Premonition

Two mercenaries sit at a campfire. They've been hired to guard a caravan passing through the desert. While there are few dangers to be found out here that can be warded off with a hired sword, one should always be safe rather than sorry.

"Is this your first time on this route?"

The older one of the pair seems to be playing the role of a wise mentor, gently talking to his fellow mercenary.

"It is; I am still kind of nervous."

A prudent decision on his part. The younger one clearly is all nerves right now. And if the worst comes to happen, he will need someone he can entrust his back to. Bandits will show no mercy...

"No need to be; this is mostly an easy job. There is no overt danger most of the time. In my 2 years here I've had to fight off attackers twice. Sometimes people do go missing though..."

As soon as the last part leaves his mouth, he realises that should have remained unsaid. The younger one turns pale.

"There are no monsters around! Some just leave without giving a proper heads-up, that's all."

This little white lie of his calms the young boy down again. But he knows it can't be true. Where the hell would these people go to in the middle of the desert? And why would they leave behind their carriages still filled to the brim with goods?

"What kinds of people even are part of this caravan?"

The younger boy asks a question, maybe to sate his curiosity, maybe to distract himself.

"Well, until a short while ago, this route was used to head to Lun'roco. A town that exports high-quality salt. Due to it being located by an oasis, it's also a good resting place before heading further south."

"I've heard about that town; didn't it fall to some elves?"

"It did, somehow. From what I've heard, the guild is already hiring sellswords to retake it. Until it is back in human hands, we mostly just pick up people that fled from there."

"Do we have someone here that was there when it fell?"

"From what I know there's that one kid; I think his name was Isayah Zareth. He fled from the city and asked to join our caravan. He wants to go somewhere north, as long as it's far away from the city."

The boys' eyes light up.

"Wasn't Zareth the name of the owner of the mine?"

"You're correct, he is his child. I had my doubts at first, but sure enough, he has the document to prove it. Can't imagine how hard it must be for him, losing both his father and everything he would have inherited to some filthy elves."

The veteran can clearly see the interest in the eyes of his younger companion.

"I think he resides in that opulent carriage somewhere over there. It does look a little rough right now; he had to leave in a hurry after all. No clue what he's got in there though, maybe even the last bit of his family's fortune."

The young lad is indeed curious, the greed sparkling in his eyes. He decides that he shall have a look later, when everyone should be asleep.

As soon as his fellow mercenary had fallen asleep and it was his turn to stand watch, he made his way over there.

Finding the carriage based on the description given to him is an easy task; this thing looks like someone shrunk down a noble's summer villa and fixed wheels to it. It truly is one of a kind in this entire caravan.

He gently opens the door, sneaking inside.

He sees barrels, sacks and a bed. In said bed lay an elven woman with dark hair and skin.

Just by laying eyes on this woman, that poor boy had sealed his fate and would soon join those missing. For right behind him lurks the golden-eyed monster stalking this caravan. And it will not let anyone live that comes to learn of its secret...