" So I heard from the innkeep you were seekin' entrance into Shurima's great city? "
There was no sign of the sun in the horizon , night draping its midnight blue cloak over the faraway sand dunes as far as the eye could see. The stark absence of heat caused a shiver to run along the curve of Luxanna's spine and her brows to furrow : nights in the desert were colder than she had ever anticipated and , frankly speaking , she had never had the opportunity to get used to them ; a shawl wrapped around her shoulders barely enough protection.
Mismatched eyes glanced up towards the owner of the inquiry : a tall woman with dirty dark hair , a token of many days spent away from town , and a scimitar to her hip. She had been the only one to speak up since the group , composed of her and three other men , had departed from the inn. Luxanna knew not to trust those sympathetic and idle - seeming words.
" We indeed are, " behind the sovereign - in - disguise , Annabelle was as quiet as a corpse. " We are seeking an audience with the emperor himself. Urgent matters. " She obviously kept herself from going into details about said urgent matters , it was useless anyway for the scavengers looked as if their blood had run completely cold at the mention of the emperor alone.
" The emperor , miss? Are you sure? Folks from town call him a monster- "
It was the youngest of the three lads who had spoken abruptly and as suddenly he had been silenced by a single stare from his peers. It stirred the monarch's curiosity but the plethora of questions buzzing into her mind wouldn't be answered by these people it seemed. Lux would make sure to inquire around her once they arrived.
Why were they so reticent to even speak about him?
" Heh , please don't listen to the young one. Y'know how these children be , they be listenin' to all sorts of stories all the time. "
Luxanna's head canted to the side while she adorned her most perfect prepared smile.
" Of course! Shall we get going then? "
The sandswimmers were immense creatures hidden in the sand visible only by their huge carapace - like shells emerging from the ground , told to be harmless to travelers for their diet solely consisted of bugs and other small animals. The path they were used to take was the same every time and therefore scavengers often used to travel faster and easier. By the time the divine Sun Disc began to show over the horizon's line the sun had already awakened and began to cast its burning rays down upon the desert. Her shawl not being necessary anymore , Luxanna pushed it back into her travel bag among other items.
Silence reigned master among the group , only disturbed by the sound of the wind passing them until the order to jump was shouted. Lux's gaze continued to follow the great beast's even as her feet dug into the sand , before whipping her head towards the woman who was obviously the leader.
" Why stop so far from the city? I can barely see the Sun Disc from where we stand. "
Her question was left unanswered. Something was amiss.
" You're nobles , aren't you? Sighted it ever since you entered the inn. "
" Here we are. " Luxanna thought to herself , the threat of the four individuals now looming over them alike menacing shadows all the while her lady - in - waiting almost pressed herself into the sovereign's back.
Mistaking the nobles' lack of response for shock , the leader of the small group of bandits had a malicious smirk hanging at the edge of her lips as she grew closer.
" You're not very smart are you? Don't you realize the situation you're in? "
" Oh , I absolutely do! Don't worry. "
The monarch had worn her best pre - made smile even as she leaned forward into the other woman , right arm outstretched in the direction of her throat ; a blade that seemed like it was made of pure light under the form of a rapier tightly held into her palm. The smile remained even as the end of her weapon lightly grazed the bandit's skin.
" I would advise you not to move , you could get badly cut and burned. "
Time had been frozen in that very moment , the lull before the storm. The ground began to crack and grumble around them in a violent earthquake that almost knocked the group off their feet. A trail of cold sweat rolled against Luxanna's temple.
" It's a Xer'Sai... " She spoke slowly as if speaking its name would make it react , her free hand reaching to hold onto Annabelle's wrist. " Do. not. move. They cannot see but they sense movements. "
It was a torturous wait. There was no doubt that the creature had been alerted by the sandswimmer's passage and had sensed when its passengers had gotten off. Although for a reason Lux ignored , the beast kept circling them which seemed to highly distress the youngest of the bandits.
Enough for him to succumb to the bottomless fear biting at him and attempt to flee away from the submerged monster. It only stirred the beast's dangerous attention further and before he could even distance himself from the group a vision of nightmare leaped from the core of the earth and crashed upon him. Razor sharp teeth dug into his shoulders and spears - like fangs into his middle robbing the young man a heart - wrenching scream.
The sovereign could feel the young noble tense up behind her.
It lasted for a terrible moment filled by a cacophony of cries for help and the inhuman sounds of a jaw clicking. A moment where Luxanna lost all rational thought from the appalling nature of the situation. Her eyes simply followed the bandits' silhouettes rushing towards the creature in a desperate hope to save their mate , she could see that they were shouting but the sounds never reached her brain.
They were running to their deaths. Could she blame them for clinging to a demented idea?
A quiet sob echoed against the woman's shoulder and she remembered that the young noble was clinging to her sleeve , frightened.
" Let's go , Annabelle! Run! "
It wouldn't assure their safety but it would put some distance from this monster and them.