Verses of the Black Sands

TW: Themes of violence and gore. The following is a work of fiction.

Four Days Prior:

He was a tall man, and imposing. The fact was not lost on Urla as she walked easily away from Belfin.

“You think yourself superior to my kin, yet you cannot cross the Black Sands with twice the water that would be needed by my people.”

“We are not your people,” said Laukey. “It is my understanding that you have a well. There should be as much water as my men need.”

“Water is short,” she said. “The well will dry and Belfin will be no more.”

“Then what of your people?”

“We will be forced to move on.”

“It is a perilous land, I am told,” said Laukey. “A woman should not be left to fend alone with only a few warriors to guard you and your women.”

Liret snorted – with definite derision- from his position behind her. He and the other guard who escorted her were both fine warriors. The tall Laukey had appeared from the north in the later hours of the morning. The Capelli were fierce warriors but kind to travellers as had been their way for all time. Laukey and his men, in their dusty black robes were no exception. They had looked like demons on the horizon. It would be better when they moved on.