Once all their armor was on and the cart was packed, Endermon told Dresden to get the cart ready. Rutus looked at her questioningly. Endermon asked what she bet in the poker game. Rutus smiled, and said her jewel-handled dagger. Endermon snickered, as that was one of the ones she had purchased back at the beginning of the journey.

Endermon asked how she beat him so magnificently. Rutus said his face started to shift into different animals. Predator for good hands and prey for bad Endermon called Tutus a genius, and they started off in the new direction. Yes they wouldn't be getting hand outs, and the desert region was unfamiliar to them all, but they were in control of where they went and how they got there.

The next couple of days was a cycle of ride, stop to eat, ride, and sleep. So to pass the time, they would tell stories about what happened in their towns. And if they were embarrassing, even better.

They didn't plan on what to wear for extremely warm days and nights, so for the most part, they kept their armor on the cart. The package the mermaid gave Endermon came in handy though. Turns out it was an enchanted flask and somehow always had crystal clear water in it.

One time Dresden got too excited and thought he saw a lake. Leaping off his horse, he dove in and started splashing around. It wasn't until he heard Rutus and Endermon laughing at him that he realized he jumped into a mirage.

As he stood up and shuffled over to his horse, the other two tried to brush him off, but they were laughing too hard to do any good. He ended up getting most of it, but was grumbling about sand in uncomfortable places. They knew they'd have to make a detour in order for him to stop, so they consulted the map. Fortunately there was a place about half a day's journey west that had bathing facilities.

Changing course, they headed to find the small desert Inn. They make it as the sun is going down. Due to the size of both the building, and the group, they only had one room available on such short notice. Paying for one night, Endermon hoped they had a barn or someplace to keep the horses.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Turns out, there was a small, yet empty barn that the horses could rest in, and as a bonus, Shiloh's carriage could just fit as well. Having marked the place on the map so they could return to it in the morning, two of them tried to make themselves comfortable in their room.

After Dresden got back it was even worse. It wasn't until Shiloh tapped Endermon on the shoulder that she started to relax. Shiloh whispered to follow her. It was then that Endermon noticed the blanket that Shiloh was carrying. Making their way quietly to an unmarked door at the end of the hallway, they slipped unnoticed going up to the roof.

Once the blanket was wrapped around them, Endermon quickly fell asleep. It wasn't until dawn was breaking that she woke up to see Shiloh stretching and working the kinks out of her back and neck.

After a quick kiss, they slipped back into the room, well at least Endermon did. She found an area that she could lie down in and get some more sleep until the other two woke up. She even managed to get more than an hour of more sleep.

When she woke up, she found 3 cups of coffee and a small plate of food for each of them. And getting to it, insured that the other two would be waking up for breakfast too. They got ready quickly and nearly inhaled the food, as it had been the first real meal since the stew.

Paying at the desk, Endermon thanked them for breakfast. They said she was welcome, but they didn't send it. They said a quiet man ordered it for them and paid to have it sent up. Endermon thanked them again anyway.

Before they left, Endermon asked if they knew of or heard of any special treasure in the area.they looked thoughtful, and said there was nothing that came to mind. Endermon nodded, and they left. Oh good, her parents either hadn't noticed, or if they had, weren't saying anything as of yet.