Chapter 7

One week left before arriving in Egypt, the crew’s morale had taken a strong blow. Despite their weekend’s rest, a wave of lethargy flowed through them, and this time it wasn’t just from their hangover. There was a strange silence on the ship’s deck, the crashing waves felt deafening, clashing only with the awkward wooden creak as they walked about. Sunder approached Yeng, who stood manning Artemis, expressionless.

“I guess you’re not the only one taking it hard. Never thought I would miss someone screaming at the top of their lungs every morning.” Sunder sighed as he leaned on a wooden balcony next to the ship’s wheel, looking back at Yeng. “You know she’s gonna be fine, right?”

“What if the old woman has her killed?” her voice cracked as she spoke without pause, the fear slowly flooding down her face. “She wasn’t part of the mission and knows way too much, it’s what your mother would do.”

“Whoa! Calm down, you’re exaggerating.”

“We have to go back!” just as she was about to spin the wheel around, Sunder grabbed it with both hands. She looked him in the eyes, her stance screamed anger, but the stream of tears told another story.

“Look at me. Calm. Down. That woman right now is focused on figuring out why I’m leaving my mother in the dark for the rest of the journey, and who she might send her the news without getting herself killed. No one is going to hurt Kiya.”

Yeng’s face twitched as she tried to stop herself from crying. “Fuck!” she punched the wheel before turning around to look at the path they had made, leaving Sunder to hurriedly run and take control of the ship. A minute passed before she calmed herself down, going back next to Sunder, “I really like her.”

“Hadn’t noticed.” he said, receiving a kick to the legs shortly after.

“Whatever is in that library better be able to fly me back to her.”

“If we somehow can do that, it’s the first thing I’m doing.”

“You better…”

The wind itself seemed to have heard their wishes of haste, as their week of sea travels turned into four days, and in the morning, they were met with the last new port they would see, half in water, the other half in sand. Sunder stood at the bow of the ship, holding his father’s sword as if to show it his progress.

“We’re nearly there.” he whispered, clenching the sword’s scabbard.

As they neared the port, he could see a small group of people was waiting for them, all of them donning a small symbol on their white robes that resembled a twisted version of his mother’s crest. While the rest of the crew secured Artemis to land, Sunder and Yeng went down to greet the men.

“Lord Sunder.” bowed a man with a large and unkempt beard that grew gray at its edge, presenting him a dagger, its scabbard bearing a true rendition of Rhea’s symbol.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.” bowing back, Sunder paused briefly, allowing the man to present himself.

“Call me Ayaz,” he said as he straightened his posture.

“I assume everything is ready?” he asked as he took the dagger and attached it to his belt.

“If it was not, then my blood would already be on that blade.”

“Then let us make haste. After we finish taking everything out of the ship, we will follow you.”

“No need, my men will take care of that, you do not need to waste precious energy in menial labor” with a snap of his fingers, the men behind him began filling up the ship, helping to unload it.

“Thank you. Yeng, please inform everyone to follow us.”

As Sunder and Ayaz began their walk up to a nearby stable, he felt the urge to look back. While part of his crew was already on their way to them, they all stopped as every single one of their caged pigeons flew off. Like a small white cloud, they emerged from Artemis, darting as fast as they could back home.

“Your members may be few, but still, Mistress Rhea advised us not to have one for everyone.” At those stables were dozens of camels, along with two horses. Despite the size of the stable itself, the animals ended up being cramped, having barely enough to fit on foot and unable to lie down. “The four camels you will be provided are already outside with all of your supplies, along with your new clothes.”

As the sun fell from its zenith in the sky, the crew had readied themselves in their new outfits, “Can you not give us any more camels?” asked Sunder, wearing a thin robe with a hood, similar to the rest of his crew, but tinted in a much whiter tone, compared to everyone else’s light blue robes.

“Bringing more camels implies bringing more supplies for them, slowing you down even more. We were kind enough to gift you a fourth one for emergencies in case someone is unable to continue by foot. Unless that occurs, we advise you to not have him carry any sort of load.”

“That seems very wasteful,” said Yeng “there’s no reason to at least take turns using him.”

“If you do not get used to walking on that skin-melting sand you will not survive your final week of travels. It is sinful enough we’re letting you bring alcohol, do not stretch your desires.”

“Watch your tongue,” she retorted, showing the two sheathed daggers on her waist “talking with that tone is deadlier than any sin out there.”

“I have not only spoken to Rhea personally, but I was once friends with her mentor. After passing through those two, you learn to speak without fear, especially from the likes of you.”

“I’m sorry for her behavior” interrupted Sunder, “she hasn’t seen her g-her friend in a long time.”

“I will mind my tongue on what you just said, I think your crew is ready to depart.”

“What happened to speak without fear?” said Yeng in a mocking tone, licking her teeth while putting her hands closer to her dagger.

“Speech free of fear is a world apart from speech free of thought. It will serve you well to learn that, if your mind is still not full of those ungodly thoughts.”

As Yeng angrily clasped both hands onto her daggers, Sunder chimed in once more, pushing her outside, “All right, go tell the others we’re leaving right now.” with a growl, Yeng obeyed, swearing under her breath as she did so. Turning to Ayaz, Sunder bowed once more with respect, “Thank you for your assistance,” as he raised his head, he planted his sword on the ground. The very start of his blade began moving away from its scabbard, as he made Ayaz feel the frightening presence of an angry wolf protecting its pack “but if you ever speak to my first mate like that again, you will wish my mother was the one torturing you.” as he sheathed his sword and joined the rest of his crew outside, he could hear the man fall to his knees, praying through mumbled breaths.

Five days passed since they last saw civilization, everyone focused on either not passing out from the heat during the day, or not freezing to death during the night. Unable to make campfires so as to not draw attention, the latter ended up being much more punishing.

“We’re nearly halfway there,” said Yeng, walking slouched next to one of the camels in an attempt to hide from the morning sun. “Right?” she looked at Sunder, leading the way. His face was a dark red, with flakes of dried skin peeling off his face.

“The map says we’re passing the halfway point somewhere today, but you can barely tell anything apart here. Half of the time I’m not even sure we’re going in a straight line.” he glanced back at Yeng, looking just over her shoulder at a distant group of people following them, before readying his throat. “As long as we keep going north, we should get there, but I don’t know if we can even make it with our supplies!” he kept looking forward, speaking louder and louder with each word. “Gold is worth nothing if we cannot eat!”

Yeng sighed as she slowly straightened herself and walked up to Sunder, still trying to shield herself from the sun using his body. “Don’t you think you’re pushing the theatrics a little bit too much? We’ve both recounted them enough times, they’re only ten, we shouldn’t give them any more time to read us.”

“Even if they don’t understand me, as long as we look lost and speak loudly, they shouldn’t do anything to us. If they’re looters they’ll most likely just wait until we’re near a town, they wouldn’t be able to move long distances with all these supplies.”

“And if they’re not looters?”

“If they were also in search of the Elements, they would have tried attacking us a long time ago, don’t you think? With their size, anything but a surprise attack seems foolish. We’re not wasting our time or effort fighting them.”

“That’s something you definitely didn’t learn from your father.”

“I sort of did. No matter how good he’s on the battlefield, he rarely knows when not to pick a fight. Sort of like you.”

Yeng took a look behind her, checking once more for the group that stood behind them, just barely out of view, “You know you’ll have to take someone’s life eventually.”

“I’m just trying to avoid needless bloodshed.”

“Blood will be shed regardless, if not now then the moment we spot the library. To avoid killing because you value human life is one thing, being scared to kill is another thing entirely.”

“I…I know, but-”

“No excuses. Not taking someone’s life might mean losing your own, or worse, someone else’s. I can’t have you hesitate like that when it’s most important.”

Sunder sighed. “If they get closer… I’ll do it. Just tell them to cover me in case something happens.”

“Do you think you can handle all of them on your own?”

“I managed to go against fifteen more during my training.”

“You aren’t sparring against a couple of soldiers scared to hurt the emperor’s son. I give you ten seconds from the moment they draw their blades, after that, we help out.”

“That’s what I was going to suggest.” as Yeng gave him a tap on the back and prepared to turn back to inform the rest of the crew, Sunder grabbed her arm, “I can’t avoid this, can I?”

“You think too much, in times like these you have to act. We get time to think about what we’ve done after we survive.” Yeng continued walking to the rest of the crew, going one by one to inform them of the plan before returning next to her camel, giving him a pet and a small piece of dried nuts as thanks for the shade.

Sunder was left with his thoughts for a while as they walked. The sand that made its way into his sandals as he dug them into the ground pierced his skin like hot flakes of coal, each sting accompanied by a different thought of how his upcoming battle could turn out. Each move, each slice, every action played in his head as he drifted through the desert, seemingly pushed back by the sand as he focused on the future.

Two days passed and the group that was following them had finally begun picking up their pace. As they got in range of conversation, Sunder and Yeng locked eyes.

“It’s time boys,” said Yeng. “Get ready to see the kid’s first time.”

Everyone cheered softly as they took out a couple of bows from their supplies. “Let’s see if you actually know how to use that thing,” said En-Lai.

“You better not disappoint Captain,” said Lieh, practically drooling as he looked at Sunder’s sword. “I waited too long to see that masterpiece in action.”

He gave a small nod to everyone before heading to face the group. Holding its hilt, his giant weapon created a quivering line in the sand as it rubbed against the ground. The enemy group was quick to lock their eyes on him, yet their pace remained the same. One member, however, began pushing everyone aside, running toward Sunder, their robes a slightly darker tone of blue compared to the others.

He got himself in position, his hand ready to unsheathe the blade, the person fell to their knees, pulling down their hood, revealing long strands of black hair and slightly slanted eyes, similar to Sunder.

“Wait, please.” said the woman, in fluent Chinese. “We don’t want to hurt you.”

Sunder froze, thinking for a moment he might recognize the woman in front of him. “Start explaining,” he said, still clenching his sword. “We have archers ready, any sudden movement and they might get you before me.”

“I am aware. Had you not stopped for me, whoever is left in the scouting camps would have taken us out. I still remember where they stand, even in this ocean of sand. My name is Gao Ying, I once led the Northern camp.”

“Then what are you doing here?” Sunder’s grip on his weapon softened along with his tone of voice, and Yeng immediately began moving toward him, slowed only by Hui who grabbed her arm for a moment.

“We were forced to flee after our mission. As far as I know, we were the first group sent to scout the library - or at least - what was left of it.”

“We were told only one group came before us, and they weren’t even allowed to enter the building.” he said, before thinking to himself. ‘I knew she sent more people!’

“Seventeen groups. Seventeen groups, each with around twenty people, some more.”

That number fell on Sunder like a rock from the sky, increasing the strength he had to put in to wield his sword. “How many died?”

“All who entered. The few that didn’t were executed before leaving the guarded precinct.”

“How are you all still alive then?”

“Half of us stayed outside to keep guard. By the time we left the replacements in the northern camp hadn’t arrived yet. If it wasn’t for that, then we would also have been executed.”

As their talk grew into a more hushed tone, leaving both groups in the dark, Yeng was once again stopped by Hui as she prepared herself to rush down to Sunder. “Someone should be there with him!” she said.

“Someone should, but let’s trust him.” Hui looked calm as he peered over at the woman talking to him, and somehow his expression alone was enough to quiet Yeng’s impulses, if only for a short moment.

“You’re wasting our time,” said Sunder.

“I am trying to save your life! All that's left in that library are the corpses of those sent on this fool’s errand!”

“My mother is no fool!” he screamed, his grip once again tightening around his sword.

“Oh… Oh, dear Gods. I would never believe her to be this cruel…” Gao looked back at the group and gestured to one of the members, “Su, please come.” The smallest girl from the group, slightly younger than Sunder, slowly limped up to Gao, who disrobed her. She had dark skin, darker hair, and despite her age, her body had seen more trauma than most thrice her elders. Having not only lost her right hand, the entire right side of her torso was also covered in giant cuts. Along with that, patterns of a green sickly color climbed the girl’s arm up to her shoulder, originating on her stump. “She was the only person I know of that came out with her life. We cut the arm to stop these marks from spreading, but they only stopped when we got far away enough from the library. I cannot even bear to think what could have happened had these gone to her head.”

Sunder was petrified at the sight of that scar. He had seen dead men rotting on the streets, but this scar, it placed in him a fear he never even knew existed. The green lines that crawled up through the girl’s body, like snakes trying to strangle her, roared at him with the force of the world. He realized it just as he began losing his footing, but it was as if every lifeform in existence were looking down on him, judging him. Trying to use his sword as a crutch, he fell before he could bend it with his weight.

‘Just like the letter said.’

“Shit.” Yeng began running, trying to reach Sunder before the others did anything to him. “Hey, I’m here. On your feet.”

“I’m fine.” Sunder shook his head as Yeng raised him, taking a moment before he could stand on his own, “I’m not finished talking to them.” he closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath “Gao Ying, ex-leader of the northern scouting camp, I thank you for your services and apologize for what you had to go through. With that said, we will continue our journey.” with a strenuous bow, Sunder turned around and immediately began walking back to his group.

“Please, do not throw your life away,” the woman was about to move closer to Sunder, but Yeng’s piercing look stopped after the first step. “Rhea has no idea of what dwells in there!”

“I trust my mother.”

“Will you risk your life out of sheer faith?”

“You must always have faith in your family.” he stopped, looking back at Su with a soft smile, “You can return home. When the White Wolf stands over the Sun of China, all will be right.” He then continued on his way, signaling his group to start moving.

“I’ll die before I see that sword do anything.” huffed Lieh, kicking the sand as he walked.

“What happened to you back there?” asked Yeng, looking back at the group who began retreating in defeat, getting only a slight glance at the girl’s wounds before she covered herself.

“You saw those scars, didn’t you? I’ve looked through so many of my mother’s books, but I’ve never seen any weapon or poison that could do something like that!”

“People can be very creative when it comes to hurting others, more so when it comes to lying.”

“They weren’t lying.”

“Who are you choosing to trust? Your mother, or a group of deserters?”

“Right now I’m trusting what I saw.” Sunder paused for a moment, still feeling a strange pressure all over his head, “Did you not feel it too?”

“Feel what?”

“When we went hunting, my father taught me to see how animals felt. A scared boar can run away at any moment, but at the same time an angry boar could charge at you, if you don’t spot the difference quick enough, you might die.”

“And what does that have to do with the girl? Even if she wanted to attack you, she barely had the strength to disrobe.”

“That thought - of whether to shoot an arrow or to run, eventually turned into an instinct, you can just notice the intent of an animal or a person the moment you look at them. The girl was thinking of nothing, she didn’t even look me in the eye, she was completely harmless, but her scar wanted to kill.”

“No it didn’t, you were just shy because a girl was naked in front of you. Maybe she did want to murder you, but if you got that feeling, it was from her, not the stump.”

“Don’t-don’t joke, I’m serious.” Yeng’s playful smile vanished only slightly as she looked back at the group of deserters. “That scar, I felt a thirst for blood coming from it, like the biggest beast in the world was opening its mouth, ready to eat everything.”

“The sun is making us all crazy. Let’s pick up the pace and see if we can get there before the next sunrise.” She then sped up to a small run, trying to return to her camel.

Soon enough, after passing through two of the small scouting camps, each barely visible through the dunes, the sun vanished, and the sand quickly began cooling off. They kept traveling through the night until the moon stood on top of them.

Not long before the men began complaining about their need to rest, they finally spotted it, just barely above the horizon’s line, standing underneath the moon, the Library of Alexandria. The stone building seemed frozen in time, small marks of wear and tear were all that persisted on the dusty chunks of stone that comprised the abandoned ruin. The crew quietly celebrated as they drudged on to its entrance.

“All right everyone,” said Sunder as the men began unloading their supplies. “We’ll camp out here and enter after sunrise. Enjoy your rest.”

After setting up the camp, the crew celebrated as their last stop was also the first place where they were allowed to make a campfire now that they were within the scouts’ perimeter. Sunder, Yeng, Hui, Lieh, and Ang-Shi were the last sitting around the fireplace as the rest laid down their heads.

“At last,” said Ang-Shi, “I am ecstatic just thinking about what we might find in there, and the thought of returning home.”

“You’re in quite a good mood,” said Hui, on his way to his tent, gently sipping on his wineskin, “you sure must miss life as the Empress’s lapdog.”

“I much prefer that to wasting my life passed out on a tavern’s floor.” the old man’s response fell on deaf ears, as before he was done talking, he could already hear Hui’s snoring.

“I don’t know why you’re acting like we’re done already,” intervened Lieh, slowly grinding a small dagger with a small whetstone, its blade having already lost more than half of its width from over-sharpening, “You heard the ladies, there’s something in there.”

“Oh, do you really believe that group?” blurted out Ang-Shi, receiving angry yells from the tents demanding silence immediately after.

“I do.” said Sunder, moving his fingers around the cold sand around him, keeping his gaze to the ground.

“My Prince, I am sorry, but that group of deserters was simply feeding us lies, probably in the hope of stalling us long enough for another team to steal this from us.”

“They are very seasoned liars then,” intervened Yeng, “going as far as scarring that little girl like that.”

“I thought you said I was crazy for believing in them.” said Sunder, his eyes darting to Yeng.

“I know, but I just love contradicting Ang.”

“I can hear you…” huffed Ang-Shi.

“Unfortunately so can I,” said Yeng, giving him a wink as she got up. “But regardless of who’s right, we’re going inside that thing tomorrow, nothin’ wrong in being careful. Sleep well guys.” as she turned around, she grabbed Sunder’s head and leaned him against her leg, “We all have your back.” she whispered, before heading to her tent, followed by Ang-Shi who grumbled under his breath on the way to his bed

“Hey Sunder,” said Lieh, “can I ask you a favor?”

“No, you can’t try out the sword when we’re back on the ship.”

“No no, I mean, that’s disheartening, but I wanted to ask another thing.” Lieh stashed his dagger away and rubbed his face. Looking at Sunder, his hands were shaking ever so slightly. “I know the others didn’t care for those girls, but the little one… That scar was brutal, just horrible, and she was so numb to everything. I don’t know what’s in there, but please promise me,” he threw his sheathed dagger at Sunder’s feet, “if that happens to me-”

“I am not taking your life.”

“Then have someone do it!” he whispered through forcibly closed teeth, veins popping up on his forehead as he strained his jaw’s muscles. “I joined this team ready to die for your family. As captain the least you can promise is that you’re the one doing it.”

‘Twenty people on each journey.’ Sunder thought to himself, looking at the dying flames of their only light, counting in it each of the souls lost in his name. ‘Seventeen groups… I don’t want any more names looming over me.’

As a small gust of wind passed through them, gently whispering through the raised grains of sand, their fireplace was extinguished. ‘But if it’s just one more, by my hand… Maybe it will be the last.’ Sunder picked up the dagger and set it on his waist. With a nod, Lieh raised his fist, and Sunder responded in kind, joining them for a moment before heading to their tents, sent to sleep by the sorrowful wind that entered the library.