They stayed in the oasis for the day, savouring the fruits and breathing the air. Water filled their dried bodies and flesh filled their bones.
The moon gazed down between the canopies of palms and stars sprinkled the sky. The sand started to cool and they saddled the mounts. "If we start now, we may reach Niparim by tomorrow," Thraos said.
The stars lit up their path and they saw cactuses waving their thorny leaves. They saw lizards burrowing into the sand. Dalyor saw a man covered from head to toe with linen walking with a camel. He saw the party and stood there stunned. He ran away with the camel as fast as he could.
"That was rude," Chaenath said.
"Humans have rarely seen beings of our types. It is only natural that they are afraid of us," Thraos said calmly.
Dawn came upon them like a creeping snake. The sun shed red light from the horizon and painted the sands orange and clouds scattered the sky in white
