Dark Seduction RPG

[piosenniel]

There had been no time to talk when the traders returned from The Painted Sands camp. The evening meal had to be seen to, and two of Qamar’s children were feeling ill. Too much monkey-fruit for their stomachs to handle. And then, of course, there was the presence of Husam, who now seemed to hover relentlessly close to Qirfah, affording her no time to speak in depth to her sister.

The night passed, and day dawned with a dull glow in the east. Husam and Nasr had swallowed a hasty breakfast then gone hunting near the watering hole. The two sisters sat near each other by the small cooking fire, their heads close together talking softly. They did not hear the approach of their mother as she padded up behind them.

Startled, they turned to see her worried face, as she crouched down and touched them each on the shoulder. ‘Keep your children near, daughters. I have had disturbing news from a rider from the Painted Sands.’ Chani, Ishak’s older daughter, had gone missing, and could not be found. Men from the Painted Sands had been out looking for her without success. It had also been discovered that fifteen of the youth from the tribe had stolen away in the night.

‘Pah!’ Qamar spit into the fire. ‘It’s that Jasara girl, isn’t it. Her and her raggedy bunch of ghost children.’ She looked out beyond the northern perimeter of Baobab camp. ‘We were too kind to them. We should have been more like the Painted Sands and left their bodies to the jackals.’

Jamílah opened her mouth to retort, but then thought better of it. Were she to be true to her feelings at this point, she too would say the very same. Instead she pressed her cheek to Qamar’s and bade her and Quirfah help her. There had been a quick meeting of the Elders after the messenger had come, and a decision had been made.

‘Take the north section of tents, Qirfah. Qamar, you take the east. Duha and I will take the south and west. Tell all the women to bring their children in close. And to pack up their tents. We are moving today.’

‘Moving!’ cried Qirfah, frowning at the news. ‘But we have only been here a short time.’ ‘Where, Mother?’ asked Qamar, tucking her skirt band in securely as she stood.

‘Faruq has sent runners to the Painted Sands Tribe. He and Ishak had discussed this as a possibility yesterday.’ Jamílah shivered and pulled her shawl closer about her. We will move our tribes into the same camp. It will be easier to guard against trouble if we are all together.’ She lifted her eyes to where the morning’s clouds threw slow moving shadows over the grasses. Her hand moved to the knife in the sheath at her waist.

‘Once there, we will join in the hunt . . .’