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He shook his head. “Some people say they are the spirits of those lost in the Fiery Storm come to bring down the Thaqiba so we might join them in their unrest.”
“Are there any particular spots where these shadows have been seen?” Ben asked him.
Faris grimly nodded. “The ruins of Matlae.”
The name brought the area around us to a standstill. Anyone within earshot froze and whipped their attention in our direction. Dark, frightened looks passed over their faces and they scurried away.
Faris sighed and shook his head. “Even the mention of the name has everyone scared.”
Ben crossed his arms over his chest and furrowed his brow. “Then we’ll be sure to avoid the area as much as possible, but if memory serves the road to the mouth of the river travels past those ruins.”
Faris nodded. “Indeed, it does. The city itself once sat near those sacred ghasl, but no more. Even many of the ruins have been swallowed by the centuries of sand storms.”
Faris’ oldest son returned and bowed low to all of us. “Honorable customer, the wagon is ready and waiting.”
“Papa!” came a shout down the road, and the youngest siblings hurried toward us with a
Ben smiled and reached into his coin purse where he drew out several large silver coins. He handed them to each of the smaller children and those who had helped with the wagon. Their faces lit up, though some looked doubtfully at their father.
The oldest boy held out his coin to his parent. “Is this not more than we should accept?”
Faris smiled and shook his head. “Never refuse a kind offer, my son, or you will insult our venerable guest.”
“Who has plenty of coins left for their trip,” Ben assured him as he tucked the jingling coin purse away.
I accepted the basket from one of the adorable girls who shyly smiled at me. “Thank you,” I whispered. She could only nod.
“May your trip be as uneventful as the sea is deep,” Faris told us as he walked us over to the wagon sled. He watched us climb aboard the box with a tense smile, and he set one hand on the box and caught our eyes. “And may you not discover the secret of the shadows.”
Ben grinned as he took up the reins. “You know me better than that, Faris.”
Faris stepped back and a dark cloud settled on his brow. “That is why I fear for you, my friend.”
Ben subdued his teasing mood a little and bowed his head. “We’ll mind the shadows and be back before dinner.”
Ben cracked the reins and the strange creature trotted forward. Its wide hooves meant it didn’t sink into the sand as we left the hard-packed surface of the city and ventured out into the desert that surrounded the metropolis. The arid area wasn’t completely devoid of sights, however, as many oases dotted the landscape. There was, of course, a strip of green that ran alongside our right and some half a mile off. I could only guess that the strip represented the fabled and much-needed Masdar River.
The shadows of the trees that crowded about those sandy white shores reminded me of our conversation with Faris. After a few minutes of blissful silence, I had to ask the question that nagged my thoughts. “There’s a lot of trouble around here lately, isn’t there?” I commented to my companion.
Ben stared ahead and nodded. “And all at the same time. I wouldn’t wonder if they aren’t related somehow.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and furrowed my brow. “So if we solved one problem we might solve them all.”
“Unfortunately,” he concurred.
I lifted an eyebrow at him. “Why is that unfortunate? Wouldn’t it make things easier?”
“Anyone capable of creating this much trouble is bound to be a formidable opponent. Were we to discover their identity we may find ourselves in even more trouble.”
My shoulders sagged a little and I hung my head. “Why do you always have to make so much sense. . .”
Ben’s twinkling eyes caught mine. “It’s difficult to fool the keen perception of the Dragon Thief.”
I snorted and looked him over. “You know, I haven’t seen too much thieving from you since we met. Do you do that only on holidays or did I come during a dry spell?”
“The dry spell which is most certainly caused by your presence,” he countered.
My mouth dropped open. “Me? What do I have to do with you not thieving?”
