Let me tell you a story that you will not find in any of our people's books…
One evening as the farmers returned from a successful harvest, they found the village on fire. Among them was a man named Thorus. Realising that it was a Sand Eater attack, he ran to his home but found it empty. The sand eaters had come swiftly and the chaos they caused allowed them to slip away just as swiftly again. Many were injured, but more still were missing. They had been taken. This was the third attack that year and now they had stolen Thorus' wife and young child.
Thorus knew that the Sand Eaters would travel back to their burrows. A forbidden place. There, it is said, they would feast on the flesh of the captured for days. Thorus also knew the village leaders would not sacrifice more lives to save the ones that had been taken. Thorus decided to attempt a rescue by himself. When the others returned to their homes, he set out under the cover of darkness into the wastes, determined to bring back his wife and son.
He tracked the Sand Eaters for hours but by dawn, he had lost the trail. He looked back toward Thay, under which they lived. It was still so large in the sky. Yet he knew he must have travelled quite a distance. He decided to press on in the direction he thought the Sand Eater Burrows were located.
A few hours into the morning Thorus was under the full sun for the first time in his life. He was dehydrated, hungry, and tired. Still, he refused to stop, even as his eyes burned and his skin flaked. Finally, on the dusk of the second day, Thorus took one look back at the Island. It seemed so much further away now. He must have come a long way, but he was sure he had gone off the trail. Frustration and fatigue took him and he collapsed.
Sometime later he awoke to water being fed to him. He opened his eyes and found an older man standing over him with a friendly smile. The man was dressed oddly and seemed cool and well-groomed in the harsh climate. He had eyes so blue they looked as if they were cut from the sky and his dark hair was like the night. His beard while short and black, betrayed his age with flecks of grey.
"I was afraid you were lost friend," The strange man said, "good thing I spotted you when I did."
They both looked back at the island. Even in the dark, Thay glowed from the godly light above.
The man asked: "Where were you going Thorus? Your home is back that way"
Thorus was suddenly alert. This man in the middle of the desert knew his name. He clearly was not bothered by the climate. Finally, he said: "Are you an angel of our Lord?"
The man laughed at this. A good-natured friendly laugh. Thorus was unsure why what he said was so funny. The man stood and helped Thorus to his feet.
He looked into the desert and said: "No I am not. I am merely a servant of the people. My name is Kez Visat."
At this Thorus dropped down to his knees once more and averted his eyes.
"I'm sorry my lord. Please forgive me for being so forward." He was staring at the sand unsure of what to do. He had never been a true believer. Now he stood in the presence of his people's highest deity.
Kez still friendly and with a warm voice said: "Thorus, please stand up. Believe me that we have much in common. If things had been different our roles may have been reversed. That is why I am here. I saw your predicament and your bravery in the face of great danger. I am here to help."
Thorus stood and stared at the god before him. He seemed human from this close. His clothes and cloak were off-white with gold trim and it was apparent that they were very high quality. Yet he stood there staring into the wasteland with his arms folded casually. Thorus knew that this normal-looking, yet strangely dressed man, wielded power beyond his imagining.
Kez crossed his arms and looked at Thorus with those sky-blue eyes.
"I offer you a choice Thorus of the Shadow Dwellers. I can return you to your home safe and healthy. Or I can loan you my power to use as you see fit. Both choices come with a cost. The cost is the same for both. Go home and never see your family again. Or use my power to save them and come be my vassal. This way also, you will never see them again, but they will be safe. Of that, you have my word."
Thorus was about to speak but Kez held up a hand.
"Think well friend. Do not act rashly."
Thorus wasting no time said: "If you please my lord. I want no power for myself. I only care about my wife and child. Please help me save my family."
Kez stood looking at the horizon. For a while Thorus was not sure he would move, then Kez Visat spoke.
"How would you wield my power Thorus, had you taken it? Would you destroy the Sand Eaters to a soul? Would you like to turn the desert to ash that they may never bother your people again? Or would you silently steal away your family? Or is there something else you would have done instead?"
Thorus thought for a while, opening his mouth several times without actually speaking. Finally, he nodded his head once and said: "If it pleases you, my lord. If I had your power, I would take the captured people to safety and build a wall to protect my people as they have never been protected before."
Kez looked at the thin man before him. He still looked tired and perhaps now a bit weary of his adventure.
"You would not have destroyed your enemy?" Kez asked.
"No my lord. There are always enemies. If we destroyed them all, we would be no better than the ancients from when you were still a man. If you'll excuse my bluntness."
Kez beamed a smile at this man and stepped closer.
"Thorus, you are indeed a good man and clearly you have a kind soul. Also you seem to have a good head on your shoulders. And please call me Kez. We'll be working together closely after all."
The god waved his hand above his head and a swarm of lights started streaming from the island.
"No casualties unless absolutely required commander." the Lord of Sight said into the air. Thorus did not doubt that somehow this was intended for the lights and they would complete the order with perfection.
When the lights had all left Thay and flown overhead to a destination unknown, Kez turned and said to Thorus: "I will construct great ring walls under Thay. Your people will be safe for as long as I am able. Your wife and child will be safe. Additionally going forward you will be named Thorus Sandseeker. Now it is time for us to go."
Light started to glow from the being beside Thorus. And both of them ascended into the sky and started traveling toward the island and amazing speed.
The island was larger than Thorus could ever have imagined. The furthest edge disappearing into the distance. In the center of the massive island stood a blue and white tower stretching into the heavens. It had water falling from it on four sides. More water than Thorus thought existed in the world. The top of this tower was their destination and they landed as if walking down a step.
"Welcome to your new home." Kez said walking along a hallway. When he came to a door almost halfway down, he stopped and nodded to Thorus.
"This will be your house. I'm sure you will find everything you need in there. In the morning we will start. For now, please make yourself at home."
With that, the god of Thorus' people walked off. Still seeming like just another man.
Thorus stood in front of the door. It was red and ornate. He placed his hand against it and sighed. What he would have given to say farewell to his family. He wondered if it was too late to ask. He pushed the door open. He was tired and longed for sleep. Walking through the house, he got turned around a few times. It seemed larger than his whole village, except that it was empty and still. He wished for some of the bustle and sounds from the village. Finally, he came to a bedroom. He laid down and slept like a dead man.
In the morning he woke, hungry yet seemingly in good health otherwise. The place beside him on the bed was empty and cold for the first time since his youth. His heart was heavy. Perhaps he would ask his new lord if he could say farewell after all. He decided to look for something to eat in his new home. He went from room to room and quickly found another bedroom. Unlike last night, it was already occupied. In the bed, two figures were sleeping. His wife and his young son Sailus. They looked at peace and tears started flowing down his face, washing away the sand and worry still on him from the day before.
"That is not at all how I remember it" Kez Visat murmured to himself. He was standing arms casually folded leaning against a wall.
The young girl stood wide-eyed, staring at the two men. One her adoptive father Sailus and the other as far as she knew a literal God. What's more, they knew each other. Not only knew each other but seemed to be rather good friends. She supposed that Sailus had always told her he had met the gods. But never did she suspect he meant grew up in a house with one. That was a detail he had casually omitted. Saiyi's last few days had been very strange. The last thing she expected was for it to become stranger still. She was pretty sure she needed to sit down or something. Perhaps she would try passing out for a while and have the flying dream again. Though her body did not feel tired at all. Her burns and aches were gone and she was neither hungry nor thirsty. She played with the amulet in her hands, its gem like a red stained diamond. The God standing beside her had one just like it. The only difference is that his gem was deep red like a ruby. She finally decided she would have a sit down. She had so many questions rushing through her head but all she managed to get out was: "Father, excuse me but, what the fuck."