Chapter 22: Oasis

Perspective: Seyari

We arrived in the oasis town before the sun even threatened to rise. Ratev, Aretan called the place. I was expecting a hamlet, but the town easily had a thousand residents. I supposed it made sense given that the oasis itself was sizeable and there really weren’t going to be small towns out in the dunes.

That Ratev was a hub became immediately apparent. Our wagons were parked at the edge of town, thankfully inside Ratev’s rather low wall. Dunes piled up next to it in places and I wondered if the wall’s purpose was to keep out monsters like that scorpion or to save the town from being buried under sand.

We waited until dawn arrived and the town started to wake up and move before we left the convoy. Nelys had volunteered to stay with Zarenna while Aretan and I went to fetch the chirurgeon to help. I questioned why the man would go with me rather than with his mercenaries. He seemed offended I’d asked, and our conversation died there.

Ratev’s central plaza bordered the oasis, which looked to me like a modest lake surrounded by thick greenery. Trees and tall flowering bushes provided shade to the many stalls selling food and wares. We weren’t the only travelers in town from the look of the plaza.

Our goal wasn’t amongst the stalls, however. Zarenna was still unconscious from a Titan Scorpion sting and needed healing we couldn’t provide on our own. Aretan led us through the throng and to a well-worn sandstone storefront. Outside the open doors, a sign with a mortar and pestle made the building’s purpose clear regardless of language.

I hoped the chirurgeon spoke enough of a language I knew so we could communicate with each other. Aretan would be able to translate at least, but I would have preferred to do this myself.

The air inside the shop was thick with the smell of incense. The scent of sandalwood would likely have been pleasant if it wasn’t so intense as to fog the air. The place was surprisingly clean and organized inside, and larger than I would have imagined. There was a clear, open path to back rooms I guessed housed patients. To the side, densely stacked shelves sat in neat rows. At the rear, behind a counter, part of an alchemical laboratory was visible.

I followed close behind Aretan. He paused at the counter, and I took advantage of his indecision to ring the bell twice. A grumble in Navvish sounded from inside the lab. I stared at the offending incense tray by the bell for a minute and was about to ring the bell several more times when an old, but well-preserved man walked slowly from the laboratory to the counter.

Navanaean in appearance, the old man sported a long, thin gray beard that was well kept and thick eyebrows that weren’t. Small spectacles hung off his nose and his bald head shone dimly even in the darkness.

“Can I help you?” He said in Navvish, looking past me and straight at Aretan despite the fact I stood in front and had clearly rung the bell.

A small gesture, but one that would never cease to piss me off. For all the Empire’s atrocities, at least they did slightly less of a shit job when it came to treating women than some of the other places I’d been.

I was only mildly annoyed to find the conversation had progressed in its entirety in my absence, devoid of any input from myself. I caught only a small part of what was said.

“Did you tell him I was the binder?” I whispered to Aretan in Turquoiser as the old chirurgeon made his way out from behind the counter.

“I did not want to mention that sort of thing until he had agreed to look at Zarenna,” Aretan replied.

Every day I learned to appreciate Aretan more.

“Smart. Thanks.”

“Of course.” Aretan’s tone was almost apologetic.

The fresh air outside the shop was welcome. The old man at least seemed interested in Zarenna’s condition, asking several questions in Navvish while we walked back to our convoy. He seemed incredulous and surprised. I assumed he wanted to know more of how someone survived a sting from a titan scorpion. The old man probably thought we were mistaken.

We reached the wagon without interruption. The old man was sprightly enough to decline any assistance climbing inside. Nelys was sitting next to the comatose Zarenna. They were playing a solo card game and only barely paying attention to it. I understood the feeling.

“You did not tell me it was your bound demon,” The old chirurgeon approximately said in Navvish, looking toward Aretan.

“Not mine. Hers.” Aretan pointed at me and continued when the old man opened his mouth to protest. “Seyari and her contracted demon Zarenna saved this convoy from a titan scorpion on the road here from Ivlaet.”

I understood most of what was being said, thanks in part to Aretan speaking clearly with simple words. However, I didn’t understand the indignant reply the old man gave. The intent got across well enough, however: He didn’t believe it was a titan scorpion.

The two went back and forth for a long, tense minute before Nelys spoke up.

“You’re the chirurgeon, right? Please help Zarenna get better.”

While their earnest words may not have been understood, Nelys’ tone and expression did much to end the argument. From Aretan’s expression, I guessed the result was in our favor.

Grumbling, the old man looked at me intently. I stared him down. Seemingly satisfied, he glanced toward Zarenna and back to me. I nodded and he moved to look my friend over.

I noticed he was reluctant to touch her and aside from checking her pulse and briefly touching her forehead, he kept his hands off. He felt for her breathing under her nose as well before turning to Aretan and asking slowly in Navvish, “Can you turn it over?”

I was certain I didn’t misunderstand.

“Her,” I replied, scowling. “And why do you ask?”

He turned to Aretan and replied.

Aretan translated it for me. “He wishes to see the site of the sting.”

I didn’t think there would be anything to show, but I nodded my assent and then moved to do it myself before anyone else could. Careful to preserve Zarenna’s modesty with the thin sheet, I turned her to her side. My eyes widened in shock. Though the site of the sting had healed, her entire back was a swollen bruise.

The old chirurgeon hummed thoughtfully and poked her back before I could stop him. He retracted his hand at my glare. Staring intently at Zarenna’s back, his eyes glowed briefly. Uncommon as aptitude for aura sight was, I was surprised to see he had the ability.

“I believe you. This one is strong to still live.” The old man looked over his spectacles at us.

“How could the venom still affect her? She’s a demon and aren’t demons immune?” I asked.

Aretan translated for both of us.

“Titan scorpion venom is magical. That much we know. I have heard tales of demons falling to magical poison or venoms and affected by certain mundane toxins as well.”

“Is there a cure then?”

“No. But, there is a type of twin-tailed scorpion closely related to a titan scorpion. This pattern here, around the sting, is similar and her symptoms are as well. We may be able to use that scorpion’s venom to treat it.”

“What about the magical nature of the venom?”

“That I do not know, but I have several ideas which may work. Titan scorpion venom is not the only magical toxin, you know.”

Nelys interjected, “So you can cure her?”

“Perhaps.”

“How soon can you make the antivenom?” Aretan asked, breaking from his role of a simple translator.

“Within two days. But I will need the venom of a twindeath scorpion first.”

“How can we get that?” I asked.

“I will need a live scorpion. Preferably several.” Aretan went back to translating for the old man. “They prefer dark, cool areas. Individuals are a handsbreadth long, dark tan in coloration and have their distinctive two tails.”

“Aretan.” I looked at the helpful man. “You’ve traveled this route often. Do you know any close places where we might find some?”

He thought for a moment and then nodded. “There is an old temple to Aena about a day west of here. There used to be a town on a small plateau there many years ago, and the temple is all that is left. Aside from occasional pilgrims, no one goes there.”

“How old is the place?” I asked, suddenly curious.

“I do not know.”

“Do you think it could date back to the Lost Era?” I asked excitedly.

Aretan took a moment to understand what I was saying. Recognition dawned bright on his sharp features. “Most certainly not. There are records of its founding far back in the history of Navanaea.”

I looked down in disappointment. “Damn. Could you ask the old man if that place would work?”

Aretan did so and the old man nodded.

“That settles it then.” I turned to Aretan.

“When do we leave?” Nelys asked.

I was about to tell them it was too dangerous, but Aretan beat me to a reply.

“We could leave now. Evening and night are best for traveling if you do not have cover from the sun, but we can manage. Plus, we would arrive early tomorrow and have much daylight to search with.”

Nelys face lit up.

I frowned. “Who will watch Zarenna then?”

“Some of my mercenaries. I guarantee you can trust them,” Aretan replied.

“Fine. Let’s pack and head out. Two days there and back and a day to search right?”

Aretan nodded.

“We pack for a week then, okay Nelys?”

It was Nelys’ turn to nod.

We sent the chirurgeon on his way. Aretan and Nelys thanked him, but I wasn’t going to do so until he’d produced results. Knowledgeable as he seemed to be, I didn’t like him. And if I wanted to be petty, I would.

***

I was sick of sand. Outside the walls of Ratev to the west, the dunes closed in quickly. On top of that the sun was glaringly hot and I hadn’t slept the previous night. Nelys and Aretan fared better, but it was clear we were all pushing ourselves. What we were doing wasn’t smart or safe, but after seeing Zarenna’s back and how her condition hadn’t improved at all, I wasn’t going to waste any time.

Ahead of us, dunes broke up the skyline, but though it wasn’t quite summer yet, the heat haze made it difficult to determine if a dark blotch low against the horizon was the plateau we were heading toward or nothing at all.

“What is Aena the god of, anyway?” I asked Aretan.

I knew very little about Navanaean religion, other than that it was polytheistic. Outside of the Church of Dhias, much of the world worshipped something other than a singular deity. My “education” had offered precious little information regarding other faiths aside from how they were “wrong” and to disregard them or try to convert followers. I’d learned more of the world in my early travels, once I got free, than I had ever learned at my time with the Church of Dhias.

“Aena is the goddess of…hmm,” Aretan paused for a moment, “I think the ‘life-giving cool and damp earth’ is the best way to describe it in Turqiouser.”

“Would ‘soil’ be accurate to say then?”

“Not quite.”

“So, she’s the goddess of really good dirt?” Nelys asked.

“What an irreverent way to put it, but yes.” Aretan’s tone was bright. “Her temples are built in areas important to agriculture or to bless the soil in more desolate regions.”

“Was there farming done out here?” I looked in disbelief over the dunes.

“The sand has moved over centuries. The plateau here used to have enough water and soil to support itself as a trading post. The rock has a good view of the surrounding area too, I suppose.”

“How do you know so much about this place?” Nelys asked excitedly.

“My father and mother work for the Grand Temple in Baetnal. This location is important enough to maintain, or at least it was several years ago.”

“What are the other gods like?” Nelys asked.

“There are quite a lot of them, but I suppose I can tell you about the seven other major deities when we sit down and have time to spare.”

We trudged in silence for a few minutes more, catching our breath.

“I’m surprised there’s no castle or fort on the plateau.” I did my best to resolve the dark smudge on the horizon, and I thought I could see a bit of the outline of our destination.

“There was a fortification once, but that was so long ago it is likely no more than a few tunnels and heaps of stones.”

“The tunnels might work too!” Nelys’ excitement threatened to overcome their fatigue.

Aretan laughed and we resumed walking after a quick break for water. I kept thinking over what he said. Did Aretan really think the temple was the best place, or did he want to come here for some other reason? He seemed to genuinely care for Zarenna, so I wanted to doubt he’d take us here if he didn’t think it’d help.

We walked until I could clearly see the outline of the plateau through the heat haze. Evening came and cleared the skies. From this distance, lumps of what might be buildings were just visible across the plateau’s surface.

The desert here was rockier, and Aretan found us a place to camp that was mostly out of the wind. We didn’t make a fire out of concern for visibility with how dangerous the region was becoming, but the temperature was comfortable enough to where we really didn’t need it. We had brought light tents and bedrolls, but I knew sand would get everywhere and was prepared for a gritty, hard, uncomfortable night.

Without a fire to stare into while we ate dinner, the silence around us quickly became awkward. Nelys broke it by telling more stories I’d heard before. Aretan seemed to enjoy them well enough, but we were all distracted.

Nelys was the first asleep and would take middle watch. I agreed to take the last watch and Aretan the first. My fatigue was clearly catching up to me faster than the others.

“Why do you want to go to the Temple of Aena, Aretan?” I asked, finding a rock to stare at rather than him.

“You figured out I had another reason.”

I hadn’t expected him to be so forward about it.

I tensed up as I continued. “What is that reason?”

“I told you my parents worked for the Temple, right? I’ve always had an interest in the Gods of Navanaea, and I wished to seek guidance at the temple. It is said that more remote regions may lead to a clearer connection to the gods in times of need.” Aretan continued. “I do truly think the Temple is the best place to find these scorpions, regardless.”

I flinched. How easily I’d started to mistrust him. I had been thinking about how I would interrogate him.

“Are you alright?”

I tried to let go of the tension, but it was slow to leave. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry.”

“Hm? Do not be.” Fuck, I could tell he was smiling at me. “I thought my reasons could come across as selfish, particularly if you do not follow the same faith as I. I should have told you without you having to ask.”

“I’m going to bed.”

My thoughts turned back to what kind of person I really was. I needed to sleep and get away for a while. I was tired enough that it should be easy.

“Goodnight.”

I chanced a look at Aretan. His face showed concern. Fuck you. Why do you get to be so nice?