Ch.14 Cart, Cart, Away!

All through the night the men talked as I helped them change their bandages, rewrapped them, giving them water and food. The pirates were all at home with me there and didn't mind that it was a slightly small place. It was quite warm while it was dark and cold outside. I finally learned the names of all the men that were with me. There was Tosios, the male that had woken up long before the others.

Vesios, the man that had woken up seconds before his friend Naerios. The fourth man that had been under the rubble of the crash had still not woken up. His name was Loreos. There were four men all together. Two men for each sky balloon.

His injuries were a bit worse than his friends but it wouldn't take him long to recover surely.

"Sell?" Tosios asked making me turn to him. "Where did they go? Wouldn't it take your friends days to go back home?"

I shook my head. "We know a trick to get places in short amounts of time. I can't tell you what that is."

"A little secret holding group? I thought we were the only ones," chuckled Naerios.

"Can you believe this chick is going to a war in another month or so?" Tosios asked his friends gesturing to me.

They both looked at me in shock. "What?! You can't! You're too young!"

"Ah!" exclaimed Tosios holding up a finger. "But she can! She's a commander or something! She's going to be leading the guys to victory against some other people! They've done really bad things to her people over the years and it's been going on before we were even born! Can you believe that?!"

Vesios spat. "Absolutely not! They can't allow such a young girl to go to war and fight!"

Tosios winked to me with a grin. "She seems to be one hell of a fighter though. Her friends told me all these fights that she's been in and won and almost died."

"I did die in one but I returned and almost won if he hadn't run away. I had to get my father up off the floor and get him back home before he died." I stared at the fire recalling that time. "I'll be meeting that same enemy on the battlefield that we're going too."

Ah," said Vesios nodding his head. "It's going to come to a close then?"

"Dear Notch I hope so," I said poking the fire and making sparks shoot up. "I'd hate for it to continue on again. I'd sleep better at night if he were dead."

There was a chuckle that started to grow. I figured it was one of the guys but they had all turned around to look back at their friend. "Loreos!"

The man named Loreos opened his right eye that wasn't covered by bandages. "War, huh? That's a fun topic."

I paid no mind to the man's ramblings. I looked out the door window to see that stars twinkling.

"I was preparing for a war before I decided to not do it and left in the dead of night." Loreos said as he coughed and sighed staring at the ceiling. "There was an underground bunker a couple thousand blocks from here near a village that was easy going."

No one saw my movements as I was suddenly holding my scythe, wearing my cloak and staring at the guy with steeled eyes, my scythe blade at his throat. "Who were you working for?"

Loreos stared at me with his one eye. "Well, well, if it isn't Lady Sell! I wasn't sure if that was you or not."

We stared at one another for a moment. The other men in shock at my transformation.

"You know I can kick this wound easy," Loreos said quietly.

"Why don't you?" I asked as the fire light reflected off the blade of my scythe. "I can cut you down right here right now as I did to the underground stronghold."

"You destroyed it?" he rasped looking at me in surprise.

"Killed every person there. Went up in a huge blazing ball of fire and lava." I smirked down at him. "It was a beautiful sight. Wish you could've seen it."

Loreos laid there regaining himself once more. "I guess I can relax now. I don't have to worry about being chased down."

I figured if Loreos had wanted to attack me he would've done it by now like he had said before. I put away my scythe and sat down, my cloak disappearing from around me. "You heading back to that village that the pirate captain went too?"

"Yeah," Loreos muttered. "I got a small house and a plot of land. Nice place the desert is."

"When you can tap into a water pocket," snorted one of the men. It was Vesios. "The desert isn't as harsh then."

The room went silent and uneasy. It was my fault. I had caused tension in the air. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I'm on edge quite a bit."

"That's understandable," Loreos spoke gently. "You're very focused on fighting Hatos than anything else and defending your people to the fullest. I can understand that."

"So, this Hatos guy. He's pretty bad?" asked Vesios looking at the two of us.

"He's killed many of my kind. Started a very long time ago across the sea on an island called Aquica Atlias. It was owned by a family of royal lineage, the Ravendon lineage. That's where our first Lady of our kind was born. She is connected to this man Hatos personally." I stared into the fire as my memory went back to the life story that Lady Ananon had told me through her memories. "She died fighting him a second time. We really aren't sure if it was a set up or if she lost for real. Before she went to fight him she foretold of a prophecy that would come true in time but it was…," I paused trying to find the right words to explain it. "It was limited."

The men sat there listening, including Loreos. I sighed closing my eyes resting my forehead on my knee. "I'm not the one it foretold. It was talking about my younger sister, Sen. Yet I was born before her and I have the abilities and power that it spoke of. Yet it's all at a cost."

My right hand clenched the left side of my shirt just over my heart. Loreos sat there in shocked silence as it all dawned on him. "You weren't a natural born then?"

"My father gave me the abilities through a series of tests that he had done on different types of beings. Taking the DNA from each and doing different things. Eventually he took the DNA from the flame wraith somehow and transferred it into me. It'll leave me soon but we aren't sure when." I raised my head to look towards him with a straight face. "I'm praying that it doesn't happen on the battlefield when I'm facing Hatos."

Loreos nodded feeling dread. "My Lady, I've been wanting to explain something to you for some time now before I was taken by Lord Hatos."

"What is it, Loreos? Your Lady is listening." I said gently sitting up straight.

Loreos fidgeted slightly unsure if he was ready to say what he was to say to me. "There is a band of men living under the desert. They specialize in DNA reconstruction but are Lord's protecting the innocent out here."

I sat there with no emotions showing. It still surprised me how Lord's that were living the life like myself, my friends and family, and most of the others yet were scared of Lord Hatos and hid from him. Yet, then again, what they were doing was illegal as well. What I was, it was illegal yet it was needed more than anything. "I understand. What are you trying to say?"

"They want you to pass a law about DNA reconstruction and creation," Loreos said after a moment of hesitation. "Your voice and your words are held higher than your father's. It's almost held up like Notch."

That was true. How all this came to be in such a short time was still mind blowing. I rested my chin on my hand thinking this over. I had never thought of DNA and reconstruction before to the fullest. I had never thought of myself or what it took for me to attain the abilities that I had gotten through it all.

I had never considered how my father gained the knowledge to transform an infant into a powerful being just through some tests. I had never thought of anything like this before until now. I looked over at the flames that were flickering from the fire. I wasn't sure on how to go about this. What was I to say on the decree?

"Let me meet these people. It'll be soon. We're heading that direction in a little while." I looked from the fire to Loreos.

He nodded with a smile. "Thank you, my Lady! I shall tell them when I get back!"

I stopped then and raised my head. "Loreos."

He looked to me questioningly. "Ma'am?"

"Is there any chance that you could leave now and ask them if they would help us in the war? Fight with us? We would appreciate the help."

Loreos nodded slowly but I could see the answer in his eyes. Loreos slowly got to his feet wincing slightly at the pain. He hobbled towards the door. "I'll be back in a moment."

I leapt to my feet grabbing his arm gently. "Wait. I want to go with you. It'll be faster than them waiting on me."

Loreos's face looked uncertain for a moment. "Very well then. What of them?"

I looked back at the other three men who watched us wondering what we were talking about and doing. Just then the door opened as Mordan and Dra'tor stepped in carrying two chests and bulging bags on their backs. I smiled warmly. "Welcome back! I and Loreos here have some plans."

Dra'tor and Mordan placed their things to the side turning back to us. "What's going on?"

I explained to them how Loreos was connected to us from the start. How he knew where a group was that lived underground in the desert.

"I'm going there to meet them."

Dra'tor leaned against the wall with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I know you can handle yourself alone. But, if things turn for the worst you know how to call me and Mordan."

I nodded to them. "Start placing the track towards the way the pirates went. I'll be back in just a bit." I ordered walking out the door ahead of Loreos.

"The village lies deep in the sand dunes that have been reinforced with stone to keep the dunes from giving them a sand slide when it's windy," Loreos instructed them. "Head out towards the northwest. They'll be there but be careful. They have people disguised as sand to watch the entrance of the dunes."

Mordan and Dra'tor looked to one another before nodding to Loreos. "Who knew a new friend could be found in these dark times? Thank you."

Loreos nodded to them before limping after me. I got atop of Entai who whinnied slightly at me, getting excited on going someplace else. I helped Loreos up behind me and prodded Entai off through the sand in the direction that Loreos told me to go. Dra'tor and Mordan watched us go before pulling out track and other equipment that they would need to get the men back to town.

"We'll go in shifts?" Mordan offered.

"Nah. Let's get this done together. It'll go faster." Dra'tor replied heading towards the door.

"We'll be resting up in here," Vesios said smiling. "I'm ready to get home to my family. We'll need all the strength we can get to make this trip. Right?"

Dra'tor chuckled. "You'll have it easy. We're the ones who have to do all the work."

The three men chuckled waving them off as Mordan and Dra'tor left.

Vesios turned to the other two. "I'm excited. Aren't ya'll?"

"Get some sleep." Tosios said lying down.

Vesios settled down smiling. He had been dreaming of home for quite some time while being in the shelter that Sell had made. He couldn't help himself.

Entai thundered across the sand dunes at a rapid pace. Bits of glass that he had created from the fire around his hooves flew up behind him. He stretched his legs farther apart, loving the wind, his speed, and the feeling of running. He tossed his head letting his fiery mane get whipped by the wind and let out a whinny. Loreos clung to me with surprise across his face at the steed's speed. "This is amazing! This is my first time on the back of a Nightmare!"

I turned my head over my shoulder smiling. "Fast, huh?"

"So fast!" he exclaimed to me. "We shouldn't be far from them now."

I turned back ahead looking about the desert for the signs that Loreos told me about. In the heat waves ahead I saw a disfigured monument. It was the water well that he had told me about. I looked back over my shoulder. "I see the well!"

"We're there!" he said smiling happily. "You'll really like these guys, my Lady! They're so nice!"

Entai lengthened his strides, pushing himself faster towards the well snorting smoke. The well was clear in our sights now getting closer with each gallop. At last we were upon it and Entai slid to a halt in the sand prancing about while I slid off his back and helped down Loreos. Loreos climbed over the well wall and slid into the water, sinking down into the water. I watched him go into the dimly lit water and looked over to Entai who snorted, breathing hard from the run but happy enough to be doing something. I patted his long muzzle. "Guard the well. I'll be back in a moment. Ok?"

Entai snorted nuzzling into my face before I turned away and slipped into the water feet first and sunk beneath the water. The light from above getting dimmer with each block I sunk down. A sign was placed every nine blocks where I could get air before sinking down another nine blocks. Before seeing that I had arrive at the bottom and a doorway that fed into a large square room met my eyes as I stepped from the water that was held back by a sign on the wall to my left . I looked about searching for Loreos wondering where he had hobbled off too.

"Loreos?" I asked out walking towards the other doorway that was across the room.

I heard voices from ahead of me in the other room arguing. I wondered what the argument was about and crept towards the room. Looking in I saw several men all dressed as a person who lived in the desert would have on. Ragged clothes that had been roughly sewed up or wrapped about them.

"She's here!" exclaimed Loreos to them. "I swear!"

"Lady Sell has lost her memory!" argued a male in a faint blue ragged jacket and pants. "Stop telling us she's regained her memory!"

I stepped in clearing my throat making all the men turn towards me. Their faces going white. "Lady Sell!"

"I'm back to rescue those that I have put into peril. I have a proposition for you all." I said standing there in the doorway of the odd looking room.

Mordan panted in the dim sunlight of the noon sun as it was just starting to sin behind the dunes. He had just placed down the final piece of track on his end. Dra'tor had been going back down the track placing redstone powered tracks to speed up the carts that would be going down the tracks. He looked towards village that wasn't far off. He had already seen the guards that were laying in wait.

They weren't hard to find. He looked off back towards the way he had come. "Tell your leader that the men will return shortly! Our Lady will be escorting them back! Have no fear! We're only returning what belongs to you!"

With that he walked down the tracks back towards the shelter. The men that were hidden signaled to one another. It was time to have a meeting. They popped up from the sand and sprinted back towards the village and out of sight behind low lying dunes. Mordan met back up with Dra'tor as he finished rigging up the redstone for the tracks.

"You tell them?" Dra'tor asked as he panted looking down the track that Mordan had come from.

Mordan nodded. "They know."

"Let's hope that Sell gets back soon." Dra'tor said walking towards the campsite. "This won't go down so well if she doesn't make it back in time."

"You don't have to tell me about it," grumbled Mordan wanting to get back into the shade and cool of the small cave.

The men that were friends of Loreos stared at me. They each looked at one another with uncertainty. They wondered what I was going to say to them.

"He brought you here to accept the possibilities of DNA testing. Not to fight."

I nodded. "That he did. I'm one of the testing subjects. My father created me. There is no harm in DNA testing as long as you know what you're doing and only doing it for good. I'll uphold it to the fullest."

The men thought this over for a moment. "You agree with our methods?"

"It's safe, right?" I asked taking a step or two towards them.

They nodded looking back at me seriously. I held open my arms in a gesture that they could read easily. "I see no harm. If you break the code that I'm going to be laying out soon then I will tear down all of your structures and destroy all of your creations. Understood?"

They all nodded. "Yes, ma'am!"

I turned away heading back towards the water chute. "After the war, look for a very important bulletin on this subject."

With that said I surged up through the water chute and out of sight. My head popped up from the water to gulp in air. Entai reared up from surprise and landed heavily onto the sand, pawing the sand with his hoof as he snorted. I climbed out from the well and into his saddle. "Let's go!"

The Nightmare reared again to surge forward and charge across the sand back towards the shelter. I let him run as fast as he wanted. Glass forming beneath him and being shattered by his rear hooves as he pounded across the sand, glass shards flying up behind us. I could see Dra'tor and Mordan just returning to the shelter.

"Guys! Get the men!" I shouted out across the sand as Entai became closer each second.

Dra'tor and Mordan hurried inside leaving the door open as Entai slid to a halt outside the shelter and pranced about snorting from the excitement. I leapt from the saddle and helped the three men that were remaining to the start of the minecarts that had been set up. I called Entai over to me taking rope from his saddle bag and tieing him to the cart. Dra'tor and Mordan placed their men into a cart and got their horses tied up to their own carts.

"What about the stuff?" Vesios asked looking back at the shelter.

"We're not yet done packing," Dra'tor said tightening his saddle about his Nightmare. "We'll get it in just a moment. Don't worry."

"So we're just going to sit under the hot sun?" asked Tosios.

"I think we'll be ok for a little," piped up Naerios who hadn't said much at all. "Take your time."

The three men all sat there for a moment while we packed up all that we needed. The saddle bags and backpacks all loaded and full, we were ready. We mounted our Nightmare's and all checked each other.

"Are we all ready?" I asked looking back at them all.

Each gave me a head nod. Entai snorted pawing the sand, impatient to go. I smiled taking up his reigns. "We'll be going at a fast pace so please keep all hands and feet inside the carts at all times. Thank you for carting with us and try to enjoy the ride."

I urged Entai to head out trotting to make sure everything was lining up well and had him go faster gradually before we found ourselves rocketing down the rails with Dra'tor and Mordan evenly spaced and following after. The three men had never experienced the kind of transportation that we were doing. It was much faster than just going on powered rails. Entai sped up the pace making all the rest lengthen their strides. The wind whipping about us in a deafening sound.

"This is great!" shouted Tosios gripping his knees tightly. "I've never felt such wind before!"

"Hot air balloons can go suck it!" laughed Naerios holding his arms up enjoying the thrilling ride.

We thundered through the village entrance with the carts gliding across the melted sand as if it were ice before we gradually began to slow and come to a halt. The carts stopping at the sides of the Nightmare's. The villagers stared at us in complete shock at the disturbance. One of the villagers cried out.

"Husband!"

I saw a young woman with brown hair running over to Tosios's cart and wrapping him into a great hug which he accepted and hugged her back just as tightly. "Wife!"

Within seconds of their greetings we watched as two other women ran towards us screaming to their men in the carts, happy to have them back. Children also ran up to greet their missing family member. A village elder strode towards the front of the crowd that had gathered.

"We welcome home our missing men and we give a great thank you to the people that have returned them! We have searched the sands for days now trying to find them but had no luck! We now see that you have rescued them long before we knew of them being out there and have taken good care of their injuries!"

Entai snorted as we bowed our heads in return to the thank you. "You're very welcome. It was no trouble. We just wanted to reunite those with their loved ones. It's our mission in life."

"Please stay the night or two and rest. I'm sure you had a hard time getting these carts across the sand?" the old man asked.

I smiled down at him as I dismounted. "Thank you, elder. We will very much like to stay the night. We have business to attend here with someone that lives amongst you all."

The old man was intrigued by this. "Who would that be?"

"The captain," Tosios said amongst his family.

The old man furrowed his brow wondering who exactly he was referring too.

"Jatios," spoke up Naerios. "She wants to speak with him."

"And I am here," said a voice darkly from within the crowd.

I turned to see a man step from the crowd wearing desert clothing that was dull and sun bleached. "Yes you are. I told you I'd return to meet you again. Did I not?"

"Thank you for bringing me my men. It's helped me out so much. Now you can go," Jatios said looking at me sternly.

"I'm not going anywhere. These people don't know what you do to make their living easy." I took a step towards him seeing his eyes change.

The people looked from me to Jatios wondering what exactly we were talking about. He scowled at me feeling all the eyes looking towards us. "I knew it. You were hired by that damn town!"

I gave a chuckle folding my arms. "Hardly. I'm not paid nor do I ask for it anywhere I go. I live off the land entirely. I only go on hospitality when it's given and return it as well."

"What are they talking about, dad?" asked the son that stood next to Vesios's cart.

"I'm talking about Jatios. He has men that ride in pirate air ships late in the night and steal from other towns and villages." I announced loudly so all the people could hear. "These men that say they are so honest folk and say things like love and peace are lying to you. They don't harm but they take the money that others make or have made and tear away into the night. Placing bags at your doorsteps and sleeping for a few hours to awake and act surprised!"

The wives of the men and the people that weren't a part of it all looked in shock. Jatios closed his eyes as anger washed over him. "Why did you come here? To bring shame upon us all?!"

I smiled taking the reins of Entai. "No. I came to fix the wrong and make it right. You didn't get permission."

I pulled myself back into the saddle dropping the rope that I had tied on the saddle horn and had Entai force a path through the people. "We will be staying a night, elder. To rest our horses and get a bite. Next morning we will be leaving."

The village elder turned towards us as we passed through the people. "I thank you, young one. You have lifted the wool that had our eyes covered. We shall have a feast!"

I turned Entai about before anyone could rejoice. "No! No feast. No parties. We don't need that. Just a simple meal and some rest is all we ask."

The elder closed his eyes at the request then. "Very well. I will have rooms prepared for you and stables opened for your horses."

I nodded with a smile. "Good. Very good."