The Endless Golden Dunes

Chapter 22: Preparations

ABBAS

The names of who would be going with Walid were announced. Turned out that Abbas, along with Umar, Ilyas, Hamza, Salman, Ismael and Ali were chosen. Unfortunately, it was only Adam and the rest who weren’t to be going as he was skilled enough in combat. That had made Abbas wonder why Hamza had been chosen. He was extraordinary in the art of swords as far as he remembered. So why him?
  
Before Abbas could step any further into pondering, Adam appeared in front of him.
  
‘You will not believe this, Abbas!’ he practically yelled.
  
‘Careful. My ear nearly got ruptured,’ Abbas rubbed his right ear in mock-pain. ‘And I have heard, yes. I know that you are not chosen to go to the mountains.’
  
‘But is not fair! I was supposed to go with the rest of you.’
  
‘You’d be surprised to find out how many times life does that. Whatever you don’t want happens. That’s just the truth.’
  
‘But what about …’
  
Abbas waited for him to continue, but Adam had stopped suddenly.
  
‘Hm? You were saying?’ Abbas asked.
  
‘N-never mind.’
  
Abbas knitted his eyebrows, but decided that it was in his best interest to not dig further into Adam’s thoughts.
  
Sooner than he could note, the others came. All of them, even Ilyas whose behavior had changed much over the course of four months. They exchanged greetings.
  
‘Unfortunate things there, Adam.’ Umar said, patting the man’s shoulder.
  
‘Aye, I really didn’t want that to happen to you.’ Ismael chimed in.
  
They were all comforting Adam, but Abbas noticed that Ilyas was the only one not fazed by the fact that his greatest friend was not coming with him.
  
‘And what of you, Hamza?’ asked Ali. ‘I have heard that you as well are coming with us. That is strange to me considering you were quite well with the sword. That is at least what I remember.
  
‘Ah, well, see, I have been chosen by Walid as a captain.’
  
A rope seemed to have tightened around Abbas. He thought he would choke.
  
‘I beg your pardon?’ he asked.
  
‘How in the world did that happen? And when?’ Salman asked.
  
‘Just a week earlier,’ Hamza replied. ‘Sorry I was not able to tell. There was … quite much in my mind at that time.’
  
Abbas immediately saw in Hamza’s eyes that the thoughts had a burden on him. Ali might have noticed too, but both of them said nothing.
  
‘Well, I suppose it was best left as a surprise if I wish to be honest,’ Salman said. ‘I think for shocks, that was effective.’
  
‘Of course, I had not intended to hide it from you, but I suppose that I have accidentally done a much better thing.’
  
‘What about you, then?’ Hamza looked at Ilyas. ‘You are speaking seldom.’
  
Ilyas didn’t reply. He simply gave Hamza a look that was a blur between anger and madness. Adam chuckled nervously.
  
‘He has not been doing quite right. His father had actually died before he joined the army. Ever since then, he has not been fine enough to bother with matters such as interactions.’
  
There were murmurs of sympathy.
  
‘I am sorry for your loss, Ilyas,’ Abbas said. ‘It is always a great tragedy when even one parent dies. They are the two halves of your soul and having them simply go away from this world is a grave experience.’
  
Adam nodded.
  
‘I am sure he shall appreciate your condolences. For now, I think I must lead him into his tent.’
  
Saying goodbye to them, Adam left with the silent Ilyas by his side.
  
‘What has gotten into him, I wonder.’ Umar said.
  
‘Might not be much. Silence often follows grief.’ Hamza replied.
  
‘He was not like this before, though, was he?’ Abbas asked.
  
For whatever reason, he had turned to Salman who had his hands fidgeting.
  
‘You are trembling, young one.’ Abbas said.
  
Salman cut his act short and looked at Abbas with an unconvincing, plastered smile.
  
‘Young one you call me?’ he said. ‘And I tremble you say?’
  
‘It is a fact.’
  
‘Ha! I will have you know that I can most definitely beat you in a duel.’
  
‘I do not think that relates to anything that I am saying.’
  
‘I was simply stating a fact.’
  
Abbas recoiled, and then he smiled.
  
‘A bit witty for your own good, are you?’ he asked.
  
Salman laughed, and so did the rest. But amidst those chuckles of humor, there was Abbas wondering what was with Salman. Or worse, what was with Ilyas.