Chapter 7 Intro: Sand and Fire

The last of the Ivor soldiers were being placed on the burn pile when he finally left the battlefield. The smell had become too much. He paced out into the desert while his men finished the clean up. Nothing more than servants. He hardly needed them.

The assault had been planned weeks ago. When he had looked over the expected numbers, he was almost excited for the challenge. This had been nothing short of disappointing. Another battle without so much as a scratch. Heavy handed swordplay from fools stumbling around in their heavy armor. He spat.

He hated that it was so hard to find a good fight. The last opponent to make him break a sweat was dead, and all his work had gone to waste. He knew that greedy Shiek couldn't be trusted to protect the blade. The blade itself wasn't much, but it stood for so much. The man they call the Pirate Prince had fought well. He moved like water, and showed no fear. It was a shame he had orders to kill him. But whatever his queen asked of him, he did without question. He loved to serve The Sphinx.

He removed his own blade from his back. As always, his arm felt more complete with it in hand. He would never set it down, if it didn't scare so many. Long and black, with the slightest curve. A paper thin blade that stretched 7 feet from base to tip. Souless. No magician could have known the rivers of blood he would be responsible for when making this weapon.

Now he was to fix all the problems that little man had caused for his queen. Return the blade. Find the assassins. He was sure they could be found in the same place. He was impressed that the Ivors had used such a cunning attack to undo the plans they had made. Usually they were strangers to deception and subtlety. An interesting turn of events, to be sure.

He turned away from the burning desert sun, his many heavy tiam'pathas flapping in the strong wind. He returned to the battlefield, sword in hand. With a gesture he told the men it was time to move on. They had to set sail, once again. Only now with their new ship. A fine gift from his queen.