"Infernal flames, bloody soil, hidden valley, buzzing arrow." The young girl woke suddenly, her voice a plaintive murmur.
The scene that greeted her was one of utter pandemonium. Amidst the choking haze of dust and smoke, beings with sallow skin, bright yellow eyes, and swathed in diaphanous beige tunics, draped with veils, battled to the death with ogres and orcs. Though they resembled humans at first glance, there was something otherworldly about them. They spat as they fought, and wherever their saliva fell - be it flesh or sandy earth - a burst of smoke and agonizing heat followed in its wake. The orcs, their skin blistering and blackening from the caustic spray, howled in unbridled anguish.
Allendra's attention was drawn to two warriors astride single-humped camels. With a coordinated movement, they threw a chain-made net over Raaz, ensnaring the elven mist as he uprooted his adversaries. Raaz struggled within the web, writhing like a fish out of water, but his sword was no match for the unyielding metal links. The warrior controlling the net tightened its grip and dragged Raaz and his mount across the ground, leaving them vulnerable to attack.
In that instant, Allendra caught sight of Baaz lurking in the shadows, a short distance away. The mist elf watched the fight with a sly grin, as if reveling in Raaz's struggle. Allendra locked eyes with Baaz for a moment. The elf rolled his eyes in boredom and began murmuring an incantation. With a flicker, he vanished into thin air.
Seconds later, one of the camel drivers - the warrior holding Raaz in the net - collapsed to the ground, a dagger buried deep in his back. Baaz reappeared, leaping onto the camel with a deft move. He hurled an arrow at the other driver, but the projectile failed to deliver the fatal blow he'd hoped for. Baaz wrestled to control the unfamiliar camel as the snake skinned warrior charged toward him, wielding a curved, sickle-shaped spear.
Baaz veered the camel sideways, clinging to the saddle as he evaded the warrior's thrust. The man was forced to pull back his spear at the last moment, for camels were worth more than gold in desert life. It was a costly mistake. The warrior struggled to regain his balance, but before he could react, the other mist elf emerged from the shadows, sword flashing in the air. With a swift strike, he cleaved through the warrior's back, felling him with a single blow.
At the sight of their comrade's demise, the remaining camel riders and foot soldiers fled in terror. The ogres gave chase, but Bishop managed to rein them in with difficulty.
"Curse you, you damned sib. You arrived too late," Raaz spat at Baaz.
"Waiting for the opportune moment was the wise choice," Baaz retorted calmly.
"I'll be watching you, Baaz," Raaz growled through gritted teeth.
"And I'll be waiting," Baaz replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Raaz cursed in a language Allendra couldn't understand, his wounds seeping blood.
"Everyone, calm yourselves!" Bishop bellowed, stepping in between the two mist elves.
"We knew the Snakeskins would pay us a visit. We've suffered minor losses - only three orcs have perished. Nothing we can't handle. What matters is that they fear us now. And to top it all, we've gained two camels. Not a bad prize, if I may say so."
Allendra's curiosity got the better of her. "Who are the Snakeskins?" she asked.
But Bishop gave her no answer.
"Let's pack up camp," he announced brusquely.
The band of warriors tended to their wounds as if nothing had occurred and proceeded to break down the camp. The desert night appeared unremarkable, but the surge of adrenaline invigorated the fighters, who had been wandering aimlessly and unfocused for three long days. It reminded them of the importance of discipline. Taking advantage of the orc sentinels' neglect, they launched a surprise attack on the sleeping orcs. The first victim was one of the slumbering orcs. The second orc managed to scream a warning before succumbing to death. The third orc fell during the battle. The ogres had proven themselves too strong for the Snakeskins, who, in addition to losing two camel drivers, suffered nine more casualties.
Allendra surveyed the slain local warriors from a distance. Their faces and necks shone with a golden hue, and their skin appeared honeycombed and serrated. Most of them had been stripped of their hair, but those who had a tuft of hair had strands that resembled leek fringes or broom bristles. Baaz cautioned the little girl that they were the Ancient Children of Pharrah, a half-human, half-snake race, whose bodies bore tough scales in some places. He added that they had salivary glands beneath their sharp teeth and could spit a potent acid. She nodded solemnly, understanding the danger.
Allendra had learned the importance of composure and courage when speaking with the elf of the mist, and so she kept a respectable distance from Baaz, speaking only when necessary. In the book she had read, there was only one line about these creatures, the Ancient Children of Pharrah:
Hark! Behold the noble offspring of
Pharrah's ancient bloodline,
Whose hearts devoutly honor their divinities divine,
Patiently awaiting the union of sun and moon,
Eclipsed as one, their spirits shrouded in mystic boon.
As light fades into darkness and darkness fades to light,
Chosen ones shall rise from their slumber of the night,
Their advent heralded by prophetic bards of old,
Whose sacred verses in their hearts they enfold.
After seven rounds of sun and moon's celestial dance,
Through seven trials and tribulations, they'll advance,
Till the ancient children of
Pharrah witness their destined day,
Emerging triumphant from sevenfold chaos and dismay.
And rise to claim their rightful place among the nations today."
After a brief rest, the weary caravan set off again, Allendra riding on the camel behind Bishop, with Baaz traveling on the other camel. They headed northwest, towards an unknown destination.