Almorah struggled as she crossed the dessert, dragging Cladius in a make shift stretcher. The other end of the stretcher dug into the sand, as she pulled with all her might. She had made shoulder straps, running across her chest and underneath her waste, to make things easier on her dislocated arm. She panted and yelled in agony, as Cladius moaned in a sleepy agony. Agular could barely walk, as he dragged their supply back on the ground, slowly creeping forward.

Things were bad; there was no way they were going to make it at this rate. The sun beat down at them, scorching their soar skin, and blinding their eyes. The noon sky was unforgiving, to the three wonderers. Almorah had faced it; they were homeless, and hopeless. She glanced over at a small tree growing off in the distance she hoped to make it there soon, before the frigid night air came. She was hoping to set camp there this very night.

She slowly but surely made it there, the agony of the journey was like that of a hammer crushing your bones. Her dislocated arm made it all the more difficult. It was her good arm as well, she couldn't fight with her sword any more. She had arrived too late, the cool air had already settled in. Cladius shivered as his fever rose. She worried about him, as well as her speechless brother. She unloaded the gear from the bag of supplies as Agular laid in pain against a rock, instantly falling asleep. She quickly laid a blanket over Cladius's cool body as she sat next to the man.

She leaned against the tree as she watched over the three of them, until her eyes slipped. Overwhelming drowsiness took the young woman, as she snoozed against the five foot tall tree. The bark was rugged, and left an awful pain in her back, making her right shoulder blade ache all the more in pain. She turned her head to both sides, left than right, trying to get out a must needed snap. She opened her eyes, as she spotted three men glancing over their gear.

One held Agular's hammer, in his hands, smiling as he twirled, testing the weight. Another looked at Sosire, picking the blade up, and looking it up and down. The last thief rummaged through their possessions and rations. Almorah charged forward slamming her hand into the man's face that held Sosire.

The man dropped the blade, and staggered both in pain and surprise. Almorah quickly retrieved the sword, holding it against the three men.

"We got ourselves a fighter, men!" The man said, tossing Agular's hammer to the side and pulling his knives out.

"Leave now." Almorah said boldly. She was unsure if she could win this fight, with her dominate arm being limp.

She held the sword in a poor position, as she glanced at all three men. One held a hatchet in hand, and the other a short sword. The leader seemed to dual wield daggers. They each wore a grey and orange material covering their faces and skin. Black gloves were worn by the three and hoods as well.

"Looks like a wounded pup!" The one with the short sword smiled.

"Hold your tongue, dog!" Almorah replied.

"Alright, I guess she's going to have to die than, boss." The one with the hatchet announced leaping forward at the woman.

"Wait!" The leader said too late, as Almorah side stepped the poor balance of the reckless man.

The thief fell into the dirt, as she slammed her foot on top of him. She pointed the tip of Sosire at the man's throat, "Leave the items here, and run."

"Alright missy," The leader said, dropping all the stuff on the ground.

"I release your man when you turn around and take twenty steps." Almorah replied, watching both men turn around and start walking.

The boss shook his head, as he walked. The kid he had brought along was causing trouble, lucky for the foolish boy, he was his father. Almorah crouched bellow, as the men continued walking. She slammed Sosire into the ground as she placed her hand on the man's collar, tossing him to his feet, and kicking his rear. The boy stumbled forward as he glanced back in anger.

Sosire faded as if it was the wind, returning to Cladius's sheath once more. Almorah let her body fall to the ground. She was in pain from the movements she had made in the small fight and exhausted as well. She had spent all her energy traveling the last couple of days. She dragged herself on her knees towards Cladius, placing her hand on his head.

His temperature was rising. Almorah placed the water against the moaning man's lips, pouring a small amount into his mouth. The man coughed most the water up, as he stirred.

"Almorah, leave, take Agular with you." Cladius tried, "I'm only dead weight."

"No, I'm going to stay by your side, as you would mine. I'm going to take care of you." Almorah replied, kissing the man on the forehead, "You'll get better you'll see."

Tears flowed down her eyes, as Cladius Aidrail closed his eyes once more. He looked horrible. His lips were purple, skin a pale green, and veins popped from his withering body. He was losing his life, and he didn't have much more time.

"Sis," Agular coughed, "I'm going for help. We can't go much further like this, stay here with Cladius."

Almorah watched her brother with a concerned heart, as he stumbled. He was trying to stand, and she could see it. It seems he was at the end of his ropes as well.

"That's alright, help is coming." She smiled, "Just rest for now."

Agular nodded, believing every word. He let his bulky body rest against the stone he slept next to the night before. Almorah wet a cloth placing it on Cladius's head, hoping it would bring down his temperature. The poor woman spent the day tending to the men, and the night as well.

It was until the following morning when twenty bandits and thieves came, that she was in trouble. They all wore the same clothing, standing in a circle around the three injured Helmish men and woman. One stepped forward pulling down his face mask and hood.

He had a bald head, white skin, and a rugged unshaven face. His daggers were sheath has he approached the woman. He held his hand out as if he saw a wild beast.

"How long have you been out here like this?" the bald man asked, looking at her two companions.

She recognized his voice, the same man from yesterday, she knew she shouldn't have let them walked. She swallowed, and looked at the man with weary eyes.

"Four days."

"That's a little too long, missy. That man is going to die. I can help, if you place some foolish truest in me. I'll admit, I'm untrustworthy, being a thief, liar, and a bandit. The way I see it though, you have two choices, come with me, or die here."

"Assuming I take your offer, what will you steal from me? Will I even have a life, or will I become a slave?"

"Good questions, my fair lady, I wish to simply thank you for not killing my reckless boy. I'll be open with you, our lives our not fancy, we don't simple steal for pleasure." The bald man replied with a bow.

Almorah stood up, and the man moved his eyes accordingly, following the woman's eyes.

"Very well, if you can promise Cladius his life, I will follow you." Almorah replied.

"Oh! So you are most worried about the poisoned man? Well than, alright, let us leave at once." The man smiled, tilting his head at the make shift stretcher.

Two men came over, picking up the unconscious man with ease and lack of care as they started walking. Three men came by, taking Agular, helping the man walk as they continued on.

"May I have the honor?" The man asked, stretching his hand, to escort Almorah.

The woman walked forward, ignoring his polite gesture. The man chuckled.

"Where are we even going?" Almorah asked.

"Home," The man said simply, with a boyish smile.

Almorah didn't like this at all, but she was doomed either way, she might as will take a chance. Cladius was dying, if they could save his life, then they would be free to leave when ever. She knew her master well enough to know that he wouldn't stay in a den of thieves.

A small dome could be seen after about an hour of walking. Other men road on desert birds, like horses. Almorah didn't know the proper name of the creature, only that it was usually eaten for food, not mounted. The man smiled as he turned around and stretched his arms as far wide as could be.

"This is home!" He said, walking backwards, "We'll fix your arm, and your friend's conditions."

Almorah didn't reply she didn't want a thing to do with these people. The woman simply followed them down a small stair case, leading into a giant cylinder pit. There were built in ledges and doors, where people lived. All of them looked hungry and poor. They all stared at Almorah's expensive armor. They were like lions to a sheep; the only thing holding them back was the twenty or so men hovering around the fair lady.

The blue haired woman watched as they usheree Cladius in the opposite direction, she instantly turned.

"Woah, where are you going?" the bald man asked, grabbing her by the wrist.

"I am not leaving him!" Almorah yelled back ripping her hands back.

"You can't do him any good. He has dragon venom, or are you some kind of wizard?" The man joked.

Almorah gave the man a deadly glare as she stomped off in the same direction as the stretcher. The man shook his head. Agular was rushed in the same direction, Almorah taking one of the three men's places.

They opened a poorly made wooden door, held together by two metal pieces inserted in the bottom and top horizontally across the door's structure. Almorah followed the same motions as the men around them, her shoulder aching as she carried her brother. They found themselves going down a spiral stair case, and into a medical room. Cladius was placed on a table as his armor was stripped of his body. They tore through his clothing locating the bit in his arm. A man with makeshift glasses dropped three droplets of some unknown substance into his wound.

"What was that?" Almorah demanded, pulling for her sword.

She realized she had left the broken end at Dragon's Rock, it being useless. She clenched her fist, as her shoulder ached form her movement.

"Calm down girl! I'm saving his life!" The man roared back.

Almorah sat back, her back hitting the wall as they place Agular in a chair. Both waited, as another man came by, examining her brother. Almorah placed her head in her hands, crying. She was emotionally tired, and at her breaking point. She thought she would lose both men.

"Girl, how long as he been poisoned?" The doctor asked in a hurried voice.

"Four days." Almorah replied.

"Impossible, this kills in a day and a half! I need to know how far he is along." The doctor said, continue to treat Cladius.

"I said four days!" She yelled back.

The doctor looked at the woman than back at the man, "Consider yourselves lucky!"

The tears continued streaming down Almorah's eyes, her yes becoming red.

Cladius leaped up, taking a deep breath, clenching his fist, as he looked down at his body.

"You need to rest!" The man replied, "You shouldn't be up, it should be impossible!"

"I need something for my arm, it hurts." Cladius replied back, leaping from the table.

The doctor's eyes were wide open, "This man, is unusual, he defies our science of medical study. Do you possess some sort of magic?"

Cladius glanced through their medicine, grabbing a red looking drink, "This heals broken bones?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Yes, but how did you know that?" the man questioned.

"Basic first aid, given to Helmish knights," Cladius replied, with a smile, taking a swig of the potion.

Almorah was silent, mouth open, astonished, she though he was going to die. The man touched the dragon's bite mark; it was likely to leave a scar because it was a gnarly wound. He grabbed his torn clothes, tearing a small piece from it, and tying it around his arm. He walked towards Almorah, kneeling beside her.

"Are you alright?" He asked her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm fine." She sniffled, "How are you... How can you..."

"Don't worry about it, I don't know either, I just am." Cladius replied, "Always have been. What of Agular?"

"He's being treated as well," Almorah replied, "He seemed to have had a broken rip or so."

Cladius nodded his head walking back into the room where Agular was held. He was sipping the same red fluid he had taken not too long ago. The knight glanced around the place; he didn't recognize the structure art. This wasn't Dechoneus, where were they? He walked over towards the man, gravel and sand used for the flooring.

"How are you?" Cladius said, grabbing the man's arm.

"Feeling a bit better after they gave me that stuff," He replied with a crooked smile.

Cladius gave a smile back, "You should be better by tomorrow, that stuff works fast."

"How's Almorah?" Agular replied, grabbing Cladius's arm.

"Your sister is fine but she's been through a lot." Cladius replied.

Agular nodded, back. His baby sister was most important to him. The only reason he came was to watch after her. He wished he could go back to his simple life, back to his now burned and destroyed farm. He wasn't like his sister, or Cladius, he wasn't a warrior, a solider at heart. He was a man of few words, which would align with his belief of piece.

Cladius patted the man's shoulder as he walked back to Almorah. He was alarmed to see a rugged man, with a bald head, and untamed facial hair, as if he had a broken razer. It wasn't long, as if he shaved it all at once every now and again.

"Ah! Your friend comes! So I hear you are the miracle." The man gave a laughing smile.

"And you are?" Cladius asked, walking up to the man.

He blocked the thief's gaze from Almorah, by stepping in between the two. Cladius was three of four inches taller than him, and wider in the shoulders as well, even shirtless.

"Woah, don't really want to mess with you." The man smiled.

"I'm Cladius, and you are?" Cladius tried again.

"I don't like giving my name out." The man replied, "But your friend seems to need her arm fixed."

Cladius glanced at Almorah, finding her limp like arm. From his experience in the battle field, he knew what broken bones and shattered spines looked like, this was neither, her arm had been dislocated.

"I'm fine!" Almorah replied, "Cladius, this is the man who saved your life."

"Where are we?" Cladius replied tilting his head back at Almorah, keeping his gaze on the man.

"Woah, no truest for a man who gave you free medical treatment," the man said raising his arms up into the sky.

Cladius didn't trust this rogue, he didn't know what this was about, but he didn't like it.

"Where is my sword?" Cladius inquired.

"In a safe place," the man smiled.

Cladius looked down at the table where his sheath was placed. Little did they know, the sword returned to the owner's sheath. He smirked, seeing the sword where it should be.

"So you take us in, to take our possessions?" Cladius replied.

"Something like that." The man replied, pointing at Almorah's armor, "She's luck she's still waring that."

Cladius looked sternly at the man, "May I have the bracelet?"

"This one," the man replied pulling it from his bag, "It's nearly worthless, it's only gold plated."

He tossed it back at Cladius, as the knight caught it in his hands. The crescent of the sun and moon gave Cladius hope; it was a symbol he loved. It represented the unity of the sun and moon, the day every man looked for.

Almorah glared at the man, "You promised!"

"Uh, no I didn't promise anything little girl." The man replied, raising his finger in the air, "You're all to be sold tomorrow evening, once you've all healed up."

The man walked up the stairs, Cladius was about to follow, but Almorah grabbed his pant leg. The man glanced back.

"Forget him." Almorah replied.

Cladius looked back, sighing as he took a seat next to Almorah. They had to wait, until Agular felt better. There was little of an option.

"Almorah," Cladius said in a soft voice, "I bought this for you."

Almorah glared at the bracelet he had just asked for. It was a sweet motion; it was obvious that he wasn't much for timing. The woman chuckled.

"Hope you like it. The eclipsed sun symbolizes the unity of the Sun and Moon." Cladius replied.

"Thank you." She smiled, "That's very sweet of you."

The man didn't say anything just looking at the ceiling. Both of their hands slid together, as they sat there in silence a few moments.

"Consider it a thank you for dragging my body across the desert," the man chuckled.

"That isn't funny!" The woman looked back with wide eyes, "I thought you two were going to die!"

"Well I didn't, and neither did your brother." Cladius replied, "I'll get us out of this one. You have my word."