Ahshi had earned its status as a town out of pity. Merely of a cluster of dried mud walls encircling a nearly desiccated oasis was the true meaning of desolation. Once, the survival for its few inhabitants depended entirely on the road from and to Bandanii, a notorious route frequented by slave traders and prowled by bandits.

As they reached the Sand Warriors hurried to their protection duties, scanning every corner, preparing defenses, organizing patrols. A formidable force that had been slowly increasing since leaving the mountains of the south. A small army which, at first glance, seemed undisciplined and ill-prepared, but surprisingly functioned like one of the most precise machines in Donna’s shop. Barking orders since arrival and not stopping to do so, Papiku leapt down from his horse and dragged his feet toward the cart, kicking up more dust than his mount had done.

“The sand clans will make sure you are safe here until departure,” He said. “After that. Only a small group of my best will continue with you and the mercs from the city. Do not trust those fellas too much. They are treacherous and at the smallest chance they rob and kill for profit. But one of my sand-folk is worth a hundred of such scum, so worry little blondie: You’ll be safe until Bandanii.”

Kumar, a man who had appeared on the brink of death for the entire journey, suddenly found a surge of life within him as he spotted his daughter emerging from one door. With a speed that belied his frailty, he rushed forward, kicking up a cloud of dust before falling to his knees in front of her. As she pulled the wheels of her chair closer, he burst into a loud cry before embracing her.

‘Interesting,’ Claudia said.

‘What is it?’

‘This man is nothing like the description we have in the database. And I’m certain he is not pretending.’

‘The hardships of life can change anyone, I suppose. Or the certainty of dying.’ Robert got down from the wagon, giving a last glimpse as Kumar and his family moved inside the closest hut. ‘Or the gift of life.’

Papiku snapped his fingers in front of Robert’s face. “From here Kumar and his family will go west, crossing the hills of Kedas; they will soon be in Romii’s safety.”

“I have some notes for Kumar’s doctor. Will you mind giving them?”

The clans’ chief shrugged. “I wouldn’t call that man a doctor, but sure. I haven’t worked my ass off for years to keep that dog alive only for some mountain quack to ruin it. Any help will be welcome. Which reminds me, this is when he no longer has mine.”

Papiku raised a hand towards Kishnet, his fingers twitching impatiently. From the wagon’s seat, and almost hiding behind Robert, the lawyer fidgeted, uncertain of what was expected from him.

“Now is when you give me my money,” Papiku stated bluntly. “And the shares for my associates. That includes the clans and the villages.”

Kish reached for a leather envelope and as soon as Papiku grabbed it, half a dozen warriors rushed over. The chief sorted the credit notes under the watchful eyes of the surrounding spectators. “Where’s the gold?” said one soldier.

“I told you, no gold.” Papiku began to distribute papers amongst eager hands, almost as if famine had reached the camp and he was delivering bread instead of wealth.

“Take this to Jial and he’ll pay you much more than agreed. Remind your dogs that each note has the amount and the name of who it belongs to. If they steal someone else’s, it will be worth nothing.”

At such a disgusting display of greed, Robert turned to search for Macha among the bundles of the cart. Huddled in a corner and covered in a blanket, he was staring at the canvas, silently lost in thought as he had been throughout the journey. His eyes were red-rimmed, though Robert had not once seen or heard him cry.

“We will spend the night here. You can bathe, cut your hair, and shave,” Robert instructed. Macha gave no response, made not a single move. Not even a blink.

“We will spend the night, departing in the morning to Bandanii…”

Faced with Macha's indifference, Robert fell silent. He understood human behaviour well, and although he could feel nothing, the jaw clenching occuring when frustrated came naturally. Right in the perfect moment any human being would have done.

‘Let him be,’ Claudia said. ‘Losing Em has been an immense blow to him.’

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Robert sighed. ‘I know that. But we need him to get to work soon. There is no time for prolonged grief.’

Kish, who was giving papers with the last instructions to one of the foremen, spooked to Robert's words.

“What do we know about the Rock?”

Kish quickly asked around in the local dialect and gave an answer, although Robert had already understood. “It didn’t take long for them to realize the break. They sent a well-armed team from the tunnel, but when they saw the clans, they went back inside. News hasn’t reached the city yet, but that was three days ago. They may already know something.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Papiku said. “They won’t send anyone from the city by land. The king doesn’t want problems with the sandmen, so if he sends someone, it will be by ship.”

‘That’s correct,’ Claudia said. ‘Bandanii won’t risk getting into trouble with the clans they will-’

“As… expected.” Robert cut, imitating a subtle grimace towards people pushing each other for a place next to Papiku. “Kish, please arrange the rest, and send the macha when he’s ready to continue living.”

Robert dismounted and made his way to the huts. The gritty air and constant glare tormented him. Inside of the mud hut was not much better. The gift of dimness and coolness was not enough to offset the stench of mold and sweat. Rob’s body couldn’t sense heat or breeze, nor smell like anyone else. What he received was data, reports of information his mind perceived as if his senses were actually working. Even so, he was sure when something seemed pleasant or unpleasant, and without knowing how or why, his body and mind acted in response to the stimuli. A habit that made him feel more human and, as a result, made Claudia more irritable, dismissive, and contemptuous.

The time alone inside the filthy quarters, which Robert intended to be one of complete silence and freed from thoughts, became a string of comments, planning and corrections Claudia knew were not well received. She was on his mind after all, and even knowing how little he enjoyed her voice, she never failed to say whatever was necessary.

Fortunately for the well-being of their partnership by obligation, Macha’s arrival took less time than expected. With a fake grin, Robert welcomed him and invited his company with an extended hand. The blanket slipped from Macha’s shoulders as he seized the top of a chair’s backrest. A harsh scraping noise cut through the room as he dragged it across the floor. With the seat positioned squarely in front of Robert, he swung a leg over and straddled it. Eyes fixed, glower loaded.

After a brief exchange of silent scrutiny, Macha raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips, gesturing with a quick tilt of his chin toward the bag at Robert’s side. “Is that a battery?” he said, almost amused. “No matter how well you hide the cable with your jacket, I can still see it. So, are you the same kind as Lim?”

Old Lim’s voice echoed, but Rob ignored it.

“I am not like Lim,” Robert replied, his tone even. “She’s a human inside a body of metal and rubber. I was made. An entirely artificial machine, mind and body.”

“I can tell,” Macha said, a grin creeping onto his face as he playfully swung the chair back and forth. “Ye pretty good delivering blowing news without blinking. Did Lim create you? Or Donna? Well, whoever it is, they should have put a little more empathy behind those pretty, lifeless eyes.”

In an instant, Robert analyzed which reply was the most appropriate, and if he really should give it. Yet, he decided to remain silent after realizing, also in an instant, the question did not expect an answer.

Macha made the movement of leaning on the backrest, but halted at the sight of the stump of his missing arm. Robert’s lips motioned, but Macha was faster in his hissing. “I’m going to Bandanii because I want to see Lim. But that doesn’t mean I want to go with you. Or that I want a new arm. Tell me. Why does someone as smart as you and with so many excellent fighters around need me? Depending on what you say, I’ll decide if your company and Donna’s prosthetics are worth the little time left of my miserable life.”

“In the south, Ivy and the Kingdom’s allies are gathering a force to confront the old Kraken. But Vega’s power is formidable. He is deeply entrenched in Tampra, with a new and more dangerous army here prepared to sail south. I will soon depart to halt this army, and when you are ready, you will infiltrate Tampra as a supposed agent, delivering all that I have prepared to destabilise Vega’s influence on the island.”

Macha chuckled. “As a child, I knew nothing at all, but the rabbit hole taught me how to survive, how to steal. Grown up, I knew little about sailing and the seas either, but thanks to Em, I became good at that. Damn, even Kumar made of me a decent clerk. Question is, How can I be an agent of the state, Rob? I usually manage to adapt, but such a role seems pręty complicated compared to pulling wallets and writing letters.”

“Rob is the machine on Em’s ship.” Robert said. “Don’t mistake me for the same unit. You have enough knowledge to manage the documents I’ll be entrusting to you. They are flawlessly crafted, bearing the handwriting they must have, with the precise words needed to be read. All I require is a Parni who can blend into Tampra high society. I will teach you how to fit in. The rest will be a matter of courage and charm.”

Macha leaned on the backrest, one arm under his head, letting the words sink and the answer delay. “This Vega.” He finally said. “Is he the one who ordered Em’s death?”

“Vega himself pulled the trigger.”

Macha’s eyelids clenched shut, any control over his emotions finally breaking. He raised a hand to cover his face, but a sob escaped before he could stifle it. He wiped his eyes, his expression twisted with the desire for bloodlust.

“Then we have no time to waste,” he said, rage slipping at each word. “I’ll be whoever the Hells you want me to be. I’ll do whatever you need me to do. Anything to bring down that miserable man and make him pay.”