Chapter 8

The hot morning sun snuck its way into the sleeping mage's room. Its gaze slowly crept though a window and along the floor. Marissa's body began to sweat, but she was ever vigilant to stay fast asleep in bed. A knock at her room's door thought otherwise.

"Marissa? You up yet? We have some breakfast for ya…"

"Botrun," she easily recognized the voice, "did you have to want me so early?"

"The food will get cold if you don't get up. Plus the desert heat isn't gonna get any cooler. And this is early?!?"

A groggy Marissa got out of her bed and began to get dressed. She stumbled a bit as she made her way around the simple room. The fully clothed girl then waddled out the door and headed towards the common room. A great big yawn came over her as she tried to wake up.

In the main room she noticed that Bogun and his wife Gillian were sitting at the inn's largest table. No one else appeared to be out and about yet. She slowly walked over to the pair and sat with them.

"Morning Marissa," greeted Gillian.

"Good morning Gilly," she replied with another long yawn.

"You're not used to waking up this early I see? Been gone far too long from the desert to wake up before the sun rises I suppose."

Botrun joined the rest of the group, carrying with him a basic meal of fresh bread, cold milk, and pruned dates. He had also brought a single fried egg just for Marissa. The foursome ate as they continued conversations which had been started the night before.

As they partook of breakfast, Marissa studied her friends more closely. Both Bogun and Botrun were brothers whom had lived in the same caravan as her family. The siblings were now a muscular pair; with the older Bogun being larger by a significant degree. Muddy tufts of brown hair dotted their skulls. The distinct flat and squared noses of their lineage were easily visible as well.

Bogun had married Gillian five years prior to this reunion. Marissa could not remember if she was familiar with the tall young woman. The husband and wife owned the inn that they currently resided in. The greatest feature of the building was an indoor well found in the center of the kitchen. The inn's business wasn't great, but they did manage to make due with what they had.

Botrun on the other hand had apparently stayed single. It had been a stroke of luck that he had decided to stop by the inn yesterday. For the majority of the time, the younger brother worked with a family of herders. The family owned a farm near an oasis just a few miles to the east. Botrun had decided to visit his brother during a bit of time off that he had.

Marissa started another topic to add to their conversations, "So what is the best path to take to Takait? I have a map given to me by a stable hand, but I doubt the directions are very reliable."

Bogun answered. "Most folks are told to follow the western edge of a distinct dune ridge southwest of here. That is fine and good, but we have discovered that there is another path that is, shall we say 'more tolerable'?"

"That bad? I don't remember the desert travels to be very hard…"

"Well they aren't necessarily difficult for those of us who do travel across it more frequently. Foreigners usually exhaust themselves too quickly on the trip. And I might add, you have been cooped up in that mess of a city north of here."

"Ducann is my home, Bogun."

Botrun interjected, "And the Fontail Desert is not? You do not call this place home?"

"I can barely remember my childhood here, Botrun. All of this seems only vaguely familiar. I must admit, it is only you my dear friends of old that I can really remember. The rest of my experiences elude me."

"Well, I can help with that. I'll come with you to Takait," Botrun replied.

"Really? Do you have business there as well?"

"No, but I haven't got anythin' else better to do. Besides, I'd love to chat up with ya some more." The flat nosed man grinned.

"Well I suppose I won't refuse the services of a guide, and a qualified and friendly one at that. You must understand that I can't pay you much, the Church stipends are…"

"You're gonna leave me as high and dry as a rock baking the sun? Me, the poor farm boy with nothing really in this world to speak of…"

"Well I could…"

"I'm only kiddin Marissa. You must really be out of it if you didn't sense that."

Bogun interrupted, "It's settled then. Off both of ya go. You'll need all the morning air you can get.

"And my dear Marissa, please do come visit us again. Possibly sometime earlier than within a decade and a half."

Marissa had already gotten her Faerun ready for the trip. The mage and her horse were now packed and ready to leave the stables. They waited there for Botrun to arrive and join them.

The flat nosed man came trotting up on an aged grey mule. Its shaggy fur bristled back and forth against his linen garments. Black hairs jotted out from the creature's tall ears.

"And that would be?" Marissa asked pointing at Botrun's mount.

"This? This is Stewie. Been the in the family for ages. He's a good traveler. Likes the desert too. He may not be as fancy as that 'stallion' you have there, but he does the trick."

"Well point us on our way, friend Botrun. Lead us onwards to this 'more pleasant' path towards Takait oh wise guide."

"I see you are getting your sense of humor back. Nice to see you cheerin' up some more."

Slightly blushing cheeks could be seen hiding beneath her long bangs.

The group made its way directly south for about a furlong. They had bypassed the traditional path leading towards the ridge, and instead had come upon a small canyon dug into the dusty floor. Marissa let out a sigh of relief when she noticed that they would be shaded for at least a portion of their excursion.

Botrun asked her a question once they descended into the canyon. "So you're a mage now, all magical and whatnot. Anything you can show me?"

Marissa became puzzled. She hadn't really used magic for demonstration purposes. She didn't quite know what might show off her skills, let alone look interesting. "Uh…"

"Oh come on now. Just something small. Not many of you magic folk come south you know. The desert scares them away."

A thought popped into Marissa's mind, "Ah, I think I have an idea. Give me just a moment to prepare."

Marissa thought about the spell for a moment, and then began to cast it. This particular spell didn't require any ingredients.

With her right hand she began to swirl the pad of her thumb onto the tip of her middle finger. She drew six counterclockwise circles in a smooth rotation. On the sixth revolution she quickly snapped her fingers.

A small pink ball of light hopped out from the center of her palm. It was about the size of a peach pit as well as transparent. As it floated above her hand, tiny sprinkles of glistening light dripped from its form.

Pointing with her right hand she directed the ball of light over to Botrun who was still riding on his horse. It dotted across the space between them and over to her traveling companion.

The mage motioned into the air with wide circular patterns. As her hand spun so did the ball of light. A trail of twinkling matter traced the racing balls path. It then came to a stop just a few inches from Botrun's face.

The young man tried to grab the ball with his gloved hand. His thick fingers began to enclose the floating sphere.

Marissa quickly snapped her fingers.

In an instant the ball of light popped and faded into nothingness.

"Wow, that was interesting. What's its purpose?"

"Distraction. You can easily daze most folks with it, so it comes in handy quite often."

"Anything else you can show me?"

Marissa frowned, "That wasn't impressive enough?"

"No, it was. It's just that this is going to be a long trip and I was curious. I assumed you could perform magic at will… you know, with no effort."

"Well all of its takes concentration as well as a bit of stamina. I'm not just an illusionist. I can't just go casting all day long, the magic will drain me faster than this blasted heat."

Botrun apologized, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend."

"That is alright I suppose. I would be curious too. It's just that most of my skills are, shall we say, more dangerous. Not all of them have visible effects, and the effects that some of them have are I must admit, quite gruesome."

"Gruesome eh? Any tidbits you can share?"

"Luckily I haven't had to use my more destructive powers in instances other than training. Having a target dummy made of straw turned inside out is far less disgusting than seeing the same effect happen to flesh. I've seen it, and it is not pretty. Ugh."

"Haha, I bet I've seen worse. Regardless, why learn such things? What benefits would they have?"

"The Holy Protectorate has a duty to uphold. Our duty is the defense of the people and the Church. Defense means that we have to compete against some sort of offense. We need every option available to us if we hope to do our job. War most certainly is not pretty."

"War? War with whom?"

"My, you are inquisitive Botrun. An overflowing well of questions my friend."

Marissa continued, "War. We are always at war with the Pontia, everyone knows that. They are a foe that simply will never cease. They will never stop, they will never pause. Add to this the fact that we practically need to wipe them clean from this plane in order to destroy them. Simply hacking at them with a sword will never 'end' a Pontia. Magic of some form must always be used… always."

Botrun changed the subject, "So, have any fella friends in that city of yours?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean: a companion. A male companion. Do ya got one?"

"Well… well no… I've still training. There is so much to learn. There is no time for… for… for relationships. I'm far too busy." Marissa began to feel uncomfortable as she jumbled her words.

"Ah I see, aiming for a life as a spinster. A noble choice."

Awkwardness led way to anger, "Spinster! Spinster?!? I am no spinster! I am a very important mage within our order. I… I could easily find a partner if I wanted to!"

"I'm sure you could. You are quite attractive now."

Marissa pulled tight on Faerun's reins. The horse stopped short within a couple of steps. The mage began to breathe very heavily. The dry desert air being pulled into her lungs started to tug at her chest. Her nostrils flared.

Botrun obviously realized what he had said, and he now saw how Marissa was acting. He quickly tried to apologize, "I didn't mean it that way. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

Marissa's heart was beating with great fervor, and she felt hot up and down her body.

The young mage sat on her horse, very still, for several moments. Neither she nor her companion said a word. They both sat there within the confines of the desert canyon.

Once she had regained her composure, Marissa flicked at the reins and Faerun started to walk again down the dusty path.

For the remainder of the trip to Takait, the young woman never once looked over to her friend Botrun. She never spoke a word, and she never responded to any of his pleas. Still keeping herself closed off from the world around her, the group slowly made their way to the desert village.

When they arrived at the gates, Marissa and her horse headed directly for the Church grounds. Botrun did not follow, nor did she say goodbye. Her steed quickly made his way towards the center of town. The silhouette of her friend faded into the distance as she rode away.

Continue reading onto Chapter 9