After the Erystu walked away from the watcher Taik, Rahul looking back at them saw nothing but dots on the horizon and he traversed in hurry to the place that last he saw his brother stung by the terrible Imtasha. He walked nervously for in his palms he held a pond of the water from the watcher Taik and had to watch over his hands so as not to spill it. And so, he walked in fear of his brother Gohola and in fear of his brothers and the good God Eish and in fear of never finding his way back to the great green north. He walked as his feet dragged across the desert only accompanied by the ever-watchful eye and God above Iragur. Such he traversed until finally he came across the place where the winds of the sandstorm have made dunes and so Rahul recognized this to be the place where him and his brothers encountered the monsters and where Gohola fell to the terrifying Imshta. He walked across and up on the dunes to see from height where his brother may be but he saw that the entire landscape was filled only with fallen monsters and their rotting corpses slashed and destroyed and most skinned and he was in fear again because he saw that the Imshta too was lying there dead and he could only presume that whatever God slain the creatures showed no mercy to Gohola either and he nearly poured the water from the watcher Taik on the ground in hopelessness but he saw a cloud of dust somewhere in the distance and soon nearing and he went down the dune and towards it. He passed the monster corpses and walked towards it and it grew in his eyes and he soon saw that it was riders of count about two dozen on half as many beasts and as they neared to him, he stiffened and showed his chest and glanced at Iragur. The pack stopped and demounted what seemed as great wolves almost as tall as Rahul himself and they themselves were slightly taller than him and darker skinned and they were as hairy as the animals they rode and unlike the Erystu their ears were distinct and large. As they walked slowly towards him, he noticed they were not naked like him but clothed in the skins of the beast they must have slain and some of a material that was shiny and stiff, and their smell was distinct although not that of dead beasts but rather of nature and blossom. They also wore helmets which covered most of their heads with an additional layer of skin atop. They came near and one made himself distinct afront, a great tall man even among his company and when he neared, he spoke as such:

  ?Hello stranger, I am Ram, officer of the Zabourians followers of the Lord Arr-Zabou, where do you come from? Who do you follow?”

  ?Hello Ram officer of the Zabourians, I am Rahul son of good God Eish of the Erystu prior of the desert and now of the Great Green North” Rahul responded

  ?Follower of a God? So, you are a vagabond? Do you come from a large people?” The stranger inquired carefully

  ?My people are few, but we are of great spirit and sheltered by the good God Eish who is watched over by the graceful eye of the one above Iragur” Rahul responded equally carefully.

  ?So, you are abandoned, and you are weak. Why are you alone? What can the monster eye do for you? It only brings calamity” The stranger decided to not engage in curtesy anymore and spoke frankly which Rahul saw as a sign that there might still be a chance for him

  ?It brings calm to the good God Eish” He responded gracefully.

  ?And you say you are protected. How if one of the Gods you pray to cannot shelter you and your people are few and you stand here alone in the desert at our mercy” The man was getting more direct, now it felt as if Rahul’s chance was slipping away.

  ?Please” Rahul felt the power leaving his body and desperation take over.

  ?Please I am just looking for my brother, he was here stung by the Imtasha have you seen him?” The officer Ram looked around at his people.

  ?We slain the Imtasha along with the other monsters. What hath you in your hands?” The officer suddenly noticed that Rahul’s hands have been locked together all this time.

  ?Please, have you seen my brother? I need to find him” Rahul pleaded.

  ?Perhaps we did and perhaps not. What can you offer for that information? What goods do you have? What blessings from your seemingly useless God? And what hath you in your hands?” It was becoming dire; they were going to kill him.

  ?Please, good Ram have it in your heart to take me as I am and tell me where my brother is if you know, take me to him. Once everything is settled, I will see to it that you are more than repaid” Ram scoffed at Rahul’s promises.

  ?So, you have nothing” The glimpse in Rahul’s eye said please but he said naught and only looked pleadingly into the officer’s eyes.

  ?Go back wherever your God is Rahul of the Erystu. May you not encounter any more creatures.” The officer said and grabbed the leads of his beast proudly.

  ?I bid you farewell”

  ?Wait!” Rahul pleaded ?Wait, please… You asked what was in my hands, I was afraid to answer but I will if you tell me if you have seen my brother” Rahul spoke quickly. The officer looked down at him from his beast and then at his brethren all silent up to this point. When he looked at them some did not budge and some murmured and some nodded.

  ?We saw a man here stung by an Imtasha indeed. He was weak and dying and so we slain the horde and took him in to tend to his wounds. That was a few days ago. Today we went on to check if there any more skins of the beasts and the hounds smelled you and so we came to meet you” The officer admitted

  ?So, you have taken my brother? And he lives?” Rahul breathed heavily with elated excitement.

  ?He did when we saw him. Enough now. Speak what is it you hath in your hands as you promised.” The officer frowned. Rahul hesitated. He looked at the Zabourians worryingly but finally he spoke:

  ?My good friend Ram, I hath in my hands the most invaluable of liquids, the water of the magical pond.”

  ?Magical?” Ram seemed as interested as the rest of his folk

  ?Indeed, magical my good friend, the water of the magical pond has powers - it brings immense enlightenment and great power to man who drinks it but only and only if he is true and just - you see the water seeps into the soul and if the soul is wretched it will do naught, only the purest of wills and hearts will benefit from its magical powers” Rahul spoke and lifted his hand upwards whilst bowing simultaneously.

  ?So, you say Rahul of the Erystu? Will you let us drink from it? It can benefit us before we go out into the desert again. Will you point us to the pond?” The officer inquired.

  ?Of course, I will let you and your people drink from it my good friend Ram, but I need to see to my brother first, I need to see my brother first please.”

  ?And if not? If I decline? If I just come up to you and drink from your hands and leave you here in the desert?” The officer asked.

  ?I will spill it. I will spill the water before you get to me, and should I die by your hand after so be it, but you are not getting the water until I see my brother”

  The officer looked around at his people again. One looked at the man intensely and grunted, so the officer nodded, and the man spoke.

  ?We have no use of the prisoner. And if he died, we will have fulfilled his wish either way in bringing him to see, he will have to give us the water then. Let us take him to Asalmarat.” Others grunted agreeably and nodded.

  ?I will take your advice Wissimar, come on Rahul of the Erystu, you will ride with me to the city” And so Rahul went on carefully so as not to spill the water from his hand and saddled himself behind the officer Ram and so they rode on out deep into the western lands. They rode long until Iragur has become small in the distance and before them a structure unlike any other revealed itself - a city made up of buildings from wood, stone and bronze. It was the largest thing that Rahul ever saw with great houses and buildings that stretched at least ten people wide and fifty men tall. The buildings grew tightly together almost falling into each other as if one organism and the towers gleamed with a gold light beautifully. Rahul then knew to trust these people for no person of evil heart would be capable of creating such beauty. They rode in their hounds through a large crated bronze gate that other men pulled open with chains. And when Ram passed them, they would touch their heads with a single finger seemingly as an act of respect. They also looked with curiosity at Rahul and must have wondered on why he held his hands together. Ram stopped before a great, red-painted door and demounted while the others followed. Two men stood before them and were ready to push the door open before Ram stopped them.

  ?Will you let me first lead to wash him? So that he does not dirty the kings room?” And they nodded so Ram put his hand on Rahul’s back and pointed him to a smaller door to the side and his company followed.

  “I am going to honor my promise Erystu and then you will honor yours.” Rahul began to sweat but nodded which seemed to satisfy Ram. He led Rahul down a corridor and into a cold damp basement where they passed a few crated rooms that seemed as holding cells all empty save for one where Ram stopped and opened the doors. He led Rahul in but didnt enter with him, and there on a bed of hay laid Gohola with his eyes closed, covered in fur, his wounds covered with a sticky substance of some sort. Rahul rushed to him and breathed heavily watching carefully so as not to spill the water.

  ?He is dead. He is lying here dead and you have not helped him.” Rahul nearly cried.

  ?You know many dead men that breathe Erystu? He’s sleeping, let him rest” The officer said.

  ?Sleeping?”

  ?You do not sleep?” The guards laughed. Rahul didn’t answer only turned back to his brother and watched as his chest moved up and down and so he surmised he must be alive indeed, but Rahul looked back at Ram pleadingly and so the officer spoke:

  “Guards, wake him”

  Two men opened the enclosure and shook the man lying inside awake. He began mumbling and sat upright nervously. They led him outside the cell and he finally noticed his brother

  “Rahul? What are you doing here? How did you find me?” Rahul started to walk towards him, but Ram grabbed his chest and stopped him

  “Careful. Enough now, let him be dressed - guards lead him outside after he is ready. Come on Erystu. You have somebody to meet.” He grabbed a tunic off a table nearby.

  ?Put this on” Rahul did not understand why but he put on the clothing. The guards helped Gohola with his wounds and getting him dressed and they parted. Ram led Rahul outside up the stairs and in front of the painted doors.

  “For the king” The officer spoke to the two standing in front of the door; they nodded and opened the door for them. Ram led Rahul inside a large hall where a half-circle of men sat on a carpet talking. The officer pushed him forward and they all looked at him with curiosity.

  “My high lord Arr-Zabou, I return from the raid with a guest, another desert vagabond of the Erystu tribe - the brother to the man we brought back few days ago stung by the Imtasha” Ram spoke to his king.

  “Ah yes, and does the wounded one live?” The one he referred to as Arr-Zabou asked in a high-pitched voice.

  “He lives indeed” The officer nodded.

  “That is good. What does the Erystu have in his hands?” The king asked.

  “My high lord he holds water from a magical pond that gives great power to noble men” Ram replied proudly.

  “Magic? Curious. And how do you know its magic? Why only to noble men and not wretched also?” The king inquired interestedly. They all craned their necks to take a better look at the Erystu. Rahul lifted his chin and looked at Arr-Zabou, he was paler than the Zabourians themselves and less hairy, with less distinct features, almost delicate.

  “My high lord Arr-Zabou I swear it upon everything I hold the sacred magical water that gives the pure man power, I have seen it with my own eyes, I also saw people impure drink from the pond and feel naught - the power of the water seeps into the soul” Rahul spoke frantically.

  “Curiously you speak Erystu but forgive me if I don’t trust you. Ram? What made you believe the man in the first place? Why would he offer us the water?” The Arr looked at the officer.

  “We will give him his brother in exchange for showing us the way to the pond. I trust the man for he has no reason to lie. But perhaps it is fitting that we show the magnitude of the water’s magic. I invite any man to a duel; I will drink the water and best him” Arr-Zabou looked around at the warriors he was surrounded by.

  “And what would that prove?” One of them spoke

  “You are taller than each of us, you would have bested us all without any magical water” the man scoffed.

  “Ceja is right Ram, perhaps it is your opponent that should drink from the water and if he bests you then we will have proof. Perhaps Feima?” Arr-Zabou proposed.

  “So be it” Ram agreed and a man from his very company that went out into the desert raid with him walked up. He was almost Ram’s height but scrawnier and smiling he closed in and faced him. Ram drew a great axe from behind him along with a shield. Feima walked up to Rahul and gently lifted his palms up to his face and drank from them.

  “Thank you Erystu, may your water grant me power indeed.” Feima spoke and he too drew an axe and shield. Rahul relaxed his arms finally and he could feel they were sore and weak.

  The two men stood opposite each other and began to fight. Ram’s immense strength and height made it so that every strike against Feima’s shield rang loudly echoing in the room. Arr-Zabou watched intensely and so did Rahul. At first Ram seemed to have the advantage but soon Feima’s quick step and confident precise strikes caused doubt to show on Ram’s face. Ram swung heavily from overhead but Feima instead of shielding took a step closer and under, dodging the attack and closing in distance. He grabbed Ram’s ankle with the axe and pulled so that the man lost balance and fell on the floor heavily. Feima swung hard and knocked the shield from Ram’s hand and stepped on the hand that held the axe, putting the blade of his own against Ram’s throat.

  ?Seems we have a winner” Arr-Zabou spoke proudly.

  ?Thank you, high lord. Seems the gift of the Erystu indeed is magical.” said Feima helping Ram up. They both smiled.

  “It must be. No chance would you have beat me without it.” Ram said and for the first time Rahul saw him smile and the others replied with laughter.

  ?So, let us go then. Ahead Erystu, point us to the pond” Arr-Zabou said.

  They went outside where the other sun shone rays of warmth from a far distance. There Gohola was already standing, dressed in Zabourian garm smiling weakly at his brother. They went on to the desert on two dozen hounds each holding two warriors except for Arr-Zabou who rode alone. They rode slowly, at walking pace so as not to tire the hounds and Rahul and Gohola walked in front leading the way on foot. Rahul pointed north and so they went on and while the others rode in silence Rahul spoke to Gohola as such:

  ?Are you healthy, brother? Did they keep you in good condition?”

  ?Yes, Rahul I am fine, I am just so happy to see you I thought I would never see my brothers again” Gohola spoke relieved.

  ?I returned back for you immediately after we met the watcher Taik”

  ?Who is the watcher Taik?” Rahul forgot Gohola had no knowledge of the meeting.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  ?We are supposed to go back to him now, he is a friend, there the good God Eish will meet us along with our brothers”

  ?They are all alive?” Gohola asked excitedly.

  ?I can only suppose so” Rahul responded in a hushed voice.

  ?What of this water? Where is the pond?” his brother asked. Rahul shushed him and looked upon him sternly, hanging his head.

  ?Do not worry once we find the water, they will let us go” said Rahul

  ?And if we do not?” Gohola seemed to not understand the point behind Rahul’s whispering as he kept raising his voice.

  ?That is a question that I hoped you would answer” Rahul hissed at him

  ?What do you mean?” Gohola seemed puzzled.

  ?You stayed in their city for days, you must have overheard something? Tell me what’s their character? What’s their story? Would they let us go even if we did not find the water?” Gohola looked around and finally spoke quietly.

  ?I cannot answer that for I do not know. I will tell you all that I have heard. We were in Asalmarat, the City of Three Kings, divided into parts for the west, east, south and north, king of the western side is Arr-Zabou, the eastern is another Arr and the northern yet another, now I said four sides but only three kings and this part I do not understand. Something is wrong with the southern part - something that the others fear, nobody lives there and it has been abandoned by its king and from what I think haunted, because none of the other kings went to claim that land, instead it was secluded, gates flooded with stone and forgotten but this is the thing, the holding cells where you saw me are located right next to the southern part and in the nights, in the nights I could swear I heard voices deep from underground, weeping and calling.”

  ?Calling to who?” Rahul asked.

  ?I do not know. Perhaps the fourth king”

  ?What happened with the fourth king?”

  ?That is exactly what I wanted to find out, the guards refused to speak about it in greater detail, all I know is that he was banished - you see Rahul, the three cities are a sanctuary and the Arrs are not regular kings - they are Gods.”

  ?Gods? Arr-Zabou is a God?” Rahul could not believe Gohola. His plan now seemed so much more complicated.

  ?Yes, but the point of Asalmarat is to abstain, do you understand? They made a pact, sacred, that entailed the absolute and unconditional refusal to use their powers”

  ?But why would anyone refuse to be a God?” Rahul kept asking.

  ?That I do not know. But the southern king must have broken the rule - that is why he was banished” Gohola spoke and looked around at the Zabourians.

  ?It seems they are a strict people” Rahul said after a while.

  ?It would appear so”

  ?Then I pray we find water” Rahul walked forward, correcting his stride so that Iragur grew larger on the horizon, hoping that if they come across familiar land, they will have the advantage and may escape, although he knew there was almost no chance that Ram would not pick-up pace after him and split him in half with his great axe.

  ?Erystu!” Ram yelled out from behind them just as Rahul was imagining Gohola trying to escape the terrible justice the officer’s swing.

  ?Yes, officer Ram?”

  ?We have walked a while now. How much longer until the pond?” Gohola looked at Rahul nervously

  ?It should be not much longer now” spoke Rahul

  ?It should be” Ram answered sternly and the Erystu both shuddered.

  ?What do we do brother?” Gohola asked but before they had a chance to speak one of the riders yelled out.

  ?Something on the horizon!” The Zabourians features also made them more physically apt than the Erystu and they could see way further out than either Rahul or Gohola.

  ?There’s people, Rahul look” Gohola whispered. ?We can ask them for direction to water”

  Rahul looked around. Arr-Zabou rode closely next to Ram and Feima with his chin high.

  ?Good” said Ram. ?The Erystu can ask him for direction”

  ?I cannot ask them Gohola.” hissed Rahul and Gohola looked at him confused.

  ?If I ask them about a magic pond and they know nothing of it they will want to join us. If they know for fact, there is no magical pond they will say so and Ram will kill us.”

  ?Perhaps they will not know anything about a magical pond and just leave”

  ?And if they know of other ponds but none magical? And the next pond we see the Arr will ask how do I know this is not a regular pond? If we ask them it will ruin our chances of finding a pond. We cannot ask them” Rahul spoke nervously.

  ?How do you plan to explain it to the Arr?” Gohola responded with even more fear in his voice as the figures in the distance began to take shape. It seemed they were also riders, unclear yet how many.

  ?Officer” Rahul yelled ?We cannot ask them for direction”

  ?Why would that be Erystu?” asked Ram with clear irritation in his voice that made Rahul nervous.

  ?If they know about the magical pond, they might try to point us in the wrong direction so as not to share with us, and if they do not know about the magical pond, they will want to join us and there will be less water for you, perhaps they will tell others or want to wage war with you” Rahul spoke with wide eyes and waited anxiously for the officers reply. Ram looked at Feima and they both looked at Arr-Zabou who stared at the figures for a while and spoke:

  ?They are Kleosi” as the riders in the distance approached the group Feima laughed gently but Ram frowned. The figures were now distinct in number - sixteen riders on eight hounds coming at them at high speed. Gohola looked at Rahul. They all slowed down their strut and awaited calmly for the Kleosi to come close. At first it seemed they were deliberately making a detour to avoid them, but they circled around and rode quickly at them so that it seemed they might attack the Zabourians for a while but at just a few meters the leader of the pack halted. The Kleosi were strange - smaller than the Zabourians considerably and less hairy, pale and big-eyed. Ram and Feima got up towards him.

  ?Hello officer Ram. What brings such a great assault pack so deep into the desert? And if my eyes don’t deceive me the very Arr-Zabou?” The leader of them spoke in a surprisingly deep voice. Ram turned around to the Arr who bowed his head gently.

  ?And yourself?” Ram posed. The leader of the Kleosi smiled gently but his eyes remained sharp, he tilted his head gently and spoke without looking at Ram.

  ?We are looking for somebody. A traitor and a liar. It is very important for Arr-Kleios. He disappeared from confinement in the night. If you find him - if you would be so kind so as to deliver him to us, we would be much obliged.” The man smiled again somehow poisonously.

  ?And you? What brings you in such great number?” He asked again. Ram looked around and cleared his throat.

  ?We have guests. Foreigners from the desert lands, the Erystu. The high lord Arr-Zabou wanted to escort them back into their settlement to make sure no harm comes to them.”

  The Kleosi leader nodded.

  ?From the desert lands? And when did these Erystu come to see you? Perhaps you encountered our friend?” The Kleosi leader looked directly into Gohola’s eyes and Gohola hanged his head. Rahul hesitated

  ?No, sorry we do not know of whom you speak.” He spoke.

  ?How would you know? I have not even told you his name” The Kleosi smiled again as Rahul winced slightly.

  “What would be his name?” Gohola stuttered slightly.

  “Absalom. His name is Absalom.” The Kleosi leader kept staring at Gohola with eyes that became increasingly wide.

  ?Forgive us friend. We must be on our way; the sun is almost invisible now and we must return before nightfall.” The Arr spoke suddenly.

  ?So be it.” The Kleosi said in a melodic voice and looked once again first at Feima then at Ram. His eyes seemed like those of a viper. “Safe travels.” He added before pulling the leads on their hounds.

  ?And if you happen to run into our escapee… We would appreciate your help. And do not listen to what he says. Nothing good ever comes from listening to liars.” The man gave one last poisonous smile before pulling on the leads and riding off. Gohola looked at Rahul but he would not look back at him. They continued to walk without a word. Rahul led the company slightly to the east now so as to avoid the way from which the Kleosi said was empty. They walked a long time and the sun behind them was but a dot and the desert now was windy and dark and Rahul saw that Ram and the Arr were doubtful and he could feel that his and Gohola’s fates were dependent on how quickly he could find a pond. Rahul suddenly heard a hissing. He turned around thinking it was Ram, but his brother caught up to his stride quickly.

  “Rahul, my brother I think perhaps we should abandon this, soon night will fall and if there are creatures in the desert, they will come for us. Do you think they will want to save us a second time?” Rahul looked at him frowning.

  “I do not understand what it is that you are proposing.”

  “Perhaps we tell them we need to go to the watcher, like you said” Gohola spoke gently.

  “Brother, I do not know the way.” Rahul spoke with his eyes closed.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that precisely. To get to where we left you I walked for days from the watcher, then we rode for a long time towards the city, then from Alsamarat we walked twice as long and had to change course, we are lost.”

  “Can we not go towards Iragur?”

  “Follow the sun, see where it leads you.” Gohola exhaled.

  “You seem tired”

  “My legs are weary.” Rahul noticed only now his frailty, how his shoulders pulled down to the ground, his feet felt as if smashed with a hammer and his mouth was dry.

  “You need to sleep. You need-“

  “Look” Rahul suddenly came to a halt and pointed forward. A streak of water ran suddenly as if it came from thin air and span outside the horizon. Feima yelled out:

  “My high lord look! Its water” They ran towards it excitingly. The Arr smiled but the officer bent his brow.

  ?It was supposed to be a pond. It’s a river. How do you tell it’s the magical water?” he asked. Rahul did not have to speak.

  ?Otne, come here!” the Arr called.

  ?Yes, my high lord.” A man of short stature and older age came closer with his eyes gleaming.

  ?Drink of the water and tell me what do you feel.” And so, the man went forward and kneeled before the river while Gohola looked away and searched in the sky for Iragur. The man drank from the river and washed his face and stood up proudly with his chin up high. Rahul stood and watched anxiously.

  ?So? How do you feel Otne?” The Arr asked.

  ?Come forward any man who wants to face me!” The man roared and laughed. The Arr nodded. Ram grabbed from behind him a man whom he before called Wissimar and pushed him forward.

  ?Go ahead then. Show us you’re pure of heart Otne” he said scoffing. Wissimar was visibly bigger and younger than Otne, even still he seemed unsure and he drew his axe slowly watching over the man opposite him, who contrary to him seemed confident and light on his feet. Otne drew his axe and rushed forward swinging his axe upwards but when Wissimar hid behind his shield to hide his head before the blow comes, Otne sped up and pulled his own shield forward and pushed the other man off balance. Ram watched from the side frowning. Rahul could see in the corner of his eye Gohola anxiously swinging side to side. Otne laughed and Wissimar growled at him in frustration. They exchanged blows of axes to each other’s shields, Otne on his back leg pushed each attack lightly off course while Wissimar lifted his shield up each time bracing the attacks with great effort. Gohola started tugging on Rahul’s tunic

  ?Let us go now brother, quickly while they’re distracted” Rahul took a step to the side but hesitated.

  ?Wait!”

  ?For what?” Gohola hissed. Otne and Wissimar exchanged another flurry of blows, this time each stood their ground. Otne swung his axe forward but Wissimar pushed his axe away from its course and suddenly dove under and took a step forward trying to catch Otne’s ankle but the man took a step back and pushing off his back leg he struck the diving man in the nose with his knee and before even Wissimar hit the ground Otne’s axe took a sharp turn and whistled in the air as it went a hair to the left of Wissimar’s shield and split the man’s head open splashing blood all over Otne’s legs and torso. Otne stood over him and cackled maniacally. Everybody froze.

  ?Bastard, come here!” a sudden voice from the crowd called out and two men ran out from the crowd and ran towards the river.

  ?Stop, Ane, Pag, stop!” a third man ran after them. They lunged towards the river but Otne cut them off from the side.

  “Hey you there, coward!” He roared and swung his still bloodied axe at the other man chopping his entire hand off. More blood spurted. The man called Ane started screaming in pain, while the other jumped towards the river and quickly drank, Otne went after him but the third man kicked him in the chest sending him flying backwards.

  “Stop them!” The Arr yelled out. Rahul and Gohola stood and watched in terror. Ram and Feima rushed forward and the others followed behind them. Somebody yelled out

  ?Drink!” And the men rushed towards the river almost all save for Feima who rushed towards Otne to stop him. The others drank from the river greedily and the water flowed down their chest. Feima pushed Otne forward holding both of their axes.

  ?Go ahead” the man yelled maniacally ?Any man who dare face me… I am overrun with the might of the river.”

  ?The river holds no power.” Another man yelled out. ?I cannot feel anything.”

  ?That is because you are a wretched bastard.” Otne screamed

  ?You are a liar! No one else feels great and mighty besides you Otne, and everyone knows you are not the purest among us.” The man answered.

  ?Perhaps you do not feel anything but speak not for the rest of us. I feel I could take on a hundred men.” A voice among them yelled.

  ?Quiet liar.” Another man spoke out. ?None of us feel anything. The Erystu lied to us. This is no magic water.” such he spoke and turned towards Rahul and Gohola. ?We would do best to smite them.”

  ?Feima bested me after he drank from the hand of Rahul.” Ram suddenly spoke. ?There is magic water that is sure. But are you confident this is the right source Erystu?” The officer walked towards them. Rahul and Gohola froze in fear.

  ?You still doubt? Look at what this maniac done” a man pointed to Otne. ?The power is too terrifying to consider but it is true.” Otne smiled horrifically.

  ?How about you officer?” A man asked. ?What do you feel?” Ram hesitated and looked slowly around.

  ?I feel the power and might in me, I say we have landed at the source of the magical water.” He looked around at the others, they all watched him carefully. ?Let us be rid of this man who betrayed us!” He pointed to Otne. ?As well as Qera and Mapiko, who said they felt nothing - for it means they are impure of spirit and will bring us calamity if we let them live among us.” Most began to cheer, but Qera, Mapiko, two of their friends, Otne and Feima took steps back.

  ?Ram tell them to stand down we cannot kill our own in the desert on rule of magic water!” Feima yelled out.

  ?It must be done.” said Ram and started walking towards Otne but Feima walked in front of him and held out his axe. Ram pushed it out of the way and Feima pushed him with his shield. Ram drew his axe and they clashed, and the others took chance and began to rush towards the other five with their axes drawn. Rahul and Gohola ran to the side but fell on the sand and just watched in terror. The Arr did not get off his hound and too watched as if he could not believe the events that unfolded. Ram clashed with Feima, Otne took hold of his axe and when the first man of the group tried to lunge at him Otne swung his axe and knelt at the same time and the blow killed the opponent immediately. The others started circling the five as Otne laughed horribly. Ane bled out quietly and the blood of his hand went into the river and turned it red. Mapiko noticed the others tried to circle them and so he lunged forward with his shield and broke their circle and when one of the men turned around trying to chase him the friend of Qera took opportunity and gave a single blow of the axe to the back of the man’s head killing him instantly. The others yelled and lunged at him with their own axes and he hid behind his shield from a flurry of blows, meanwhile Mapiko ran towards the hounds and two others chased after him but the man was faster, and he got on a hound and sprinted forward and swung his axe at one of the men chasing him knocking him to his back. Feima pushed Ram with his shield and immediately threw a sideways blow to the man’s shield, Ram took a step back and when Feima tried to close distance Ram hit him with the blunt end of his axe breaking Feima’s nose.

  ?Not this time brother. Now I am with might.” spoke Ram and pushed Feima back with his own shield. Behind them Mapiko broke the circle that massacred Qera’s friend with axes and the hound trampled three men breaking their legs and ribs as bones cracked and men cried out in agony. Otne ran towards them slicing their throats with his axe as they screamed. The circle now grew smaller and they were almost even in number as they lunged at each other again. Feima’s blood nearly blinded him and Ram walked towards him mercilessly. Feima threw his shield away and Ram seeing this also left his behind and they began to circle each other slowly and watching one another’s movements. Meanwhile Otne lunged towards a group of men swinging his axe, the men jumped back, and the attacker laughed. They growled at him but before he took his step back, he swung one more time the other way and hit one of the men across the face splitting it wide open as blood spurted and Otne’s axe got stuck in the man’s face the other man swung from up and cracked open Otne’s skull. The victor lunged forward and pushed with his shield Qera’s friend who fell backwards, and the man followed with a blow to his stomach killing the man. Qera himself exchanged blows with another man but seeing his friend slain, turned around and while the killer was not watching Qera swung as hard as he could while screaming and cut the man’s head off. He looked over his friends’ dead body as a blow came from behind him straight into his back. The other did not even have the time to retrieve the axe before Mapiko trampled him with his hound and followed with a blow of the axe but as he swung and killed the man he also fell of the hound and only now noticed his torso was slashed in many places and he was bleeding profusely. The man closed his eyes. It was only Feima and Ram now circling each other slowly in a battlefield washed with blood, broken bones and corpses of what was just friends and warriors. Ram closed distance in a lunge and tried to hit Feima sideways, but he did not succeed and Feima dodged and as Ram’s bodyweight was on his front foot Feima kicked him in the head, yet before Feima could strike him Ram stood up and spit out teeth covered in blood. Feima now swung from up but Ram dodged quickly, and Ram grazed him with his axe across the face again making him bleed even more. Ram closed distance again and came closer, he lifted both hands to deal a blow from overhead but Feima headbutted him in the face and the man took two steps backwards and Feima moved his grip from the end of the axe all the way to the blade and slid it quickly sideways. Rams throat was opened, and blood flew down over his tunic. A field of death. The Arr watched in terror and Rahul and Gohola could not move in fear. Feima fell to his knees holding up Ram’s head and murmured unintelligibly under his nose.

  ?Now Rahul we have to go!” Gohola rushed his brother but Rahul’s eyes were locked in on Feima.

  ?Please Rahul the sun is down take the hound and we must ride now.” Gohola rushed him in a shaking voice. The Arr got off his hound and took two steps towards the bloody battlefield. Feima still whispered over Ram’s corpse and Rahul could not take his eyes off him.

  ?He was dying.” He proclaimed loudly. They all got quiet.

  “Your brother was dying. You thought he was dead, and yet you did not ask Ram to let give him water to save him. You claimed the water had magical powers and yet you did not ask to give your dying brother a drop.” He exclaimed in a husky voice.

  “So, tell me.” Feima now turned to Rahul, his entire face bloodied. “Did you not give your brother the water because you consider him impure of heart? Or perhaps because you knew there was no point, because you lied?” Feima hissed angrily.

  “You lied!” He screamed suddenly and Rahul and Gohola flinched. The Arr went towards Feima and tried to embrace him but Feima pushed his hand away.

  “No, you tell me Erystu, you tell me! Did you lie? Did they all die for nothing? Did you lie? Tell me did you lie?” He roared with tears and blood on his face and he banged his closed fist on the chest of Ram’s corpse. The Erystu sat silent and wide eyed in terror.

  “He will not admit it.” The Arr suddenly spoke in a shaky voice. “It is all my fault. I should have known. They will not admit to their scheme, but I will reveal it.” Feima looked up at the Arr and he put his hand up towards Rahul and spoke in a voice that seemed suddenly to Rahul as if angelic, beautiful and echoing.

  ?Admit your lies.” Rahul stood up

  “There was no magical water. I lied.” And the Arr put his hand down and Rahul looked around in confusion.

  ?Forgive me my son Feima. It was a failure of my judgement; their blood is on my hands. Be well now.” And the Arr took of his crown and threw it down on the sand.

  ?And you Erystu, since you so much wanted to shroud yourself in shadows and lies, I curse you - may you forever be as you had wished yourself - unknown.” Such spoke the Arr and walked away on foot going deeper into the desert. Gohola pulled on Rahul’s tunic. Rahul looked one last time at Feima weeping over Ram’s body. They mounted two hounds and rode out towards Iragur.