Inheritance: Threads of Fate

Chapter Five - Edge of the Desert

After lunch and a quick break from the worst heat of the day, you repacked and continued towards the village. Raxe and Caspian spent the better part of the journey debating the next course of action.
"It just doesn't seem like the smartest move." Raxe argued.
"It's what I promised her before we left." Caspian stated matter-o-factly.
"But her parents could literally have ended up anywhere in this damn country. It's going to be like finding a needle in a haystack. Where would you even begin?"

You sat quietly in front of Caspian the entire discussion. You didn't want to admit that you made a savage promise to yourself the day before they rescued you. That you had resigned yourself for recapture with the intention of murdering another human being. You were currently trying to convince yourself that it was a decision made out of desperation in the moment, that you were convinced everyone you loved was dead or about to be so. But... even now, safely riding back together, you couldn't shake that burning rage you felt whenever you imagined his face. When you thought of his lips on yours you boiled with the most intense hatred you have ever felt. How many women has he done this to? How many more will he use in that way? How many others who were nowhere near as lucky as you? You wanted him dead.

Your silence was noticed.
"What are you thinking?" Caspian gave you a gentle nudge from behind.
"Oh." You snapped out of your spiral. "Nothing."
Raxe pushed. "You're definitely thinking something... It's written all over her face." He said to Caspian.
"We won't be upset. No matter who you agree with." Caspian offered.
"I actually was thinking of a third option..." You admitted. "But...neither of you are going to like it."
They looked at each other. "What?" Raxe asked.
"I was thinking...that we need to go after the General."
Caspian halted the animals. "What?"
"She's still delirious from being out here for so long..." Raxe added.
"No. I'm not. I actually thought about this the other day. He knows where I live on the island. He no doubt would have found out from his Slavers why I had to trade my body for protection. He knows I have a sister. He knows where the inn is. I broke our agreement, and he hasn't been able to find you two so... he's going to take out his revenge on the Lone Islands."
Neither of them said anything, so you continued. "Think about it. They're already mad about the fact that you reclaimed them for Narnia and shut down their biggest market for slaves, I just added fuel to the fire... Yes we need to first get word to the Shade, send a dove out to the islands as fast as possible, but then we need to cut off the head of the snake, so to speak."

"It would make it easier if you were trying to find her parents to not be hunted the whole time..." Raxe spoke to Caspian.
"Do you know what you're suggesting?!" Caspian spoke in a raised voice. "If Calormen didn't already have enough excuses to try to invade Narnia as it were, we would be giving them a justified one!"
"And the way they treated their King was not a justified reason to retaliate?" You questioned.
"That is not the type of king I want to be." Caspian said firmly. "If I am to show the Calormene people what kind of country Narnia is, I need to lead by example. And that does not include murdering someone."
You were all silent for a while, then Raxe signaled the animals to keep moving forward. "Well...we can shelf that thought because it sounds like the first thing we need to do is get word to your ship. Which means finding it. Which means we're going to need to speak to someone who has a ship to get out there and look for it...."
"But before all that," Caspian added. "We need to get out of this desert."

Finally, as the sun set you could make out the silhouette of a collection of buildings in the distance. You had reached the edge of the desert. The moon was high in the sky when you all dragged yourself through the streets to Zumi's shack. He threw his door open when he heard the grunting of the camels approaching.
"Tash's BEARD you found her!" He exclaimed as you each slid from the backs of your camels.
Kex chirped excitedly and flew to his master's arm.
"Go inside, everyone. You must be famished. I will get these animals unpacked and situated. Help yourself to whatever you find." He welcomed you all in.
Raxe hugged him. "Thanks Zum. For everything."

You blinked to let your eyes adjust to the dim lighting. A few torches hung on the walls, but they were more than enough to illuminate the tiny, crooked shack. Caspian helped you to one of the chairs at the table, and sat you down, as Raxe dropped his pack on the floor by the front door.
"I never thought I'd be so happy to be back in this old dump." He sighed.
Caspian chuckled. "I know what you mean."
"I think it's...quaint." You looked around.
"Oh I like her." Zumi appeared in the doorway carrying two more packs. "You two can just go find lodgings elsewhere."
You all laughed.
Raxe went back outside with Zumi to help unload, while Caspian poured you both some wine.
"I can't wait to take a bath..." You groaned, taking a sip
"Me too..." He agreed. "Though I don't think Zumi has a tub so we may have to resort to a sponge bath..."
"I will take whatever gets all this sand out of my hair and....crevices..." You emphasized, squirming uncomfortably in the chair.

Zumi and Raxe joined you a few minutes later. "That horse must have been a magnificent beast before he became skin and bone." Zumi noted as he sat down.
"He's smart too." You smiled. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive right now."
You recalled the stories of how you came to find him, how he found water for you both, how he would share his body heat with you to keep you warm at night. How he would allow you to ride him even when he was just as weak and hungry as you were. You realized that Abra had become your best friend in these last several days. He knew just as much about you as anyone, he had seen you at your lowest and never abandoned you. You began to tear up.
Caspian rubbed your back gently. "He will be treated like the hero he is." He assured you.
"Don't worry, I'll get him fattened up and back to his glorious self in no time!" Zumi assured you. "First thing tomorrow I'll go acquire some of the best quality grain there is from the market."
"You mean...you'll go steal some..." Caspian joked with a glint in his eye.
"Whatever puts food on the table!" Zumi argued.
"Speaking of skin and bone." Raxe placed a plate of bread and fruits on the table. "Eat." He spoke to you directly.
That night you slept so soundly, even on the hard ground. Zumi kept trying to insist you take his makeshift bed under the window but you refused. Caspian lay next to you, attempting to be inconspicuously close to you. Once the torches were blown out and you couldn't see much farther than a few inches in front of your face, he reached his hand out and grabbed yours. You lay there in the dark, your hand in his, and drifted off.

* * *

You woke up very stiff the next morning, finding you were the only one still asleep. The men had all left, but you could hear them talking outside. You opened the door to join them, and shielded your eyes from the bright desert sun.
"Ah. There she is!" Zumi was the first to greet you.
They were all sitting outside on the chairs from the table.
"Tea?" Raxe offered.
"Uhm...sure." You really were craving coffee, but you didn't want to be impolite.
"Coffee is expensive here I'm afraid, so hard to find for this village." Caspian read your mind. "But the breakfast tea is actually quite good."
You smiled, and took a cup, and a seat. Caspian was right, it had a kick of something to it that really woke your palette and cleared your sinuses. Hints of citrus and mint combined unexpectedly well to make you feel invigorated.
"Wow. This is good." You reacted surprised.
"His Highness tells me you will probably want a place to bathe today," Zumi began, "most of us just bathe in the river nearby." He pointed off to the outskirts of town. "It's really refreshing. I have some soaps and oils you can use, and aloe for that sunburn."
"Thank you Zumi." You smiled at him relieved. "You're literally my favorite person right now..."
"Uh oh. Hear that?" He bumped Caspian playfully. "Better watch out."
You all laughed as Caspian blushed, then smiled and flirted jokingly, "You're my favorite person right now too..." He grabbed Zumi's head under his arm and ruffled his hair aggressively.
"Ugh!" Zumi laughed as he pulled away, "Go take a bath you Narnian dog!"