//------------------------------// // 28. By the Light of the Moon // Story: The Trials of Shmarity: an Ogres and Oubliettes Story // by TheMessenger //------------------------------// 28. By the Light of the Moon Rarity was awoken by a kick in her side. Her attacker, a tired old mare, mumbled a terse apology while she finished her stretching and got up from the floor. Not wanting to start an argument over what was likely an accident, Rarity kept her commentary on the aged mare’s rudeness to herself as she rubbed the sore spot and looked around. The packed room from last night was now mostly empty, with only a couple of other guests still around cleaning up and getting ready for the day ahead. Sunlight streamed through the binds of the windows, suggesting that it was already mid to late morning. Thuds drew Rarity’s attention to the stairway, and she watched a couple of horses rush down and run out of the building, flooding the room with light and causing the few still inside to wince and groan. Well now that she was good and awake, Rarity figured she’d might as well get up and make the most of her last day here. She got out of her bed roll and put it away after looking through her belongings to make sure they were all there. Her purse was still nice and heavy with coins, but even if it had been a little on the light side, she also still had all those diamonds, and so while Rarity couldn’t think of anything she needed to buy immediately off the top of her head, she could probably afford anything useful that managed to catch her eye as she wandered around. With everything checked, packed, and ready, Rarity stepped out into the busy street. Already the road was stuffed with creatures crowding around shop stalls as their owners filled the air with calls. It was just more of the same from yesterday, but Rarity found being greeted by such a scene so early in the day, before she had even taken her first breath of fresh morning air, a little jarring. She took one last look at the inn and committed its appearance and its surroundings to memory so that she could find it later when it was time to meet up with Alharir and Tariq, then she stepped into the crowd. Several hours later, Rarity had only managed to make a few purchases to add to what she had already bought yesterday, including a new, curved dagger to replace the one Sir Gustford had gotten her and a falafel wrap for lunch. She had considered buying some curatives just in case, but the apothecaries she passed either carried themselves with the same exaggerated showmanship that Rarity had seen the Flim and Flam brothers demonstrate in their schemes or only had simple and mundane items to sell like bandages and salves. In the end, Rarity only got some lotions for preventing and treating sunburns and a simple first aid kit. The only other thing that had really grabbed Rarity’s attention while she was out were the stands selling headscarves like the one Alharir had worn. Other mares and some feline folks were also dressed in such attire, and they made up the crowds that Rarity had to push through to get a better look at the silky fabrics on display. Despite her situation and the weight of all that was depending on her success, Rarity could only resist her fascination towards unique fashions for so long, especially what was from a distant and foreign land, and at this point she was really just killing time. Scarves were certainly a thing in Equestria, yes, but they were usually reserved for cold weather or on occasion as accessories, and they rarely extended beyond shoulder length. The ones here were long enough to wrap over a creature’s entire face, a style worn by some of the mares and cats that Rarity saw, but the material they were made of was thin enough that framing breath through the fabric wasn’t going to be an issue, and the vague shapes of the noses and mouths underneath added an alluring sense of mystery. After a bit of studying and listening to the clothes peddlers, Rarity started to also see some practicality in the apparel and the way it was worn. Having the scarf over one’s head like that could provide protection from the sun, and it did seem light and airy enough that it wouldn’t get too stuffy to wear over time. Still, Rarity couldn’t quite justify buying her own headscarf when the hood of her cloak played the same sort of role and its heavier material was better suited for travel in the lower nighttime temperatures. The scarves she found for sale weren’t exactly cheap, and it didn’t feel right for Rarity to splurge simply to satiate her curiosity. Maybe she could come back once everything was taken care of, but for now, if she could find one for a good price, it would be as a ‘thank you’ gift for Alharir. Before she could find anything suitable, however, the sky had darkened, and it was time to return to the inn. Rarity had to fight against the crowd as she hurried back to agreed meeting place. When she arrived, she found the room no less full than it had been the previous night, and Rarity needed a few minutes of searching before she spotted Alharir waving to her and sitting at a table with Tariq and a bearded stallion who Rarity did not recognize. As she approached the table, Rarity noticed that strapped to the newcomer’s side was a crossbow, and on his other side he had a sword with a short, curved blade. He wore a cloth over his head that was tied down by a headband with a scratched metal guard protecting his forehead. “Madam Rarity,” Alharir greeted once she had gotten close. The mare grabbed Rarity’s hoof and shook it. “It is good to see you again. Have you eaten supper yet?” “Er, no. Not yet.” “That is alright.” Alharir gestured to the plates of flatbread, creamy dips, and oily olives on the table. “Please, join us.” “Do not overeat,” Tariq said as Rarity took her place. “We will be setting off soon, so it would be best to keep it light.” Rarity nodded to show that she understood. She reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a sealed jar. “I wasn’t sure if there was anything we still needed or would have liked to have had,” she said, “but I bought us some preserved jam.” Alharir picked up the jar from the table and twisted off the lid. She broke a piece of bread, and after dipping it into the purple jelly, she ate it and grinned. “Thank you, Madam Rarity. It will certainly make our travel rations easier to stomach.” Rarity smiled back. “You’re very welcome. And you can just call me Rarity, if you’d like.” She turned first to Tariq who gave a short nod of approval and then to the new stallion. “Hello,” she said. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Rarity.” “Biala Diyn,” the stallion responded with a little bow. A chain necklace tumbled out from beneath his tan tunic, its dull shine and the symbol of a crooked cane crossed over a whip attached to it catching Rarity’s eye. He wordlessly tucked it back under his collar and stared back at Rarity until she turned away. “I believe there was supposed to be another guard?” Rarity said as she looked around and counted only four creatures at the table, herself included. “That is correct,” Tariq said with a frown. “He should be here soon, I hope. He was extremely eager to leave this place with us, though I cannot say I found him all that reliable.” He reached over for a piece of bread and some dip and started to eat. Everypony else soon followed suit, making sure to keep the meal as modest as possible. The meal swiftly concluded, leaving them with little to do but tap their hooves away as patiences slowly were worn thin. Every so often, some creature would barge their way into the inn, and they would all lift and turn their heads only for Rarity to watch as everypony else’s hopeful expressions turn to disappointment. “Tariq,” Alharir began in a low voice, to which Tariq sighed. “I do not know. He said he would be here.” “Perhaps he got lost?” Rarity suggested. “Should we search for him?” Tariq shook his head no. “He is a local to this city I believe. I doubt he would have—“ The door to the inn was flung open. “Sorry I’m late!” bellowed the large bluish minotaur bull at the threshold before he rushed inside and looked around. “Hey, you,” he said to a group of feline folk. “Have you seen a couple of horses? You know, two of them, one’s a guy, the other his girl? You see a group like that? Oh, wait.” He, seeing Tariq’s wave, waved back. “There they are. That’s them right there,” the minotaur declared loudly and proudly, and he strutted his way to their table. When he arrived, the minotaur set his hands on his hips and puffed out his bare chest. “Hey, sorry I’m late. Every creature else here yet? Oh, hey! Food!” As he grabbed at the leftovers and started shoveling them into his mouth, Rarity turned to Alharir and Tariq and gave them a look of concern. Alharir just smiled weakly while Tariq gestured to the group’s fifth and final member. “Madam Rarity, Ser Biala Diyn, this is—“ He sighed. “—the Grand and Mighty Steel Nerves, as he wishes to be called now.” Alharir blinked. “I though he was to be called the Great and Powerful Steel Nerves.” The minotaur let out a noisy belch and wiped his mouth. At least he had the decency to look embarrassed by his display of poor manners, if only for a couple of seconds. “Decided go with Grand and Mighty instead. More memorable, and I thought it rolls off the tongue better. Yep. It’s a name every creature everywhere is gonna know and sing about one day and one day soon.” His grin widened as he beamed. “So, you’re the lot I’m here to protect, eh? Well, don’t you worry about a thing. Nothing’s gonna happen to any of you while I’m around.” The minotaur patted the club that hung from his belt. The stallion with the symbol around his neck rolled his eyes while Alharir continued to smile and shake her head. Tariq waited a few seconds and let the boisterous and boastful minotaur stew in his own hot air before clearing his throat and standing up. “Well then, if that is everything, let us be off.” Everypony else did the same and got up from the table. “What, like right now?” Steel Nerves asked. “Yes.” Tariq’s eyes narrowed. “Is that an issue?” “Nah, of course not,” the minotaur said as he walked with Tariq at the head of the group. “Hey, if you ask me, the sooner we leave this place, the better. It was getting way too stuffy and boring around here, and I’m just itching to get started. Finally, it’s time to make a name for myself. Can’t wait to take on some bandit scumbags. Hey, just you wait and see, I’m gonna be worth every last shekel. You’re about to see a legend come to life, you hear me?” The overly talkative and long-winded Steel Nerves continued on like this all the way to the stable where Alharir and Tariq’s covered wagon was parked and past the city’s border, and it was only once the light from Cowdim-La’s buildings were no longer in view did he finally run out of breath and become quiet. From there, Tariq and Alharir took the lead as they into the desert plains, pulling their wagon along behind them. A lit lantern was attached to the front of the carriage though it was largely unnecessary as the full moon and stars above provided them with ample light. Rarity found herself walking on one side of the wagon while the minotaur took the other and Biala Diyn brought up the rear. A couple of hours or so later, the flat plains transitioned into rolling dunes, and the wagon came to a halt. “Hey, why’d we stop?” Steel Nerves demanded, walking over to the two horses driving the carriage. “We taking a break or something? Calling it a night?” Tariq looked up from his map and the notebook that Alharir was holding for him to read. “We are finding a safe path to move the wagon,” he explained. “If we are not careful, the wheels of the wagon may become stuck in the sand, and it will take us time to dig them out. Please, if my wife and I could have a moment. This will not take long.” He went back to his map and notes and continued his whispered discussion with his partner. “Oh, yeah, sure.” Steel Nerves shuffled back to Rarity and Biala and raised his shoulders. Rarity responded with a small shrug of her own while the stallion just turned his back toward the both of them and unslung his crossbow. They stood there, waiting for about a minute as Steel made noises with his mouth, from wet smacks to long exhales to tuneless hums. “So,” he eventually said, leaning his back against wagon. “So. Nice night, huh?” It was indeed a nice night. There was not a cloud in the sky, leaving the stars and the moon to fully display their radiance. Princess Luna had outdone herself tonight, and the evening breeze was just perfect, not too strong but still cool enough to make one forget the blistering heat only hours before. “It is,” Rarity said with a nod as she looked up to the night sky. “Hey, keep your guard up,” Biala Diyn called out from his position. “Right, right,” grunted Steel Nerves. He got off the wagon, but only seconds later his back was back against it. “I’m Steel Nerves, by the way, the Grand and Mighty Steel Nerves. Don’t know if I told you all that yet.” “Oh, you have,” Rarity said steadily and with as neutral an expression as possible while Biala hid a snort. “Yeah. You know, I’m think of dropping the whole ‘Grand and Mighty’ part though. It’s a bit of a mouthful now that I think about it. Plus, it’ll be really awkward to say it all once I get a real title to add on.” Steel scratched his fuzzy chin thoughtfully. “Hey, speaking of names, I don’t think I ever got yours.” He pointed at the two equines before him. “Not that it’s all that important, I just figured it’d be nice to call you something other than ‘you’ or whatever.” “I’m Rarity. Tariq introduced us back at the inn,” Rarity said with a frown. “Did he? Huh, don’t remember. Ah well, must have missed that.” Steel Nerves waved his hand dismissively before turning to Biala. “What about you? You got a name?” The stallion let out a long, frustrated sigh. “Biala Diyn. Now quiet. I am trying to do my job. Perhaps you should do the same.” “Fine, fine. Yeesh.” He looked to Rarity. “A bit nervous, that one,” he said to her in a whisper loud enough that caused Rarity to wonder why he even bothered. “What’s his problem?” Before either Rarity or Biala could respond, Tariq called out from up front and announced, “Alright. Our path is set. We are ready to move.” They all got back into position around the wagon and started to slowly cross through the sandy hills. Alharir had detached herself from the carriage, leaving Tariq to pull it by himself while she walked in front and directed them, and Rarity’s offer to assist Tariq was rejected with the reason that Rarity would be of more use guarding the wagon’s left side. As they continued on through the desert, hours long into the night, Rarity’s hooves were beginning to feel heavy, and each step was requiring much more effort out of her to pulled her hoof out of the sands. The air turned cold, worsening the ache in her limbs, and even underneath her thick cloak, Rarity started to shiver. On and on they trudged, with nothing but the infinite starry sky above and the equally endless dunes around them. No one spoke a word, not even Steel Nerves though he made sure his presence was audible with his heavy breathing and a grunt or snort at the end of every couple of minutes. The occasion howl of some distant beast carried to them by the wind broke the silence and the monotony, which caused the group to pause and every heart to skip a beat, but the moment would pass, and they would continue on. Despite everything, however, Rarity still much preferred her current journey over her more relaxed and less physically demanding trip from Candelkeep to Baldursgait. The semi-paved road between the scholars’ fort and the city of danger may have been easier on her hooves, and the temperate coastal climate certainly beat the cold, dry air she was currently facing, but at least now she wasn’t struggling all alone. Even if no creature said anything or had expressed any hint of camaraderie, just knowing that there were others here with her made all the difference. A red glow covered the skies as the sun peeked over the bumpy horizon. Red soon lightened to orange, and a few minutes later, the wagon stopped. “Alright, we will have to stop here for the day,” Tariq declared. With some assistance from Alharir, he removed himself from the wagon’s yoke and took a swig from a flask while everyone else stretching their tired and groaning limbs. A canopy was extended from the carriage’s roof to provide shade, and they all took their seats on a rug as portions of unleavened bread and sticks of grounded up and dried vegetables were passed around and canteens were refilled with water from the jugs in the wagon. “Pardon me,” Rarity said to Alharir and Tariq as the meal neared its end, “but I’ve been meaning to ask, when do you suppose we will reach our destination?” Tariq thought for a moment before answering. “If we do not encounter any additional difficulties along the way, it may take us another four to five days of travel before we get to the schools of magic,” he said. Rarity nodded her acknowledgement. “I see.” “Anyone here ever been to the schools before?” Steel Nerves asked as he picked at his teeth with his finger. “Never seen them myself, just heard a few stories.” “Tariq and I, we were there with our daughter when she first started her studies,” Alharir stated while her husband supported her with a nod. “I am afraid I do not remember much about the place, however.” “The schools are a secretive and rather paranoid lot,” interjected Biala Diyn in agreement. “It is rare for an outsider to leave their borders with their memory of the visit entirely intact.” Rarity turned to the stallion. “Have you been to the schools before?” she asked. “A few times.” Biala fiddled with the chain around his neck. “My order, when I was still an active member, has had some dealings with the magi. They were not always entirely amicable.” Steel chuckled. “If the rest of your order was anything like you, I’d be surprised if anyone could work with you all at all. Hey, hey, I’m just saying,” he added with his hands up as Biala Diyn turned to glare at the minotaur. “Maybe if you weren’t so stuck up or whatever all the time, they wouldn’t have kicked you out.” “They did not kick me out,” Biala said lowly, nearly growled. “It was voluntary, and I am still part of the order. Just, it is just a, a more supportive, less public sort of role.” “Whoa, hey, sure. No need to be upset, pal. Whatever helps you sleep.” “You—“ “I think it’s time for bed,” Rarity exclaimed suddenly, throwing her announcement in between the minotaur and the angered stallion. “I’m sure we’re all very tired right now. It has been a rather trying day, er, night, after all.” “She is right,” said Tariq with a nervous cough. “It would be best if we all got our rest in now, while we have the opportunity to.” He, Rarity, and Alharir all watched carefully and with breaths bated as Steel Nerves shrugged and Biala Diyn slowly removed his hoof from the hilt of his sword. “Very well then,” Biala grumbled with a sigh while Alharir and Tariq released relieved sighs of their own. “Yeah, sure, sure,” Steel said. “I mean, if you lot really need the rest. Me? I could go for another couple of hours at, at—“ He lifted up his hand to his mouth, but it was too late to stifle the massive yawn escaping his maw. “Um, yeah. I mean, I guess a nap wouldn’t hurt.” “We will have to have someone on watch,” Tariq suggested as he and Alharir cleaned up their little picnic. “There are five of us, so if we each take an hour and a half or so, that will allow us all to get a full rest before we have to set off. Does everyone find this acceptable?” The round of nods was broken by Biala who had shaken his head no. “We should be having groups of two on watch at a time. There will be more eyes that way, and they can keep each other awake.” “Wait, there’s five of us. You can’t make groups of two out of five,” Steel Nerves protested. “You get, one? Yeah, one. You get one left by themselves.” “It would also mean having shifts that are twice as long,” Rarity added, frowning. “I understand why we would want multiple creatures on watch at a time, but even with two creatures supporting each other, won’t that be a bit much, having to stay up for three hours at a time?” “No, I do not believe so. Every hour and and a half, one member of the pair will switch out. That way, every shift will have someone who is already fresh and rested, save the initial shift,” Biala explained. “Say, for example, I were to take first watch with Ser Tariq. An hour and a half later, Ser Tariq would be replaced with Madam Rarity. Then, an hour and a half from then, Madam Alharir would take over for me, then Steel Nerves takes over for Madam Rarity, and finally Ser Tariq comes back to take Madam Alharir’s place for the final shift of the day.” The rest of the group looked to each other. “I suppose that makes sense,” Tariq finally said after a solid moment of silent deliberation while the others nodded. “Alright, Ser Biala Diyn, we shall do it your way. Shall we keep the order you presented?” “Fine, fine,” Steel said through a yawn. “Whatever it is, let’s just do it. We’ve wasting so much time just talking about it if you ask me.” He picked up the rug they had been sitting on and turned to Alharir. “Mind if I borrow this?” “I, suppose?” “Thanks.” The minotaur unfolded the rug and tossed it back onto the sand right beneath shady canopy. “Wake me up when it’s my shift,” he said as he lay on top of the fabric and flipped over so that his back was toward the rest of them. “Yes, I suppose you two should do the same,” Tariq said to Alharir and Rarity, and the two mares followed him to the wagon’s entrance. “I should warn you, Madam Rarity,” the stallion said as he undid the locked hatch, “it is a bit cramp inside, and there may not be room for more than two of us at a time.” The door opened to reveal the wagon’s interior, and once she got over the unexpected smell of spice, Rarity had to agree with Tariq’s assessment. The entire back of it was filled with crates marked by various symbols with meanings that were completely foreign to Rarity. The floor was littered with empty bottles and stray articles of clothing. Several additional boxes and some barrels sat snuggly between two long cloth blankets that hung from their corners, one to each of carriage’s side walls. Hammocks, Rarity realized as Tariq made his way inside to one of the makeshift beds and pulled out a sheathed sword, similar in style to the one Biala Diyn had on, from underneath it before returning to her and Alharir. “You are welcome to have my bed, if you so wish,” he said with a motion toward the hanging cloth on the left. “We may have to switch between shifts, but I think we can make this work.” Rarity regarded the offered hammock with some disdain that she hid behind a polite, grateful smile. Three weeks. She had spent the past three weeks sleeping in a hammock, and the novelty of it had long since worn off, and Rarity couldn’t imagine the lack of support to her spine was doing her posture a whole lot of good. And then there were the stuffy surroundings and the dusty air and that odd lingering scent that was causing her nostrils to burn and good goodness when was the last time they had cleaned that cloth? Her smile forcefully widened. “I can’t just take your bed,” she said, shaking her head. “It wouldn’t be right. Don’t worry.” She gestured to the bedroll on her back. “I’ll be fine.” Tariq nodded. “Very well.” He strapped the sword to his side and started to leave but stopped to touch his cheek to Alharir’s. “You two have a good rest.” Alharir’s blush quickly faded with the clearing of her throat. “If, if you are in need of any cushions or such, do let me know. Have a good rest, Rarity.” “You as well,” Rarity said, and she headed back to the shady spot next to the carriage while Alharir went inside. She found Steel Nerves already snoring away, his body sprawled over the rug and his mouth wide open, along with an additional set of bedding that had been placed the furthest away from the sleeping minotaur while still within the wagon’s shade. Biala Diyn’s, Rarity assumed as she readied her own bedroll in the space between Steel Nerves and the other sleeping bag. Said stallion stood a little distance away with Tariq just outside of the protection of the canopy. Rarity lay down and shut her eyes. The ground beneath her was surprisingly soft, and it was warm enough that she didn’t need any coverings. The hot and heavy air itself was like a comforting blanket that helped tug her out of consciousness. It might not have been a fluffy mattress with the best down pillows, but it was unquestionably the most comfortable she had been in a good few weeks. Still, with the noises coming from the minotaur beside her and the shuffling of steps in the sand which Rarity soon figured were the sounds of Tariq and Biala Diyn’s hooves as they patrolled around their camp, it took Rarity some time before she finally doze off. It didn’t feel like a full hour and a half had passed, but Rarity was shaken awake by Tariq regardless, and she, still groggy from the sudden rousing, didn’t have the energy to argue nor did Tariq stick around long enough to hear any protests. The tired stallion put a collapsible spyglass in her hoof, pointed her to Biala, and mumbled something Rarity couldn’t catch before making his way to the carriage. Rubbing her eyes, she got up and slowly walked over to the waiting stallion still on guard. “Hello,” she greeted, to which Biala responded with a short nod and nothing else. His crossbow was out and in his stiff forelegs, but it was not yet loaded and the string hadn’t been pulled back into the ready position. Both the weapon and his gaze were focused on the distant hills ahead of them. “How are you feeling?” Rarity asked. “Fine,” was Biala Diyn’s short insistence though Rarity saw that he had to blink a number of times and his shoulders twitched before he answered. It was obvious that he was growing tired, but Rarity decided not to push the issue of his current condition. From what she had learned of the fellow in the short time they had spent together, he would probably just deny it if she expressed any concern, so instead, she extended Tariq’s spyglass toward the direction that Biala was staring in. “Take care of the sun’s glare,” Biala warned. “Keep your gaze close to the ground. You will be no help to us blind.” Rarity lowered the telescope and smiled. “Of course. Thank you.” The last part of the stallion’s statement was largely unnecessary, but Rarity shrugged it off as she returned to scanning the area. “So what, exactly, should we be looking for?” “Any signs of life other than us,” she heard Biala say. “Wildlife, sapients, anything. Footsteps in the sand, burrows, tunneling trails, cart tracks. If you see that or anything else, you let me know, understand?” “Yes.” “Keep an eye out for any movement of sand in the air as well. It could be a sign of an approaching storm.” “Right.” Rarity did her best to focus on her task, but watching the dunes was a task that quickly got boring, and she was relieved when she and Biala eventually moved to a new vantage point. The scenery didn’t really change, but it felt good to move around at least. “If you don’t mind me asking,” Rarity said after a bit while they continued their circle around the wagon, “what was this order you mentioned being a part of?” “Huh? Oh.” Biala shook his head. The lack of rest was taking a visible toll on him. “It is nothing, just a group of, why do you ask?” “No reason really. Just out of curiosity, I suppose. It’s just, you just seem so experienced.” Rarity set down the spyglass. “Did you learn all of this from your organization?” Biala didn’t speak, and for a moment, Rarity thought he was going to snap at her and tell her to get back to work. “I did,” he finally said after another silent second. “We are all taught how to survive the desert, how to find and deal with its dangers. How to respect it. We have to, if we wish to fulfill our duties of protecting this land and its creatures.” He took hold of his symbol. “That’s an interesting necklace you have there. Is it related to your order?” Biala nodded. “It represents our oath and our faith. As the Green guides our souls through death and to rebirth, so shall we guide others through these valleys of despair and to shelter.” Their conversation continued as their watch continued. The subject changed to Rarity’s purpose for being on this journey or her opinions on their fellow travelers whenever Biala’s reassignment or his past prior to joining his order was approached, but Rarity didn’t mind all that much. Making a new friend was always a plus, but learning more about her new traveling companion was really just a bonus. Rarity was satisfied as long as the goal of these conversations and the point of having two creatures on watch at a time, that being to keep them both awake and alert, was met. There was also the nice added effect of having time pass a little more quickly. The hour didn’t exactly fly by, and the sun they were using to keep track of time still took its time inching its way across the sky, but it was definitely more bearable as they waited for Biala Diyn’s shift to end. The weary stallion went to the wagon to get his replacement, and then it was Rarity and Alharir walking around their camp, continuing their swapping of stories from the previous night while keeping an eye out for danger until finally, when Princess Celestia’s great gold orb had reached its zenith, signaling midday, Rarity was allowed to return to her bedroll. It took nearly all her strength to shake the large minotaur beside her awake, and once she finally convinced him to get up and accept both the fact that it was indeed his turn to be on watch and Tariq’s telescope, Rarity settled back down in her spot and quickly fell back asleep. * Dusk eventually arrived, and after another short meal, the group continued their journey through the desert. Once more, they marched on through the night and even a couple of hours into the morning until they had reached the ruins of what was once a large structure, possible a manor or a temple some ages past. There they took shelter in the cover of the crumbling stone pillars and the sole standing wall and prepared for another long rest. Like the night before, Rarity’s watch came and went uneventfully, and the worst she had to do battle with was her own boredom and weariness. The entire day would have gone completely without incident had Steel Nerves and Alharir not sounded the alarm over the approach of a small pack of coyotes that fled soon after the group had gotten up and gathered together. They set off a few hours afterwards, using the light and the positioning of the stars to guide their way, and stopped for the day on a flat plot of sand a little distance from the rolling sea of dunes. Thus ended the third day of their journey, with every creature replenishing their fill of food, drink, and rest and doing their best to keep the sand the wind was picking up from getting in their mouths and eyes. The following night passed no differently than the last two, and just as the sun made it over the horizon, the group arrived at what Rarity would have described as the textbook example of a desert oasis, like something right out of a foal’s picture book. Before them were patches of verdant grass and several shady palms growing along the sides of a picturesque lake. At first, Rarity thought she was just seeing things, that the stress of traveling had finally gotten to her, and even when all her blinking and the rubbing of her eyes didn’t make the sight disappeared, it was only once she was right before those crystal clear waters and stared into the face of her own reflection that she became entirely convinced that this was truly real and not some mirage. No one else appeared all that surprised by the presence of the lake and plant life, though the relief in their expressions could be easily seen. Perhaps this spot was well known by the locals or maybe it had been marked on their map. Rarity made a mental note to take a look at the map the next chance she got to see if she could locate their current position and figure out how much further they still had to go. “We will be stopping here today,” Tariq announced, interrupting Rarity’s musings as he parked the covered wagon in the grass. Steel Nerves sighed loudly. “Oh thank goodness. I’d have fought you if you’d said you wanted to keep going.” He started toward the lake but was stopped by Biala Diyn. “What?” said the minotaur, his tone harsh with irritation. “Quiet,” Biala hissed. He removed his hoof from Steel’s knee and pointed everyone to a grove of palm trees across the water. It took Rarity a moment before she along with the rest of the group noticed the tent and a train of carts hidden behind the palm leaves. “We are not alone.”