Chapter 4
Vilrif and Tendra took their first steps out of the den. The sun was bright, the desert was quiet and the air was still. Vilrif stretched while the still sick Tendra took a moment to get used to the temperature, while shielding her eyes from the sun.
Vilrif took a moment to search the area with his eyes; seeing nothing but a pack of docile Sand Drakes far off. He explained, “Our path is clear, but be on your toes and stay right behind me, follow my footprints closely. If you know any protective spells, then be ready to cast them. The desert may seem peaceful enough now, but we could easily be ambushed by Scarabs.”
Tendra nodded and followed Vilrif as he set off towards two small mesas. All was quiet apart from some scavenger birds that were far away but still audible, as they traveled the sand in the blistering heat. Tendra was starting to breath heavily, but Vilrif took no notice.
They soon reached their first destination; a gap between the two mesas where there was cooling shadows from the huge, rock structures.
Vilrif stopped walking and leaned against a wall of rock, while grabbing from his supplies a flask of water, which he threw to Tendra. She wasted no time drinking from the flask, her face was covered in sweat and she was clearly struggling with the heat in her condition.
She finished drinking and wiped the sweat from her face with her hand, then offered the flask back to vilrif. Vilrif said, “hold on to it, your condition is getting worse.” Tendra protested, “I’m fine, let’s just keep moving.”
“Very well.” Vilrif replied. “The Dunes of Despair are not far from here, but from now on we need to be careful. There are patrols of the Enchanted; enemies I don’t wish to fight, for their bodies consist of floating armour and weaponery in vague, human form and do not make for an easy target.” He added.
With that warning in mind, Tendra got to her feet and they resumed their travels towards the Dunes of Despair – it was within sight now. Vilrif soon stopped, noticing 2 patrols of Enchanted near the outpost. “When I say move, we’re going to have to move quickly; to try and avoid those Enchanted.”
Tendra replied, “…okay, I’m ready” and got close by Vilrif’s side. But just then, as she finnished talking, Vilrif moved suddenly. Sweeping and knocking Tendra far back with his left arm, while drawing his sleek and elegant short sword, thrusted it down were Tendra had been stood. A Scarab came bursting out of the sand. The sword charged through the body cleanly and ended the Scarab’s life in an instant.
Vilrif removed the blade from the corpse and took a moment, blade at the ready; waiting for any more ambushes.
There was none. He looked back at Tendra, she was sitting in the sand, coughing up blood.
“You’re not a very good healer, are you?” Vilrif said. Tendra said nothing in reply, still coughing and trying to regain her composure. “I suppose it goes without saying that you should of healed yourself more thoroughly before we left? Well, I suppose if you can heal yourself well enough to reach the Dunes of Despair, then you might live to learn from it.” Vilrif added.
Just then, war cries suddenly rolled across the sand. Vilrif turned to see what was happening; it was a party of 5 that had just left the outpost; Two warriors – one with a terrifying maul and the other with a shinning long sword, two elementalists and a mesmer. They were attacking the patrol nearest to Vilrif and Tendra.
“It looks like some brave fighters have come to our aid” laughing under his breath, amused at the combat. “let’s help our heroic saviours.” He said, cheerfully.
