Kapitel 119: 118
Chapter 118
Danse Sombras Oasis, Republic of Shantu, Continent: Barat, Year 2036, Planet: Grimoire
That experience of teleporting cumbersome caravan wagons was the most terrifying of Grifton's life. Of the thirteen mages and psychics who worked together to move the six wagons, only Grifton, Diego Luna, and Jemima Grenoble were able to remain standing. Three collapsed after the first two, and the heaviest wagons were transported. Two more collapsed when the middleweight wagons successfully arrived on the other end. Five more collapsed when handling one surprisingly heavy wagon mixed into the last of the wagons.
Grifton was sweating and panting heavily as he leaned against a rock. The other two were swaying on their feet. Precisely, who thought they would be able to teleport themselves to the other side? Exasperated, Grifton caught the remaining two's arms and, pulling them with him, jumped over the cliff's edge.
His wings snapped out and beat heavily; Grifton caught an updraft, soaring into the skies, hovering to see where the wagons were, and then flew over to the location. Then, carefully back-winging, he lowered the two frightened mages to the ground.
Grifton's wings immediately vanished, and he landed with a hard thump a few feet away from the others. "Ouch, that hurt." He'd have a few bruises from that landing. He looked warily at the two mages he hadn't warned ahead of time. "You two doing, okay?" Grifton hoped they wouldn't attack him out of anger or sheer fright. That had happened in the past sometimes when he'd grabbed fellow street kids without warning and hauled them out of danger at the last minute.
Jemima nodded. "Yep, though you've landed too close to the edge." She observed with concern but didn't approach him. "What a moron, I'm perfectly capable of fending off those loser guards."
Grifton watched Jemima warily. He could tell she would likely strike him since she was in an adrenaline rush. "Let the idiot fall. he needs to learn his limits." She watched with anticipation as small rocks rattled below him.
Hmm, that was indeed a problem. Even as Jemima spoke, Grifton felt the ground beginning to crumble beneath his legs. Damn, so that part was unstable? Just his luck.
Jemima was smirking. "Let the stupid kid fall. He shouldn't have exposed that ability." She sniped. "Now everyone knows about him." She sneered with wicked amusement.
Jeez, what a nasty temperament she had. Grifton glowered at Jemima but kept his mouth shut. Damn, if he would ever help her again. He let out a startled yelp when Diego used his remaining strength to teleport and pull Grifton back to safety.
"Next time, let her find her way to us," Diego advised roughly. He checked Grifton carefully. "No broken bones, at least." He helped Grifton steady his body.
"Yeah, thanks." Grifton breathed slowly. "I'll remember the tip about that...female." He muttered in disgust.
Diego laughed and let him go. "It was a thrilling experience, kid." His black eyes sparkled with appreciation. "It was the First time I was flown across the sky like that." No fear whatsoever emanated from him. "So, thanks."
Grifton nodded. "No problem." As for Jemima, he had nothing to say to her. He eyed the Captain warily. That man stared at him in disbelief. At last, he shook his head. "If everyone is rested, we must compensate for lost time while arguing with those incompetent idiots."
Grifton climbed into the assigned wagon and sat quietly in a corner where he could avoid talking with anyone. No one wanted to talk to him after that display. Clearly, he'd screwed up big time. Oh well, they could make it to their destination faster now. He could only hope so.
~*~
Four days passed uneventfully before they arrived at the oasis. Not long after, they'd entered the outskirts of the oasis metropolis. Grifton later learned the guards lied about the issue with the trestle bridges. They'd been the ones to destroy it. Just to prevent the triumphant arrival of the caravan to the oasis.
That nasty little plot lasted only a short time.
Several irate officers, replacement guards, specialist technicians, and engineers arrived shortly after Grifton's caravan departed from the other side. They'd replaced the guards and the bridges so that everything was functioning correctly.
As it turned out, more than a few caravans had gone through a more harrowing route to make their way down the mountain passes and then reach the oasis. When Grifton saw some of the insignias, his blood ran cold.
Diego noticed his reaction. "What's wrong?"
Grifton exhaled and shook his head grimly. "Some painful reminders of the past showed up in my vision." He nodded to some grimier caravans. "At least three of those caravan groups scammed my brother and sisters out of profits." His voice hit an angry growl when he added, "Later, the caravan masters sold them as bribes to avoid imprisonment."
Diego whistled. "I'm surprised they're still running a business." He shook his head wearily. "Well, thanks for the warning. I'll make sure that I'll keep watch for any funny business they might pull." He signaled to the captains and alerted them to what Grifton had revealed.
The captains glanced at the caravans in question. They snorted in disgust. "Oh, those ones?" More derisive sneers and jeers spilled. "Yeah, they're trouble, all right."
At last, dismissive, contemptuous dismissals were made about the various caravans. "Well, don't worry about them. We aren't going to remain in this area that long."
True to the captains' words, they didn't remain in the outskirts all that long. After their identification cards were scanned, they were assigned to a specific sector within the inner walls of the oasis.
As they approached the inner gates, the gatekeeper bowed. "Welcome to Danse Sombras oasis." He studied them all. "I hope that your stay is uneventful and profitable."
"Thank you, and may your days remain peaceful and prosperous." The captains murmured.
"So, mote it be." All of the caravan members murmured.
The wagons pulled into the inner walls and headed straight for the Ruby Marketplace.
"Wow, this is excellent!" Diego commented from the horse he rode outside the wagon.
"I take it this isn't normal?" Grifton was surprised.
"Nope," Giles glanced at him. "It seems word spread that we have an exotic dragon in our midst."
Damn, Grifton cringed. He disliked it when particular attention was paid to that type of thing.
"Oh, we weren't referring to you." Giles stared at Grifton in dawning shock. "So, you are a dragon too?"
Grifton shrugged. "Halfling hybrid if what I've been told about my lineage is true." He didn't know there were other dragons in the caravan. "So, who is the other one?"
The others winced. "Jemima."
Grifton grimaced. "So that's why she was so hostile to me." Purebred dragons tended to look down on hybrids and halflings with utter contempt.
"Well, it's not like we'll have to put up with her now that we've arrived," Diego shrugged. "She's one of our people who delivered people to this place." He spread his hands. "Evidently, we are the only caravan," his tone was very sarcastic. "That was deemed trustworthy enough to deliver an elite bride to this location without worrying about attackers attempting to steal her."
Mmmhmm, yeah, Grifton was skeptical about that as well. What did he know, though? He was more concerned about a potential switch since Jemima knew he was at least half dragon. She hadn't struck him as the biddable and obedient type when it came to this. Well, they would find out soon enough.
When the caravan wagons pulled into their assigned warehouse, everyone piled out of the vehicles and began unloading them. Grifton did his part. He was deliberately avoiding meeting the gazes of curious spectators. Nosy people who'd heard about the arrival of an anticipated Lamberton merchant caravan.
Luckily, the spectators left when Jemima was led to a group of cloaked and hooded men in white robes elaborately decorated with gems and intricate gold lacework. Grifton didn't it when she spoke to a few of them and pointed in his direction. She was embarrassed about what happened at the Coal Crevasse and likely wanted revenge.
Grifton did his best not to attract further attention. He remained in the company of others throughout their time in the oasis. Grifton did manage to explore the entire Ruby marketplace before he left. When the others had him accompany them, he also learned about different areas of the inner and outer gates.
That was his first experience being able to sell his products. Grifton was relieved when that closed out the second and third weeks of the journey. They were scheduled to leave before midnight to get out of the desert before the heat became unbearable.
"What will the new terrain look like?" Grifton was curious.
"Take a look at this." Giles pulled a map out from one of his pockets and spread it out for everyone to examine.
"Right now, we're here." Giles tapped an area that was barren of features except for a simple outline of the gates, water, and trees. "We'll be heading to the southwestern area that'll take us through different neutral zones outside the Shantu republic." He glanced at Grifton. "This is when we'll have to be on our toes to avoid bandits and monsters that're roaming wild."
Grifton nodded as he absorbed the information. "So, you think we'll make it in a week?" He was somewhat dubious.
Giles smirked. "Yeah, only a few hours." When Grifton eyed him in bafflement, Giles explained. "We'll be able to use teleport portals." He shrugged. "Otherwise, it is too dangerous to travel."
When Grifton frowned in confusion rather than bafflement now, Paul scratched the back of his head and explained. "Plus, there'll be worse sandstorms, tornados, and other problems," he shuddered in horrified recollection, "such as firestorms that'll mix into sandstorms."
Grifton shivered uneasily as brief flashbacks of his beginnings hit him. He swallowed hard. "Firestorms, hmm? Well, I'm sure we'll know how to avoid them, right?" His wariness shocked them.
"What happened to you?" Giles frowned at Grifton, who was visibly shivering now.
"Huh?" Grifton realized what he was doing unconsciously. "Uh, oh, just some terrible memories that I remember about a firestorm when I was a kid." It had been deliberately set to kill his parents, their retainers, him, and his siblings. No, he wasn't likely to forget the horrendous pain and stench of burning flesh. It was ingrained too deeply in his subconscious.
Distant crashing and yelps surrounded the wagons. Grifton was shocked out of his reverie and paled when he realized what happened.
A very shaken and ashen-faced Diego approached their wagon. "Hey, can I come in?"
Giles frowned at Grifton and turned his attention to the flap. "Yeah, sure, come in. How are the others?" This was shocking for everyone, it seemed, not just Grifton.
"Wow..." Diego peered in at Grifton. "That was some flashback you just had. We all got one hella bad eyeful in our minds." He shook his head. "Some of us are going to have a crap-ton of nightmares for the next few nights, I fear." He grimaced. "On the other hand, it might be good to keep us alert rather than become complacent."
Ah crap, he'd projected that memory? Damn. "I'm sorry that happened." Grifton shook his head. "I thought I had better control over that part of my nature." He was furious about his lack of control. "This was inexcusable." His shoulders slumped.
Giles regarded Grifton with a narrowed gaze. "This happened when exactly?"
Grifton sighed. "Sixteen years ago, when I was born." He shrugged. "Give or take a few months." He was glad they'd be leaving soon, but this was not the leave-taking he'd envisioned.
All their communicators bleeped.
It was the Captain. "We're all prepared to depart from what I can tell. We'll leave earlier than scheduled." As he continued speaking, it seemed Grifton had reacted to subconscious alarms from elemental spirits that appeared panicked and frightened.
Tiny sparks of light danced around Grifton as he listened to what else the Captain related. "I received word that there is a sandstorm building from the east." He stopped to take a breath and then related the last of what he'd been updated about as far as weather conditions were concerned. "As it turns out, there's a wildfire due northeast."
Everyone blanched at the timing between Grifton's flashback and the mentioned information.
The Captain concluded with a sigh. "In order to avoid both of those disasters, we have to leave now." He switched off the intercom.
Giles shrugged. "We've our marching orders. We depart now."
All the members of the caravan scrambled to their positions and then began to move out in order, with the person nearest to the doors leaving first.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein