The day gave away to a colorful late afternoon as the Djoser, the girls, and Danji rode on, hope in their hearts now that one of the Sacred Medallions was found. With this, the hiding places of the other medallions would also be found, and soon, the world the girls suddenly found themselves on would be set free. The group rode in silence as the large, nearly desolate forest they were in slowly gave away to a savannah-like landscape, with low grass, bushes, and flatland all around. Soon, it was obvious they would be lead into a desert within moments, as small animals Heather could only assume to be desert creatures bred to live in such a harsh environment began scurrying around.
All were lost in their own thoughts, their own fears and hopes occupying their minds. Would they be as lucky to find the next Sacred Medallion as they were with the first? Would the next enemy be stronger than the one they just fought? They didn't know, but they knew they would try their best...it was all they could do.
While she was still looking at the scurrying animals, Heather noticed a shadow coming up behind her. She blinked in surprise as she turned her head, then smiled as Danji rode up beside her on his horse, soon matching her own horse's pace. He gave her a concerned look. "How are you holding up? We've been riding a long time," he asked.
"Yeah, I'm good." the blonde girl nodded. "I'm just fascinated by this place! It's almost like the Middle East, back home on Earth." She then smiled shyly as Danji gave her one of his handsome, small smiles.
"Yes, it is beautiful. Luckily powerful mages were able to protect it so far. But for how long, that is unknown." Danji's face then turned serious at that thought, but then decided not to dwell on it. He looked around and noticed they were alone, then turned to Heather, his face showing a little nervousness. "Listen, Heather...I...I wanted to talk to you about...about.."
"Yes Danji?" Heather said, a dreamy look on her face as she looked at him. Oh my gosh! she thought ecstatically to herself. He's going to tell me if he feels the same way I do! I don't believe it! She blushed as her heart began to beat faster.
"Well, I..." Sweat formed on the handsome man's tanned face, and he swallowed. I..I can't do this now! This is crazy! his mind screamed. We have a mission to think about! Our world is at stake! He sighed in defeat and shook his head. "Never mind. I...I have some things to discuss with Djoser." With that he pulled his reigns and rushed up to where Djoser and Jeneta was, leaving Heather behind with a perplexed look on her face.
Meanwhile, Jeneta sighed as she stroked the large medallion around her neck gently, signifying the great responsibility she had. Would she be able to handle it? What if something happens, what if she caused her friends to....die? What if something should ever happen to Djoser? She turned her head slightly to look at the tall man riding next to her. She didn't understand what her feelings were to him yet, but she knew it would break her heart if anything were to happen to him, and for some strange reason, she knew he felt the same way about her. Then taking a deep breath, she turned her head fully to him and asked "Djoser, where are we headed to next?"
The man took a moment to look up into the darkening sky to judge the time as Danji caught up to him, then spoke in a soft, confident voice. "It's a few hours yet until sunset, so I think we'll make it in time. We're headed to a small city where one of Orana's top students live. His power is nearly as strong as Orana's, and he was able to elude Kumraa's forces because he was in hiding. Through some sources, I've tracked him to this city. With his help, we will be able to get the medallion you wear to tell us where the rest of them are. We have to find him, because...I'm not sure I have the strength to do it on my own." His eyes grew slightly sad at the thought of his former teacher. "Orana never got to finish teaching me all I needed to know."
"I'm sorry." Jeneta said softly. Although she had not known the woman very long, and didn't know if she was alive or dead, she did know how much she meant to Djoser and the others she had taught.
Djoser looked at her for a moment, then nodded his head. "Come, we still have some long miles to go. We shouldn't waste time." With a flap of his reigns, he urged his horse to go faster along with Danji, getting the lead on everyone.
Heather rode up next to Jeneta a moment later and looked at her with concern. "Hey, what was that about?" she asked.
"No, it's okay. He was telling us about where we're headed next. We should be there soon." Jeneta assured. The two friends looked at each other and smiled, glad to share this moment together. Then Heather gave a mischievous smile.
"So...did you tell him yet?" the blonde girl winked.
"Tell him what?" Jeneta's eyes grew wide as she looked at her. Heather gave her a knowing look, then looked ahead at where Djoser was riding.
"Oh come on, it's...it's nothing like that..." Jeneta stammered, but feeling the flush growing on her cheeks. "He's....he's just..nice, that's all."
"Jeneta, I may be a bookworm, but I'm not THAT daft when it comes to the affairs of the heart." Heather said softly as she pointed a knowing finger in the air. "I've seen the looks, and you two fancy each other. I can tell!"
"Right....like how you fancy Danji?" Jeneta retorted, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She had seen the kind and loving looks the tanned-skinned man gave Heather, and knew about the quiet talks they've had. Even up until now, both have been too shy to admit their feelings, being content just to be in each other's company. But somehow, Jeneta knew it was a matter of time before they were comfortable enough tell each other how they felt.
The blonde girl was flabbergasted as she struggled to speak. "Well...errr...I...I mean, that is to say...he's...very helpful, that's all!" She blushed bright red as she watched the other handsome young man ride with Djoser.
"Riiiight." Jeneta smirked.
"Hey you two! What're you blabbering about?" Ling said as she, Prya and Angeni joined them. She and Angeni had been coaching Prya on learning to ride the horse a little better, and not be too scared of it. They've both had experience with horses, and Prya proved to be a fast learner and soon got the hang of it.
"Errr, nothing, really!" Both Jeneta and Heather said at the same time, trying to look innocent.
"I bet I know. You were talking about those two hunks up there, right?" Angeni giggled, always one to use her instincts and catch on. Her yellow feather flapped gently in the soft breeze.
Unable to help themselves, the girls all laughed softly and continued to talk about old crushes they had and their lives back home. Each began to relax more, knowing that despite what destiny had given them now, they can still have the time to just kick back and be teenaged girls.
Soon, they entered a small desert land, the late dying sun still shining on their backs. A bright light from lamps signifying a city shone ahead, and Djoser signaled for them to ride faster. A few minutes later, a bright and bustling city emerged from the horizon. Already they could hear string music along with tambourines being played to signify the end of the day, and saw people walking about in light clothing in various Earth-toned colors. With curious looks from people with various shades of skin color, they entered the small desert city, and immediately, wonderful smelling food and scents of perfumes assailed their senses. Women of high status wore light veils across their faces and hurried home with their young children, and men were hurrying to close up their outside shops and bazaars where they sold clothes, foods, and decorations. The buildings where a soft creamed color, so as not to absorb the heat of the sun.
Old men with long beards and dark skin sat outside on cushions, telling all who would listen about their lives many years ago. Children grabbed onto their mother's long and soft dresses as they went home for the night. Banners and clothes were hung from every window from the taller buildings that the lights from large lamps shone from, given the city a real, authentic desert look Jeneta had read about a thousand times in books and saw in movies. People spoke in a friendly tone towards one another, and some even smiled a little at the girls.
"Wow!" Prya breathed out. "This place is beautiful! Just like the Middle East and India, back home on Earth." She looked around with wide eyes, the sights and sounds so familiar to her.
"It is...just as I remembered it so many years ago." Djoser said in wonder. "Welcome to the city of Al'Sakri-Nohe." He looked around with pride. "I used to come here many times as a child with my parents. It's hardly changed a bit."
"Djoser, we should find who we came here to find. Time is a luxury we cannot waste." Danji said, walking up next to him after everyone dismounted their horses. He looked around with a worried face, almost as if he sensed danger.
The taller man nodded, and after leading the girls to a stall and paying a boy to take care of the horses, they walked the emptying streets a little until they came to a small building that was a restaurant. Djoser knocked on the large wooden door three times, and a middle-aged, dark-skinned man answered, a turban encircling his head and his white beard nearly to his chest. "Akmed, it's been a long time," Djoser smiled as he bowed.
The older man squinted at him for a moment, then burst out laughing and began hugging him. "OHH! Djoser! The Gods have smiled on me this night! Forgive these old eyes for not recognizing you!" The old man shook Djoser's hand vigorously as tears fell from his cheeks as he remembered teaching Djoser to ride horses and use swords. "I prayed and hoped that you have survived the attack on your country. Please, come in and we can talk about old times and you can have dinner...for you and your friends." He looked to the others standing along with Djoser.
"My old friend, while I would like nothing better, I must regretfully decline. I'm actually here to see....him." Djoser gave the man a meaningful look. Akmed's face fell a little, but nodded, and motioned for them to come inside. The restaurant was just closing up, so it was empty as he led them all towards the back. The restaurant was intricately designed with beautiful patterns of the sky, horses, and other various desert animals painted on the ceiling. In the very back, Akmed knocked on a wall four times. A moment later, there was shimmer in the air as a doorway magically appeared. When the shimmering stopped, there was a long stairway down a dark passage.
"He is there, waiting. He said he had a vision of you coming, but of course, the old fool that I am, I didn't believe." Akmed said, pointing the way.
"Thank you, old friend. I will never forget this." Djoser said, hugging him tightly.
"Nor will I. You have given hope back to an old man who has lost it. May the Gods protect you and your friends!" the older man said, looking at Jeneta and the other girls kindly.
With a nod, he motioned Danji and the girls to follow him down. Soon, they reached a small sitting room to the right that had a small glow in it. When they entered in, they were met with a fairly dark-skinned man just about to enter into middle-age, with a dark blue turban encircling his head, and slightly grey beard that was neatly braided with gold beads at the end. His dark eyes seemed to welcome the group as they cautiously walked in, and he smiled kindly at them as he sat on his large, intricately designed cushion, his legs folded underneath him. "Ahh, Djoser. I wish I could say this was a surprise....but it's not." He smiled slightly at his humor as the tall man bowed in respect to him.
"Ben Salan...it's been too long. I wish we could have met under better circumstances..."
"I know, I know. I understand. But please, tell me...what of Orana?" The man's eyes were full of concern and anticipation, but he had to confirm the horrifying vision he had of his teacher.
"She...has been captured by Kumraa's forces. We don't know if she has survived." Djoser answered, lowering his head.
"I see." Ben Salan sighed and lowered his head for a moment, then as if just noticing the others, looked at them in curiosity. "Ahh, and these must be the reason you have come to see me." he said, smiling softly at the girls.
"Yes," Danji said, walking up to him. "I'm Danji, and we believe these young girls might be the key in finding the legendary Ones Who Are Blessed. They are Jeneta, Prya, Ling, Heather, and Angeni. They will be the salvation of our world. He looked to Jeneta and smiled proudly. "We have already won the first medallion..."
"And you need my help to help locate the others." Ben Salan finished, nodding his head.
"Yes, if there is anyway you can help, we'd be most grateful." Jeneta said, hope in her eyes.
The older man smiled softly and stood up on his feet, "Then we have no time to waste." His face then turned serious. "Darkness already approaches. We must hurry. Djoser, I will need your strength." He reached out a hand towards Djoser. "Jeneta, you must lay your medallion on the floor between us."
Quickly, the two men clasped hands, as Jeneta did as she was told, and the men began to chant a soft, melodic spell. Soon, they began to glow a soft, bright light, and the medallion soon followed. Seconds later, the medallion began to float in the air above the men, and it gave a bright, blue flash. Suddenly, a holographic three dimensional map appeared high near the ceiling, just as one did when they were at Orana's. Four bright spots appeared on various places on the map, each in a different country. They were now in the south, and one spot landed on the west, the next east, and north, and then finally, northwest.
"The other medallions...that's where they are hidden." Ben Salan said in a ragged breath, straining to keep up the magic.
"Whoa! We have to go all over to those places?" Ling said in wonder, yet worry showing on her face.
"Yes, but we now know the locations, and that will make it a little easier." Danji said, satisfied. At that moment, the map began to flicker in and out, and finally it disappeared in a soft flash. The two men released their hands and began to breathe hard, the strain nearly overtaking them.
"Are you two alright?" Jeneta asked, going over to stand near Djoser.
"Yes, we're fine, but I'm afraid that time has run out. You must get of here, and fast." Ben Salan said, desperately.
"Guys, he's right. I have a bad feeling..." Angeni said, nodding in agreement.
"Then we'll go." Danji said, nodding. As the girls were ready to leave, he placed a hand on Heather's shoulder. "Don't worry, I promise I won't let anything happen to you."
Heather blushed slightly at that, and squeezed his hand in gratitude. Then quickly, the group left.
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With a determined, almost obsessive look on his face, General Zain and his soldiers entered the city and ignored the shocked looks on the faces of the people there. Here and there were little screams of fright from the women and children as they scrambled to get away from the advancing men on their horses. Soon, he reached the stables, and after he dismounted his horse, he quickly grabbed the boy working there in a front way headlock and placed a knife at his throat as he was about to offer to care for his horses.
"Tell me boy, before I slit your throat open...where are strangers that came here earlier?" Zain whispered darkly, his grey skin illuminating in the night.
The boy, tanned-skinned and no more than at least thirteen, shivered uncontrollably in fear. "Y...ye..yes sir....p..please sir.." Tears streamed down his face.
"Stop your sniveling! Tell me, where did they go?" Zain pressed the knife closer, drawing blood from the boy's throat.
Unable to speak anymore, the boy just pointed the way with a shaky to where he last saw the strangers go. With a snort of disgust, Zain threw the boy away from him roughly to the ground, and kicked him hard in the stomach. He could only scream and cry in pain as Zain raised a hand and mounted his horse again, signifying his men to follow him.
Quickly, they rounded the corner, and just as Djoser and the others were exciting the building, Zain and his soldiers stopped right in front of them, blocking any escape. He smiled in delight as they looked up at him in shock.
"Well, well, it looks like all that traveling through the stinking sands finally paid off." Zain snarled, delight shining in his eyes.
"Who the hell are you?" Ling said, her fists already clenched in the balls and ready to fight.
"Ahh, how rude of me..." Zain saluted in a mocking way, his smirk as evil as ever, and bowed slightly. "I am General Zain, and I..." He motioned his soldiers to come closer. "...am the one who will destroy you right now. Your foolish mission to get the Sacred Medallions is over..."
"No it's not! We already have one, and we WILL get the others. You won't stop us Zain!" Jeneta said, her anger overcoming her fear.
The General threw his head back and laughed long and loud, his voice evil and booming. "YOU'RE telling ME I won't stop you? You...a little...child! All of you children! Oh, how cute is that?"
"Who the hell you're calling cute and children, you freak!" Angeni shouted back.
"Enough!" Djoser stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "Zain, you know you don't have to do this. This is between us. Leave them out of it..."
Zain narrowed his eyes dangerously, and sneered at him and the other girls. "I'm afraid I can't do that. I will take pleasure in seeing your bodies rot in this desert." He held up his right hand, and it started to glow a bright red. Right in front of him, the ground also began to glow red, and a moment later, the sand before them began to rise into a large mound. For a moment, everyone looked curiously at it....until it suddenly burst open, and what looked like millions of red beetles squrimed out of the mound and rushed forward, nearly covering everything in their path. All over, people screamed and ran away, but was soon overtaken by the red beetles and covered.
"Oh my gosh!" Prya breathed out, terror of the beetles nearly causing her to faint.
"Run!" Danji screamed. "I'll try to keep them off!
"Don't let them escape!" shouted Zain.
""Illuminace Skaratis!" Bright light erupted from Djoser's hands and went right into the eyes of Zain and his twelve soldiers, blinding them all temporarily. Meanwhile, Danji used his sword to cut down a large banner from one of the buildings to cover the beetles headed towards them.
"That won't keep them for long. You have to get out of here!" Danji said, running with them back to their horses.
"But what about you?" Heather said, but before Danji could answer, she looked with horror as the beetles were already gaining on them, covering and devouring all.
"GO!" Danji said, pushing her along with the others to mount their horses. Heather was about to get on her horse, but she turned to look at Danji to tell him to get on with her. But instead of getting on, Danji rushed to a window, got a lamp, and smashed it on the ground in front of the beetles, burning a great many of them as a great plume of fire erupted; but more were coming.
He turned to Heather, and taking her face in his hand, kissed her softly on the lips. "I told you I won't let anything happen to you. I'll keep them off while you escape..."
"Danji, no...please..." Tears fell on her cheeks as she wanted to tell him more, but the young man lifted her on her horse and slapped it on its rear, making it run off with the others. As Heather looked back, she saw him lift a large wooden stick with a its end on fire, and sweeping it back and forth to keep the deadly beetles away from him. But they soon became too many, and with horror, she saw them cover him and end his life as he screamed in pain.
"No! DANJIIIII!" She tried to turn her horse around, but Djoser caught the reigns.
"It's too late! Come on! He gave his life to give us this chance!" He also looked back sadly, but knew there was nothing to be done.
Heather gave a heartbreaking sob as she and the other rode out of the city, her heart full of sorrow. The one chance she had to find love, and it was taken from her. It wasn't fair! But she didn't have time to dwell on her sorrow as with the speed of the wind, the horse ran on, leaving the devastated city behind as the sun was just beginning to set and the stars starting to twinkle.
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