Part III: Starting the Journey

The sunshine was so bright it was blinding. Above the village walls, all she could see for miles upon miles was sand--white, gritty, blazing hot sand. She brought her hand up to her forehead to shield her vision as she looked for any sign of mountains, grass, or cool mists. Nothing. Wherever she was, it was a completely different world than what she was used to.

"We're in Kaipo, the desert oasis," Cecil said, practically speaking her thoughts out loud.

"Kaipo?" she wondered, "How did we get here?"

"The creature you summoned caused an earthquake that stranded us on the other side of the valley as Mist. I brought you here while you were sleeping."

"We're in the Great Desert?" she asked, awestruck. "How did you manage it in your black armor?"

His head turned towards her, but he didn't say anything. Rydia wondered if she maybe shouldn't have asked.

"We should get you something to protect you from the sun," he said instead.

The village wasn't very large, but it was larger than Mist. The inn was the largest building in the village, two levels high and made entirely out of stone.

Rydia constantly found herself staring at it, its awkward appearance amid the other shorter homes.

But then she felt the stares of the villagers, they're strange looks, and concentrated on making herself as small and invisible as she could. They whispered when she and Cecil walked past, but she could never tell what they were saying. Wherever Cecil went, people avoided him; they ducked into corners and one man even fell over his basket of goods.

The attack in the inn had caused quite a stir.

Rydia tried to keep her face down and bury it behind her hair. But then she just felt horribly awkward anyway, and tried to wish away her emerald locks.

After a bit of wandering, Cecil finally found what he was looking for. It was a shop near the village gate. Rydia marveled at the beautifully carved wooden sign that hung from the doorframe, and waited for Cecil to go in before she followed.

The door to the shop groaned open and the inside smelled dusty and old. A man peered over the top of the countertop; he obviously had been looking for something, and stood fully upright when they both had entered.

He tugged at his long white beard and looked at Cecil with pointed distrust. When he saw Rydia he froze.

"How may I help you?"

"What are the smallest leathers you have?" Cecil asked, his hand directed towards Rydia.

"For the little lady? I might have just the thing," he announced, suddenly brightening, as he ducked beneath his counter and rummaged around for something.

Rydia stood a little bit on tip-toes to see what he was doing. He emerged with a long leather tunic (more of a dress by her standards), light leggings, boots and a leather hat.

Cecil stepped forward and picked up the bundle, dropping a pouch of coins on the counter.

While the old man was counting his money, Cecil came towards her and handed her the bundle.

"Go see if it fits."

Rydia went to a nook in the room with a wooden screen and changed out of her tattered clothes and into the new leather uniform. She emerged fully armed and somewhat ridiculous looking, with the tunic coming down to her knees.

The shopkeeper smiled.

"We'll need a belt," Cecil said after one glance.

The shopkeeper pulled one off of a board of pegs and tossed it to Cecil who handed it to Rydia.

"That oughta do," the man confirmed, "may I ask where you're headed in all that gear?"

"Somewhere away from here," Cecil stated.

"I see. Does this have anything to do with those men who stormed through here last night?"

"Let's just say Baron wants to prove a point."

Rydia fiddled with getting the belt on as she half listened.

"If you've chosen to pick a fight with Baron then I really do suggest you leave as quickly as possible."

"Which direction is Damcyan?"

"North through the caves, and across the desert. If the girl can cast lightning you shouldn't have a problem. There are water fiends in those caves."

Cecil turned back at Rydia who looked at him warily. Lightning? She couldn't even cast ice!

"Thank-you very much. We'll just be on our way."

Rydia followed Cecil out of the shop and across the street to an armory.

Once again, the people were whispering. She heard snippets of conversations. "Dark knight," she heard most often, and, "little unfortunate waif". She clung closer to Cecil, hoping to stay away from the whisperers. She knew that the "dark knight" was Cecil, but who was the waif? She frowned and wondered about it until they entered the armory.

This shop keeper behaved similarly to the first, but just seemed happy to find some business and helped Cecil find what he wanted. Cecil bought her a bow and a quiver of arrows which she stared at curiously when he handed them to her. She had never used a bow before and carried them across her bent arms, unsure of what to do with them. She and Cecil were about to leave the shop when the shopkeeper spoke up.

"You're from Baron, aren't you? It might interest you to know that after the ruckus you caused over at the inn last night, a girl was found in the desert, taken ill from desert fever. She claims that she too is from Baron. Someone else you know?"

Rydia looked up at Cecil and saw him pause in the doorway longer than usual.

"Where is she?"

"The house in the northeast corner of town."

Cecil practically sprinted out of the shop, and Rydia chased after him. What was it with grown-ups and having to run everywhere they went?

She followed him across the town, jumping over baskets filled with clothes for washing, and dodging in between people on the street. She marveled at how fast he could run in his armor, and juggled her bow and arrows very ungracefully.

He finally stopped at the door of a small, but rather long, house, and she nearly ran into him.

He banged on the door, and a few moments later a kindly and elderly woman appeared.

She looked up at Cecil in terror and then looked around him to where Rydia was standing, and gave her the most curious expression.

"H-how can I help you?"

"A girl--is there a girl here?" Cecil asked hastily.

The old woman made a face. "And why should I be telling the likes of you?"

"She's from Baron--a friend of mine. My name is Cecil."

At that, the woman swung open the door and beckoned them in.

"Come in, come in. She's been ill since we found her, poor thing. She's kept calling for a Cecil, must be you."

She led the way to the back of the home to a room with a bookshelf and a bed.

A girl lay in it. She was much older than Rydia and very fair. At once Rydia was jealous of this young woman's long golden hair.

"Rosa!" she heard Cecil exclaim and rush towards the woman on the bed.

"Cecil…Cecil, don't leave me, Cecil," she murmered.

"Desert fever," an old man sitting in the corner said, interrupting their thoughts. "It can only be cured with a sand ruby secreted by an antlion."

"A sand ruby. Where can I find this antlion?" Cecil asked, concerned.

"In the Cave of the Antlion. You'll need a member of the royal family of Damcyan to accompany you, only they are permitted to enter or grant entry to others. If you head across the desert and through the caves, it's due north."

"Thank-you. How long do you think she'll last?"

"I will do my best, but I can only give you a few weeks at most."

"Please--try to give us as much time as you can, I will return as quickly as I'm able," Cecil pled. Turning back at Rosa he laid a hand on her burning forehead. "Rosa, please hold on. We'll find the sand ruby, I promise."

Rydia stood behind Cecil towards the center of the room, and observed the conversation with interest. She looked at the girl on the bed, and worried for her. She was red in the cheeks, pale everywhere else, and looked terribly sick with fever. What was it with misfortune following this Cecil, she wondered; her village, the guards, and now this young woman.

Maybe she'd find the answer if she stayed with him long enough…