First Allure

Beneath the howling night sky, grains of sand littered at the end of my boot. One would be mistaken by my conversation, but we have to assert how certain communities don't take kindly to geographical sciences. Especially, if the individual in question jeopardizes their nearest source of refreshment.

I maintained a firm demeanor, but the day was quite heated and my recourse was to wrap a tablecloth for absorption. Now, with essential items and limited baggage, why would I carry that around? As it turns out, it held some value in the region, so probability of an import was high. Working with discretion, I tucked a few of them away as a cover up, with no pun intended. I aimed to drape myself in position of a merchant, but word of doubt spread faster than my chants.

Swift as a needle stuck to my joint, I affirmed my leave to the native huntsmen. Making way towards the neighboring area, where I had a rendezvous with my guide scheduled for a day in advance of the eclipse. I trod lightly through the sparse mantle, but in my quest for shade, I reclined on the ground to wrap my wound in crushed Neem leaves, which I barely noticed due to their incomplete growth. Feeling lightheaded, I dozed off for the remainder of the day and later utilized my items as a barter for a ride on an aged carriage. It seemed to be the remnants of a once-habitable hut, visited periodically by an elderly man to pay homage to bygone times, and his daughter, who fell victim to jackals. With little under his belt, he left for the capital and nowadays manages to get food on the table, transporting critters and the scale-kin. We've settled to travel a little before sunrise, but it was upon me to survey the area as part of the deal. As I spoke with the man, I did break the silence on my visit to Haal Iia, an unsung part of the Samii desert lands. We wished to avoid a repeat of the previous misfortune. It was of good notion to tread with care in areas prone to animal encounters, although the latter has met a significant decline in the public eye.

So, as I began my initial speech... a short while before leaving, I found myself amidst a wave of natural dunes. My leg had mostly recovered, but with the wrapping still in place, my aide opted to assist me. He entrusted the carriage to a reliable local and we utilized one of the horses for our journey, with a sparrow performing better than my own binoculars. The man wrapped a shard of glass to a rope suspended from its leg. Presumably, of what used to belong to a magnifying glass, or at very least something similar.

This action led us to a newly uncovered section weaved amidst the sands. It seemed time swallowed up a traveling troupe, Dusty, tattered fabrics occasionally swayed in the breeze, alongside a few intriguing masks and antique pottery. Asking for attention, our chirping follower found familiar markings, which appeared of the Sámiim royalty. Perhaps the troupe hailed from the capital, but the matter hand was odor emanating from the shriveled, topless woman with the face tattoo. As we pondered to bury her and whether she may have been victim of sexual assault, given the presence of a few sticky gourds, the sky before us ran a reddish streak across itself, and my thoughts soared with it. Had I miscalculated the time zone? How could such a blunder occur so easily? Why was there an eclipse at this very moment? My companion overheard me, but his response proved unhelpful.

"But, what are you saying, sir? There is no sign of an eclipse".