Brother of the Desert Rats

The Price of Disobedience

The night was growing colder, but Zaelan could barely feel the chill. The only tell tale sign was that his fingers were red and numb. For despite the dropping temperature, Zaelan's forehead was dripping with sweat, and his body felt as though it was on fire on the inside. The night guards had already been swapped over twice after having stood on guard for two hours each. But for Zaelan, the time was never ending. He had earned a sympathetic gaze from two guards, but the other 4 merely stared at him coldly, no doubt deciding he well deserved it for disobeying their chieftain's granddaughter.

Zaelan staggered on. His leg was aching, but the pain kept him from falling to sleep. He knew that if he paused for even a moment, he would not be able to start again. So back and forth, from one point to the other, he stumbled on. His eyes were almost rolling to the back of his head from sheer exhaustion.

A loud and clear whistle startled him, but he remembered the signal for the changing of the guards. He could see a young man approach the current guard, who appeared to give him a brief run down. By their gesturing and the way their heads turned to him, Zaelan guessed the previous guard was telling him of the princess's command. Then the older guard left, and the new one took his place, gazing out to the wide open desert.

Zaelan kept moving. But he grunted, as a sharp pain stabbed through his head. He tried to shake it off, but the movement only caused his stomach to lurch, and he momentarily lost his balance and staggered.

"Why not rest for a moment?" The young dune guard called, from where he still stood, watching Zaelan curiously.

Zaelan only shook his head, dragging one foot after the other. One step, then another, and another. Just slowly moving forwards.

"You will collapse," warned the guard. "Come and rest for just a moment. I give you my word that I will not tattle on you."

Zaelan hesitated. He finally lifted his head to look at the guard more clearly. It was the young bodyguard who had accompanied Ara to the city. What sort of situation was it, that he was not trusted to enter the city, but was allowed to stand guard? Zaelan couldn't help but wonder.

The guard smiled at him, and gestured beside him. The temptation was too great, Zaelan sank to the ground, collapsing into the soft sand. There was a low chuckle as the guard crouched over him. "Here, my Runen brother in bondage, take this and have your fill." He passed his water flask to Zaelan. As Zaelan took it into his trembling hands and drank, the guard unclasped the cloak from his shoulders and draped it over Zaelan. "There, that should keep you warm, though perhaps you do not feel the cold."

Zaelan frowned, as he blinked up at the guard sleepily. The guard seemed to be growing further away and his voice more distant. Did the guard know? Zaelan shuddered at the thought. But he could not dwell on it, for his lids dropped shut and he drifted into a restless sleep.

It only seemed like moments later that he was being shaken awake by the panicked guard. The sun was already peeking over the dunes, the sand gleaming fiercely under it's bright light. Zaelan blinked wearily, his eyes protesting at the sudden brightness. But a light slap to the face brought him back to his senses and he frowned up at the young guard.

"Get up you fool," the guard was hissing at him, as he practically lifted Zaelan to his feet. "You were seen."

A heavy dread fell over Zaelan and he might have collapsed back onto the ground had it not been for the guard's tight grip around his arm.

"Will they tell on me?" he wanted to know.

The guard glanced about, before shaking his head. "Not out right. We don't go running to tattle to the princess, but if she asks, we must answer." He paused, looking at Zaelan sorrowfully. "I really apologise, my brother. I didn't mean to put you at risk of her wrath."