I believe that it is in this cradle of vulnerability, this realm of tender dependence, that the true nature of the human soul is forged. For it is the very incompleteness of our birth, the knowledge that we are unready to face the world, that grants us the strength to endure, to adapt, and ultimately to triumph over the challenges that life presents.
- The Human Question by Gideon de Salavia 378 AC.
It took a few days of solid travel, but eventually, the green of the endless grass turned to a yellow, then to brown scraggly brush, before finally disappearing altogether as we entered the domain of the white sand. This was true except for one place, the line of green that cut through the Whispering Wastes, the seasonal river that was called the Green Road by the people of this land.
I was riding ahead of the caravan, with the two friends Tomorbat and Suhkbat, Khalam’s second, Jasper, and my gambling comrade, Likam, the old guard. We were roughly two horses’ length apart from each other on the left bank of the oddest of rivers.
The Samasutum, or the Green Road, was as straight as a well-crafted spear, with neither bend nor turn, all the way to the horizon’s edge. Its waters were shallow and it was a uniform twenty or so paces wide. The river’s water was crystal clear and one could see the white sand and stone along its bottom. Small fish swam with and against the current, silvery shadows that darted to and fro.
All along the banks of this strange river were new growths of wiry grass, small flowering bushes, and large ferns twice as tall as the largest of men. Insects buzzed in the air among the rapidly-forming mist as morning turned to afternoon. I saw a purple beetle, the size of a closed fist, alight momentarily on Mouse’s head, causing my mount to snort in displeasure and shake her mane.
On our afternoon patrol, the weather had become a little warmer as we journeyed further south. The mist that had grown along the banks of the river in the morning had mostly been banished by the rising sun. I noticed that, despite it being broad daylight, the leader of our small group, Jasper, held a lit, burning torch in his hand. When I questioned Suhkbat, or it could have been Tomorbat—these people all looked the same after all—he explained to me that it was to ward off a certain type of monster that lived along the Green Road.
Sandgorgers, Likam took over explaining, were a type of monstrous amphibian that resembled a giant three-eyed frog. The creatures would lash out at the unwary from beneath the water of the river, or the wet sands of the banks, with their long prehensile tongues, before charging in and savaging them.
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Suddenly, the wet sand, a score of strides ahead of me, erupted as a long line of pink wrapped around my left arm. I saw a large brown three-eye amphibian, with a crest of bone running down its back. Its skin hung loosely around its large frame in fleshy folds, and it was more akin to a toad than a frog. Its maw gaped wide, revealing rows of serrated teeth, and I grasped that the fleshy coil entwined about my limb was none other than the creature's elongated tongue. Without forewarning, the beast commenced to drag me towards itself, the force of the pull threatening to unseat me from Mouse. I struggled for mastery as Mouse reared up in fright.
The monster was about the size of a small cow, and as mount and rider, we valiantly struggled against it.
Luckily for me, Jasper charged at it, torch in hand, scaring off the creature and forcing it to withdraw its long tongue and flee to the safety of the river. There, it jumped into the shallow waters and started swimming with great speed downriver.
“These things fear the fire,” commented Jasper, “Though I did not expect them to rouse themselves so early in the season, and so close to the Grass Sea, which is worrying. No doubt they will be hungry after their long sleep, but I think we will not make for an easy meal!”
“How about the others that travel behind us? We cannot allow these creatures to live; they endanger those who travel behind us,” I added, eager for experience, and confident after seeing that I had suffered no damage from the monster.
“They are easy enough to ward away with fire, Gilgamesh, and pose no threat to us,” Jasper added a little testily.
“But what of those who do not know this? The young child or fellow unwary traveler? Sure, we cannot kill them all, but at least we can show them the error of targeting men. We are armed and strong, and they should pose no threat to us,” I stated confidently.
“Those are fine and noble words, as expected, from one that walks with the Goddess. I have a small son, no more than three years to this day. I am with Gilgamesh with this. It is for the strong and able to protect the weak, that is why we are getting paid too, yes?” opined Sukhbat.
I had to repress an irrational tick of irritation at his mention of Avaria.
His friend Tomorbat rolled his shoulders before adjusting his seat in the saddle, as he looked across at the flowing water of the river. “Surely a little exercise will let us work up a little appetite for dinner. My wife says that I am getting too fat and I feel she would be a little warmer in bed if I regained my former majesty. Come now, you know these Sandgorgers make for a good meal. It will give Chef Amgalan some variety to cook,” he chortled good-naturedly.
“Why must the pair of you always wish to create more work! Fine, we will hunt these Sandgorgers but I can not risk our mounts,” he paused momentarily, before turning on his seat, “Sukh, you will lead our horses far from the shore, but close enough that you might render us assistance. Sir Gilgamesh, since this is your idea, you will do the honors of luring these creatures out. That last one must have had the hunger with him to attack a group of four,” Jasper commanded, his voice growing stern with authority.