilgard cried, diving for the floor of the cave and covering his head with his hands and arms.