Part 5 )NOT EDITED(

Caliorian Island, Desert
Joshua turned away from the oncoming storm the huge rolls of sand looking like gigantic moving walls, a bright flash from a southern dune stopped him in his tracks. The flickering pattern was a warning signal from the scouts placed in the sand drifts surrounding the tribe, and Joshua wasn’t familiar enough with the motions to decipher the patterns quick enough, something about…Incoming strangers. His heart leapt into his throat, and the images of Davien and Joel killing or being killed by the Obatah warriors had him running for the place where the mirror flashes had come from, he had to get there before the tribes hunters. Running in the middle of day with his wounded side was foolish and he knew it, but lives were more important than pain and run he did. He estimated the drift was atleast three miles away and one of the stallions locked in the pin would get him there far faster than he could run. The chocolate brown horse was small compact and powerful, muscles rolled along its shoulders and back and sweat glistened in the bright sun. His black eyes stared with an intelligence that was unnerving, but the Drakken leapt the corral and a dagger whipped out to cut the tether as he landed upon the mustangs back, and he wheeled the horse around with his knees and “tsked” it into a gallop. He took the four foot high wall at a canter and sped toward the sand dune. He knew from the trainer that this horse had no name and wouldn’t as he was due to be released back into the herd as a breeder. He was unridable, the beast still bucked Joshua and attempted to bite and kick as much as any horse Joshua had ever ridden, he was an accomplished rider having been in a saddle and bareback since he could walk. Still, this particular horse was almost more than he could handle, and he’d found that if he road the creature into the ground, he only had to leap off and roll away rather than run flat out to keep his head on his shoulders. He would be at the flashing point in minutes, and he prayed that he would make it on time.

The sand kicked up by gleaming black hooves flew through the air like glimmers shards of snow in a place that the people didn’t even have a word for snow, and he leaned over his canteen being shared between man and beast. The mustand drank greedily at the water, and Joshua rolled off his back and into a crouch, the signs of a cold camp site, he was listening intently for any sound indicating where the men were. He grabbed the reigns of the horse and left him under a shade of a small dune as he stagger stepped up the incline of the drift. He was calling out in both the tongue of his people and the and the smooth flowing dialect of the Obatah. He heard the clang of steel and a cat call and he rushed to the sound, desperate to stop the violence he knew was happening, his side ached and slowed him, he finally reached the top of the dune and stopped, nearly falling as he struggled to catch his balance. Davien had his kite shield up and spear laying in the notch on his shield and Joel stood behind him, the small buckler and large bastard sword held in a high guard, the Obatah swords men was circling his blade whirling laughing at them.

“Come out, come out from behind your shields little ones.”

The taunts washed over the two brothers, Devian the hot headed one would have leapt at the man, but the cooling hand of Joel kept him from getting killed. Neither brother understood the words, but the tone of voice made what was being said obvious. The sand warrior leapt at the two men, Devian’s spear extended out and was batted aside. The two veterans had never fought men that cared more about the fight than death and he had to stop it…

“ Joku! Stop! They are under my protection! “

Joku stopped and slid away from the two men, they had bother stopped and stared up where the Drakken Prince stood. He made for an imposing figure, white robes flicking in the growing wind, the sun that would soon be setting blood red behind him. He had forgotten to don the head gear and his long hair blew covering his face in shadow and still the brother knew their lord. Joku however was under no such qualms and he flipped a rude gesture to the prince. Both men behind the shield held their peace until their lord was done, neither understood what was happening, but the man in front of them had stopped threatening them for the moment and neither had a desire to kill.

“These men stepped off a pirate boat, they’re here as spies” Joku held his sword out again and advanced pausing only when the low threatening voice drifted down,

“ You will deal with me Joku, and your corpse will lay in the dust. You know this is well as I, you can not match me on the dueling grounds.”

Joku stopped again, and shook his head,

“If you will vouch for these men wanderer, then upon you their actions will be. “ Joku turned and strode toward the sand, the scimitar sliding into the sheath on his back “The storm will be upon us soon, you’d best head back to shelter.” The man moved with on top of the sand like a serpant barely disturbing the sand as he strode atop it. Devian and Joel both looked in envy at the man as he vanished over a dune, then both turned and stared with a growing fury at their prince.

“My Lord!” The men cried out as one, and both pulled their feet from where the shifting sands had grasped them. “You did not wait at Sherin like you swore you were going to! You ordered us to make sure Sheva made it to the Camp site and then you vanished!” Devain the louder and more aggressive of the two stomped, as best he could, toward the man who was causing so much frustration, “You swore it on your father’s return that you would wait for us!”

Joshua raised his hand and smiled, he had been born with a golden tongue and just as he was prepared to launch into an explanation that would not only sooth their feelings, but also logically preempt any further argument Joel slapped back nearly hard enough to reopen the stitches along his ribs. The hit also knocked the breath clean out of him, and Joel shot a glance at his brother and then back at his prince, “You’re hurt!” The realization came out more as question than a statement and when both men concluded that he in fact was hurt, they had him walking the way they had come, “We are getting back on that ship, and we are taking you home. Now. “

Finally catching his breath, Joshua dragged his heels, “We can’t!” he gasped, “The storm is coming!” The strain in his voice cause the body guards to stop. “ What storm” Joshua coughed, “We need to get back to the tribe, soon. Can’t you feel the air? “ The men nodded, “The air pressure has changed, my ears popped and you can feel the air, like needles being poked into your skin.” The stopped and Joel dropped Joshua from his broad shoulder and looked around, “How far is shelter?” Pointing back the way he had come Joshua grinned evily, “The clouds will provide shade, hopefully it will be enough, a few miles back that way… I’ve a horse but you two will have to run.” Joshua looked at the two men, they were brothers, fostered from a Rover caravan that had been found on a patrol sent into the wastes. They were nearly five years older than Joshua, and had been raised beside him, he looked upon them like older brother but they took their job of guarding their charge seriously. Devian Rook, the elder brother, smaller than his younger brother with jet black hair and charcoal colored eyes. He was thick with shoulders and arms that bulged with muscles and caused many a girl to blush prettily. Corded bunched under his chain mail and he was built like an ox, and according to his brother about as smart as one too. Luckily the lankier Joel was fast on his feet. Not quite as dashing as his older brother, Joel still turned a few heads, taller than Joshua and with arms if not as wide around as his brothers, certainly well enough proportioned, his roguish grin and perfect teeth topped with a boyish face a soulful puppy dog eyes slightly covered by brown curls did the job just fine. Plus, the swinging sword at his hip also made for a fine conversation starter in any tavern. Now, both had exactly the same incredulous expression on their faces.

“You expect us to… run? “