IV.

The oppressive heat from the noonday sun, pressed down on the floundering group of captives and the enemy army. The dry, desert air sucked away their moisture, leaving cracked and burned skin and ever thinning bodies. The princess and her second eldest brother were the worst off, barely able to trod along in the back of the procession. Page was becoming delirious from a fever; Zerra was no better off, having suffered from helping her burdened brother along—their captors having thought it quite amusing that only she, the female of the group, should get to shoulder her brother's weight.

Slowly, the princess’s resolve was weakening...and the hours seemed to meld into one long struggle. She could no longer remember her count of how many days they had been prodded along, she was so exsiccated. It seemed like an eternity ago since she had drunk of the sweet, mountain air and felt the cool breeze on her skin.

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Finally, Zerra's step faltered, and she tumbled to the burning sands. She struggled to rise, only to find her shaking legs would not hold her. In despair, she looked to her brothers and father—but they seemed to be held in a trance. Zeek met her gaze briefly, and sluggishly still at that, but was prodded on by a sharp sword. The maunstorz leader came to look down at her in mocking disgust. “She's done for. Leave her. Mansocan does not need her, anyway. The other should survive by eating her share of the food; we need him to, at least.” He waved his warriors on and bent down in front of the princess. “We'll let the predators have a go at you—if ye don't die of heat exhaustion first.” His laugh echoed hollowly in her ears.

The band trudged on and soon disappeared into the haze of the desert. Zerra sat dully where she had fallen and gazed after them long after they had vanished into the haziness of the horizon. Then, she closed her eyes to the heat of the yellow sun, feeling as if her entire body—down to her very bones—had become fire and dust. Letting go her exhausted breath, she allowed the Aras Desert to consume her into unconsciousness.