by Isham on January 28th, 2011, 7:35 pm
70th of Winter, 510 AV
Isham fumed beneath his calm exterior as Efram crested yet another hill in this fabled Sea of Grass. It was unsettling, being among this much green when for so long he had known only the drab shades of the desert. The air felt much too wet, and the tall grass seemed to press in on him from all sides like a collapsing dune. Efram didn't seem to mind it much, the camel seemed to have little problem adjusting to the change in climate, and indeed, almost seemed to welcome the abundance of food. More than once Isham had had to kick the obstinate beast back into motion when he had stopped to graze. The relationship between boy and camel was...complicated at best. Sometimes, Isham swore by Yahal that the stubborn animal tried to irritate him on purpose!
However, despite the reliability of his vexing boat-of-the-desert companion, Isham was hopelessly lost among the grasslands of Cyphrus. He had heard that one could not safely navigate the Sea of Grass without a Drykas guide, but had dismissed that as mere rumor. As always, Yahal would provide. Keeping his face resolute, Isham clucked at Efram and shook the reigns, moving the camel forward once more in its graceful, almost gliding motion. Isham felt a prickling between his shoulderblades that was not from his resting ponytail. Someone was watching him, he was almost certain of it. Quickly he wrapped the black cloth of his veil about his face, leaving only his eyes exposed as he withdrew his shortbow, notching an arrow as his face surveyed the waving green all around him.
Suddenly, with a thunder of hooves, Isham was surrounded by a group of four Drykas warriors, probably scouts or outriders. "You are foolish to travel alone, outsider," a particularly burly looking male, likely the leader, spoke in Common. "What is your purpose here?" Isham drew himself up, slowly undoing the veil from his face and replacing his arrow in the quiver at his saddle. "I am merely a traveler on my way north. I had hoped to find the city of Endrykas, and travel with them for a season or two."
The Drykas simply stared at him for a moment, making strange gestures with his fingers at the other riders. Finally, after what seemed an eternity of Isham holding his breath, the men nodded. "We will take you to Endrykas, desert man. Follow." With that, he turned his horse, a truly magnificent animal, and trotted off through the grass. Clucking furiously at Efram, Isham pulled the reigns on the camel to follow them.
The journey was not long, perhaps an hour, thought it felt like an eternity. These riders were not the most talkative folk, and they kept casting strange looks at Isham's camel. When at long last they came upon the sprawling tents, Isham was struck by how curiously the city resembled the Tents of his father. Kicking Efram faster, Isham followed the Drykas riders into the city, wondering at how lost he would have been had he continued alone. As always, Yahal had provided a way for the faithful.
