Chapter 230 - Time [5] (1/2)

We're getting closer,” Chang Chang said without prompting, startling Ju Feng next to her as he held the crodlu reins.

They had been in the wastes for two days without incident, which was nothing short of miraculous. Ju Feng just knew that meant something horrible would happen that day, so he was completely on edge. Just then, they were trudging slowly up a rise. Fa and Fu Ma were asleep in the back—they were taking more and more midday naps.

From behind him in the front part of t chittered something in Chachik, then: ”We know we're getting closer, that's kind of the point of going through the wastes to Urik—to get closer.”

Shaking her head, Chang Chang said, ”No, I mean we're closer to where Gan is. I can feel him now.”

”Good,” Ruo had been walking alongside the carriage—his long legs could easily keep stride with the pace the crodlus were making while pulling the carriage uphill—and he suddenly moved closer to the front where Ju Feng and the others were. ”We need to be alert.”

Peering ahead, Ju Feng saw what the mul was talking about. ”That's the top of the rise.”

Nodding, Zu Ruo said, ”Prime ambush spot.” Then he started moving faster, wanting to be ahead of the crodlus when they arrived at the top of the rise in case there was an ambush.

Nervously, Ju Feng flicked his wrists to whip the crodlus with the reins. It didn't serve any useful function except to annoy the mounts, since they couldn't really go any faster with the burden they had. But the last thing he wanted to deal with was an attack on the carriage, especially since they were traveling alone. Zu Ruo could handle most problems—few of the desert scavengers could stand up to a mul—and Tricht'tha could hold her own in a fight too.

That was more for use against those who couldn't be talked to. Opponents who could hold a conversation were not ones that they were too terribly worried about.

Zu Ruo was standing at the top of the rise when the carriage arrived, hands on h.i.p.s.

We're clear,” the mul said, three seconds before four people leaped out from beneath the sand.

Ju Feng barely had time to acknowledge that they were there when one of them had grabbed Chang Chang and yanked her down off the carriage. He smoothly wrapped an arm around her neck. They wore the trademark all-black of the Black Sands Raiders, though the outfits were a bit ragged and torn. Of their mounts, there was no sign—which was odd, as atop the rise, they could see everything for miles.

”Oh great,” Ju Feng said, as much for the benefit of the others in the emporium still inside the carriage as it was for their attackers, ”more raiders. Is there any way this trip can get worse?”

”Give us everything you have,” demanded the man with his arm on Chang Chang's neck, ”or the girl dies.”

Tricht'tha chittered. ”Thought the Black Sands only traveled in groups of twelve.”

”We did. The others're dead, and our crodlus ran. We got nothin' left, so we got nothin' to lose. We want all your coin.”

Ju Feng pointed behind the carriage. ”Go about ten miles that way, you may catch up with it. You're the third set of thieves we've hit since we left Raam.”

Another Raider spoke. ”That's a pretty well-laden carriage.” He was closest to Zu Ruo, and the mul was staring daggers at him, his fists clenching and opening. Zu Ruo wasn't going to do anything until Chang Chang was safe, but the fact that Chang Chang was in danger didn't speak well for the Raider's continued survival if Zu Ruo had anything to say about itShrugging, Ju Feng said, ”That's merchandise. You wanna take it, knock yourself out, but without crodlus, you're gonna have a hard time of it.”

The one holding Chang Chang said, ”We can take your mounts.”

”You crazy, Voras? It'll take us weeks to get back if we're carrying all this crap.”

Voras turned on the other one. ”Shut up, Tralk.”

Another one said, ”He's right, I ain't takin' no carriage.”

The last one said, ”Why not?”

From behind Ju Feng, he heard his sister say, ”Oh, please, let them take the carriage.”

Whirling around, Ju Feng cried, ”What?”

Climbing to the front of the carriage and taking the seat next to Ju Feng where Chang Chang had been before being grabbed, Kariang said, ”Just let them take it. We're close enough that we can get there on foot within a few days.” Before Ju Feng could say anything, she said, ”Just take it. We'll walk to the spot on the map.”

Voras's eyes widened. ”What map?”