The Parched Sea (The Harpers) by Troy Denning

Author:Troy Denning [Denning, Troy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786961535
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2011-10-25T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

Ruha’s camel had begun to limp, but the widow did not bother to dismount. After four days of travel on At’ar’s Looking Glass, half the Mahwa were riding lame beasts. With the merciless goddess blazing down on the wind-burnished stones, the searing heat blistered even the tough pads of the camels’ feet.

In order to reach his allies as quickly as possible, Sa’ar was pushing his tribe through the worst part of the day. Heat rose off the desert floor in rippling waves that gave the Looking Glass the appearance of a huge lake of molten rock. On the horizon, a line of tiny spires danced in the shimmering air. Though still so distant they looked like billows of violet smoke rather than minarets of desert rock, the obelisks were a welcome sight to Ruha’s aching eyes. The stony towers marked the edge of At’ar’s Looking Glass, and not far beyond lay the Mahwa’s destination.

Upon sighting the spires, Sheikh Sa’ar had declared that the Mahwa would not sleep until they reached the Well of the Chasm. The declaration had delighted Lander, who was eager to reach the next tribe before the Zhentarim enslaved or destroyed it. Despite her weariness, Ruha shared the Harper’s impatience, though for a different reason. The sooner he became convinced that the Bedine were responding to the Zhentarim threat, the sooner he would return to Sembia—taking her with him, of course.

The widow closed her eyes, hoping she could adjust to the new hitch in her camel’s rolling gait. She tried to imagine the green valley of Archendale, where cold water filled the canyon and Mielikki’s forest was so thick that At’ar could not penetrate its canopy. Try as she might, Ruha could not picture such a scene. She would simply have to go and see it with her own eyes.

“Don’t fall asleep,” warned a familiar voice. “It’s a long way down and the landing is hard.”

Ruha opened her eyes and saw that Lander had moved his camel closer to hers. She reacted by nudging her own mount away. “You mustn’t!” she whispered, shaking her head. “If Kadumi sees us speaking, it may be his dagger that cuts you open.”

“Surely he wouldn’t violate the sheikh’s orders,” Lander returned. “You did say that he was an honorable boy.”

“It is because he is an honorable boy that he would violate the sheikh’s word,” Ruha countered. “He would do anything to avenge a wrong against his dead brother.”

The Harper seemed unimpressed. “Kadumi’s blade is not one that I’m afraid of.”

“Then you are a fool!” Ruha countered.

“Perhaps,” Lander replied, shrugging. “But the sheikh’s prohibition is against speaking to you without your brother-in-law present.” He nodded toward the rear. “Kadumi’s less than thirty yards away.”

The widow did not need to look to know Lander spoke the truth. After Sa’ar’s judgment, the jealous youth had even relinquished his scouting duties to watch her. He had barely let her out of his sight since.

Disregarding the Harper’s reassurances, Ruha again steered her mount away. “He’s supposed to hear what we say.

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