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Date Posted: 10:28:42 01/03/02 Thu
Author: Marz and Ravin
Subject: On the road again

With narrowed eyes, Marz watched Erlic lead Tristan and Corum away for a private conversation. Why am I excluded from the discussion? He stared at the three of them, trying to read their lips to no avail. Erlic had promised to teach him lip-reading along with a number of other unique skills, yet here he was, learning to mess with stupid chakras instead.

Remembering his attempt to delve into the first chakra made him shiver. He seriously did not want to practice closing those things again. A refusal to meditate on the charkas would have both Erlic and Tristan breathing down his neck, and that was also something he didn't look forward to.

Marz pulled out his sword and spun around when he heard a strange sound coming from behind him. He frowned when he saw nothing but a few flies cruising around the area. Suddenly, he felt as if he were flying through the air with them, sensing their desire for food. Thankfully, the odd sensation lasted only a moment, but it left him feeling edgy. What the hell was that?

He spun around again, alerted by the amplified sound of boots crunching upon dirt. When he saw Tristan approaching, he sheathed his sword. After what he just experienced, he had second thoughts about taking any more medicine for his headache, and simply stared at the pills Tristan offered him. He wanted to refuse them, but the urge to have them in his possession was greater. Smiling, he accepted the pills, shoving them into one of his pockets. They are MINE now!

His smile widened when Tristan apologized for wearing his shirt. "Make sure you give it back to me later, in the same condition it's in now." Without warning, he pulled the dragon into an embrace and gave him a deep kiss before releasing him. "Just remember that you belong to me too." He stared into his lover's eyes for a moment then walked away, joining the rest of the group that was preparing to leave.

*******


While Rowan helped Tia get situated beside Laurel, Ravin retrieved Alakbar, positioning him next to Isobel. Once the rest of the group was assembled, the thief shared a nod with Rowan and together they led everyone forward, heading east. According to the chieftain of the tribe, they should reach the Sea of Salt in three to four hours.

The hot sun beat down upon them as they made their way along rather rocky terrain. An hour later, they came upon more fertile land, with trees and other vegetation sprouting up around them. Every now and then, Marz would announce that he heard an unusual sound, making everyone stop to view their surroundings warily.

When nothing was found either time, Ravin began to think that the youth was imagining the things he claimed to hear. "I think that Marz is overly jumpy today," he whispered to Rowan. "I've got damn good hearing, and haven't heard anything out of the ordinary yet." After a nod of agreement from the elf, they continued onward; the awful heat somewhat impeding their process.

*******


Unbeknownst to the travelers, the Slayers of al-Marubar mountains had one of their mages implant a tiny stone under the skin of Alakbar's left arm. Such a stone allowed the assassins to keep track of their prisoners by means of something that resembled a small compass. Once Alakbar was discovered missing, these compass-like devices were handed out to a number of Slayers, who were then sent on their way to retrieve the boy.

Before going off in pursuit of the prince, the assassins questioned the tribe that resided near their mountain hideaway. Fearful of losing his life, the chieftain of the tribe told the Slayers everything he knew about the group of people that had spent the night in his campgrounds. "They leave maybe, almost two hour ago."

Like silent shadows, the assassins moved across the terrain. Death would come swiftly to those that had been foolish enough to enter their secret domain and take the prince from them. Blowpipes were fitted with poison darts that would paralyze a victim within minutes. Later, the victim's throat would be cut, and the body drained of all blood before it was burned in offering to their ancient god.

The Slayers adjusted the thin gray veils they wore over their bearded faces, and preceded east as indicated by the compasses. While mentally reciting prayers to their god, they moved along silently, like hungry panthers in search of prey. The men were well trained in two-handed combat and wore a curved sword at each hip. They were equipped with various poisons and a powder that would render a person unconscious almost immediately if it was inhaled. A few of them could cast minor spells and one was quite proficient in the art of magecraft.

After awhile they split up into smaller groups in order to be less conspicuous. They would keep in contact with one another by means of the enchanted communication mirrors each carried in the pocket of their gray cloaks that magically enabled them to blend in with the surrounding terrain. The individual groups hurried away from one another, yet each continued to move east, hoping to close the gap between them and their prey soon.

*******


Two hours after leaving the camp of the mountain tribe, Marz insisted they stop because he heard a rumbling sound. Ravin was a very patient man, but he was beginning to lose his patience with the youth, who kept hearing odd noises that turned out to be nothing.

When Marz broke away from the rest of the group and whipped out his sword, Ravin made his way to Erlic. "What the hell is wrong with him?" he asked, staring at the ex-gang leader whose eyes darted around the area.

Before Erlic had a chance to reply, Marz shouted out, drawing everyone's attention. "THERE!" he said, pointing to the ground a few yards away. "It's coming from there!"

Ravin was about say something about Marz's imagination running away with him, but he held his tongue when he began to hear the rumbling noise the youth mentioned moments ago. An instant later, his jaw fell open when a horrid looking insect that resembled a black ant with a humanoid face burrowed its way out of the dirt. The creature was at least five feet long, with pointy teeth and six legs; two of which wielded actual short swords!

"DESERT MANT!" Alakbar shouted, before tossing his spear. The weapon nicked the ugly creature, sending it into an obvious fit of rage. Its four thin legs carried it to the prince with ungodly speed. Luckily, Alakbar had his sword out and was able to block the blows from the monster's weapons. Marz jumped forward to aid the prince while more of the disgusting ant-like things crawled out from beneath the ground and rushed to attack the humans that stood nearby.

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