Unbound: Slave to the Desert Sands

Ill Tidings

        "KAIA BJORN!" Miss Bucket's shout finally broke her from her trance. uh oh,  if Miss Bucket was using her full name, she was in trouble. Kaia snapped her head up and realized she had gotten carried away reading and was very late for breakfast preparations. She groaned and stood up brushing the hay off her skirt and hurried out of the barn, just pausing to give Night Runner a quick pat on the nose before she was off. She rushed into the kitchen and up the stairs, not stopping to listen to Miss Bucket titter at her. She hurried into the little bed chamber she shared with Miss Bucket and threw her dress on over her night skirts. She nimbly fastened the corset and pulled the strings tight into a quick and efficient knot. She kicked off her favorite boots that she used in the barn and looked at them wistfully before putting on her flat slippers that pinched her toes to walk in. They make you look like a lady rather than a farmhand. Miss Bucket's voice sounded in her head. Kaia rolled her eyes and turned to the small mirror they had propped up on the wall. She sighed at her reflection. Her blue eyes were bright and her pale cheeks flushed from the rush up the stairs. She wrestled with her thick mane of black hair for a moment, finally settling with a simple plait down her back. She tied on her apron and straightened herself for a moment, taking a breath, before setting off down the stairs.

    Miss Bucket clicked her tongue disapprovingly as Kaia descended, but the girl ignored her. Kaia grabbed a thick kettle of tea and some mugs on a tray and set off into the pub, not without letting the older woman see her rolling her eyes first. 

    "Good morning to you Mr. and Mrs. Tibbot," Kaia said cheerfully, placing mugs in front of the older couple. They didn't stay in the Inn, but the couple lived just down the road and often joined them for a hardy breakfast.

    'What's that dear?" Mr. Tibbot looked up just noticing her. Mrs. Tibbot shook her head at him.

    "Two of your best, please, Miss Kaia." The old woman looked kindly at her. Kaia nodded said,

    "Coming right out," As she moved around the room, placing mugs, her eyes lit up as she spotted Grimold sitting in his usual spot. He was looking at a map spread out across the table with keen interest. 

    "Morning Mr. Grimold Sir," Kaia said quickly, wondering if the messenger would startle. As usual the man did not. He look up at her, eyes crinkling.

    "Good morning Kaia," He said. Kaia noted the familiarity in his speech, not unheard of for someone older to speak that way to a younger person, but it was more common to call anyone not related to you by Miss or Mister in Bleakburn. Grimold was not even that much older than Kaia, only ten years or so her senior. She noted too as she leaned over to pour his tea how his eyes danced along the neckline of her blouse. Her cheeks flushed and he smiled, eyes crinkling completely unapologetic. It was not the first time Kaia had noticed him taking a shine on her. He was handsome enough, in a rugged sort of way, and lived a fantastic life full of wonder and travel, yet Kaia had always seen him as someone to be admired, worshiped even for his tale of heroic travel, and it made her blush to even think of him as a suitor. He gestured at the seat across from him and she glanced back at the kitchen door, stealing herself. She shrugged and took a seat.

    "Just have a moment," she said as she met his eyes and quickly looked down to look at the map, "So what is this then?" Grimold smiled, finally looking away from her and down to the map.

    "It's a map of the known world," he said grandly. He gestured to the bottom of the map where the blue ocean met jungle green with islands spattered around. "The wild jungles of Grafallijd," he moved up the map to a green mountainous area. "Our kingdom of Creed, of course, there we are in Bleakburn just below the northern peaks." He continued up to the largest portion of the map, vast sections of yellows of brown, " The Desert Sands Kingdom with the capital Ula'ree just here towards the center." He pointed out a dot labeled with the city's name. Finally he gestured to the final part of the map at the very top where the terrain was a swirl of blues and whites. "And above the icebelts somewhere is the lost kingdom of Izanaire." Kaia swallowed hard, trying to take it all in. She knew about the four kingdoms, of course, but she had rarely seen them drawn out like this and never in so much detail. She looked up to find Grimold looking at her, expecting a response, when she suddenly realized she had forgotten to tell Miss Bucket about the Tibbot's order. She cursed silently ripping herself away from the fascinating map.

    "I'll be back!" She said quickly over her shoulder as she rushed into the kitchen, leaving Grimold chuckling as he leaned back in his chair and sipped his tea. 

    The next couple hours passed quickly, the Rusty nail was busier than most days, Kaia became engrossed in her work, moving from table to table, chatting with regulars and first timers alike about their food and their accommodations. She often thought she could feel Grimold's eyes follow her around the room but ever time she glanced over he was either engrossed in a book. At one point a man came into the Inn and sat down with him, they became engaged in a conversation. Kaia noticed Grimold's expression become darker, worried even, not something she saw on him often. Eventually Grimold handed the man several parcels, including to Kaia's dismay, the rolled up map that they had been examining earlier. The men shook hands and the stranger departed. Grimold stood and started collecting his things. Kaia approached cautiously. 

    "Are you leaving already?" She asked. Grimold turned to her, a strange expression, almost sad even on his face.

    "Unfortunately, I am. I must ride for the capital at once." He said looking at her, "The rider I met with has told me some unsettling news, apparently there has been unrest in the Desert Sands and their raiders have even been spotted near the northern most borders of Creed." Kaia gaped at him. Desert Sand raiders near Creed?! She thought aghast, it was unheard of. The kingdoms had been at peace with each other for a hundred years. 

    "Try not to be alarmed," Grimold said apparently already regretting telling her after seeing her shocked expression. He reached out as though to comfort her but thought better of it and brought his arm back to his side. They both looked around awkwardly, they were in public after all. Grimold packed up his belongings and said his thanks to Miss Bucket, leaving a generous tip as always. Kaia prepared Night Runner for the ride and had him waiting when Grimold stepped out the front door. Grimold smiled at the girl as he mounted the great destrier. "I hope next time I come we can have a chance to talk more," he said quietly, "There's been something I've been meaning to ask." He winked at her and steered the great black horse toward the road, where he galloped off into the late afternoon light.

    Kaia blew a strand of escaped hair out of her face, thoroughly grateful he hadn't had a chance to ask whatever he had been planning. A problem for another day. she thought dryly as she went back into the Inn and started preparing for supper, the men of the town would be getting done with work shortly and would want their mugs of beer full and their meat hot when they got there.  

    The din in the Rusty Nail was loud and raucous as the men and women were in a spectacularly good mood, the town brewer had perfected his newest creation and had given Miss Bucket a good deal to introduce it to the patrons. Must be a strong batch, Kaia noted as she watched the town butcher, Markus Joint, dance atop a table with the agile movement of a much younger man. Kaia watched on bemused as the people enjoyed themselves. She moved from table to table filling mugs, taking away plates and nodding respectfully to those who acknowledged her. Markus even flipped a silver coin her way as she passed, which she caught and then nimbly dodged his hand as he tried to swat at her behind. She grimaced inwardly to herself as she made her way to the bar. These were good people, but the last thing she needed was a drunk Markus Joint to be chasing after her all night. 

    Just then a bloodcurdling scream sounded outside of the Rusty Nail's front door. Everyone froze. A few heartbeats later, the town warning bell started sounding. Kaia had never heard the bell ring in her life. The men all sat for a moment frozen, before rising as one and rushing out the front door. Some of the women followed, including Kaia, who had to see what was going on. Outside was a crowd of confusion everyone looking in every direction. Then someone screamed again and they pointed to the mountains. There were fires lit, more than a dozen of them, evenly spaced across the mountain side for as far as they would see in both directions. Kaia had never seen anything like this. Who would do something like this. And why? Suddenly she could hear the sound of hooves on the cobblestones approaching. The crowd shrunk back but Kaia instantly recognized the stallion.

    "Night Runner!" She ran to him and grabbed his reigns. A cold wave of horror fell over her as she realized he had no rider. Grimold is gone! She stroked the neck of the petrified destrier who seemed beside himself. She paused as she realized her hand was wet. It had been difficult to see in the dim light, the black horse was covered in warm dark red blood.