7

Our group sped along the desert, and even Darda was not to be left behind. The large trees of the oasis stretched into the sky as we grew nearer, and I could see that they surrounded a wide pool. Thin grass speckled the ground around the edges of the water and beneath the cool shade of the trees. A large corral stood off to the far left and contained some hundred hadab that chewed away at dry grass.

The green area was a quarter of a mile wide and long, and at that moment was crowded with people and tents. The tents were made of canvas and stood taller than me. They were propped up with poles and the flaps on the front were open to show off their spacious interiors. Carpets covered the ground and several of the tents had mounds of pillows in their corners.

We slowed down as a cool breeze wafted over us. The scents of grass and campfire wafted into my nostrils. I could see the flickering flames of a large fire rise up from the center of the many tents.

"Alzalam makes good money this year," Tillit commented.

Spiros glanced at Xander. "The rumors seem not to have harmed his business."

Xander nodded. "So it would seem. We shall see if there are any accommodations to be had."

We trotted into the outskirts of the camp where we were stopped by a tanned man in white robes. The stranger was about forty, of mid-height and with a slim physique. He bowed his head to us. "Allow me to take your animals, Lord Xander."

Xander dismounted and handed the reins to the man. "It has been a long time, Alththania."

The man smiled at Xander. "It is an honor to be remembered by such a dragon as yourself, Your Lordship."

"Alzalam has one of the best servants in the whole of the desert," Xander complimented the man. He looked past the retainer at the tents and nodded in their direction. "Is your master among his guests?"

Alththania nodded. "He is, Your Lordship."

My dragon lord turned to us. "Let us go see our host."

We dismounted and handed the reins to the servant. As I handed mine off to him, he studied me with a careful eye before he turned to Darda. I followed Xander through the maze of tents to the brightly lit center. A great fire surrounded by stones cast its orange glow on the canvases. The fuel was a strange round wood that let off a sweet odor like lilacs.

Dozens of people sat on logs around the fire. Their chatter was a welcomed change from the quiet of the desert. A man in a flowing white robe walked among them, stopping and talking to the many groups. His appearance was that of a man of sixty about my height and with a little too much belly bump beneath the robes. He sported a white beard and long hair that bounced on his shoulders. His black bushy eyebrows stood out even against his tanned skin.

He lifted his dark eyes as we entered the area and they widened. A wide grin stretched across his face as he hurried over to us and opened his arms. "Your Lordship! Welcome! Welcome!" He embraced Xander in a tight hug before he pulled them to arm's length and looked him over. "It has been the life of a hadab since we last met!"

Xander smiled. "A very great time indeed, old friend."

Alzalam draped his arm over Xander's back and led him toward the fire. "Have you come to enjoy the Jame and-ahem-" he gave a wink, "-the lovely priestesses?"

I frowned and coughed into my hand. Alzalam looked over his shoulder at me. A sly smile slid onto his lips as his eyes flickered to Xander. "You must excuse me, Your Lordship. You seem to have found quite the servant, though I must admit her clothes are rather unusual. Where is she from?"

"She is my Maiden from the other world," Xander explained.

Alzalam stopped and winced before he turned to me with a flourishing bow. "My apologies, Your Ladyship. It was meant as a joke."

"I'll gladly take up your offer to Lord Xander," Tillit spoke up.

Alzalam set his eyes on Tillit and grinned. "Tillit, you old swine! Has a cold bed brought you to the hot desert? And Spiros! I have heard someone was foolish enough to make you captain of the guard for the great city of Alexandria."

"Someone very foolish," Spiros agreed as he shook the sheikh's hand.

Alzalam backed up and gestured to me. "Forgive me for not noticing all of you, my friends, but the beauty of His Lordship's Maiden blinded me to your presence."

Spiros smiled. "A very smooth save, Alzalam, but tell me, does my record still stand?"

Alzalam laughed and nodded. "It does, my friend, but you have a challenger this night. I believe he is a man from my nephew's party. He means to win your record for himself."

I glanced at Darda who stood by my side. "What record?"

She shook her head. "What they elude to was far before my time, Miriam."

Alzalam overheard us and pretended to be aghast. His eyes widened and he whipped his head to Spiros who stood at his side. "Have you not told them of your prowess with the flute?"

I snorted. "The flute?"

Alzalam slipped over to me and shook his head. "Ah, but Your Ladyship does not know the flutes of the desert. Made as they are from our few trees, their sound radiates off the desert like the heat, but the sound is cool to the ears. One need only blow-" he mimicked the act of blowing into a flute, "-and one might even call forth the naqia to listen to their sweet song."

I arched an eyebrow. "So what do these naqia look like?"

He winked at me. "You shall see. I am sure my old friend Spiros here shall not disappoint the crowd by refusing the challenger."

Spiros smiled and bowed his head. "I will gladly accept the challenge."

Alzalam laughed and clapped him on the back. "That is the spirit of the Jame!" He raised his arms and clapped into the air. The dozens of people around us quieted their conversations and turned to our host. "Attention, my worthy friends! Tonight I have a rare treat for you! A contest of skill between two honorable challengers for the sake of honor, entertainment-"

"Out with it, Father, before our guests grow old!" a young voice called from the crowd. Laughter arose from the onlookers.

Alzalam smiled as he wagged his finger at a young man. The stranger wore a white robe like our host, but his face was clean-shaven and his eyes were darker. "You must be patient, my son. What I propose is a flute contest to see who may bring forth one of the beautiful naqia!"

The crowd was all chattering as the man walked up to our group and stood beside Alzalam. "Patience can be an expensive virtue, Father, but you must introduce me to our new guests. I do not believe I know them."

Alzalam set a hand on the young man's shoulder and swept his other hand over us. "These are many old friends, and some new ones. My guests, this is my son, Tifl."

The young man smiled as he shook the hands of the men. "You must pardon the name, my friends. I have only my father to blame."

"Are you not my child?" Alzalam countered.

"I am, dear Father, but-" Tifl reached me and paused as he studied me with his dark eyes. "My Father, who is this creature of loveliness?"

"She is my Maiden, and her name is Miriam," Xander spoke up.

Tifl grasped my hand and planted a gentle kiss on the back. A smile curled onto his lips as his eyes flickered up to me. "You are as beautiful as a cool well after a long journey across the desert, Miriam."

"Sounds-um, refreshing," I commented.

His gaze caught mine and I noticed a slyness at the corner of his lips. "You have no idea, my dear Miriam."

I could sense Xander's attentive eyes on me. So did Alzalam. Our host hurried forward and extracted my hand from that of his son. "See if your cousin has arrived with Spiros's challenger, my son."

Tifl bowed his head. "As you wish, Father." He disappeared into the growing darkness that surrounded the camp.

Alzalam followed him with his eyes until he was out of sight and turned back to us with a soft smile. "You must forgive him, my friends. He is young and beauty excites him."

Xander shook his head. "There is nothing to apologize for, though we would ask you a favor."

Alzalam bowed his head. "Anything, Your Lordship."

"What do you know of these rumors of danger in the desert?"

Alzalam raised his head and pursed his lips. "You refer to the small suns, do you not?" Xander nodded. Our host sighed and shook his head. "I cannot give you any answers, my friend, because I do not have any for myself. I myself have not seen the lights but others have, though when I have sent my son to look he has come back to say he saw nothing."

"Did he go as far as the Nasi Cliffs?" Tillit wondered.

Alzalam shook his head. "No. I would not allow him to desecrate that tomb with mere curiosity."

"What are the Nasi Cliffs?" I spoke up.

Alzalam turned to me with soft eyes, but no smile. "They are the ancient home of the humans who once ruled the desert. The humans carved their homes from the cliffs and grew their food on the plateau above their dwellings, but that was many thousands of years ago. The cliffs are now abandoned, and some say they are haunted by the spirits of those humans who lived and died there so long ago."

"What do you say, our worthy host?" Spiros asked him.

Alzalam glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes. "I say I will not break the sanctity of such a dwelling, and will leave others who are not of my tribe to dare break the peace that resides in those quiet tombs of time."

Xander set a hand on Alzalam's shoulder and smiled down at our host. "Let us celebrate their memory and the Jame by a toast. How is the beer this year? And the wine?"

Alzalam grinned and wrapped his arm around Xander's back to lead him toward the fire. "The beer is so fine that you will think it ambrosia, and the wine is as sweet as honey. But do not take my word for it. Alththania!"

Alththania appeared from the crowd of people and bowed before his master. "Yes, sir?"

"Bring out the kegs! Roll out the barrels! There shall be drinks for all!"