[Nerindel]

Ghurdan marched on, his gaze never wandering far from the horizon ahead. His lips were dried and cracked under his scarf, but his eyes showed nothing of his discomfort. He glanced up shielding his eyes from the orange glare of the sun, as it now started to sink lower in the sky.

As he lowered his eyes again, he saw the dark form of the two priestesses and the priest in deep conversation. He looked out again over the horizon, in the hazy distance he could make out a small oasis village, Budur he thought. He had poured over maps of this area before he had left his ship, he remembered seeing an eye next to this village signifying that it was already under the eyes watchful gaze.

Just then he saw Rahvin jump down from the cart and head towards him. Rahvin was taller and lighter skinned than himself, but they were equally matched in strength. Rahvin's cold eye's locked with his as he approached. "Our Dark Mistress requires that you prepare the men to make camp" he informed him coldly. Ghurdan grinned under his scarf , he knew that Rohvin loathed him. He thought Ghurdan no more than a bounty hunter, but he was wrong Ghurdan knew more of their dark lord than any of them could imagine. "As she wishes" he nodded mockingly. Rahvin snorted and made his way back to his mistress.

The minute Rahvin had walked away Ghurdan spun around and started issuing various orders to his crew. within an hour the desert camp was set, sand coloured tent openings flapping in the gentle breeze.

"Ghurdan, Sammael" The cool but honeyed voice of Sevora called to them. As he drew closer he saw them (the priestesses group) pointing to the village on a large dark coloured map and nodding in agreement to something that himself and Sammael had clearly missed.

It was soon agreed that this village would be the ideal place to get supplies and information regarding the present location of the tribes. "The danger is that we may find it hard to get information from these desert people. We need to be discreet." Ghurdan cautioned. Sammael nodded considerimgly, "I know just the way" he said grinning mischievously, looking in Essenia's direction.

Servora called the stern looking female warrior over and they all listened as Sammael informed them of what they required of her. Ghurdan noted the woman's instant distain at the mere suggestion. " No" had been her initial response but after some thought she reluctantly nodded her assent.

"Good!" Sammael exclaimed grinning broadly and rubbing his hands briskly, "Now, I will go with her , as her brother of course, not husband or our plan would have little success"

"Zasfal" Ghurdan interrupted calmly, "What!" Sammael cried, his smile fading abruptly as he turned to face Ghurdan.

"You look nothing like her. It should be Zasfal " he retorted looking him up and down.

A heated exchange erupted between the two, neither one willing to back down. "ENOUGH" Sevora shouted impatiently, "Zasfal will go" she went on calmly. Ghurdan nodded respectfully and went to find Zasfal.

He found the young man sparing with one of the crew, a tall muscular lad that Ghurdan had seen Zasfal sparing with on more than one occasion, So not all the crew loath him then, he thought as he walk closer to the pair. "Zasfal" he called. As Zasfal turned, the other man swiftly disarmed him and sent him sprawling into the sand, " well done" he laughed, as he got up and dusted the sand from his clothes, he picked up his sword and walked towards Ghurdan.

"I have a mission for you " Ghurdan grinned. Zasfal stopped and eyed the sea captain suspiciously. "Sorry my mistake, we have a mission for you" he laughed coldly. He then told Zasfal what had happened at the meeting. Zasfal was grinning from ear to ear, as Ghurdan finished speaking. The thought that it would annoy Sammael that he would be accompanying the young female warrior on this mission satisfied him immensely. Not that he thought he stood a better chance with her, he had meet her type before and knew that no man would break through her cold exterior.

Zasfal quickly changed in to the attire more suiting of a desert trader. As he approached he saw Essenia, he blinked twice making sure he was looking apon the same woman, her sun-dark shoulder length hair now sat seductively about her shoulders, the dress she now wore hugged her small framed, she also wore a silk veil so that only her large dark eyes showed making her look even more mysterious. Zasfal grinned approvingly, "I am Zasfal, I am your brother. Your name is Zareena. We are travelling to seek the tribes to trade." Essenia nodded and Zasfal did not miss the loathing in her eyes. "I am ready" she said quietly.

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Zasfal and Zareena (Essenia)

After a few instructions from the others they were ready to leave. They walked for sometime in complete silence, but as they reached the outskirts of the village Zasfal put a firm hand on her arm to stop her. She spun round and glared at him viciously. He quickly withdrew his hand and raised them in the air "Woah ..." he cried "We are on the same side remember" he chided.
"I was merely going to ask if you were ready, but I see that you are" he said as another scowl crossed the woman's face.

It was now dark and the lights in the tiny houses lit their way down the sandy road until they came to the centre of the village, they could just make out a stone alter and a large well at its centre, they then heard hearty laughter coming form a small inn that sat on the far side of the road.

Zasfal pushed open the door "After you sister" he smiled warmly. Essenia scowled at him briefly as she passed in to the brightly lit inn. Every eye in the inn was on them as they walked slowly to the bar. "can I help you" the barman asked "yes indeed you may, I would like an ale and something to eat if you have it ." he then looked to Essenia to see if she wished to partake in some food and drink, but he saw her smiling disarmingly at a group of young men that sat at a far table gawking at her, Herders he thought looking at their drab attire.

"And something for my sister when she is ready to order" he laughed heartily, the barman laughed with him seeing the young men at the table fumbling with their mugs as Essenia flashed her beautiful dark eyes at them. "A red wine if you have one," she smile without looking away from the men. She then looked to Zasfal pretending to be looking for permission from her older sibling to leave his company and join the younger men at their table. "On you go" he laughed.

She delicately picked up her glass and walked seductively to the table were the young men now , straightened their shirts and tried to fix their untidy hair as she approached, Zasfal had to turn back to his drink and the hot plate of roasted meats that sat before him to try and stifle the laughter that threatened to erupt from his mouth at the sight of the young men, She will eat them alive he though as he pushed a mouthful of meat into his mouth.

"So what brings you and your sister to our small village?" The barman asked him, the barman was still smiling but Zasfal noted a slight tone of suspicion in his voice. "We are on our way to trade with the tribes" he he said not looking up from his plate "We found your village by mere chance" he continued taking a long drew of his ale, "And it was lucky that we did, for we are running low on supplies" he looked up from his plate "I don't suppose you could tell me were I could replenish our supplies" he asked hopefully. "You have arrived right on time, for tomorrow is market day and you should be able to get what ever you require from the market square." he smiled rubbing the mug in his hand for the up tenth time.

"Shall you and your sister be requiring a room for the night" the barman inquired. Not wishing to draw suspicion to himself and Essenia , he nodded, "Yes, Two rooms please" "that will be fifteen gold per night per room," the barman said smiling mischievously. Zasfal almost choked on his ale "fifteen" he eyed the barman in disbelief, "Yes fifteen ," the barman repeated warningly as he looked to a big man the stood by the door. "I think we shall be staying only the one night at that price" he laughed taking the required gold pieces from his pouch and handing them to the barman, who in turned handed him two small brass keys, "through the door, second and third on the right" he smiled pointing to the door at the other end of the bar. "Thank you" Zasfal said returning to his meal.

He finished his food then turned to watch how things unfolded between the stern warrior and the naive young men. It looked as though things were going well. " what is it you trade." Zasfal was surprised by the sudden question that came for a man that sat two stools down from him staring blankly into his drink . Zasfal quickly regained his composer "The very best herb's and spices from Umbar," he lied quickly. The man looked up from his drink and eyed him suspiciously, " I could show you if you like" he bluffed taking his pack from his back. "No I'm not interested in herb's and spices, but I'm sure the tribal woman will be" he said coolly returning to his drink.

Zasfal eyed him for a bit over the rim of his mug, a tribesman he thought to himself, but before he could question the man further a disturbance broke out behind him, As he whirled round he saw Essenia sanding facing off with one of the young men, It seems that one of the young men had upset her and she had smacked him in the face breaking his nose. Then the other three men stood up intending to back up their surprised friend.

Zasfal shook his head and strode up grabbing Essenia roughly by the arm, "I must apologise for my sisters outburst, " he said smiling apologetically and pulling on the fuming Essenia's arm "Come Zareena " he scolded dragging her quickly through the door to their rooms. He quickly unlocked the first door and pushed Essenia through.

She shrugged herself free and slapped him hard across the face, Zasfal stumbled back in surprise "I did not need your help" she spat at him. "And you would not have got it" he spat back wiping a dribble of blood that ran down his chin from his lip, "But in case you had forgotten we are supposed to be gathering information not brawling in bars" he said casting her an accusing look. She glared at him angrily "And I got all we needed" she huffed. "Then I think it is time we where leaving he snapped, quietly sliding open the dusty window and looking about to see if anyone was watching.

"So what did he do?" Zasfal asked grinning mischievously as she cross the room to climb out the window he held open for her, "He slighted the great city " she spat disgustingly. "Did he indeed" Zasfal replied nonchalantly, but Essenia did not miss the flash of rage in the young mans dark green eyes as she sat on the ledge in front of him. Zasfal did not see the hardened woman's surprised as he had returned to watching the street below to make sure no one would spot their leaving, once he heard the soft thud of Essenia's feet landing on the sparse grass below he too silently slipped out the window.

They silently made their way though the village making sure they were not spotted as they left. Once out of the village and walking the four or so miles back to the camp they exchanged what information they had found, it seemed that the Tribal camps were less than two days march from this village.

As they entered the camp the others where waiting for them , "What did you do!" Sevora screeched, grabbing him viciously by the arm examining his bruised face. "One of the locals got rowdy" he smiled mischievously turning to Essenia, which was a mistake, as he found out to late, Sevora hit him hard across the face causing his lip to bleed once more, Zasfal turned back to her his eyes livid with rage, But the priestess pushed her face against the side of his face, "I will suffer no more of your stupidity" she hissed sharply in his ear.

"So did you manage to find out anything" Sevora scowled stepping back and deliberately addressing only Essenia. Essenia continued to calmly tell the rest of the group what they had found out,Zasfal sat silently wreathing, that was the third time he had been hit in the face and he silently swore there would not be a fourth.

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Lyra Greenleaf's post

“Curse him! Curse him!”
Sammael paced restlessly in the murky twilight, far to one side of the camp.
“If you want to curse him” Damodred interrupted “please wait until we no longer have to travel with him”

Sammael turned irritably.
“He knew I wanted to go to the village Damodred. That’s the only reason he sent that snivelling rat. No-one would care that I don’t look like her! I don’t look like my brother Silen, but he’s still my brother!”
“You know that you show your wishes too readily. You cannot hide your emotions. That is your greatest fault, and you have been told so a thousand times. You have no-one to blame but yourself.”

Sammael sighed heavily. “I suppose you’re right. You’ve been so long in this world there must be little you don’t know”
With a forced grin he turned to walk back to the camp, clapping his hand on Damodred’s shoulder as he passed.

***************

Essenia fumed silently as she followed Zasfal back to the camp. Inwardly she cursed this eel, the fat, piggish merchant, and all men.

"What did you do!"
The piercing shriek entered Essenia’s consciousness and she glanced up. Lost in angry contemplation she hadn’t noticed that they had reached back to the camp. The priestess Sevora was in front of her examining Zasfal’s face

The foolish snake answered with a grin and turned to Essenia to back him up. Essenia smiled despite herself to see Sevora's arm lash out like a whip to strike him in the face. Then she whispered in his ear. Essenia hoped it was unpleasant.

"So did you manage to find out anything?" Sevora asked Essenia, pointedly excluding Zasfal.

Coldly, but with the respect that might have earned Zasfal a less painful punishment, Essenia told what she had learned. The tribes were gathering. The merchants had told her names that meant nothing to her- Painted Sand, Baobab, Wind Scorpion and more.

Furthermore, he had heard from someone who had returned from trading a few days ago that there was some trouble. The tribes kept their problms secret from outsiders but there were ripples of tension, it seemed, visible to all. Neither the piggy man nor his source knew what the division was about, or who it was between, but it would be useful to their cause. The Priestess' eyes lit up at the news, as Essenia had known they would. Good news always softened every blow, Sevora seemed to barely register that it was, in fact, Essenia who had been at the heart of the fight.

The merchant had told her their location happily, numbers of people, how long it was expected they would stay (as much as it was possible to know with nomads) and much more besides before he began to ask his own questions. Unwillingly Essenia had told him where she was from, hoping to get more information. The disparaging of Umbar had been given with a hand sneaking around her neck, pulling her head closer. For Sevora, Essenia added disrespect to the dark religion as the man’s true crime.

With disdain, Sevora turned to Zasfal.
"Have you anything to add?" she asked coldly.
"I talked to a tribesman..."
"WHAT?" Sevora shrieked, grabbing his shoulders.

"Goodnight" Essenia said to her back, then walked off. That boy truly was stupid. He had what was coming to him

[ July 09, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]