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It took a week to reach the second oasis as Bissau predicted. Amber’s fascination with the journey had disappeared long ago. She was tired of being hot, tired of the monotonous food and tired of Aisha’s incessant bragging. Apparently, her former enemy had decided they would be fast friends despite her previous attempts to hurt her. Grandma and Bissau paid close attention to the two, Grandma often smiling, Bissau scowling. He still did not trust the woman. Amber doubted he ever would.
This oasis was much larger than the first. To Amber it was truly paradise.
“Hut, hut,” she shouted, urging her camel to a spirited trot.
“Amber, wait!” Bissau shouted. He started after her.
“Why?” Amber shouted back. “I can’t wait to take a bath!”
Bissau was catching up to her when the jeeps burst from the palms speeding toward them. Aisha and Grandma joined them.
“Come, we must flee!” Aisha said.
“We can’t outrun those,” Amber replied. “Besides they might have guns. They would shoot us as soon as we tried to run.”
“They would not shoot you,” Bissau said. “You can run. We will stop them.”
“Where would I go?” Amber asked. “I’m as good as dead here without you.”
“What do we do?” he asked. There was an edge to his voice.
“We give ourselves up,” Grandma said.
A sly grin came to Grandma’s face. Bissau looked confused for a moment, and then he smiled as did Aisha.
Amber was still worried. She focused her skills on the approaching men and did not like what she sensed.
“These men are dangerous,” she said. “Whatever you plan on doing you better do it quickly. I believe their intentions go beyond Bagule’s orders.”
Bissau looked at Aisha. “Are you up for this, shape shifter?”
Aisha opened her robe, revealing a dagger. “I am ready.”
Amber’s eyes went wide. The journey had become serious.
They rode together to the approaching jeeps. The men inside wore dingy turbans with scarves covering their faces except their eyes. The men carried AK-47 automatic rifles, though they were not pointed at the four for the moment. One of the men stood in the jeep.
“Which one of you is Amber?” His voice was deep and authoritative.
“I am.” Amber’s throat tightened as she answered.
“You will come with us.”
Amber nodded. “What about my friends?”
“What about them?”
The men were lifting their guns when Aisha snatched out her dagger and flung it at the speaking man. He yelped then dropped his gun as the dagger plunged into his arm. Bissau leaped off his camel, landing in the midst of the men in the other jeep. Grandma guided her camel to Amber’s mount then grabbed the reins. Together they galloped toward the cover of the oasis. Amber heard a shot then felt something hard and hot crease her head. The world tumbled before her eyes as pain blinded her like a bright light filling a dark room. Someone called her name from a distance but she couldn’t make out who the voice belonged to. The light faded, and then there was darkness.
When she opened her eyes, her head throbbed. She lay on her back, her head propped on a rolled blanket. Amber reached up and touched the bandages. It was real. It did happen. Someone shot her.
“Baby?”
Grandma’s voice was like a sweet song. She tried sitting up but her head hurt worse.
“Grandma?”
“I’m right here, baby.” She felt Grandma stroke her hair and she smiled. A face appeared over her, one that was familiar and strange at the same time. She sat up, ignoring the dizziness and pain.
“Where are we?”
“Closer to Marai,” Grandma answered.
“Amber!”
Bissau ran to them, a wide smile on his face. Aisha followed, her face contorted by her ever-present smirk. Bissau knelt beside her.
“You are better!” he exclaimed.
“Apparently,” she answered as she returned his smile.
“You’re a lucky one,” Aisha said as she arrived. “A few inches to the right and this journey would be done. You can thank your bodyguard for that scratch.”
Bissau glared at Aisha but said nothing.
“It’s not Bissau’s fault,” Amber said.
“If you are to be a part of our team you need to learn how to support everyone here,” Grandma said to Aisha.
“I won’t take the blame for someone else’s mistake,” Aisha snapped. “If he was faster they wouldn’t have fired one shot. My men were dead before he struck the first blow.”
The word ‘dead’ hung in the air.
“Dead?” Amber said. “You killed them?”
Aisha’s smirk faded. “I had to.”
Amber eyes shifted to Bissau as her stomach churned.
“Did you kill the men you fought, too?”
“I did what I had to do to protect you Amber,” he replied.
“No, he didn’t kill them,” Aisha answered softly. “I did.”
So this was not a game, Amber thought. People were dying to prevent her from reaching Marai. She wondered why it took her so long to realize how serious her journey was. Maybe it was because of the story Grandma told her long ago; maybe it was because of the travelling to different lands and Grandma’s soothing words.
She looked around. In addition to the camels they now had a jeep, apparently taken from the men meant to kill her.
“How far are we from Marai?” she asked again.
“Not far, two days at least,” Aisha answered.
Amber reached out to Grandma. “Help me.”
Grandma helped her stand. She leaned against Grandma as dizziness came and went. The pain was still there, but she would handle it. She wanted to get to Marai as soon as possible. She didn’t want anyone else to die, even if it was to keep her alive.
“I’m ready,” she announced.
“Are you sure, baby girl?” Grandma asked.
“I’m sure. I’m ready to get this over with. I’m tired of being a target. I want to go home.”
“We should rest another day to be sure,” Bissau said. His words were more a statement than a suggestion.
“No, I want to go now,” Amber replied.
“I don’t think anyone else pursues us,” Aisha said. “We are close to the city now. Bagule has no reason to send anyone else after you. Once you’re in the city he can deal with you personally.”
A chill raced through Amber. She looked at Aisha; the woman grinned back.
Bissau glowered at Aisha before speaking to Amber.
“Don’t worry, Amber. Once you are in Marai you will be safe. You will be under the protection of Master Jakada. No one will dare challenge you. No one.”
Amber wanted to believe Bissau but her senses told her otherwise. Uncertainty revealed itself in her young protector with a vibrant pink aura although his expression remained stoic and sure. Amber suspected his doubt arose from the incident with the bandits. Until that time he, and she, believed Bagule’s power was contained within the city. They now knew that was not true. Aisha told them of the musical instrument which seemed to grant Bagule enhanced powers. He probably used it to breach her great grandfather’s barrier. Amber’s head throbbed again. She was speculating too much, but again her senses told her this line of thought was true. If that was so, they would have to be especially careful in Marai.
“Come on baby girl,” her now sprightly Grandma said. “You need more rest.”
Amber conceded. They spent one more day resting. At day break they broke camp and continued their journey. Grandma commandeered one of the bandits’ jeep and Amber rode in the back, happy to have some semblance of the present. Bissau and Aisha rode their camels, leading the other camels packed with their provisions. They traveled the entire day at a slow but steady pace. Amber didn’t feel like talking, which was rare for her. Her mind was more and more occupied with what lay ahead. She was mastering her skills, but could she actually accomplish what was required of her?
Her roundabout musing halted when Bissau stopped his camel then raised his hand. He came back to the jeep.
“We’ll have to leave the vehicle here,” he said.
Amber and Grandma abandoned the jeep then mounted their camels. They traveled another few miles then Bissau stopped them again.
“What’s wrong?” Amber asked. A feeling answered her before Bissau, a sensation of calm and familiarity.
“We are here,” Bissau confirmed.
Though her senses told her Bissau was right, her eyes registered nothing. All she could see was sand, scrub brush and dunes. Bissau dismounted his camel then approached Amber.
“You must take us inside,” he said.
Amber felt a knot in her stomach. She looked at Grandma; Grandma smiled while nodding her head.
“He’s right, Amber. The necklace is the key. It will work only for you.”
“So, what do I do?” Amber asked.
“Lead us,” Grandma replied.
Amber led the others toward the emptiness. At first, she didn’t notice anything different but as she continued walking images began to form before her. Those images became definite shapes. The necklace warmed and the air before her shimmered. An acrid smell filled her nose and she stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Bissau asked.
“Nothing,” Amber replied. She took a deep breath then stepped into the wavering atmosphere. Her body tingled, the empty space pulling at her like gelatin against her skin. The barrier stung her eyes so she closed them, sure of her destination despite being unable to see. After a few minutes the prickling and pulling ended. Amber took a deep breath then opened her eyes.
Marai loomed before her, half hidden by a towering sandstone wall. Tips of towers peeked over the fortification, their white flags fluttering despite the slight breeze.
“I did it,” she whispered. “I did it!”
She turned about then fear struck her. There was no one behind her. The barrier still simmered.
“Grandma? Bissau? Aisha?”
Maybe they’re waiting for me, she thought. She walked back through the barrier, the tingling not as intimidating as before. When she reached the other side, dread replaced her fear. The camels were still there, but everyone else was gone.
“No, no, no!”
Amber ran through the barrier and into Marai through the open gates. Maybe they were ahead of her. The city was almost completely dark save for a few torches mounted on the walls of family compounds. She suddenly felt exposed, as if something or someone watched her from the narrow alleyways between the compounds. She ran from the middle of the street then took refuge in the nearest alley. There she waited, watching for the others to appear. After a few hours a frightening realization; she was alone. She slipped deeper into the alleyway, the darkness shrouding her from sight. Her hand went to her necklace. Its warmth comforted her, reminding her of Grandma’s touch.
“Okay Amber, get a hold of yourself. The others are probably here. First thing to do is to find them. The next thing to do is to find great grandfather.”
But what was she to do tonight?
She pulled her knees close then wrapped her arms around them. The stress of the day made her sleepy despite her situation and she yawned. There was no way she would even consider sleeping in an alley in Atlanta, but something told her that she would be safe in Marai, at least until the morning. She touched her necklace again and found reassurance in its warmth. She closed her eyes then fell immediately to sleep.