Shassii made it safely across. Then she took some time to rest first and then for her to keep moving on and scout the next few meters of their path. The plan took precedent over everything else.
With the rest of the group, Quine had finished up her disposing duty. She collected all the equipment, filling her sacks. Lugging it on her back.
"Arrhhhh"
She heard a soft groan from one of the men. It was the crossbowman Yannu had shot down before. Making her way to him, she knelt down watching him crawl away like a snail.
Tilting her head to the side, she popped a smile. While Examining him for a few seconds, then she stabbed him. Releasing him from his misery.
Then she walked over to Yannu who stood above.
"How are you getting back, up here!?".
Quine saw the path but was unsure. Heading up with no guidance could cost her.
"Take the sack, I'll throw it up. You guys continue across. I'll run through the dead river…"
Yannu looked over to the path she mentioned, spotting the spring vents shooting out steam.
"Bu..but.."
"You can't….think…of… possibly crossing the Devil's Gate…."
Quine raised her arm.
"I know! I'll be fine… let's not argue for once. Get Ussu across okay.."
Yannu fell defeated, but he realized he probably couldn't convince her either way.
Instead, he tapped his hand, wishing and blessing her away.
Quine did the same.
Turning to the Dead River.
She dashed leaping into the area, racing ferociously like a cheetah in an open savannah. The springs burst open as if welcoming her into their embrace.
Swaying past them, she was good with her feet. Leaping and launching herself away, narrowly avoiding them all.
On the canyon top, Ussu and Aya remained silent.
They knew already, what was going on.
"Yannu, you let her…."
Aya interrupted her, cutting her off.
"Quine does what she wants. You wouldn't have convinced her…"
"Even soo??…" Ussu fired back, glaring at the two concerned.
Yannu simply covered his face. Turning to the open valley, praying over Quine.
"Sanni' Sai Śeingtt. Śeingtt Uun Fortitude please watch over her…" Ussu chanted hoping for the best.
The others nodded in response.
Quine was now halfway over the field.
Her vision was becoming blurry as the springs shot open violently polluting the air.
She jumped over a sudden last-minute spotted vent, if a few moments slower she would've been burnt. Toppling and rolling on the floor. She recovered wrapping her mouth with the headscarf.
"Quine baby go on. Child of Rhiniss! This shan't be your end!!"
Everyone Prayed for her.
Bursting forth, she cut through the field like a soldier, relentless and fearing for her life.
She was exasperated, fatigued, her muscles grew sore. Leaving no chances to pause to take breaths, she had to keep moving. The poisonous air would certainly kill her or make her nauseous if she stayed longer.
Running through the misty spring. The temperature arose toiling away at her strength. The vents spat openly around her, singing a tone as she raced across.
In the end, there lay five vents in front of her.
Making a wall of steam, blocking her progress.
Turning to the side, she shook as she heard another series of vents open up behind her.
Yannu prayed for her as he lost sight as the steam grew, higher and higher.
Kairui peered down trying to see whether she could track her.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"GET OUT!!!" she shouted in the field.
No response came out of the Steamy field.
Shassii came over to Kairui and crouched beside her.
"Will she be okay.."
"Don't worry, just go ahead and scout the next two hundred meters ahead… I'll send her over to you once she arrives. We have to make do of the time we have here…"
"Were trying to beat the sun?"
"We must be in the desert by sunrise. Before the temperature rises from the east. It will grant us time while the sun rises. If we make it to the town in the northwest, we should have enough water"
"If the Śeingtt approves and watches over us… we shall" repeated Shassii. Before tapping the dorsal of her hand and leaving to scout.
Shrouded in the mist, Quine heard voices calling out to her.
They grew louder and louder.
The poison of the air would soon make her pass out, or choke to death.
She ran to the side, crazed trying to find an opening as the vents channeled theirs steams up.
Openings gave sight to Kairui, who could spot her.
She called out to her, trying to guide her through the steam maze.
Quine caught the eye of her commands. Followed through, nodding to her for confirmation.
One of the vents bickered out its bursts and she hopped over it, making it through the deep fog.
It was now a clear path, headed to the canyons.
Kairui smiled down at her.
Waving her safely, as she dotted the other three on the other side.
Anxiously waiting and praying for Quine to make it.
Darting with the speed of a desert horse, dodging, and skimming past the obstacles.
She leaped over on the vents, catapulting herself into the air. It gusted out under her, as she swiveled her body.
Skimming past it, falling to the hardened floor once again.
Safely she had made it across.
The stream flowed down covering her and knocking her strength out, as she gave in.
A white flash dazed her.
In the glimmer of her sight, her eyebrows flickered as the sand grazed past her.
Within the obscured blur Kairui stopped at her feet.
Quine weakly gazed at her black studded boots.
Kairiui smirked seeing her defeated.
"Child of Rhiniss you amaze me as each day passes by…"
Quine grinned, as her left eye fell shut. Breathing in the toxins had left her fatigued and weary.
Kairui stretched out her arm.
Quine grasped it tightly with the last of her strength as she was lifted up out of harm's way.
In the subbasement, a couple few words were being murmured out.
Chainik was doing her best to answer and remember what she was being taught.
"I've always wondered what sort of name is Chainik??"
"Name my Great aunt Gave me…??"
"Weird isn't it, not of our origin is it!?"
"Passed down, my full name is Caadi Ni'yasmin Al Hadesi Kaluoin Ujaq Chainik"
"Caadi?? I met a man with that name once, but he was a foreigner like me… How'd you get a name of such!"
"Foreigners weren't allowed in Eein in the past i believe...".
Chainik buried her head down, remembering her path.
"A long time ago, we met a man. Sanni Sai' upon him and his soul. He was a man from afar, not Caicacci. From a land greatly past. Bearing ruddy skin like yours but like of the tree bark. He was here as a vision and left with no trace. But yet, he found me. A weakly child, troubled by an affliction. At first, they thought it was leprosy, a sickness of skin but it was something else. No hope came for me, until he arrived. He healed me using some ancient herbs and foreign cultural medical practices. Then he blessed me, speaking the word of truth and life into me. Restoring my vitality"
Klossi urged her for more.
"What happened next!?"
"As you said, foreigners in those times were hated greatly. Even such uun kin! Most of us were still young and weary of the confusion as kids".
Klossi raised his head.
"When I left for the outer lands there were many wars. Waged by Caicacci & other nations, no one could be trusted. Neighbors turned on neighbors. Brother vs brother! I remember there was a bar of any Caicacci and any none Śeinq in the province".
"It would've been best if you were all one kin. Like we told you through the linniq but better yet you never listened…".
"The priesthoods and sects never did, all is the same to this day…".
"Well, we at the academy try ever so… but the tribes and clans are soo many. Justice struggles to be upheld when everyone identifies & interprets it their own way. But through the Śeinq, Qaas & Majilis hopefully, we'll get there someday".
"Anyway, you were saying??"
"He was with us a day before he suddenly departed. He took no reward for the great deed he had given us. Leaving a flicker of wind and dust in his room. My mum and aunt were surprised. He left a noted seal on his bed with this one word alone for us"
"My mother appointed me this name from young. Promising and urging myself to become a Śeinq in his honor for the life he gifted me!"
Klossi looked sternly at her.
"A'si, Sanni 'Sai Śeingtt!"
Chainik nodded, affirming and repeating after him.
"If all goes well, I'll take you to see the people there! Land afar from us all. Am surprised he healed you, they are very seclusive…. Most of the Quaash know of them Uun Eein"
"But still it doesn't explain how you got the name. Chainik!? Specifically!".
A white flash drew into the room blinding them temporarily.
Stunning them back as they braced each other.
They fixed and straightened out the paper they had laid before them.
Chainik found her vision again, puzzled and confused. Then she looked at him smiling.
"Well, it goes like this…."
Atop the canyon. The group circled around each other.
Kairui took the lead, patting Quines back.
"Now we have to head forward, to the Realm past…"
Shassii approached, kneeling and drawing everyone's attention.
Drawing on the ground she planned, carving up the map of the area.
"If we head through here, here and here. Passing through these caverns and canyons, we should meet the sand by daylight. I assume if there is a land past the realm past…" she explained glancing over at Kairui.
Kairui straightened her back, stretching her muscles.
She took a moment to look through the infidel loot they had pillaged.
Then she threw a few leather straps to the teens.
"Listen, we're heading out now. No rest, no stop. We have to cross into the desert by today, understand!".
"Strap your waterskins now to your thigh or waist. When we hit the desert, we have to keep our eyes peeled. Stay together and stay close to me! Okay".
Aya stood up.
"Forgive our resistance, even at this point? How sure are you of a land past??".
"I came from there; they came from beyond there. We shall go beyond there!" Kairui answered annoyed at the pesky question.
Shassii stood up, assuring, and affirming her sister.
Kairui stormed off ahead making her way to the realm afar.
Then the group followed slowly, one by one. There was no turning back now, it was now or ever!
Aya waited behind last with Quine staring at the Devil's gate, steam baths burst forth.
"I swear under the stars, Śeingtt and Śeikl above! I will return to the lands granted to me by our ancestors!".
Quine patted her back.
"A'si"
Aya triumphantly walked off after the pairs ahead.
Quine peered fiercely afront, her eyes on one thing. She swayed her head, warding off her fears, and raced to catch up to her friends.
Chainik leaned closer to Klossi who was caught in her tale.
"BOOM!" she shouted, frightening him as he fell back in suspense.
Flipping over giggling and chuckling at his unease.
He frowned at her.
"Not funny!" he muttered out with a frowned face.
"You were saying your grandparents crossed the realm past. With one camel and a shared waterskin…".
Chainik lit up once again.
"Yes, yes… amazing at it sounds. They were heavily malnourished. But the Śeikl provided, granting them the waters of the oasis.
All the Quaash priests say they should have died. They sometimes say my family was unbound seeing as we were last to arrive in this land. But still, through preservation, I made it to the academy. If it wasn't for these bastard infidels. I would be on my way to being a full Śeinq".
Klossi thought for a second, suspicious of her tale.
"So, you have no recollection of the lands before!?"
"I've also never heard or seen an oasis in the middle of the northern realm past…."
"We were told of the Sade! That's what lead us here, that Song. That message was sung in our homeland, I was told."
"Am not sure whether it's completely true. Some say we may have been accursed and unbound to the linniq. Lost spirits.
But, but we bleed, we cry, we feel….we love"
"We hate!" she said in a wimpy manner hardening her fist. Her mind disturbed by the thoughts of the army that ransacked her home and killed her family members.
Klossi held onto the iron bars, taking her pitiful words in.