Crossover

Chapter 4: The Misson

I was sitting on the front of the carriage, on the wooden bench, while Zedron went into the market square for supplies. It was afternoon now, creeping towards evening. The days were long here; the large open space of the desert had no mountains to the west and east, so sunset came almost an hour later here, in comparison with Luala.

I was tempted to leave while he was away, steal his carriage and go Oasis City to get Alia. But I hated camels, and wasn’t sure where he kept his. Plus, I had no Deressan money and would draw too much attention to myself looking the way I did. Crossing over wasn’t an option, because I was sure Alia was here. It would be going backwards.

I heard footsteps coming down the road to me.  It was Zedron. “Sorry.” he said. “It’s all they had in your size.”

He dropped a dress on my lap, along with a pair on short boots.

“Hope that’s okay,” He said, trying to balance the large crates he brought back with him as well. “You can change inside. I’ll just put this stuff in the storage at the back.”

I climbed inside and left the door cracked open slightly so I could see what I was doing. I didn’t want to hit my head again or fall over.

It was a light blue belted dress with no sleeves. When I pulled it over my head, I noticed it had a small collar up by my neck. Six buttons ran up the front, and the hem hung just past my knees. I slipped on the brown leather boots which molded nicely to my feet. I folded my shorts and top into a neat pile.

Zedron knocked on the door. “Are you decent?” he asked.

“Yes.” I replied, opening the door. “I really should get going now.”

He placed a bedroll inside the carriage, and then moved aside to let me out. “What’s this important mission you’re on anyway?” he asked, surprising me.

“I never said anything about a mission.” I said, jumping out of the carriage. I didn’t remember saying a thing about trying to find Alia.

“You didn’t have to.” He remarked. “You were walking towards the city, but yet you can’t wait to leave it. This tells me you are travelling. I found you in the dunes on your own, so… personal trip then. You are anxious about something, which you aren’t telling me about. Again, personal issue, possibly running from the law. At the very least, not wanting to draw attention to yourself. Yet you can’t control your emotions even if it will draw attention to you. So it’s a very personal issue then.” He paused leaning against the side of the carriage. “But mission… That came from your impatience. You are on a time schedule then, you need to do something. Something you’d risk dying for.”

I was shocked. I’d hardly said anything and he’d basically summed up my life. “How could you possibly figure out all that?” I asked, feeling rather exposed.

 He shrugged, and took a sip from a water flask that he pulled from his pocket.

“Thanks for your help,” I said, turning to go. “But I really should go now.”

Zedron stood up straight, pushing off the carriage wall. “Hey, wait.” he called after me. 

I turned to look back.

“Take me with you.” He said, surprising me again.

“No.” I said.

“Why not?”

“Because it’s my mission.” I said. “And it’s dangerous. You don’t want to get involved.” I started walking off again.

“Look, wait. Kefira…”

I turned around, hand on my hips. I had no time for this. I had to get to Oasis city and get my daughter back.

He walked towards me, his boots kicking up dust with each step. “Please?” he asked. “There’s hardly anything for me here, the drought has ruined this town.”

“No.” I said again.

“How about just let me take you to wherever you are going? I have a camel to pull the buggy and I can take you anywhere, Komali, Oasis City, even all the way to the coast if you like. I’ll leave you alone after. Just give me a reason to leave here,” he pleaded. “There’s nothing left for me here; no work, no family, nothing but sand. Please. I beg you. I need this as much as you.”

I saw an opportunity in his suggestion, even if I didn’t entirely believe him about his reasons for leaving.  The camel may be slower than a horse, but I had no money to purchase one and couldn’t take all the provisions needed to get there on horseback. “Okay.” I told him. “But we leave today. And we travel all day and night.” I started walking back to the carriage.

“Where are we going?” he asked with a smile.

“Oasis City.”