The Wild-lands

Tyrol took a sip from his nigh on empty flask. The warm brackish water did little to ease his parched throat or cracked lips, but it was better than nothing, just.
 
Elora sat, her hands placed firmly on the burning sand. She shook her head.  “How much have we left?” She asked Tyrol , taking a small sip from the flask.
 
“Another one. With rationing it should last another day, perhaps two.”
 
“Damn fools. Why hire guides if they had no intention of listening to us?” Elora demanded.
 
“They are paying us well for our troubles.” Tyrol reminded her.
 
“Little use if we die of dehydration. Can you believe they would not even sell us some water? Gods I’d have settled for them advising us this would be a longer trip than the usual caravan run so we could have stocked up accordingly.”
 
It was an old argument, one they’d had daily since the clients had ordered this detour into the wild-lands. It took there mind off their worries, off the very real possibility that they could die.
 
“You should get them roused.” Tyrol said. Pulling the blanket free from the quarterstaffs and rocks, it had created a quick shelter that offered them some, albeit limited, protection from the worst of the sun’s rays.
 
Elora rose with a sigh, crossed to the middle of the camp and rang the bell their clients had set up to prevent the guides entering the tents. “It is time. We break camp in thirty minutes.” She yelled in common, her voice hoarse with thirst.
 
“Later.” Akclu called back, clearly. “I am having a shave.”
 
Elora stood in disbelieve for a moment. She and her brother were rationing what little water they had and this creature was using it to shave? “We leave in thirty minutes, as will our friends, with or without you.” She snapped. Her fragile hold on her temper finally slipping.
 
“You and those things belong to us.” Akclu yelled, coming out the tent, it’s silver covering, designed to keep the interior cool, glaring red in the dying sun’s rays. “You will do as I say you elven…”
 
“Finish that sentence.” Elora interrupted, her eyes glistening with malevolence.
 
Akclu gulped, a cold trickle of sweat fell down his back, despite the lingering heat of the day.
 
“You purchased the use of our services, our equipment and our mounts. You did not purchase any of these things outright.” Elora continued coldly. “As to our race, you should be grateful that we are elves. Humans would have died days ago, after that stunt you pulled, leaving you not only alone in a hostile environment but at the mercy of the Anthax they use as slaves too. We will be taking ours with us in twenty five minutes whether you are ready or not.” She turned and walked away, not caring if he made a response or not.
 
“Do you think that was wise?” Tyrol asked.
 
“Probably not. My guess is they will be ready on time for a change, though.”
 
Tyrol laughed as he hitched the mounts to the wagons. Anthax were huge insects, that called this harsh, deadly place home. When allowed to drink their fill they could go weeks without needing water. They were fierce fighters too, adding to the protection of any convoy that used them. Few did, despite their obvious benefits. They would pull wagons and take riders without seemingly noticing the burden, unfortunately they were also notoriously hard to command, even those raised in slavery tended to turn on their owners and clients sooner or later. These four were different, serving the elven siblings willingly, having long ago pledged their loyalty, the four would protect the elves first, the fools that rode them last. Tyrol lay a hand on the leader’s head. ‘Be easy Zywi, you know what she gets like.’ He said telepathically.
 
 
Her guess was correct. The small camp was packed and ready to go in twenty minutes. All four of the clients rode on the Anthax, who also pulled the heavily laden wagons between them. Tyrol and Elora walked, easily keeping pace with their companions, chatting telepathically to take their minds of the bitter cold that the desert night brought, though it was still preferable to travelling during the day.
 
A wagon halted abruptly, forcing the riders a little discomfort. Akclu raised a stick as if to strike his mount.
 
“I bet my arrow lands first.” Elora said, her bow notched and ready. “Strike Zywi and I will kill you, not only that I will give him your carcass to dine on.” She added. The stick would not have hurt her friend, his thick carapace was better than any amour. It was the principle she objected to.
 
He looked from her to the others, blanched then lowered the stick. “Sorry.” He said, sounding anything but apologetic.
 
“Thanks Zywi, it looks like it is us that owe you our lives this time.” Elora said, ignoring the man, though she did note it was the servant that had caused him to recant, not her threat.
 
Elora grabbed the sack that contained the flasks and walked back the way they had just come. She kept a hand, palm down, in front of her. Soon she felt the familiar tug that indicated an underground water source.
 
“We rest here for half an hour, no more.” Tyrol said. Releasing the Anthax from the wagons as soon as the riders had dismounted. Whilst riding on the insects was easier to most than walking, he was aware that it took it’s  own toll on the body. Most clients liked to rest and stretch their limbs and muscles at least once during the journey. He tipped the last of the brackish water out of the flask he carried and followed after his sister. Zywi led the Anthax after them. Like elves they could survive longer without water than most creatures on Sertmo, it didn’t mean they didn’t relish the taste of pure fresh water when they could get it.
 
“They are mad.”  Akclu muttered, suddenly struck with panic. What if they were leaving them out here? Perhaps he had been to harsh in his role…”
 
“Be silent.” Lusiv snapped, in their own language. “They read thoughts, remember. We will let them in when we know we can trust them. All that is happening now is what I said would happen, they have found water.”
 
Elora knelt down, clearing a small trough, two feet long and a foot wide. It was shallow but it would serve their needs, she thought. “Tawre.” She whispered, feeling the strength ebb from her flowing into and then out of her hands, summoning the underground spring up. Clear fresh water began filling the trench. It entering one end and exiting the other, ensuring it remained pure. She and Tyrol drank greedily, sating the thirst that had plagued them for days. They filled their flasks, each hanging one from a belt, the rest went into the back. Moving away they signalled the Anthax should take their fill too.
 
“You may replenish your stocks to if you need to, once our friends have finished.” Elora said as she put the pack back in the small, locked section of the wagon that they kept for their own use. “It will still be pure.” She added, seeing Akclu open his mouth. ‘unlike what we have been drinking these last few days.’ She said silently to Tyrol .
 
“We assume that those who possess enough to allow the luxury of washing and shaving are in less need than those who require it to live.” Tyrol said aloud. He too had seen the outrage of the clients at having to wait behind beasts of burden as they saw Zywi and is crew. Like his sister, he would be more than happy to see the back of this group. 
 
Just under half an hour later they were on the move again. Lusiv  walked alongside Tyrol, he glanced back, nervously. “We may need to change course again.” He said, eventually, as if reluctant to deliver the news.

“Perhaps if you just told us your destination it would be better all round.” Tyrol said.

“I will ask...”

“Please. Do not continue to treat us like fools. We have long known that you lead this group. We have maintained the pretence because it seemed important to you. If you wish us to continue that deception in front of your group we will.  It is obvious that you fear an attack, that you do not fully trust those you travel with. I am not suggesting that you trust us either, just do not continue to lie to us.”

“It's complicated.”

“Lies tend to get that way.” Tyrol said.

“I find humans use complicated when they doubt the truth will be understood or believed.” Elora said. Her approach so soft even Tyrol hadn't heard her approach. “ I can understand most things, being led to my death because of inadequate provisions is not one of them. So by all means try us.”

Lusiv looked at them. Tyrol was right, he did fear an attack, he had done so for a long time. Perhaps it was time to look beyond that fear. He took a deep breath. “I was told you were the best guides for this region. That you knew this place before the desert was formed. That you have used the same Anthax for fifty nine years without incident told me that you had bonded with them and therefore can ask their assistance in finding safe routes throughout the desert.” He said.

“We can. Provided we have a destination.” Tyrol said, surprised that this human had sort them out, even though it made sense now. As El had said, human guides would never have been able to survive this long out here.

“It must be important for you to travel all the way from Leff just to seek us out.” Elora said, pleased to see the reaction her words caused, she had heard them speaking Leffen when she was getting water, they didn't need to know that yet she decided. “You don't have to answer, you are as entitled to you secrets as we are ours. Just as long as they don't get me killed.”

“We needed you to think it was a normal trade run. Had you stocked up differently people would have talked. We may as well have hung signs round our necks advertising our plans.” Akclu said, joining them.

“We could have done that, we could have also plotted a course that would allow us to utilize the underground water systems.” Elora said.

“We are looking for the temple of Aequitas.”

“We can find a safe route. There are some abandoned Anthax warrens not too far from here, it will make travelling a lot easier and us a lot less likely to be found by those who wish to stop you claiming the throne.” Elora said.

“How could you know that?” Akclu demanded, suddenly alarmed.

“It is the custom in Leff is it not? I heard you speaking Leffen a while ago, that and the temple made it the logical conclusion.”

“If she grants me her blessing then yes, I can end the lords strangle hold on my people. I have been searching for a long time, it has taken years just to find out it is in the wild-lands. You are sure you know where it is?”

“If you had told us this at the beginning we would have been there days ago. So yes, we know where it is. We can take the quick way back to Leff, that should help keep you safe.” Elora said, changing direction for the warrens. “I have checked your men out, they are for this. They will not betray you.”

“Thank you.” Lusiv said, hardly daring to believe that after all these years it was nearly over.