Underneath the sun of Ali Bara was a train caravan that stretches like a snake. The sandy hills and the brushes of cactus living on the sands alongside the rock hills painted with the color of sand. The sand snakes were following under the caravan. A young adventurer wrapped a scarf around his head. The hot wind coming from the mouth of the world made grunting sounds. Amadan turned his eyes to the merchant.

“Looks like things are moving fine.”

“Ali Bara is a desert that once stood within the mirages of Tae Amor. There was a large tent city around this place, but they disappeared the moment that the long storm came and brought over disaster.”

“You’ve been here then.”

“I was here when I visited Ali Kun four winters ago. The settlement occupies the Ali Vasa River, a river that runs underground through a cave system. The waters of Ali Vasa are said to be purer than any source of water; not that this is the truth when we don’t know the known world,” the merchant said.

Amadan puffed a smoke. “I notice that you are eager when it comes to knowing about the known world. I think you mention forty-five locations while I was sitting around doing nothing.”

“People die someday and I do not want to be one of those that died before seeing everything,” he said.

“Is that even possible? To see everything?”

“It is not that I want to see everything. I am not naïve, friend. The world isn’t so kind as to give this merchant. I could die suddenly.”

“All things die.”

“That’s right, that’s why I can use this to keep moving forward. Live and earn gold while I go around these places. I sell pipes and dried smoking leaves and that alone keeps me on the road. Anyway, Ali Tang has many places and it does surprise me that green-lander like you would come to the sands. I thought you’ll leave for Tax-Bam City.”

“Tax-Bam was a nice place,” Amadan rubbed his brows. “But I had to keep moving. This is my curse, I walk forever, merchant.”

“Then you are welcome to guard me on my steps, Walker.”

“With how you pay me?” He smirked. “I’d think about it. Smoking leaves with a merchant, that does not offer navel-dancers on the road? I don’t think I’d join.”

“You never joined those others. Five times they said that they want to poach you out of my service. Fives time you refuse and six times you ignored our beautiful dancers. You are a fine man, Amadan. Three of our dancers fancies you and one wants to marry you and have many babies.”

“I don’t get why.”

“Why not?” He bit his clay pipe. “You are a strong and the way you handle yourself speaks louder than any sweet words the adventurers barks on the girls. When you took down that Scorpion with your bare fist. I thought that the sands itself would turn into a river with those girls staring at you.”

“You are exaggerating, my friend,” Amadan said.

“I am not,” he shook his head. “Ali-kin people welcome masculinity more than handsome faces. These adventurers think they can flirt with the girls when they spit and sneer at the desert they love. That is the greatest insult they had done on this travel. If not for their veils then these adventurers would have been discouraged by the sheer anger. While they do not show such a thing to you. You have traveled the desert, and you know how to live on it, friend. I know this.”

“I have lived on the sand for many years,” Amadan said, looking at Lanon staring at the sea of sand. “Before I found myself on the grassy parts of the world. I’d been living on sand and that’s all.”

“You live with the sand and despite the heat you barely utter complaints.”

“That is the same as being mad that it rains. This is something that is not within our control. You can’t complain about how the world is. That’s a waste of time.”

“See?” He said. “This is why you are loved by the dancers. They are attracted to a man who understands the worth of the sands.”

Amadan couldn’t help but glance at the girls not far from him. Glassy-eyed ladies with pride higher than mountains. Wearing cowls and veils that cover their faces, possessing such a delicate yet toned body. Their bodies exude beauty and charm, but they are prickly thorns that could kick any adventurer in the face if they dare underestimate them. Warrior Dancers of the Sands, and strange women who were attracted to him.

“I don’t know about all of this.”

“You think too much with your head, friend. How about thinking with your genitals?”

“Yeah, no, I know that’s not a good idea and believe me, friend.”

The merchant eyed him. “I believe you. I don’t know why but your words, I believe them. Still, let the girls fancy you, and it would be better to let them do so. But I believe that taking them in as your blood-sisters will do you much good. They are reasonable and I believe they will listen to you.”

“Why not try to flirt with them?”

“I am done with that friend,” he said, and then eyed at the sash tied on his left hand. “I have only one flower and that flower shall not be sullied by another flower.”

“I get you,” Amadan said. Amadan leaned his hand on the wagon and looked at the sled that was being pulled by beasts. The wheels of the wagons were on the back of the wagon and so far he had met bandits, monsters, and strange natural occurrence within this desert. He was far now from where she would be and Amadan felt free. The Old Man was gone, and Lanon had been silent. Amadan didn’t know why but he felt like he was free, released from bondage and the invisible collar around his neck was gone. Like a weight that was lifted after carrying it for too long. Amadan never thought that such a choice would lead him to feel so light.

He had settled on the wagon slash tent with the merchants. The bright dots on the sky were visible on the bucket’s surface. The caravan formed a rectangle and in the middle of the formation was a giant fire that was conjured by gathering all the wood they had carried.

People wore thick clothes while near the fire compared to the thin clothing they had on the day. Amadan played with his clay pipe while the merchant was inside his wagon, snoring. The dancers gathered near the bonfire and started doing their thing except for the one whose eyes sparkled like diamonds.

“Sula, right?”

“Yes, Stallion.”

“Stallion?”

“You are.”

“Oh,” Amadan rubbed his chin. “Why are you not dancing, Sula?”

“I have done my dancing. My sweat had been paid. I am now a metal dancer.”

“Is there a difference?”

“They are sweat dancing while I dance with the metal now,” Sula said.

“That makes sense,” Amadan said.

“You don’t look at me.”

“I don’t.”

“Why?”

Amadan looked up, “I don’t think that you are not beautiful. Believe me, you are one of the many that I think is beautiful. But I was recently free from a woman’s hand.”

She beamed at him, “I am thinking that this woman is far stronger than me.”

“Why think of that?”

“Only a strong woman can handle someone like you. You are a beast that hides behind masks. I can see you.”

“I don’t think that I am hiding anything.”

“Other than the ghost you speak to when alone,” she buried her feet on the sand. “Your veils are too easy to see, Walker.”

Amadan had no reply to that. What can he reply when he would never clarify? Sula continued looking at him. Her eyes were judging him and he could only stare back. Amadan thought of her eyes as sapphire. She had this lock of hair that was in the middle of her forehead.

“Is it in your culture to be so aggressive?”

“When a man can defeat sand monsters as easily as you are when even the adventurers could not do so easily – do not be surprised that women such as I find your fascination. Men in cities think that everyone is the same. That we look for handsome men with riches. But we are a race of warriors that had abided in this tradition. What is the use of a man who could not hold a hunt with his woman? What is the use of your handsomeness if we starve?”

“Just move to the city then.”

“Do you think that a fish can swim on land? You asked too much.”

“You are a human and I know that you can.”

“And why are you far from home, Walker?”

“I have no home,” Amadan said. “That’s the gist of it.”

Amadan saw the light paint her face. He could hear the sonata of the singers and the dance of the girls. The faces of the men were happily red while partaking on the swinging hips. However, no hand reached out, not when the girl’s dagger swings with their hips as well.

“You are serious about this,” said Sula. “You are a man who does not lie, but may I be your blood-sister?”

She slashed her palm with her nail. Amadan held his palm up. “Okay, calm down, Sula. You are moving too fast.”

“If you do not want to accept me then be my blood-brother. I am a free woman and I shall walk with you until I find my road to take.”

“That sounds like an excuse.”

“I don’t need to take that from you. Come, take my hand.”

“This is a bad idea,” Amadan said, taking the hand, and gripping it firmly.

“It is not,” she gripped his hand tighter. “So now that you are my brother. May I ask where we are going?”

“To the sand city.”

“The sand city sits on the crater. The great rock still releases cold even to this day. What are you exactly looking for in that place?”

“Nothing,” Amadan declared. “I am a Wanderer looking for refuge and I think the Boss wants me to guard him. We are fellow travelers after all.”

“Rahim is a good man. But he has no masculinity in his marrow.”

“Not everyone likes fighting.”

Sula said, “And you like fighting?”

“I do. Blazes, I like it since I am good at it.”

She folded her arms, “Rahim was a warrior once. He abandoned all of his assets when once, he was a man who’s followed by sand dancers. He has left the sand in search of greener pastures and salty seas. I cannot blame a man for wanting to search for the world. But to abandon his home’s identity for the sake of mingling with the rest of the world is plain bad for the sands.”

Amadan didn’t get what she was saying, “So why make me your blood-brother when we barely know each other? Don’t tell me this is a ploy?”

“Your anxious mind surprises me. You act like a sand dweller and you walk the sands as proper as we do, Brother. But worry not, you shall not be mistaken as a pretender, but a true walker of the sands.”

“I don’t understand any of that.”

“You are not well-read are you?” She asked. “I’ve long suspected that you do not know of us. Or our existence does not merit your attention?”

“No,” Amadan shook his head. “It is just that I am ignorant of the world. This world seems so endless that I simply had no time. Not to mention my memories do not align with what I know.”

Sula stared confused, “I see that you are not lying. Then shall I educate you, Brother? I will make sure that you will receive the proper lessons to know what this land of sand is.”

Amadan deftly nodded. He looked at the blood on his palm and tried activating his powers to no avail. He thought, “It looks like my powers have been ripped apart by the original and I have no control over it other than the enhanced strength of my body. No, I am deprived of the ability to use magic unless needed.

The journey continued and sands gathered on his cloak. The Boss lazily watched the sands continue. The landscape stretching far into the horizon. Sula had wrapped her veil around her face and carried a spear on her hand. She had three spears on her back and a dagger on her waist. She sat in the same seat where Amadan was.

The air smelled hot and sucking air was the same as taking in hot air inside your lungs. The desert wasn’t all just sand either. They had to go through passages that shield them from the incoming strong winds that blow from the east. The caravan had to switch between the sleds and the wheels. The beast that was pulling the wagon had to stop since even they are unable to cross the desert when the sand rages. The beast he rode looked similar to a buffalo but had longer limbs and long eyebrows that protects the beast from the sand.

The cliffs of this valley were reddish. Sula lounged on a rock while Amadan had his face covered while the storm rages above their heads. The rest of the caravans were hugging the red cliffs.

“The red storm,” Sula said. “I like sandy storms such as this. It reminds me of the time where I was reading this book about lances. Ma and Da had this problem with this sweetbreads.”

“Bread and reading,” Amadan said. “Kind of girlish for a woman who has three spears.”

“And kind of rude for a man who cannot harden in front of a beauty. But do not worry, Brother. I will accept you for what you are.”

“This false sense of affection is just odd.”

“False?” She looked insulted. “I have spilled blood and gripped your hand tightly. To not love your blood-brother after doing so is the same as insulting myself. Whoever woman you’ve must have broken you. Do not worry. When you tire of treating me as your blood-sister. I shall allow you to court me as a bride.”

“That makes no sense,” Amadan said.

“To the ignorant, it does not. When you took my hand as a blood-sister I’ve released my affection. Or does your culture allow fornication with your sisters?”

“No.” Amadan shook his head.

“Then it only makes sense that you have to start over. I was willing but you broke my heart and accepted me as a sister.”

“I have no idea how your culture works.”

“Think of it as a blood promise. A promise made between two palms holds more weight than words without blood.”

“I just want to walk the desert. Not have a sister that wanted to be my wife a while ago.”

“Was I the one who accepted my blooded palm?” Sula said. “Ah, yes, that was not me; that was you. You could have refused but you choose to accept my palm. What kind of person are you to accept something so casually? Did you not think at all?”

“It made you stop.”

“That is not a wise choice. One must always stop and think about this. Do you accept someone’s offer without knowing the offer?”
“Being your blood-brother was enough.”

“Enough to make you accept someone’s offer because she offered her hand. Brother, I worry about your sense of security. You should not do this. But fret not your Sister shall make sure that you do not fall for the wiles of lecherous women.”

“I have no comment on that.”

She raised a brow. The sands above them blew stronger. “I worry that the man I have tried to make my husband was a foo. Who knew that I was right? I think that I had made the best choice.”

“Do you now?” Amadan kicked the sand. “Nice to hear that you are convinced that it was the wrong choice.”

“I do not need anything other than a babe,” Sula said. “But I’ve now escaped the path that my sisters have tried on me.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

“That I was using you to escape wedlock? That I saw you as a strong fool with no head?”

“That as well. Believe me, no man is that lucky and I believe that my luck with women is troubling.”

“When you are easily fooled like this it makes sense. Like I said, fret not, for your Sister here shall make sure that her Brother does not fornicate with the wrong woman.”

“You use me. I don’t like being used.”

“And that’s why I am your Sister now. Do you not like having a Sister to bond with? Of course, you like having a Sister. Rahim agrees that I shall accompany you now.”

“The Boss did?”

“He is easily swayed by someone who could protect him. The man has no marrow in his bones that I feel pity to anyone who sleeps with him. Ah, enough about your woes, tell me isn’t she beautiful?”

She pointed at one of the adventurers. “She has long silky hair. Her buttocks are very nice to me. I want to touch it.”

“So you swing both ways.”

“Love is love,” she said proudly. “And lust is lust. A person shall follow his or her wills when can. That is life.”

“Is that so?” Amadan snorted.

“She talking silly again?” Rahim asked.

“Yes,” Amadan replied.

“Then do not bother. She should have been wedded a long time ago. But her tastes are worse and her mind’s not in the right place. She should be married to a good young man with a good sense of strength. Yet here she was wandering the world for reasons people sneer at.”

Sula glared with murder. Amadan calmly looked at her murderous eyes and said nothing. Rahim stared back like a dead fish out of water. He took his pipe out and glanced at the raging storm of dust and sand carving the cliffs above.

“The way’s going to be opened soon. Might want to get ready, Walker. The path is going to open and the king of the sands is going to try and kill us. The adventurers are readying up their gear. You should as well. Sula, you are a metal dancer now, ready your spear!”

 

One of the rocks that blocked the valley entrance started moving. Amadan took a position within the vicinity of Rahim’s wagon while the adventurers guarded the front. Sula readied her spear while staring at the mountain of a creature.

“The old man of the pale pass,” Amadan muttered. The creature that was rising from the sands did not make him happy. Sula held her silence. Rahim readied in the caravans while the spell casters readied their arsenals.

The sand golem towered like a building. Gust and maelstrom broke through every corner of the landscape. The spells rattled like snakes and the area around the paths started tearing through the combined might of the adventurers and the spell casters.

Amadan had realized that the people here were stronger than normal humans. The fresh air coupled with the sweet and sickly amount of energy had made these people stronger. This world was new and rules of the strong were far different than he knew.

Amadan was happy about this world. The adventurers started fighting and the way they fought made him remember the days when he and the people around him fought to defeat a single monster who these people could easily kill. He remembered the screams and their voices. The loud strength that they carry in their voices as they use their bodies to defeat one single demon while the heroes do their work. Just normal humans holding the line for the sake of humanity.

“The world is lucky,” Amadan said. “They have people as strong as them.”

He felt jealous that such a world had these people. There were only a few of them in that world and he could not forget the despair on their faces as they face the unending tide of flesh. But beyond that despair was something more beautiful. Amadan continued watching while Lanon, who did not appear, took his sight and pointed it at the monster. The adventurers held the beast off but the beast summoned creature out of the rocks beside the caravan. Amadan did not wait for the adventurers to their backs. He swatted the mace on the side of the wagon and clubbed one rock beast. The beast shattered with his swing and he followed it by neutralizing the beast around the wagon train. The rest of the party of guards barely defended against the monster who was made of rocks. Sula had to use a shield to defend the caravan while Amadan had to disable them with a mace to the head or the chest. When the mace got bent he used his bare hands to slam them on the ground. The Adventurers were keeping the gigantic beast down but it wasn’t enough to control the maddened creatures trying to distract the adventurers from winning. Amadan made his move and exerted strength to gather all the stone monsters. By the time the adventurers staring tearing the knees of the monster. The monster blew a strong gust around the adventurers and brought them down to the ground bleeding. The spell casters had their shields shattered and the first wagons were immediately destroyed by the blast that came out suddenly from the monster.

The other adventurers held the line back to the caravan. Sula stood in front of Rahim whose dead-like eyes barely had emotions on it. Amadan sprinted past the wagons and tackled the giant with his shoulder. The adventurers came running with their weapons lashing out with power. The giant rolled to the side and pushed up to leap. The whole of the valley trembled and before he knew it. Rocks fell on the side of the passage and many more rolled to the side. The first five wagons were broken by the rocks. Amadan dashed to a rock rolling towards Rahim’s wagon and stopped it, throwing the rock to the beast.

The Adventurers gathered their companions and soothed the adventurers and made the adventurers rise. They rose to action and started guiding the beast. The combined efforts of the adventures and Amadan managed to push the beast back. Amadan scaled the rock beast until he reached the chest area. Placing both hands on the beast’s body; he summoned obsidian spikes inside the rocky beast’s body and stunned it. He pulled his fist back and slammed that fist on the body of the beast. The beast’s skin shattered and Amadan leaped out of the beast’s body, allowing the spellcasters to strike down the rocky beast with a tornado of spells. Amadan glided on air until he landed on the sand with a roll to break his fall. The adventurers focused their mangled weapons and launched an attack that broke the knees of the beast.

A spell caster’s voice echoed and a large hammer of rock landed on the beast’s head, shattering the stone head into pieces. Blue blood wetted the floor. Amadan lowered his fists and turned his attention to the caravan. Amadan felt exhausted using the obsidian spikes and make it ravage the beast’s rocky body. Amadan sat on the ground and saw Sula walking towards him. She stopped when she was a step away from him.

“See? Many of my sisters affirm that they want to capture you. Fear not, I have told them that you are my blood-brother,” she offered her hand.

Amadan pulled himself up, “Thant’s for that.” He looked at the wagons on the front. “How many died?”

“One of the wagons got crushed underfoot by the boulders. We’ll be arriving on the next spot so until then you need to take a rest on the wagon. I’ll gut Rahim if he doesn’t make my Brother rest after his contribution.”

Amadan nodded. He felt the eyes of the adventurers. They nodded at him and turn their attention back to the wagons they were protecting. Amadan plodded until he reached Rahim’s wagon. Rahim eyed Amadan and pointed at the rocky beast.

“You have earned favors and now they want to poach you. You’ll get your share friend, and I hope it will help you in helping me.”

Amadan flinched. He vaulted inside the wagon and leaned his back. He looked at the sandy sky and pulled his cloak to cover his face.