The pale morning mists folded on the docks and a breeze cold from the shiverpeaks flowed through the town in the dimness. Dale shivered as she stepped outside of the guild hall with Serul at her side. She looked up at the pennon above her with its deep violet field and golden stars. The façade of the guild itself was plain and blended with a candle maker's shop on one side and a silversmith's on the other. Not exactly the legendary fortress of many such houses. Dale wondered how they settled conflicts with other guilds. Risal followed her outside and tousled her hair.

“Come on, I’ll take you down to the ships.”

“I’m getting on the Black Lion, right?”

“Yes.”

“They are ok with the wolf?”

“I imagine they have seen a few rangers.” Risal clasped his hands behind his back. They walked together in silence for a few minutes, past shouting fish mongers and a few early traders. Nobody even remarked them as they walked; people like them were common in the city and many of them were far more flamboyant than Risal’s current brown jacket with red piping. They paused at a long pier where a great ship was docked, its figure head a chipped and faded lion that may have been black at some point. A last few porters were moving goods into its hull.

“Terel Vageen.” I have a gift for you.

She gave him a questioning look and then realized Risal had given her a new name whether she liked it or not. Risal was holding a small bundle in his arms that he passed to her. She unrolled the cloak and gave him a somewhat startled expression.

“I can’t! What if they find out?”

“Shhh. Take it Terel. With it at least you can claim a home and perhaps help from our friends. We are well known and well liked in all of Tyria and a good part of Cantha. I’ve entered your name on the rolls. If you somehow become another person…there will be no record and we will simply deny all knowledge. Welcome to Twelve Stars, make us proud and fight with honor.”

She pinned the cloak over her shoulders and was thankful for its hood; she still had her doubt as to no one recognizing her just because of a change of hair and armor. She ran a finger over the gleaming enamel of the cloak pin; it was deep blue with tiny gold flecks like the reflection of a summer night sky on water. “The pin is beautiful.”

“Hmm yes. That is my gift to you. Please be careful, I cannot help but feel a bit responsible.” Risal had an awkward expression. “Anyhow go now…they’ll not wait for the tide.”

She turned and walked the length of the peir alone. A sailor let her pass after she showed a written letter from Risal. A few shouts went between the sailors and she was guided to the stern of the ship and down below to a tiny cabin. There were two other people in it. She saw their look of alarm and then resignation as Serul followed her inside.

“Take the bottom bunk. Do you snore?” The speaker was a slightly built and snub nosed woman with long chestnut hair. Dale had to suppress a laugh; it was the same prissy woman who had cussed at her odor in the market. She tossed her bag on the narrow bed and sat down.

“I’m Terel Vageen.”

“Daneska Phydris.”

“Arn.”

“He’s Arn Merriweather...he thinks it doesn’t sound that tough. He’s a genuine shock warrior…” Daneska said sotto voce. Arne snorted from the top bunk. “Anyhow don’t call him Merri and he won’t stuff your bow down your throat.”

Dale nodded to the man. “Hello.”

“Hello…does your dog need to be in here with you?”

“Arn, don’t start.”

“Start what? It’s nearly covering the entire floor. How am I supposed to get out and pee with that on the floor in the middle of the night?” Arn pointed out. “Not to mention if it gets rough out there we will want to get out of this room…I am sure it will object to being vomited on.”

“It’s a wolf and my companion. I am sure he can curl in a corner. He’s just showing off how big he is.” Dale glanced at Serul and the wolf rose and stretched very slowly before slinking into a location that did not block the door. He had a mischievous side that enjoyed intimidation now that he was confident in his master.

“Well with that in our cabin, nothing is going to go missing.” Daneska pulled her legs into her bunk. At that moment the crew above them scrambled along the deck as the ropes were cast off and the sails were set. The ship drifted out into the harbor. Dale rolled on to her mattress and cursed to herself as she realized that she would have to sleep in her armor.

The days passed very slowly on the Black Lion. The captain did not want any of them on the deck, especially not with gusty conditions that required near constant trimming of the sails to make the best speed. For the most part she stayed in the cabin or in the tiny part of the afterdeck that the crew allowed them to stretch out on. The lack of privacy grated on her the most; she sneaked around a lot by night to do necessary things. Fresh air was also in short supply and any sort of physical activity.

Mostly she stayed with Arn and Daneska. Dale would have expected the ship to give them some kind of food or perhaps some blankets, the truth of the matter was that they were merely being given passage. The three of them ended up sharing rations or sneaking into the galley when the cook was sleeping. Daneska stole blankets from a supply locker. Dale became used to them and Arn for his part seemed to enjoy slapping Dale on the back or telling crude jokes when Daneska was not around.

“So come to Augury with us when we land?” Arn said finally. Ever been out there?”

“No…I was just told to come…I haven’t the first idea what it is I am supposed to do…”

“Succeed where the Elonians failed.” Arn’s eyes glittered. “Stick with me and we’ll do it.”

“What exactly is it though?”

“To achieve a nod from the gods…there are places out there where knowledge comes…the forgotten speak when you are honorable. Then there are the ghosts. I have come to speak to Eulenias on this trip.”

“I don’t know that I want the attention of the gods.”

“It is a great honor.”

“If they are gods for humanity, then why didn’t their power in us prevail in Ascalon? There are many songs and chants I know in honor of Melandru, but not one could save a single tree or keep the streams from dust and tar.”

“Then ascend, it will clear your heart and mind.” Arn shrugged. “My mother told me once that we do not need the gods, the gods need us. Believe first in your power and from there will proceed your faith and hope. You must put aside your doubt and grief.”

She was surprised at such words from what appeared to be an ordinary warrior. He was not much to look at; scarred and heavy limbed from his trade. He wore no guild cloak but he seemed to be helping Daneska who wore a crimson cloak with a falcon insignia. Dale found herself speaking more to the warrior. Daneska had little to say that did not concern their mutual dislike for shipboard life. Daneska seemed content to sit at the rail and meditatively watch the ocean pass for long hours, while after two days Dale was ready to climb the rigging. Of course, it was not allowed.

“So how often do you come to the desert?”

“I have come here many times. I'm a guide...this is what I do.”

“I’ll come with you…I need a guide I guess.”

“Good, it will be good to have you along, always a use for a ranger out there.”

They arrived at Amnoon Oasis as a smudge of rosy light lit the eastern horizon. The first mate roused them out of bed and shouted at them to get dressed and get their gear together; Amnoon was a side trip and the crew were anxious to move on to the larger profits to be had at the Battle Isles and Kaineng. Dale wondered how much Risal had paid for passage. They pretty much had to run down the gang plank before the crew snatched it back and cast off.

“Well they are the last ship coming out here…I guess I should be thankful, but they are so rude…and those bunks were like sleeping on a mortuary slab.” Daneska rubbed her sides primly.

“My lady…its still early, we can get a long ways if we move on in the cool of the morning. Perhaps to Augury itself if the scarabs will it.”

“Is Hebek here already?”

“Somewhere. Probably still asleep.” Arn gazed across the town. Town was a loosely applied term; there were no buildings, instead patched and half shredded tents lined a shallow pool of water covered with pink lotuses. A few campfires appeared on the surrounding dunes as people began to awaken. She felt a chill as Arn led them down to the shadows of one tent. She was aware that Arn was buying something from a merchant. It took her a moment to realize that the merchant had no body and was a ghost. She stepped back out into the growing sunlight, hair rising on her nape.

“Heh, don’t fret Terel…they are bound ghosts and cannot harm you. They failed and so must serve for eternity.”

“They are against nature. The dead should be dead.” Dale said sharply. “Its cruel to keep them like this…without life.”

“Hmm yes. I'd prefer it that way as well…but the powers here are not aligned with nature. A great wrong came to Tyria and it does not follow the old law such as you would desire.”

“Terel is going to love it when Hebek shows up.” Daneska said with a slight laugh.

“He’ll adjust, or he can go alone.”

The three of them walked across the dusty settlement. They shuffled up a dune to where visitors to the oasis had made their camp well away from the ghosts around the water. They found a fire where three people were warming flat bread over an iron. Arn crouched at the flames and was greeted with a laugh by the people there when he was finally recognised.

Dale watched as embraces were exchanged. The first person she guessed was Hebek – she was tall and lean, her wispy white hair was a sparse growth over a display of livid scars. Her dark armor shimmered with sharp angles and edges. Another person at the fire was obviously a monk by the roughness of his garb and the third was a retiring figure that she decided was yet another warrior.

“Hebek! Ah, here is Daneska from Red Claw and this is Terel from Twelve Stars. Daneska is my contract for this trip and I met Terel on the ship. Terel and Daneska…this is Hebek, Demen and Kail.”

“Terel is a bit young…and short for a ranger.” Hebek commented. “We got Demen with us already…really we should look for a mage.”

“He’s a good sort, bright…and I’d rather have him then some random fool.”

“He has problems with the undead though.” Daneska broke in. Hebek turned to look at Dale again and smirked.

“Well, don’t die and it won’t get personal.” Hebek jabbed a hand towards Dale. She decided it was to shake hands and not a threat. Stiffly Dale gripped the offered hand and shook it. The necromancer’s lips twitched into a grin. “Its alright, I am used to giving people the creeps, just don’t preach to me about any crap.”

“I won’t.” Dale could feel the thinly cloaked power in Hebek’s grip; it was like embracing a poisonous serpent.

“Alright…Arn, lets get moving before it gets hot.”

The other warrior and the monk had already been clearing the camp during the introductions. Packs were shouldered and they all ambled to the water to fill bottles. Then they were climbing a trail into the dunes. Ahead of them Demen was humming tunelessly, his hammer held in both hands at the ready. Dale saw how Arn had his axe in hand and shield held before him. They were expecting an attack. Taking a cue from them, she readied her bow. The awesome silence of the place despite their footsteps and occasional words was her first impression. She imagined if they stopped they would be swallowed and vanish into the long forgetfulness of the desert.

Dale was trying to decide if she liked the Crystal Desert when suddenly the sand warped and bucked. A half dozen azure figures flailed from the earth itself. Carapaces gleamed in the sun. She heard Arn roar and his axe clove deep into a shelled back. Demen was already whirling his hammer and shouting something incomprehensible. With practiced ease the monk and mage danced backwards from the melee, leaving her between them and what seemed a mass of twisting legs and clacking jaws. Without any urging, Serul charged into battle with the warriors, snarling and snapping.

Dale took careful aim at a faceted eye that glittered like a grotesque jewel in the sun. The beast squealed and dripped black ichor on to the sand. She kicked at the creature as it pressed forward despite the fletching protruding from its head. She moved to the side and made another careful shot, which seemed to stop whatever sorcery it was brewing. She disliked the greenish haze that seemed to hang about the huge insects.

“Tarel! Tarel!”

She glanced over her shoulder and saw Daneska and Hebek toe to toe with one of the creatures. The warriors and Serul were occupied with the other four. She only looked for a second before turning on her current opponent and jamming another arrow into its eye. It fell dead with a convulsing hiss. She hurried back to Daneska; the little mage was already bleeding though the monk was doing his best to keep her healed. There was a sheen of sickly sweat on Daneska’s brow as she worked frantically to keep the scarab off of her with a slim staff. Hebek had retreated to a point well away from battle and appeared to be doing some kind of ritual.

Dale kicked its behind with all the force she could manage. This appeared to catch its attention and it spun around with terrifying speed and lunged towards her. Its mandibles sheared against her armor even as she rammed an arrow into its head from mere inches away. There was a haze of green around the beast and she felt the sting of magic all around her. A lassitude overtook her limbs as venom flowed into her body. Dale forced herself away from the monster and shot rapidly at it, trying to kill it before it could poison or curse her again. Her limbs ached like fire as she danced away from its enraged attacks. At long last she saw a swathe of violet eclipse its body as Daneska regained enough composure to attack with her magic. The scarab fell and almost instantly a minion rose from its shattered body.

She turned to help the warriors kill the two that now remained. She felt her wounds heal thanks to the efforts of he monk, but the poison remained hot in her veins. At last Arn gave a final blow and they stood heaving and panting in the sun. For a long moment there was the sound of Kail chanting a few last healing spells and the popping of carapaces as Hebek pulled minions from the dead. The venom in Dale’s blood finally slowed and stopped. Dale took a long drink from her skin. Unexpectedly she felt Daneska’s hand on her arm.

“Thank you.”

She was surprised to see the adoration in her eyes. Dale shook her head and took her arm from the mesmer. “It was nothing much.”

“So modest.” Hebek quipped as she walked past with a string of eerie figures following her. “Don’t get me liking you, ranger…”

Dale checked Serul for wounds before they moved on, but the canny old wolf appeared unscathed. The warriors moved warily ahead of them and the day ground on as the heat increased and the sands themselves seemed to hum with heat. They made it to a small cut in the landscape where canyon walls at least gave them shade. They rested while one person watched. Hebek had produced a knife and a block of wood and carved away at it for awhile. Dale spent a few hours watching the chips fall before being disgusted when the wood started turning into a quite realistic skull complete with worms crawling on the surface.

When the sun began to sink they started their journey again. They dodged the numerous swarms of giant insects that lived beneath the sands when they could, but for most of the late afternoon they fought and ran repeatedly. At one point they used a magical portal to cross a ravine. It seemed now there were fewer of the insects, but she did see what appeared to be a gigantic lizard in the dusty light as they continued moving as quickly as they could. She remembered hydras from Ascalon…big but stupid. These looked even larger and she dreaded meeting one even if it were just as dumb. Such sights seemed to give all of them speed and endurance.

“Yeah, there’s minotaurs, rockshots and they say there is a great queen of the scarabs out here somewhere.” Arn said as they huddled in a rocky alcove waiting for a pair of hydras to walk past. When the roars of the beasts had died into the distance they sprang from cover and ran along a narrow path, Arn in the lead, all of them running flat out as the sun began its own speedy journey towards the horizon. They finally came to what looked like the walls of a ruined town, but as they approached she could smell smoke and see watch fires on the crumpled ramparts.

“Augury Rock.” Arn announced as they climbed a last dune.

They walked through an unguarded gap in the walls to a dusty courtyard. All around them she could see the sand blasted ruins of a people long gone. In the center of the town was a plinth and upon it stood a somber ghost. It faced towards the setting sun, its eerily glowing form outlined against the bulk of a nearby mesa.

Arn led them to the ruined shell of a building overlooking the courtyard. There was an old fire pit and the crumbled walls provided some protection from the wind. Demen set immediately to making a fire; already a chill was settling over the formally infernal landscape. A harsh wind painted the sunset blood red with flying dust and darkness fell as the wind began to screech. Dale huddled near the fire and listened to the restless voices of the desert on the wind.