Book 7, Chapter 79 - Crescent Moon (1/2)

Book 7, Chapter 79 - Crescent Moon

An endless blue sky. Vast, yellow sand. Nothing seemed to exist between.

The wind kicked up plumes of grit, forming into dervishes that danced along the dunes. For a moment sky and sand were joined as the swirling winds meandered toward the northern horizon. Out there was a ribbon of green that could be easily overlooked or dismissed as a mirage. A secluded oasis in the shape of a crescent moon hugged a small lake that reflected the azure heavens above.

It was a small respite from the desert, with a population of only several hundred. Most were pregnant women and children. A rare sight in today’s broken world.

It was certainly a target. There were those who sought to plunder the oasis from its wealth and women. However, in an almost mythical fashion, anyone with wicked intentions – from the lowliest bandit to the mightiest sweeper clan – was annihilated before they could act. No survivors remained, only the memory of their cruel fate.

Over time people came to know that this otherwise ordinary encampment was protected by a mysterious power. It was unbreakable, unassailable.

Sprout rose with the dawn. He fetched some water, cleaned, cooked and fed the animals. Once all his chores were done, he then sat by the camp’s entrance and stared out into the wastes.

He was a large and hideous man, but although he looked intimidating he was actually quite timid. People ordered him around all day and he never complained. Instead, with an amicable smile, he merely did as he was told.

Sprout’s past was a mystery to him these days, but that didn’t trouble him. He didn’t want to know what had happened to him before. Something was wrong with his head, but he thought maybe that was a good thing. All misfortune and unhappiness came from the past. What people regretted and what they missed. Sometimes it also came from fear of the future. Sprout focused on the present, where he was happy. There was no need to dwell on the past. There was no reason to fixate on tomorrow.

He was happy now.

What made him the happiest was sitting in front of the oasis and protecting it. He stared at the sand dunes, rolling across the horizon like frozen waves. Overhead the solid blue sky stretched on forever, as empty as his head. It was glorious. Just a blissful emptiness, with nothing to think on and nothing to fuss over.

Clink, clink!

The jangling sound of a makeshift wind-chime rose with the breeze. Sprout’s eyes caught a group of small dots on a distant ridge. He turned back and shouted over his shoulder. “The Master’s back! Master’s back!”

His words surprised the oasis denizens. Sixty or seventy percent of the people here were women or children and from among them came a pretty – if rather thin – lady. Her hair was tied back with a kerchief and she was wrapped in simple animal leathers. Among the folds was a small infant.

She was Luciasha, the leader of their home.

It was strange that in this brutal world, where the strong often subdued the weak, a woman with no powers to speak of served as their leader. This was even more surprising when one learned that the camp actually had many capable fighters who all bowed to her.

Beside Luciasha stood a woman dressed all in black. She held a sheathed long sword in one hand. Serious in speech and manner, with her face covered in a dark veil, she was an intimidating figure that could cut down a contingent of Skycloud warriors without issue.

Revenant’s eyes were fixed on the horizon. “He’s back.”

Luciasha’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Yes. And he’s brought others with him this time.”

It was clear from the people’s reaction that this visitor was not an enemy.

Among the encroaching group was a group of camels and other beasts of burden, laden with supplies. Cheers erupted among the denizens as the resources were delivered and they rushed over to greet the arrivals.

A young man dropped from the back of one of the beasts and addressed the people with a wide smile. “Don’t worry, there’s enough for everyone. Sprout, let’s get this stuff passed out.”

Sprout happily obliged. Luciasha then came over and looked the young man over.

“Squall, I’m surprised you have the time to visit!”

The young member of the Hand of Gehenna was around twenty five now and had the bearing of a mature traveler. He’d changed a lot from his days with Bloomnettle Company, but even after all this time he was still a part of Luciasha’s life. Although they were apart much longer than they were together, both knew it was only for a little while.