A Twist of Fate

Chapter Nine

Just as the young boy was turning his head to look where the master fighter was looking, the light in the crystal ball faded leaving the tent in utter darkness. There was a sound of rustling cloth, then the sides of the tent dropped down blinding the young man. He jumped to his feet immediately, squinting to see what caused the sides of the tent to collapse.

"All is well, young lord." Said the sage. "The caravan is here to collect me, a little earlier than I anticipated."

The young man relaxed at hearing him speak, placing a hand on the back of the chair to steady himself as his eyes regained their focus. Within a few moments he was able to see clearly, only to tense at seeing the burly men standing around the outside of the tents edges.

"There must have been some favorable conditions along your trail," the sage continued. "I must go and thank your madam for coming out this way for me." he nodded towards one man who had a red bandanna tied around his head, who just narrowed his eyes in response. "Please pass along that I'll be needing to arrange a few more travel arrangements. This young lord here will be needing a lift back home in the near future, as well as some others."

He flicked a coin to the man who caught the coin in a blur of motion, his eyes widening when he looked at the coin in his hand. His only response was a nod of his head.

"Now, young lord," the sage continued. "You should finish that bowl of soup so these fine men can finish packing things away. I believe there is an oasis some ways away from here, that will be where we will part ways. I'll be sure to have your accommodations arranged to have you returned to your home then." He informed him, walking toward the men surrounding the tent.

The young lord looked at the nearly empty bowl in his other hand, then drained its contents in one gulp. The sage was just stepping through the line of men as he set the now empty bowl on the table. He hurried to catch up to the sage, not wanting to be confronting so many able men by himself. As he stepped beyond the men, he realized the air and skies have cleared of the billowing sand.

The landscape was dreary to look upon, every direction mounds of sand with jagged rocks protruded. In one direction a forest of giant white bone littered the land. Not far from where he stood, a train of a dozen boxed wagons awaited them. The sage was going to the last one in the line, he hurried to catch up. The sage was just opening the back door to the wagon when the young lord arrived behind him.

"There is something you wish to ask, young lord?" the sage asked as he climbed into the back of the wagon.

"A great many things I would like to ask, wise sage. I just don't know what to ask first." the young lord admonished, lifting himself into the wagon behind the sage. "I was completely captivated by your tale, I failed to notice where the young boy went to."

"Tiny?" The sage asked. "Oh he has tired himself out moving things onto the wagons, he is resting just up here." he stated as he padded a bundle that suddenly shifted and growled. "Is there more you care to ask? There is likely some time before we arrive at the oasis."

"That is all for now, great sage. I am eager to hear more of the young man that is tied to these creatures."

"Very well, young lord." was his only reply as he pulled the crystal ball from a fold of his robes. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes. They just saw the caravan enter the entertainment fields."

***

Michael and Cathy were walking back to her house, waiting for the crowds of people to thin out before talking more about the strange letter. Master Xin had excused himself as soon as the wagons passed beyond the gates, heading towards the fairgrounds instead of going back to his studio. He apparently knew who the strange man was, and wanted to have a word with him. Michael was busy thinking of how to explain the page to Cathy, without going into too much of the magic talk.