So Robert told about his time in the Podor ship. He explained how the spy came to the prison hallway when everyone else was partying, about her seeing-stone and about that he overheard. Then he told the commander how the princess had vanished into thin air. The librarian-like commander looked downright terrifying at the moment. The wind would dramatically change directions with every other word. Robert didn't know if the commander was the cause or not. But by the time the commander was satisfied, the Podor ship was long gone. Barely a dot on the horizon.

“The princess must still be on that ship somewhere, invisible? Simply unbelievable I thought they were only stories.” the commander muttered, as he turned the crowd of forty or fifty Liba guards waiting behind him. “Men, we're going after that ship. Prepare the caravan to leave in five minutes.” He walked off towards where general Paul was standing.

“Come on, stand up. If he wants to keep you around. The commander must think you're very important. ” Tom said, as forced Robert to his feet. Robert sits down during the exchange. “It's your lucky day, buddy.” Tom pushed Robert inside the wagon doorway.

Lucky? I beg to differ. Robert thought as he was pushed inside. he glanced around at the nearly empty storage wagon. I'm exhausted, dirty, and my nerves are shot to hell. I haven't answered the call of nature in hours, and I'm a prisoner, again.

“Hey, where do I go in here?” Robert asked, turning. “I really need to go.”

“We'll get you a pot,” Tom said, as he started closing the wooden door. “Now step back, a little further.” Robert stepped back again. As the door closed, it became pitch-black before the glowing ceiling kicked in.

“Great,” Robert muttered, as his belly hurt. “I hope they get the pot fast."

The wagon started moving. The sounds of camels and moving sand filled the air. Robert found a comfortable spot near the back of the wagon to sit in. He had gone from one of many prisoners. To one of two, and finally to being the only prisoner.

Ok, what do I know? Robert thought, there's a war coming and they have magic. They kept calling that red sand Cinta? But they also said Cinta was the cause of all the magic? So it's like the spice from dune? Is it a magical ingredient, or a fuel source? Ok, so I used their magic that one time because I had Cinta on me but where did it go? Damn, I can think straight, everything hurts.

The door opened and a pot was tossed inside. It banged against the wall and clattered to the floor. The guard who threw it popped his head in.

"I was ordered to get you this." the man said. "Enjoy."

"What the hell? I thought it would be bigger and that it come with a lid?" Robert muttered, looking at the pot in the corner. " This is going to really smell.”

When He finished his business, but without toilet paper, he had to just leave it there, He felt sick and dirty, when he put his pants back on. The whole room smelled too. He moved the pot into one of the corners. His hands started smelling of it too, but they looked clean. Robert couldn't tell where the smell was coming from anymore. He sit down on the opposite corner and collapsed.

This must be hell. Robert thought, as tried blocking the smell with an arm. The contain's odor filled the air. Well crap, I really miss toilet paper and my shower. When I get home I'll never take them for granted again. I really had it good.

Four hours later, Robert started to hear a lot of noises outside. It sounded like a group of animals and people. Soon it sounded only like people, as a crowd of hundred plus people. He stood up and rubbed his head.

“Eww, I forgot that that,” Robert muttered after he sniffed his hand. He immediately regretted both actions. “Ok, enough of that” He walked over to the door and knocked. “Hey, what going on? What's all the noise”

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“Be quiet in there.” The guard outside barked. someone started banging on the door. “If you draw attention to ourselves, you'll be punished.”

“Punished? What are you talking about?” Robert asked. “Where are we?” No one answered.

What a jerk. Robert thought as he walked to the other side of the room. That sounds like an awful lot of people out there? Have we reached a city? Could it be Gudo?

The voices outside were muffled and dispersed. But some were louder and clearer than the rest. “Hotcakes!" a male voice over the noise yelled. "Get your hotcakes here! Two copper crowns a piece! Hotcakes” Robert put his ear to the wall.

“Monsters and murders got you down! Come by Mark's shop for everything that U will need!” another male voice said.

Sounds like a marketplace? Robert thought. I remember earth still has such places? But how did we get here? I don't think we traveled that very far? We must still be in the desert.

The wagon turned a few times and everything got a lot quieter. Soon it came to a complete stop, and only the sounds of the guards and camels could be heard.

“Hey got any water out there?” Robert asked as he knock on the door again. He then leaned against. “You know it's hot and smelly in here. Hey...Aah!!" The door opened, Robert fell back and hit his head on the hard ground. Sand-filled his hair and shirt. "Ow!”

He grabbed his head and looked up. A Liba guard stood over him with a sword pointing down at him.

“Get up?” The guard barked, the guy looked furious. “I said get up?”

Robert slowly rolled over and sit up. All the wagons were parked in some kind of large back alleyway. The shadows of the two-story buildings loomed over them all. A second shadow passed over, as a skying ship passed overhead. Unlike the Podor flying ship, this one had green markings.

“Ow. Hey!” Robert Muttered, as he grabbed his shoulder. The guard poked his shoulder with the tip of the sword. “What?”

“I said get up. The general wants you.” The guard said, waiting until Robert stood. as Robert stood the guard grabbed his arm. “Move.”

The guard leads Robert down the caravan to another wagon, which sits under a large sandstone arc. Under the arc was a group of people.

“Ah, finally.” the general said, turning from his conversion. He spotted Robert and pointed. “Wait, you? How are you alive? How is he the prisoner you mentioned?”

“General focus.” the commander said, walking up beside Robert. “He's the only witness of the princess. Gorge sit him here.”

The guard sits Robert down on a wooden stool near the wagon. Someone had set up a small tarp over this part of the alleyway. With poles everywhere. A woman stepped out of the shadows. She walked forward and stopped by the general. Under a long purple covering, she had stunning eyes. He wore a purple robe that covered her from head to feet. Another man appeared behind her, he was tall and muscular. He was carrying a box. The man begin unfolding it and the box unfolded into an easel.

“We're ready.” The woman said, taking a sit on a stool that the tall man sit out. She looked up at Robert. “Oh my? I didn't know, I would be drawing such a handsome man today.”

“No, you're not painting him.” the commander stated. “Ah look. Robert, I want you to explain in detail to her, what the female spy looked like. The woman who took the princess”

The woman nor the man showed any signs of surprise. They must have known about the princess or they must simply have great control of their emotions.

Oh, I see. It's like a police sketch artist. Robert thought. maybe I can find an ally in this woman?

So he started explaining as much as he could remember.

“Wow, what a pretty woman.” the artist said, as she looked at the faint picture. She turned to Robert “You're good a describing people.”

“Thinks,” Robert said he was about to ask her for help when he was interrupted.

“Are you done?” The general asked, moving behind her to catch a peek at the picture. “So this is the one huh? The one of two who were causing me such a headache.”

“Yes, I'm done.” The woman said, handing the picture to the general. “That will be four sliver heads and five copper crowns.”

The commander handed her a hand full of coins. She and her male assistant started packing things up. Robert wanted to yell after them, as they turned and moved out of sight. The Liba guard who had brought him here grabbed Robert's arm again.

“Ok, time to get you back to your wagon.” the guard said, she pulled Robert off the stool. “Come on.”

“Hey wait! Stop treating me like a prisoner! I did what you wanted!” Robert shouted, jumping from the stool. “I haven't done anything to be treated like this. Just let me go.”

“What!? Haven't done anything?” the general barked, as he rushed over. “ Boy, you scream suspicious. You were found on an enemy ship to boot. I say that's a good enough reason for me to keep you close. Take him back to the wagon.” The commander stepped in between them.

“Wait, general. He's right." the commander said, as he stepped towards the general. "We have been treating him unfairly. Plus it's much kinder to kick him out here. Then in the desert. I say let him go.” He leaned in and started whispering something into the old man's ear. The general's eyes when wide-eyed and a grin crossed his lips.