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We had arrived together, Lostra and I, each bound to our own quests, yet strangely bound together. The edge of the Silver Sea, windblown and desolate, scattered with the silver sands, but with earth and trees and life nonetheless - a more welcome sight I could not have imagined. For all Lostra and his kind were ever gentle and generous in their treatment of me, I hungered for fresh meat, for new-baked bread still warm from the oven, for water that had not already passed through a human body a hundred times. I saw tents, smelled rotting flesh, leather for the tanning, acrid smoke, and drew deep lungfulls of these suddenly wonderful smells. No matter that the encampment was nothing more than a few dozen tents and a few wooden huts, leaning drunkenly together. I saw people, real people, living lives I knew and understood. The ship had drawn to a graceful halt, its elegance in stark contrast to the ramshackle shelters, and we disembarked, only to find ourselves unexpected, unwelcome, and confined to our vessel.

"It is often this way," Lostra told me. "Many times, we send two ships, one to bring word of the others arrival. The sand we carry is of great value. They say our presence here draws raiders and bandits."

Thinking of the woeful fighting skills I had seen among the sailors, I wondered that they could survive such predations, but as Lostra explained, this was not the reason for their unease on this occasion.

"They say there has been... an uprising, I think. And the leader of this revolt was captured, but has escaped. They hunt him. I wish I did not have to ask this, but I hope you will aid us should it be necessary."

I could not think of a any reason even the most hunted criminal would wish to escape into the Silver Sea, but perhaps this man knew less of the place than I had learned.

"We both seek the source of the death-pirates. If they know nothing of the Well of Shadow here, we shall have to travel elsewhere. I would not wish to lose my only means of transport." Though, in truth, I had learned from Lostra that the Silver Sailors had contact only with the people of the Bone Empire, so into the Empire I must surely go if I would learn more.

But no attack came, and after two days of tedious waiting, in which I passed the time attempting to show Lostra and his comrades the rudiments of warfare, a large group of armed men entered the camp. Warriors, with sturdy armour and well-crafted swords, though unusual in design, and horses whose stark colours, dark grey and white, made me wonder if they were entirely alive. Their leader came directly to the edge of the shore and hailed us.

"Ho! Silver men! Do you bring goods to trade?"

"We bring the sand!" cried Lostra by reply.

"What do you require?"

"Food and water. And aid."

"The first two we have. What aid do you wish?"

"We seek information. We attacked by a strange people who plunder our seas and steal the sand. We seek to learn more about them."

"I know nothing about such people."

Appalled, I whispered in his ear. "How can you be sure these are not the very people behind these attacks?"

Lostra smiled. "You have not know the men of the Bone Empire as we have. They do not change their ways. This is not their doing."

"Have a care, nevertheless, friend Lostra." I peered over the rail of the catamaran. "I am Skyrie Volutiun. I have travelled far to reach this land. I would trade information with you."

The man on the shore seemed confused. "Why?"

"So that we might learn of each others' lands."

His confusion deepened. "Why?"

"We may have much to learn from each other. I am sure your great Empire has much knowledge that would be of value to my people, and, perhaps, we have some little that would be of value to you. Gold and jewels, if nothing else."

"I do not understand. Why would we want your gold and jewels?"

I found my fingers itching for my sword. "I also own a share of the sand these men, who are my friends, bring to trade."

"Indeed," said Lostra. "Skyrie Volutiun is a great warrior, who will help us defeat those who plunder us."

The itching in my fingers increased. I found myself hoping very much that Lostra was right, and these soldiers were not, also, pirates.

The man standing by the shore, who I took to be the leader of the soldiers from the emerald and sapphire ornamentation on his armour paused, then waved at us a last time. "You may come ashore. We will escort you to the Imperial encampment. You will bring your goods with us. There we will trade." And he turned his back on us and rode back among the tens and leaning huts.

"Is this usual?" I asked. Lostra nodded.

"They will take us to a place in the hills. It is about a day for them with their horses, I think, but it will be two for us. They will protect us from those who would steal the sand. When we are there, they will give us what we have come for, and escort our wagons back to the ship. They will see we come to no harm."

I shook my head. "Lostra, you are too trusting."

He looked at me, and I could not tell whether it was sadness or laughter playing in his eyes. "I have trusted you, Skyrie Volutiun. I have no regrets."

The price for my share of Lostra's sand, I decided, after an hour of walking under the beating sun, would be one of these horses. Strange though they were, I would learn to master them soon enough, given the choice of walking. Lostra, too, for the little man would have to keep up with me. I wondered, perhaps, if I should abandon him here, leave him to make his own way. I would travel faster, fight better, draw less attention on my own, but I had said I would help him find the source, and I have never been an oath-breaker. Perhaps it is something I cling to because I have been so many other things.

The content of this page is © copyright Stephen Deas 2001 and is used here with permission.
It may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the permission of the author.