The Fallen Prince That Never Was

  Chapter 9

  Captain Wide Front Silver

  A battle aged ship known as the ever so elusive, Shiver Me Timbers Ship Mates & Co Ltd, sailed across a vast silver sea. Captain Wide Front Silver stood quite firm upon the officer’s deck, eyeing his faithful crew of fine reject nobility that ever was. Above him, the sound of an old copper bell began to ring throughout the air. As expected, all labour came soon to a halt.

  Clearly, it was time for the crew’s daily briefing.

  Reluctantly, Captain Silver stepped forth to the drag of his wooden leg, ‘if you will, just a few formalities before we begin,’ he said, hinting for the latest topic of debate.

  Promptly, his First Mate flipped a rather small notepad open, ‘the complaint, Cap–em,’ he obliged, ‘It would appear that the ropes were bound too tightly on our last captives? And the bags, Cap–em...’ he gave a slight cough with embarrassment for his profession, ‘they smelled of fresh washing detergent, Cap–em?’

  With a punch–line like that only one question remained, ‘What kind?’

  ‘Summer Rose Vanilla, Cap–em?!’

  Briefly, Captain Silver shifted his sights to the heavens, ‘of all the Gods?’ he moaned.

  ‘Aye, of all the rotten luck such is ours to be, Cap–em,’ agreed his First Mate, ‘It also goes on to say – and I quote – “appalling use of unregulated knotting? – One such captive fell faint, and two where admitted to ER with friction burns” Cap–em.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ he asked, trying to surmise just who would write such foul a deed as this.

  ‘Aye, those are the words before me as clear as day, Cap–em.’

  There was no mistaking it... it was obviously some blasted Board Member again.

  ‘Very well,’ he conceded, ‘who was on duty at the time of the incident, Number One?’

  ‘Bickford, Cap–em.’

  ‘Bickford, eh?’ said Captain Silver sternly, ‘So be it – step forward Mr. Ford of Bickford!’

  Innocently, a shiny robot stood out from the crowd. He should have stepped backwards like everyone else.

  Swiftly, an eye–patch popped up, ‘who is that?’ asked Captain Silver’s discreetly, taking the time to examine the figure presented before him more clearly.

  ‘Bickford, Cap–em,’ replied his First Mate, ‘the staff member in question I believe, Cap–em.’

  What else could he say?

  ‘Ah...?’ The Captain paused for a moment, ‘have the boys rough him up a bit, would you? That should teach him to parade around on my ship looking all shiny–like – It’s embarrassing!’

  ‘Aye, aye, Cap–em – rough him up it is,’ he noted with pleasure, ‘and the complaint, Cap–em?’

  ‘Make him walk the plank,’ he added disinterestedly, ‘but be sure give the wee bugger a lifebuoy. We wouldn’t want a mutiny on our hands for breach of water safety regulations, now would we?’

  ‘Right you are, Cap–em – safety first.’

  With the formalities concluded, it was time to get to work.

  ‘This very morn we have among us a catch most worthy,’ began Captain Silver delightedly, ‘Such worthy a catch – dare I say – that the Dark Lord pays in unquestionable wealth, for he does so desire a princess and her fallen kin.’

  ‘Aye, aye, Cap–em – Aye, aye!’ creed his crew.

  ‘Hoist the colours – man the ropes and let our sails soar high, me scoundrels!’ he roared, ‘set a course due east by east west, for with such valuable cargo we dare lose not a moment more...To Traders Port we venture, where fortune and glory await us all!’

  ‘Aye, aye, Cap–em – Aye, aye!’

  And so Captain Silver’s crew began preparing his ship for a swift sail. Out from its sides came long swooping sails, and at its stern a power source began to crave life; three triangular shaped energy grids shimmering like the sun. And great thrusters gave birth to an air of mist below, for hull of ship did rise forth from the sea. Within the sky they would now set sail, a far upon an ocean of heavenly cloud with joy and song in their labour of love.

  ‘The men, Cap–em... they’re singing?’

  The Captain’s First Mate had a point – when it came to the murderous vocals of a fine wee song, something had to be done?

  ‘You boy, what be your name sonny?’ asked Captain Silver.

  ‘That’s the water boy, Cap–em,’ interrupted his First Mate, ‘the men call him Master Tiller, Cap–em. He’s a good worker with the kindness of an Angel. Dreams of one day becoming a fully pledged pirate – oh how he tries, Cap–em... may the Gods bless his wee microchip.’

  Captain Silver paused, pondering on such fine words for one so young— oh well?

  ‘Give him twenty lashes,’ he said firmly, ‘that should set an example to the rest of the men.’

  ‘But he’s a mute, Cap–em,’ tried his First Mate, ‘can’t speak nor sing, Cap–em?’

  ‘Well... give yourself some lashes then,’ he replied unmindfully.

  ‘But, Cap–em...’

  ‘Carry on Number One... orders is orders.’

  ‘Aye, Cap–em... lash meself it is, Cap–em,’ conceded his First Mate reluctantly to the leave of his honorable Captain.

  Looking at the boy, he braced himself for the unthinkable; such innocents, such joy, a sheer light to all in a time of darkness. This would be but a small sacrifice he would gladly pay; a selfless act to save that of a young innocent soul...‘sorry boy, but Cap–em’s orders.’

  Well, he was pirate after all!

  Below deck, Zack and Suzan were glad to be reunited.

  ‘Oh Zack, however did you find me?’ asked Suzan, ‘What’s going on and who are these people?’

  ‘It’s a long story, but don’t worry they’re my friends,’ he replied, ‘they helped me to rescue you.’

  ‘You call this a rescue,’ she asked, ‘we’ve been captured by pirates Zack. We don’t even know where we are, or what’s going to happen to us?’

  ‘I’m trying not to think about that right now,’ he replied while glancing down at Professor Clayton’s crystal, ‘but whatever’s going on, I reckon it has something to do with this?’ However, he could tell that Suzan was still feeling uneasy, ‘here,’ he said while handing her the crystal, ‘you wear it for a while. It’s brought me good luck and kept me safe, I guess? Maybe it will do the same for you?’

  She smiled for a time. It may have been a small gesture of hope considering their circumstance, but to her it seemed an awful lot more.

  Soon Cara came to their side.

  ‘Did you find out where we are heading?’ asked Zack.

  ‘Some port – Traders – Never heard of it before, but it sounds pretty bad if you ask me?’ she replied calmly.

  ‘A port,’ said Suzan, ‘I wonder what it could be?’

  ‘In this world, ‘replied Zack’ ‘I’m not so sure I want to find out?’

  ‘Traders Port, now there’s a place I have not heard of in sometime?’ said a strange voice from somewhere of near.

  ‘Who said that?’ yelled Cara with a fright, ‘whoever it is; you better pray that someone holds me back, because I’m about get B.I.G all up in here... notorious style!’

  Promptly, a shadow took one for the team.

  Within the next cell, out from the darkness came the sharp glint of an eye. Whoever it was, their face lay unshaven, and hidden beneath a dark patch, the lining of a crude scar crossed one of his eyes?

  ‘Such a place,’ he continued, looking out beyond the iron of his cell, ‘is a haven for thieves and ill folk alike. In short, my strange companions, it is a place that you do not what to find yourself in freely... let alone as prisoner.’ He eyed the crystal that Zack had just given to Suzan, ‘perhaps I could be of help, for it seems that you are in need of much if what I have come to hear so far is true?’

  ‘Don’t listen to him, kid,’ begged Cara, ‘he’ a rogue, a mercenary for hire like all wild elves. You can’t trust his kind. They don’t care for noble gesture like
the others. They only care about one thing... themselves.’

  ‘True,’ replied the wild elf, ‘a fee of worth could earn my blade... if you care to make an offer?’

  ‘And how exactly would you help us,’ asked Zack, ‘it looks to me like you’re stuck here too?’

  ‘I never think that far ahead,’ he simply replied with a devilish smirk.

  ‘I told you, you just can’t trusted those guys,’ said Cara disapprovingly, ‘we’ll find our own way out of here – thank you very much.’

  ‘Are you schooled in ignorance?’ he said, ‘Look around you and tell me what it is that you see? Imagine what must lie beyond these walls? None of you would see the rise of a new morn before getting lost or worse. I am Estaru of Wilvanu – Elf Among The Wild Eastern Breeze. I know of most lands, and I have come to see many things far beyond that which any one man cares to understand. My blade is true for whomever I choice to wield it for. Why not use my help, for if we work together then we both share a chance to be free?’

  ‘Just why are you here anyway?’ asked Zack.

  ‘Call it fate,’ he replied, ‘as for the rest... that is of my own concern.’

  ‘If we were to help each other,’ said Zack, ‘you could find a way out of here, couldn’t you?’

  ‘These doors of iron lie but on a slight hinge,’ replied the elf, ‘a length of iron would be enough to loosen them if chance arose?’

  ‘And the ship...?’

  ‘As I have already said; I never like to think that far ahead,’ he devilishly replied once more, ‘but first, however... you must name your price.’

  ‘But I don’t have a price?’ said Zack innocently. Estaru eyed the crystal, suggesting its worth. But Zack, however, would not let Suzan part with it so easily, ‘you cannot have it,’ he said firmly, ‘it is not ours to give.’

  ‘Then why would I risk my neck for you?’

  ‘So it is really true... you care for nothing but yourself?’

  ‘I knew a young boy once; just like you,’ replied Estaru, ‘he spent his life willing to do what was right; to stand for those who could not help themselves. But he was foolish to the ways of life and the cruel care of men hidden deep within their hearts.’ He tapped his eye patch, ‘take my advice and care only for your own fate above all others.’

  ‘Leave him be,’ interrupted Suzan, ‘no price would cover that of his selfish pride.’

  ‘Then perhaps you will find a truer soul among Traders Port,’ he replied, ‘if you survive that long?’

  Cara dusted off the elf’s advice, ‘so...’ she began while eyeing Morku, ‘what now – because I have to tell you... your skill as a locksmith isn’t shaping up to be much of a page–turner, now is it?’

  ‘Ach, ah’m workin’ on it,’ interrupted the Magical Lock, ‘my clan’s on the move as ah speak.’

  ‘We scoo’ped the area – Cheakin’ the manual book – Sea charts – Number o’ Prives and so forth,’ said another, ‘Technically, it a’d take a wee five member crew to sail this ship. Ain’t that right lads!’

  ‘Aye, five noo prob’s!’ cheered many voices.

  ‘Ach, how many Prives on board?’ asked their chief excitedly.

  ‘Ah’ll not lie,’ it began, ‘on a wee count ah’d say no more than thirty to frothy?’

  ‘Ach wee crivens?!’

  ‘Aye, wee crivens chief – but don’t you worry none... just give the word and we’ll take them out noo prob’s.’

  ‘And how exactly are you going to do that?’ asked Morku.

  ‘Ach, easy...’ it replied proudly, ‘we’ll just wait until they’re snoozen.’

  Cara didn’t seem pleased. Wisely, the clan scattered – ‘Ach wee crivens, runnea for your life’s! – Clearly, they had a job to do.

  From the shadows Estaru could not help but laugh, ‘fools you must be if to rely on such aid, least mine... Twenty pieces of silver and I could throw you overboard, would that help?’

  ‘Why don’t you try helping us instead of simply mocking us!’ yelled Zack in anger.

  ‘Use your wits boy,’ he replied, ‘if I were really able to free myself, do you think that I would still be here?!’

  ‘Well at least I haven’t given up, unlike you!’

  ‘Would you two ever put an end to your bickering?’ said Suzan, ‘This isn’t helping either of us!’

  ‘Suzie’s right,’ agreed Cara, ‘this is not the time to lose your nerve. Besides, Droc is still at large – With a little luck and some help on the outside – I have a feeling that this isn’t the end of us just yet...’

  Ripping throughout the air, the dragon crossed over a vast land of wilderness. It crashed through treetops. It twirled in its flight. It swooped under and over fallen tree logs with breath taking precision. When at last it soared to a mighty height once more... suddenly, it plunged into a death–defying freefall?!

  Its unwilling passengers, Droc son of Oric and his mighty fellows... had their concerns.

  ‘Aye, Madam,’ added Morku confidently, ‘no doubt they will stop at nothing to save us; crossing the entire dark lands of this earth without rest until they do.’

  A thick tree line crackled with the heat of a raging fire. Droc scampered to and fro, screaming with panic while being chased to the ends of the earth, it seemed, by the dragon. After a moment of silence... his mighty fellows soon followed. They weren’t quite so sure who they were supposed to be chasing?

  ‘Don’t you worry,’ continued Morku, ‘we’ll be out of here before you know it. After all, we dwarves are very resourceful – Mounting daring rescues is our specialty.’

  ‘Amen to that,’ agreed Cara, ‘I’d even wager that as we speak, he’s just waiting for the perfect moment to strike?’

  ‘Now let’s not be too hasty,’ said Droc while facing a drooling row of teeth, ‘there’s no reason why we should have to do this the hard way, is there?’

  ‘I don’t know which is worse; being eaten alive or suffocating from the stench of its breath?’ complained Samif, feeling a little puffed in the cheeks. No doubt, due to the dragon’s tail which wrapped around him and his companions like a snake coiled around it’s pray.

  ‘We’re doomed, doomed like our forefathers’ before us!’ panicked Earru, a flare of nostril and hiss of steam rising before him.

  ‘Oh stop your whining!’ yelled Airtu.

  ‘Don’t eat me, please don’t,’ begged Earru, “eat him; he’s mature and tender!”

  Droc didn’t seem impressed, ‘no eat him... he’s young and fresh!’ What else could he do?

  ‘You can eat me first if it means that I don’t have to listen to you two any longer!’ yelled Samif, wishing that the pair would put a sock in it.

  The dragon’s tail coiled itself even tighter.

  ‘This is it,’ said Droc, ‘no long goodbye – No sweat nothing’s. There’s nothing, nothing but...the soft though ever so slightly moist, loving feeling of a gentle and surprisingly affectionate caress for your mere life’s worth?!’

  He opened his eyes. He could tell that Samif’s will to live with dignity was slowly being drained from his soul. Apparently, the dragon was licking them like that of a joyful puppy?

  ‘It seems we have made a new friend,’ said Earru, rubbing the ear of one of the dragon’s heads, ‘who’s a good boy then?’

  ‘I think I would rather be eaten if it’s all the same, thank you very much,’ conceded Samif.

  ‘Stop it! – Stop it! – Sit boy... sit!” yelled Airtu, “Let me down... sit!’

  The dragon released the group, running about like a devilish puppy looking for trouble.

  Things they thought, were about to get complicated?

  ‘I suppose it wants to play fetch now?’ said Airtu, ‘surely this cannot be a famous fire breathing dragon such as the one of our forefathers’ time, can it?’

  ‘Yes, that’s it alright; a devilish fiend if I ever seen one,’ stated Droc nervously, ‘don’t fall for its puppy looks. There’s no telling what its kind ar
e capable of?’

  A dwarf helplessly entangled within a ball of leaves shot through the air? Playing fetch with a dragon is a dangerous game; you have to remember to let go of the tree!

  ‘We haven’t got time for this,’ said Samif, disregarding Earru’s plea for help, ‘if last I recall – hanging on for dear life from the blasted ends of that dragon – we noted that our companions were being captured by pirates! There’s no telling where they might be now? And we’re stuck a million miles from neither here nor there with...’ He pointed to the dragon uncaringly, ‘with that?’

  Innocently, the dragon shied.

  ‘Can’t we keep him?’ asked Airtu while watching it fling its unwilling playmate, Earru, high into the air before tackling him to the ground, ‘just look how it plays with the wee youngling; so lovingly; so gentle...?’

  ‘Let’s just get moving,’ said Droc dismissively, the very thought of a Watch Dragon sending shivers down his spine, ‘now quit messing around and come on!’

  A body flew overhead – ‘aayyeee Cchhiieeff!!!’ – Droc couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but that voice sounded familiar?

  As they began to walk on the dragon soon followed, stopping every now and then in hope to avoid suspicion?

  ‘Maybe it’s not that bad,’ finally admitted Samif, a strange feeling of guilt washing over him for those lost puppy dragon eyes, ‘after all, it did save us from those trolls.’

  ‘How do you mean?’ asked Droc, glancing behind to see just where that devilish fiend had got to now.

  Swiftly the dragon halted. Three Innocent heads looked aimlessly about... One may have even whistled?

  ‘Well, if you think about it, it did make short work of those trolls before carrying us out of that cave to safety, if you will?’

  Droc paused to consider this, ‘I suppose the man has a point,’ he said, ‘from a certain point of view, you could say that it did try to help us?’ He looked at the dragon once more, ‘besides, it is a long way back... at least, by foot?’

  ‘And dragons do have a keen sense of smell too,’ added Earru looking somewhat worse for wear.

  ‘Yes, it had been guarding her Highness for a time?’ concluded Airtu, the dragon nodding with eyes a sparkle of hopeful delight, ‘such ability could prove to be a useful advantage?’

  They paused for a moment; it was as good an idea as anything else.

  ‘Then it is agreed,’ said Droc, ‘with due favour of its members, the Chair recognizes the motion and carries it!’

  ‘On one condition,’ added Samif, “it gets a bath.” The dragon wasn’t pleased, ‘Well maybe not now of course, but... sometime in the future, perhaps?’ The future wasn’t looking so bright either. Wisely, Samif threw his arms in the air, ‘never mind; it was only a thought.’

  Great, it was settled. With an overwhelming air of excitement, the dragon hopped about with joy. Little did they know that from this moment forth it would be a loyal friend for eternity – Providing, of course, that a bath was not an option?

  With not a moment to lose it sniffed the crisp air for a scent. And soon its eyes would narrow upon the find of a set course.

  Suddenly...it ran toward the dwarves? – ‘Oh no?!’ – Thud! – They where airborne, clenched firmly within the dragon’s jaws!

  But upon the horizon a storm began to stir. If the pirates’ set sail across the Dunes of Earthly Time, Droc could only hope that he could reach them before it may be too late...

  ‘What’s happening?’ asked Zack, unsteady in his feet below deck, ‘It feels like we’ve run into some kind of...’

  ‘Sandstorm...?’ interrupted the elf, ‘and if what I hear is true of the earth below, such a storm they say can rip a vessel apart within the blink of an eye. Least that is what they say?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ he asked.

  ‘If our destination is indeed Traders Port, there is only one viable route for such underhand trading; the airflow above the Dunes of Earthly Time. Merchants sometimes use its course of unrest to conceal their flight path. However, it does not come without cost.’

  ‘Conceal from whom?’ asked Suzan.

  ‘Warlords – Witch Blades – Bounty Hunters...’ he replied, ‘take your pick; everyone has their price.’

  ‘And they say that hounor amongst thieves is well and truly over,’ said Cara, ‘well this has turned out to be quite an upset, wouldn’t you say?’

  ‘What if we don’t make it?’ said Morku, ‘I mean, you are talking about sailing through the storm, aren’t you?’

  Estaru eyed the walls, listening as to how they now seemed to creak with fear, ‘yes,’ he said at last, ‘and if we’re lucky... you should pray that we don’t.’

  ‘Easy as she be, Number One,’ said Captain Silver, ‘down sails to half for we dare not tempt such fate as Hers.’

  ‘Aye, Cap–em,’ replied his First Mate before relaying his orders to the crew, ‘half sail it is on deck – deck all hands!’

  ‘Starboard side, two–one–two degrees... easy–easy–easy!’

  ‘Cap–em...?’ he began unsurely, ‘Starboard side, Cap–em?’

  Captain Silver heisted; on the flip of a coin – left it was!

  ‘Aye, Cap–em – make ready to set course left–left–left!’

  Bravely, Captain Silver set his sight upon the eye of a great storm, bracing himself for the crushing wave of a sand cloud. Across the decks and many sails it raged, smothering all before its path. And an eye of anger did swirl, daring to drag his ship inward upon a vortex crackling with light and looming shadows of darkness – the true birth of the storm.

  ‘Are you sure about this, Cap–em,’ asked his First Mate, ‘for such risk seems hard to fathom?’

  ‘Aye, Number One,’ he replied, ‘hostile takeovers are all but common in these parts. We must ensure that none follow our course if payment of deed is to be truly ours.’ He raised his spyglass, screeching a far, ‘take us in, Number one,’ he continued, ‘let the almighty barcode determine our expiry date, for Traders Port... awaits.’

  Slash?!

  Discreetly, many blades sounded from somewhere of near? Promptly, Captain Silver’s First Mate imposed his authority, ‘perhaps “about” would be more agreeable with the men, Cap–em?’ he kindly suggested.

  ‘Aye,’ agreed Captain Silver while cautiously lowering his spyglass, ‘that would be for the best as it were.’

  So too thought the men.

  ‘Now listen to me boy,’ said Estaru, ‘you see that wall breathing with life? Listen to its cry of pain. It tells you that this ship has but one purpose; to tear its self apart. Your chance of survival needs only my help.’ He eyed a piece of iron that had come loose from the wall, ‘that rail... I could use it to prop this gate open, if only you would fetch it for me?!’

  ‘But I thought you said that you couldn’t...’

  ‘I know what I said, boy,’ he interrupted, ‘just do as I ask?!’

  ‘Don’t listen to anything he says, kid,’ said Cara, ‘you know that you can’t trust him.’

  ‘We don’t have time for this,’ insisted the elf, ‘do it boy... do it before it’s too late!’

  Zack shifted his sight back and forth, unsure of what to do? About him the walls did seep with sand. They creaked and flexed, almost rippling like waves before layers of wood begin now to strip away. Whatever he was going to decide, he would have to do it soon. Carefully, he dared to make his way across the cell’s floor, quickly jerking the iron free – Boom! – Before he could hand it to Estaru, a large hole suddenly erupted within the ship’s hull!

  It seemed that things may have taken a turn for the worst – the ship was now plummeting through the air!

  A fierce rush of air washed throughout the cell. It dragged Zack down across the floor, willing to pull him a far beyond the ship’s gaping wound. Quickly Morku leaped to his aid, followed by Suzan whom grasped hold of the cell’s cage to keep them safe from harm. But the segments of iron were sharp, and the force of air was stron
g – though the Magical Lock and Cara would try to help – Suzan knew that she could not hold on much longer. Her grasp was weakening, and one by one her fingers did begin to slip away...

  ‘Help us,’ she tried, calling to Estaru, ‘earn your trust and help us!’

  But the elf would not listen. Instead he was simply trying to grasp the length of iron which landed just shy of his reach.

  ‘Help us! – I can’t hold on much longer!’

  Again Estaru had not the time to listen, reaching out as far as he could but still his hand lay taunted.

  ‘Are you even listening to me?!’ she desperately cried, ‘Help us damn it––Help us!’ – But he was close, so close; just a little more time, that’s all he needed – ‘you want your reward, is that it?!’ She hinted at the professor’s crystal, ‘then take it... it’s yours!’

  Suddenly her hand came loose!

  ‘I’ve got you!’ said Estaru, his grasp firm upon her arm as he watched his freedom slip away. However, in doing so his chains of captivity cut deep into his wrist; the iron segments of his cell weighing heavily upon his pain. And jerking loose from its once secure fitting, the divide came crashing down. Though his heart stayed true, Estaru’s pain was now too great. They were lost to him... truly, he do no more.

  A cry sounded from atop of the crow’s nest, ‘customer overboard!’ Suspiciously, whoever it was may also have been referring to himself?

  ‘Blast!’ fumed Captain Silver, limping his way to the side of his ship as it trashed about to the fury of the storm, ‘Number One...’ he yelled, ‘what be the price for fair wage of absconders this eve?’ he asked.

  ‘Dishes, Cap–em,’ replied his First Mate gravely, about him all that remained unfastened – and some reluctant crew – sliding uncontrollably back and forth, ‘washing dishes, Cap–em... lots of dishes.’

  There was only one thing for it, ‘send some men below deck to secure the breach at once,’ he ordered, ‘if least to settle the small mater of the Bill.’

  ‘Aye, Cap–em,’ he diligently replied, the wind flicking through his notepad, ‘clientele invoice in route as we speak, Cap–em.’

  He could calculate the price for his Tip later.

  Below deck Estaru rose to his feet. He Gazed beyond the ship’s wound of hull. Rising forth from the angered earth below, he could see many an edge of dune. But the ship seemed now to ease in its downward course, if least a little. Perhaps, he thought, his companions of strange had survived their fall?

  Thud!

  From behind a door few open. Promptly, three pirates, two pistols and one cheque plate stood at the ready. Slowly, Estaru eyed his only path of escape – Click! – The pistols warn suggested differently – Bang! – He jumped...

  The pirates gazed awkwardly at one another. Perhaps next time per–loading their pistols before use would be more effective. But more importantly, who was going to wash the bloody dishes now?

  The sandstorm swept across the Dunes of Earthly Time. Soon Estaru would find Zack and Suzan. Though somewhat worse for wear, thankfully they had survived – as too did their companions. But in the blinding harshness of the storm, Estaru knew that if they were to survive any longer they would need to find shelter.

  Great canyons form in the distance. In the heart of a sand–shaded cave, he would try to convince them to wait it out.

  They didn’t really have a choice.