Brother of the Desert Rats

The First Glimpse

Zaelan awoke, gasping violently for breath, as a shock of cold water drenched him. He was pulled roughly back to his feet, and he dimly became aware that his hands were bound behind his back. He leaned heavily into his captors hold, his legs feeling numb and lifeless beneath him. His stomach churned uneasily, but Zaelan was sure he had already thrown up its entire content.

His vision begin to clear and he half lifted, half rolled his head back to see the blurry figure that stood before him. He could recognise the red dusty scarf a mile away. 
For a long moment, they faced each other. Pale grey eyes meeting a golden brown, both set in dark faces. Then the girl smiled, her teeth flashing. But it reminded Zaelan uncannily of a wolf. It was the smile of a predator that had cornered its prey.

"Foolish boy," she murmured in a low and mocking voice. "Didn't we all warn you how useless it was to run?" She stepped forward to place a hand beneath his chin, and force his head up. "Did you not realise for a moment that Vym is a horse of the dunes. A horse that knows no place to go, but to head home. What you thought was your freedom, was just your betrayal. You can not run from here." Her eyes seem to darken, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "You can run to the north, to the south, to the east, or to the west. But it will be dune after dune, sand upon sand. A barren wasteland that seems as to never end. A prison you must call home."

She stepped back, her hands falling to her side. "Unbind him and put him back to work. Have him fetch the water and run your errands, without a moment of rest. Let him have water, but he is not to eat until the sun sets."

She went to turn away, but Captain Lev stepped into her path and bowed his head.

"Forgive my boldness, my lady, but the slave disobeyed a strict rule. He knew he was not to leave."

Ara narrowed her eyes at the older man. "When you captured your steed, what did you do when he broke the fence and escaped back into the wild? Did you flog it, Captain Lev?"

Captain Lev bowed his head again. "No, my lady. I did not."

"No," Ara replied. "You patiently rebuilt the fence with more strength than before."

"With all due respect, my lady, the slave is not a horse."

"No, he is a human," Ara snapped back at him. "Now tell me, Captain. Who is in charge while my grandfather is away hunting?"

Captain Lev hesitated, then put a hand to his chest and bowed low. "Forgive me for speaking out. I was not trying to question your authority."

Ara only glowered at this response, before turning to walk away. She had only taken several steps, when she turned suddenly to face the gathered men again.

"Don't tell my grandfather. If any of you speak a word, I shall make them rue it."

"You won't be doing him a favour if he finds out, my lady," Captain Lev warned her.

"My grandfather told me, he was mine to do with as I please. And right now it pleases me to forgive him. If that worries you, you take him."

She pushed Zaelan forward, sending him sprawling to the ground at the captain's feet. Zaelan tried to rise, but he did not have the strength to get any further than pushing himself up to his hands and knees. He slumped back on his heels, his head bowed against his chest. The beating of his heart seemed to pound deafeningly.

"Go on," Ara sneered. "Take him to your tent and be done with it." She spun around on her heels and strode away.

Zaelan felt a hand grasp his arm and drag him back to his feet again. Slowly, he raised his head and looked at Captain Lev cautiously. The captain didn't even meet his gaze, as he gestured for Zaelan to follow him.