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Far from the destruction of Dareeyak, the desert sands were burning from their own catastrophe. A group of travelers walked the path toward Khaseph, ready to help the crumbling kingdom.
Akthanakos led the way, followed closely by Azzanadra. Fareed and Kamil formed the rear guard, watching for bandits or worse.
The sun was as bright and hot as any day in the arid desert. However, the atmosphere was heavy, as though a storm was just over the horizon, waiting to strike.
"What's that?" asked Azzanadra, spying two men waiting on the path ahead.
"I'm not sure," was Akthanakos's answer. "But they're wearing the Empire's symbol."
"That's Damis and Dessous," Fareed spoke up from the rear. "They were in the forests around the Lum, and General Zamorak instructed that they come and help us."
"This situation must be bad," Azzanadra remarked. "If I need all this protection."
Damis and Dessous joined their group, and they walked further into the desert territory. The day wore on, and soon they arrived at the city of Khaseph. It looked as it had long before, when Azzanadra left it, although there had been some recent fire damage in the palace area.
The envoy marched their way toward the gate, and there a short man met them. He was dressed in a mix of regal and warrior attire, medals gleaming on his chest.
"Yrota!" called Azzanadra, embracing his old friend. "How are you?"
"Worse than one would hope, in recent days," the dwarf-like old man replied. "But now, hopefully you can change this."
Azzanadra nodded. "That's what I'm here for. I'll meet with Queen Enakhra as soon as possible."
"Then you're going the wrong way. She's been run out of the Palace, said she didn't quite feel safe there."
"Where is she, then?"
"Up at Set's Pyramid."
"The Pyramid?"
"Yes. She said your meeting will take place there, on the apex."
Azzanadra scowled. "Very well. I can't see why, but I'll meet her at the Pyramid."
07-Aug-2009 06:21:58