The sway of the camel's gait was a familiar, comforting rhythm to the woman astride the desert beast. Most of her body was hidden, wrapped in the garb of the sand elves to protect her from the harsh Amol-Kalit sun. Small, youthful hands grasped the animal's reins, and dark ringlets escaped the hood that hid all but the flash of amber eyes. An Abtati bow and quiver was slung from the camel-saddle, a small pack as several waterskins.
Keket traveled alone in her journey through the desert. She was, in fact. not moving through it, but within it. The nomadic tribes of Abtati were a difficult people to track, but wielded power in the desert. The Vizier of the Stars knew desert power was critical for the empire, and so a finger on the pulse of the drifting sand elves was vital to the ongoing health of the empire itself.
As a child of a sand elf tribe, Keket served as a Sapphire Hand within the desert. As a wandering Abtati, she could move from tribe to tribe, oasis to oasis garnering news of the desert people, their stance on the Empire, and any indication of disloyalty or resistance to the Empire and its city-states among the strong-willed Abtati.
The welcomed sight of date palms rose above the wavering horizon, soon accompanied by the signs of a few squat huts. An oasis ahead. The camel hastened its plodding pace, as if it too saw the promise of water dancing in the heat waves across the sand.
Cyra Al-Dushar
Keket traveled alone in her journey through the desert. She was, in fact. not moving through it, but within it. The nomadic tribes of Abtati were a difficult people to track, but wielded power in the desert. The Vizier of the Stars knew desert power was critical for the empire, and so a finger on the pulse of the drifting sand elves was vital to the ongoing health of the empire itself.
As a child of a sand elf tribe, Keket served as a Sapphire Hand within the desert. As a wandering Abtati, she could move from tribe to tribe, oasis to oasis garnering news of the desert people, their stance on the Empire, and any indication of disloyalty or resistance to the Empire and its city-states among the strong-willed Abtati.
The welcomed sight of date palms rose above the wavering horizon, soon accompanied by the signs of a few squat huts. An oasis ahead. The camel hastened its plodding pace, as if it too saw the promise of water dancing in the heat waves across the sand.
Cyra Al-Dushar