Hazel’s wrists were raw and bloody after days spent in cuffs. Her world was limited to the small confines of a tent, and a heavy concrete slab connected to a chain. Part of her missed the desert, although she would have preferred the welcoming haven of Eden over the merciless heat that bore down on what she assumed was the Devil’s Pass. The pass was one of the few roads in the Morroak Desert that lead from Eden to Al’Obeiid, the once revered city of the desert Djann.
Germaine Underbridge stepped through the front of her tent, followed by a piercing light and a gust of hot desert wind. Despite his rough treatment of her when she was kidnapped, Hazel found that he was gentle for a man of his size, and remarkably more well-mannered than his sister – he still bore a cold glare, but compared to Petra Underbridge anyone seemed like a ray of sunshine.
Germaine carried a tray of food and some tea, and placed it on the floor beside her. “You should eat,” he said.
“I’m not hungry,” Hazel replied. She was determined to never let them see her eat, though her stomach groaned and yearned for food.
Germaine understood. “I’ll leave it there in case you change your mind.” He began to leave the tent.
Hazel observed her food. Ever since she became Grey Skull’s captive she was surprised by their hospitality. She thought her meals would be old leftovers or rotten meat, but every day Germaine delivered the same portion that was received by the rest of the camp. They departed on the Devil’s Pass with a caravan of two dozen men; each a carefully selected member of Grey Skull, and each bearing Grey Skull’s mark. Some were unruly men with missing teeth and scars all over their bodies. Other, like the chef and the doctor were more civilised, but had been ordered not to speak a word to the prisoner. Only Josiah and Petra ever spoke to Hazel and that was merely to order her around.
On the first day of their journey into the desert Hazel had to walk. Normally she would have been able to perform a task as strenuous as walking a whole day through the heat of the desert, but this time she was afraid that she couldn’t. By mid-afternoon her stomach became cramped and she grew nauseous. Petra would not hear her pleas to stop, and said, “The princess must be tired. Too bad! We stop when I say.” She struck Hazel over the shoulders with her riding crop and then trotted on ahead. Not long after the pain caused Hazel to pass out.
She awoke at night on a cool bed in the doctor’s quarters. The pain had disappeared however remnants of blood still clung to her thighs, and she felt tears well in her eyes. There were voices outside; the doctor was speaking to Germaine. “She should not have walked so far in her condition. Fortunately, no permanent damage was done, but you are lucky it was not worse. You will have to be careful from now on.”
“This will certainly complicate things,” said Germaine. “I’m worried about Petra; she hates the girl enough as it is.”
The doctor paused. “Did you know?” he asked.
“No, I didn’t.”
The next day Hazel was given a horse upon Germaine’s instruction. Now she observed the food she had been given, and said to Germaine, “Why are you doing this? I’m your prisoner aren’t I? Why the extra rations?”
Germaine showed little expression when he spoke. “Doctor’s orders. You may think what you will of us, you can spit on our beliefs and our morals, but Master Josiah will not have you thinking we are without manners. You deserve to see your husband one more time – that’s what I think anyway – so you should cooperate. Oh, and I suggest you watch what you do and say around my sister. I think she’s jealous because you’re prettier than her.”
For another ten days the caravan rode east along the Devil’s Pass. Hazel yearned for any news of Christel or the others, but whenever she spoke to someone they simply turned away. Whenever Petra caught wind of Hazel’s voice she would scowl and say, “Quiet, girl!” Hazel would make faces and poke her tongue out when Petra wasn’t looking.
It was known among desert dwellers on the Devil’s Pass that when the summit of Mount Khallem pierced the horizon the Robarii Oasis was near. Thought it looked like a dried up desert town from afar, the Robarii Oasis was built around a fresh-water spring, and was the greatest source of water and vegetation for miles around. Nowadays it was known as the central trading hub of the Morroak Desert, but long ago it was considered sacred land. There was a superstition that anyone who drank the water without giving thanks to the gods would be poisoned, while those who were grateful would remain hydrated for all the days of their long journey. Hazel had come here a few times on her adventures, though the last time had been with Christel. Her husband prayed over the lake every time, and would say, “The Djann believe in it, and superstition or no, this water keeps us alive, so I am grateful.”
Of course, after the Djann left the Oasis fell into the hands of bandits and the occasional black market trader. Hazel had her doubts if anything here was sacred anymore, and as night fell, the Oasis glistened with a thick deep red.
The night was cold and formidable. Hazel was placed into the care of the doctor, as he insisted on seeing personally to her health – it seemed she had won the hearts of many of the caravan’s members, slipping jokes and whimsical remarks behind the Underbridges backs. Not all of them were bad men; the doctor and the chef, for instance. Would they help me escape, I wonder?
That night Hazel shared the warmth of a campfire with the doctor and two of Petra’s mercenaries. The doctor was preparing a special concoction and exchanging small and quiet conversation. “Are you familiar with the tak-tak root? It was used by Djann healers for centuries and is quite spectacular. Here—” he handed her a wooden bowl filled with a strange dark fluid. “This will ease any sickness you might feel. Have you been receiving your rations?”
Hazel nodded. “Yes. Thank you, by the way. I know you don’t have to look after me.”
“It’s my pleasure! I am a doctor after all.” His jovial tone suddenly faded away and he glared into the darkness.
Petra Underbridge emerged like some ghostly apparition, approaching with her slender walk and devilish smile. Hazel felt a cold chill run down her spine, as if she had stumbled into a nightmare. Petra stood over her and glared down with unfriendly eyes. “Extra rations? Doctor, may I remind you that you have patients other than the princess.”
The doctor tipped his hat and said, “Of course, m’lady.”
Petra then issued a warning to Hazel. “Don’t think you can woo him or anyone else into helping you escape. They are under my control. And don’t think that just because of your… condition, that I won’t hurt you.” She clapped Hazel over the back of the head and then turned away.
Hazel stood up and said, “Why are you like this? What did I do to you?”
Petra did not turn back. She scoffed and disappeared again into the darkness.
The next day Hazel was permitted to go to the lake. The water reminded her of Christel and she suddenly felt so alone, but she would not weep while Petra was watching. A stone pier had been built some time ago for the ferries and other boats. The sun had only begun to rise and the Oasis was quiet save for a group of merchants who were preparing to continue their journey west. Hazel could not drive the thought of Christel from her mind. I hope he’s okay.
Hazel knelt down and listened to the water swish against the pier. She closed her eyes and prayed, the way Christel used to do. She knew he was coming for her, but she was also afraid of what Petra might do if he did. She also knew that she was just part of Grey Skull’s plan. Maybe saving her was the wrong thing to do, just a distraction to give that masked menace Josiah and edge. Hazel prayed that Christel would know the right thing to do.
“You pray?” said a stranger, a man with olive skin and dark eyes, one of the merchants. He sat down beside her. “I come this way all the time, but it has been a long time since I’ve seen anyone pray. You know why you pray, no? A long time ago three men vowed to cross the endless sea of sand and conquer the perils of the desert as a proclamation of love for the gods…”
Hazel finished. “They forged the Devil’s Pass, and when they reached Mount Khallem the gods wept with joy, their tears formed a lake, and the Robarii Oasis was created.”
The merchant smiled. “My name is Ramir. I am surprised. I did not take you as someone who knew the story.”
“I’ve been underestimate before,” Hazel laughed.
“Overestimated too, I think.” Ramir glanced around. “So many guards for one little girl. Are you a princess?”
“Depends who you ask.”
Ramir nodded. He felt her hair with the back of his hand. “Such beautiful hair…”
Petra Underwood appeared again and caught Ramir by the wrist, pulling him to his feet. “Do not touch her, you desert scum!” She was using her powers. Her rage had channelled into her right hand and the flesh on Ramir wrist began to burn.
Hazel stood up and shoved Petra. “Stop it,” she screamed. Ramir broke away and fled.
Petra confronted Hazel. Germaine once explained that as a child his sister had beautiful eyes, but now they were grotesque and hateful. Hazel felt as small and frightful as a mouse under that glare. She failed to defend herself as Petra struck her in the face with the back of her hand. The blow knocked her onto the pier and her head started spinning. When she came to her senses Petra was already on top of her. The evil woman took Haze by the collar and with an unnatural strength struck her again, and again. The first hit cut her eyebrow, the second broke her nose. Battered and bleeding, Hazel was defenceless against the monster who held her down, and was too weak to raised her arms against the next blow. She’s going to kill me!
Petra was quickly yanked from her victim by Germaine, like a savage dog from its prey, blood dripping from her knuckles. “Have you gone mad!” he cried. “What were you thinking! Master Josiah needs her alive!”
Petra’s vicious eyes flicked back over Hazel’s bruised and bleeding face. “She’s still breathing,” she murmured, before storming off.
Germaine knelt down before Hazel with an expression of worry, but Hazel couldn’t forget what he had just said. Master Josiah needs her alive… He placed his hands on his head anxiously and stood up. “Curse the gods! Someone find the damn doctor! Hurry, or god help me you’ll end up like her!”
Hazel wasn’t sure if it was the pain that woke her, or something else, but she came to in the middle of the day, when the sun was fiercest, and yet she was cold and afraid. After her beating the doctor had treated her wounds and given her something for the pain, so strong it knocked her out. “The stress won’t help anybody,” he told Germaine. “It’s best if she sleeps for now.”
Still dizzy from the medicine, Hazel was not sure where she was for a moment, but soon it all came back in a flash. She sat up quickly and winced at a terrible pain in her stomach. Oh no! Please…
“Don’t worry,” said the doctor, from where he sat in the tent. “No harm was done. Your face, on the other hand, is a different matter. The anomaly gift is more of a mutation delivering unnatural strength. Miss Petra really gave you a beating but you will be alright now.”
There were so many questions in her mind, but she was unable to distinguish any of them. It felt like there were a hundred angry bees buzzing around between her ears. “Petra?” was all she said.
“Miss Petra is gone for now. Master Josiah’s caravan broke into three once we left the Robarii Oasis. You are in Mr. Germaine’s care now.”
It was a relief to know that she was at least safer now than she was before. “Can I have a mirror?” The doctor handed her a small circular mirror and she observed her face. Her nose and brow had been patched and tended to but the left side of her face was bruised and swollen. Even now the pain flared up when she touched it. “Christel would kill her if he saw me now… I have to get away.”
“The Underbridge twins are a formidable enemy, not to mention Master Josiah and his men.” The doctor’s response wasn’t what Hazel expected. She hadn’t intended on saying that out loud but the medicine was affecting her. The doctor went on, “I’ve been with Grey Skull a long time so you can believe me when I say they weren’t always like this. I’ve thought about leaving many times but, well, you’ve experienced first-hand what Master Josiah’s pets can do.”
Hazel tried to sit up again, more carefully this time. “I need to leave. People will die if I don’t; my people and yours. Will you help me?”
ns 172.70.127.73da2