They raced off into the rocky hills, the camel scrabbling up the shallow slopes at the best speed the beast could manage. A few arrows sped in their direction but the range was too long and they fell short. While the other camel riders might have ridden them down, burdened only by one rider, few of the bandits seemed inclined to miss out on their share of loot in the caravan in order to chase after the fleeing fugitives. Emmaline herself might have fetched a fine price at the slave market but few of the bandits had gotten a look at her and the certainty of wealth now was worth more than the possibility of wealth later, particularly if this meant haring off into the desert.

The sounds of the dying caravan faded as they exited the valley and raced across the rocky desert towards the east. Bitterly Emmaline realised that her alchemical supplies and her books, both purchased and considerable expense had been left behind in the confusion.

“May Ranald rot their cocks,” she muttered through gritted teeth. Amal glanced at her with an arched eyebrow. Given the fact that curse words were among the first most people learned he likely understood the last part of the sentence.

“Ranald is the God of Thieves,” she explained tersely. Amal nodded his understanding and allowed the camel, already huffing with exhaustion to slow. The eastern sky was already beginning to lighten with the coming of dawn and the brutal heat of the day. Under ordinary circumstances people would seek cover from the sun, but at least for the moment they needed to open the distance between themselves and the bandits. They pushed on for another hour or so into the blistering sunrise before they came to another shallow canyon. The camel, not the healthiest beast, was already blowing hard and quivering with the strain. In the distance lay the shadow of a shallow canyon.


“We are still days from Coppher,” Emmaline observed, “With no water and no food. We should take shelter.”

Amal glanced back over his shoulder, looking for signs of pursuit from the bandits, but there was nothing in sight. They could at least hope that their enemies were not following.

“If we don’t let the camel rest we will be walking before too long,” she observed.

“By Allah, alright!” Amal agreed and guided the camel into the ravine. The temperature dropped almost immediately as the canyon walls blocked the blistering sun. 

“What is that?” Emmaline asked pointing towards what appeared to be an ancient stone doorway carved into one of the canyons small branches.