CHAPTER 12: THE SANDS OF DECEPTION
The following morning, the sun was still low in the sky as Kaelen, Leif, and Nadira set out from the village. The early hour provided some relief from the desert’s heat, though Kaelen knew it wouldn’t last. As they trekked through the dunes, the landscape around them gradually shifted from the familiar sandy plains to a more rugged terrain, where jagged rocks jutted out of the earth like the bones of some ancient creature.
Leif led the way, his steps light and confident as he navigated the terrain with ease. Nadira followed close behind, her eyes scanning the horizon with the practiced caution of someone who had spent her entire life in the desert. Kaelen brought up the rear, his thoughts focused on the path ahead and the mysteries they were about to uncover.
As they walked, Leif kept up a steady stream of conversation, his voice a welcome distraction from the oppressive silence of the desert. "You know, there are more stories about this lost city than there are grains of sand in the desert," he said with a grin. "Some say it was a place of great learning, where the wisest scholars in the world gathered to study the mysteries of Quintessence. Others claim it was a city of treasure, filled with riches beyond imagining. But my favorite story is the one that says it was hidden away by those who feared its power—concealed to keep it from falling into the wrong hands."
Kaelen glanced at Leif, curious despite himself. "Do you believe any of those stories?" he asked.
Leif shrugged, still grinning. "I believe there’s always a grain of truth in every tale. But which one? That’s the real mystery, isn’t it? Maybe we’ll find out when we get there. Or maybe we’ll just find a pile of old rocks."
Nadira, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke up. "The truth is likely somewhere in between. The desert has a way of distorting things—memories, stories, even time itself. What was once a place of knowledge or power might now be nothing more than ruins. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth finding."
Her tone was measured, serious, and it had the effect of grounding the conversation. Leif nodded in agreement, his usual levity tempered by the weight of her words.
"She’s right," Leif said, his voice more subdued. "The desert doesn’t give up its secrets easily. We’ll have to stay sharp."
They walked in silence for a while after that, the only sounds the crunch of sand beneath their boots and the occasional whisper of wind. As the sun climbed higher, the heat became more intense, and Kaelen could feel the sweat dripping down his back. But he forced himself to keep going, driven by the knowledge that they were getting closer to their goal.
After several hours, Nadira suddenly held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. Kaelen and Leif immediately complied, both of them alert as they watched Nadira crouch down, examining the sand in front of them.
"What is it?" Kaelen asked, his voice low.
Nadira didn’t answer immediately, her eyes focused on the ground. Finally, she stood up, her expression serious. "There’s been movement here recently—footprints in the sand, heading in the same direction as us."
Leif frowned, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Think it’s marauders? They’ve been known to patrol this area, looking for easy targets."
Nadira shook her head. "Possibly, but these tracks are too fresh. Whoever made them can’t be far ahead of us." She glanced at Kaelen. "We need to be careful. If they’re heading for the city, they might not be friendly."
Kaelen nodded, feeling a knot of tension form in his stomach. "We’ll stay alert. If they’re after the same thing we are, we might be in for a fight."
With that, they resumed their journey, but now with a renewed sense of caution. Nadira took the lead, her steps careful as she followed the tracks through the shifting sands. Leif and Kaelen kept close behind, both of them scanning the horizon for any sign of movement.
The hours passed slowly, the heat becoming more intense as the sun climbed higher in the sky. The desert was a vast, unforgiving place, and Kaelen could feel the weight of the journey bearing down on him. But he pushed on, knowing that they were getting closer to the lost city with every step.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the sand, Nadira suddenly stopped again. This time, she pointed to a distant rise in the sand, where the faint outline of structures could be seen. The sight sent a surge of excitement through Kaelen, but it was quickly tempered by the realization that they were not alone.
Just beyond the rise, dark figures moved against the backdrop of the setting sun—at least half a dozen men, heavily armed and clearly searching for something. Kaelen’s heart sank as he realized they were heading straight for the ruins.
"Looks like we’ve got company," Leif muttered, his usual grin replaced by a grim expression.
"They’re searching for the city too," Nadira said quietly, her eyes narrowing as she studied the figures. "If they get there before us, it could be trouble."
Kaelen’s mind raced as he considered their options. They could try to sneak past the group, but the open desert offered little in the way of cover. Confronting them directly could lead to a fight they weren’t prepared for, especially if the men were as dangerous as they looked.
"We’ll need to approach carefully," Kaelen said, his voice firm. "Let’s get closer, see what we’re dealing with, and decide from there. If it comes to a fight, we’ll have to be smart about it."
Nadira and Leif nodded in agreement, and together they began to move toward the rise, keeping low and using the terrain to their advantage. The closer they got, the clearer it became that the group of men was indeed searching for something, their movements deliberate and organized.
When they were close enough to hear the men’s voices, Kaelen gestured for them to stop. They crouched behind a cluster of rocks, listening intently as the men spoke.
"The map says it should be here," one of the men was saying, his voice rough and impatient. "We’ve been searching all day, and I’m not leaving empty-handed."
"Patience," another voice responded, calmer and more authoritative. "The city has been hidden for centuries. If it were easy to find, we wouldn’t need a map, would we? Keep looking, and stay alert. We’re not the only ones who know about this place."
Kaelen exchanged a glance with Nadira and Leif, both of whom looked equally concerned. It was clear that these men were well-prepared and determined to find the city, and they weren’t likely to welcome any competition.
"We need to move quickly," Nadira whispered. "If they find the entrance before us, they could trap us inside—or worse."
Kaelen nodded, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a plan. They needed to find the entrance to the city before the men did, but they also had to avoid drawing attention to themselves. It was a delicate balance, and the margin for error was razor-thin.
"Leif," Kaelen said quietly, "can you create a distraction? Something to draw their attention away, just long enough for us to get to the entrance?"
Leif grinned, his usual humor returning in a flash. "You’ve come to the right man for that. Give me a few minutes, and they won’t know what hit them."
Kaelen watched as Leif crept away, moving silently through the sand toward a spot where the men wouldn’t see him. A few tense moments passed, and then, suddenly, a loud crash echoed across the desert as a large boulder tumbled down a nearby slope, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
The men immediately turned toward the sound, weapons drawn and eyes narrowed as they tried to determine the source of the noise.
"Now!" Kaelen hissed, and he and Nadira quickly moved toward the rise, keeping low as they approached the ruins.
The distraction worked perfectly, the men’s attention fully focused on the disturbance Leif had created. Kaelen and Nadira reached the edge of the ruins, where they quickly began searching for any sign of an entrance to the buried city.
"Here!" Nadira whispered urgently, pointing to a narrow opening partially obscured by sand and debris.
Kaelen didn’t hesitate. He squeezed through the opening, feeling the cool air of the underground city wash over him as he stepped inside. Nadira followed close behind, and once they were both inside, Kaelen turned to see Leif jogging toward them, a satisfied grin on his face.
"Let’s get moving," Leif said as he joined them inside. "We’ve got a head start, but it won’t take them long to figure out where we went."
Kaelen nodded, and the three of them began to make their way deeper into the city’s ruins. The air was thick with the scent of age and decay, and the walls were lined with carvings and symbols that hinted at the city’s long-forgotten past.
As they ventured further into the darkness, Kaelen couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The city felt alive, as if it were aware of their presence, and the air seemed to hum with a faint energy.
"Stay close," Nadira whispered, her voice barely audible in the oppressive silence. "There are more dangers here than just those men outside. We must be careful."
Kaelen nodded, his senses on high alert as they continued deeper into the ancient city. The path ahead was uncertain, and the dangers they faced were unknown. But with Leif and Nadira by his side, he felt a renewed sense of determination.
The lost city had finally been found, and with it, the answers Kaelen had been searching for.