It took several hours to gather enough weapons for a small group and the rest of the day for them to walk to the end of the cafila. Kanu was amazed with how so many people seemed to be moving forward yet there was still time for people to set up restaurants and other luxuries while never being left behind. Hassian explained how the most dedicated worked during the day but traveled at night to keep their positions in the lead. Far from the lead and inside a secluded cart of their own sat the prisoners.

“What did they do,” Kanu asked.

“Murder can be excused if your story is good enough. With enough money, people will ignore rape. Nobody glances at a drunkard if it is expensive wine. A silver tongued thief will always find a way to go free. These are the murderers with no defense, the rapists without coin, thieves of nature and drunks who have caused too much trouble.”

“They are all bad people, but they will have to fight.”

“Are you sure that we can trust them?”

“I will kill any of them that betray us.”

Kanu spoke the words before he truly understood the meaning of them. He had fought many men, and killed many animals but he had never killed another person. Yet he felt comfortable claiming he would kill anyone who betrayed them. Kanu was a man of his word, and knew that he would not be able to go back on it. He wished to change his mind but it was too late.

Hassian had begun speaking with the prisoners through the bars of the cart. His arms flailed with passion as he attempted to gain fighters on their side. Kanu didn’t speak, he didn’t know the language, he simply stood and attempted to look menacing as Hassian did the important work. A woman with fiery colored hair pointed her bound wrist to grab Hassian’s attention. A man wearing a golden seal on his clothing caused a chuckle from Kanu breaking his character.

“It’s a guard,” Hassian explained.

Kanu wasted no time rushing to action. He ran straight at the guard, full speed. The guard reacted by trying to capture Kanu in his arms. Kanu ducked down and positioned himself behind the guard, wrapping his arms around the guards waist. Without losing momentum Kanu tossed himself backwards, flinging the guard above his himself. The guard’s head came down on the sand knocking him unconscious.

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Hassian wasted no time removing the keys from the guard's belt. Within moments he had opened the door holding the prisoners. Six stepped forward willing to undergo whatever Hassian had told them. There was only momentary hesitation before cutting the leather bindings securing their hands. Hassian gave the order and they all followed, Kanu bringing up the rear watching for any other guards. He was curious what crimes had been committed by the group but thought it best not to ask. It was clear that Hassian had been with The Grand Cafila his entire life. Kanu still could not find his way around alone yet Kanu did so as the sun was setting and without being seen by others. He had memorized the layout of a constantly moving and shifting location that had no fixed point.

Free from the cafila the team did not rest until it was well out of view. The trek to the oasis was much shorter this time; it was proof that the cafila had been moving around them the entire time. The concept fascinated Kanu, a living homeland.

Kanu rested, again putting his head below the surface of the water. Surfacing for air he half expected Hassian to be holding a sword at his neck again. Instead, the woman with firey hair was staring down at him in confusion. Kanu could tell she was an outside to the cafila, same as he was. She did not cover her hair or face like many of the other women, her skin was a white color he was unfamiliar with and he had never seen a person with hair the color of fire. Her clothing was much shorter, legs and arms exposed and the shirt she wore exposed the upper portion of her breast. She was an odd sight for him, but she seemed confused by his presence as well. The two examined each other, their words in different languages.

Shouting behind them drew their attention. They turned to watch as one of the men they freed dug a dagger into the chest of another before turning to Hassian. The man paused, realizing Hassian had already drawn his sword. Without another shout the man turned to run back towards the cafila. Kanu and Hassian quickly gave chase. They did not care if he left them; they cared if their deeds would be found out. A dark sliver cut through the air beside them, before landing at the base of the man’s skull. His upper body continued to move after his feet stopped, causing him to slide face first into the sand. The woman with the head of flames stood far behind them, unmoved from the water with a bow in her hand. She had silenced the prisoner. Kanu could not speak her language so he could not ask her why. She could speak the merchant’s language, same as Hassian but he could not read her mind. At best, they assumed she chose to die free than live life as prisoner.