In the dry, hot sand a beetle dug with vigorous energy to create its home as the grains collapsed into the small burrow. Crackling light from the nearby ruins disturbed the beetle sending it scurrying for shelter.

Out of the buzzing light, booted feet materialized followed shortly by his younger companion who stumbled out holding his hand. Exhausted from its task, the Crossing shrank and faded out of existence.

Tezaro ignored their surroundings, cupped Aurora's shoulders and studied her closely. "Are you alright? How do you feel?"

She breathed in normally and felt all of her extremities. "I'm fine." It was silly to ask, she had an idea of where she was, but she couldn't comprehend it. "Where are we?" An empty arch decorated with strange runes stood behind her.

The arid scorching wind blew against them filling their lungs with heat as they took in the ruins. They were on top of a stone scaffold, and Tezaro motioned to her to climb down. "You're in my world, Aurora."

Decaying structures that had once been buildings, sprouted from the desert sands and a barren monstrous fountain dominated the scenery in mocking glory. Sand dunes dotted the landscape further on in hues of brown, white, and soft pink.

"These are the ruins of the Lom'Araz." Before she could ask, Tezaro answered her unspoken question. "It is a cursed land, haunted by restless spirits of the past. It is also a source of powerful magic. We must leave and enter the desert; from there it will be over a day's journey to the nearest city, Morid."

It was then that Aurora noticed that she was completely dry. Holding on to the strap she inspected her belongings inside the pack. Dry too. She smiled and began to follow Tezaro as he moved out of the ruined city in the direction she could only assume was west toward the pink dunes. "Can you explain to me why or just how we are dry?"

"Crossings exist according to their reality or realm. In your world, it was in water. In this world, it is in a desert. You transformed according to the reality of the world you entered." Briskly he helped her down a large boulder and continued on without waiting.

"Can anyone use a Crossing?" She was flooded with curiosity.

Tezaro shook his head. "Crossings required a large amount of magical energy and only remain open for a few days. I've told you this." He looked out past the ruins and handed her a river stone with a carving in it. It was smooth if not dull. "Rune stones, like that one, can power a Crossing for those that are not practitioners of the Craft." He indicated to himself. "Although, they are hard to come by."

"What happens if you don't get to it before it closes? Can it be opened with this?" She returned it to him.

When he remained silent, she repeated the question. "What happens if it closes?"

"Crossings can be dangerous." He shrugged as if that said it all.

She rushed to his side and gazed at him in shock. "You mean, if we hadn't made in time you would have been stuck in my world?"

He repeated himself, "Crossings can be dangerous. It would take very powerful magic to open it and the chances of finding that in your world are slim, if any. If you are interested in Crossings, I know someone you might want to meet. He's a mage. He can answer your questions better than I can." He turned away and marched off into the desert.

As Aurora followed Tezaro she began to feel throughout her a strange sensation, as if millions of tiny sparks of energy had exploded to life inside her body ricocheting from cell to cell. She attributed it to an after effect of the Crossing.

Meanwhile, the sun begun a rapid descent across the sky to the melting horizon that kept out of reach. Through the day's walk each continued to observe the other through hooded glimpses and stolen glances. She remained wary of her guide, unsure of what she had gotten herself into, as Tezaro quietly and fumed at fate.

"How will we find Lily?" Aurora's voice was heavy with concern. She couldn't imagine why anyone would want to hurt Lily. If only she hadn't used her powers. If only Lily hadn't been there waiting for her. If only she hadn't followed her. If only, if only, if only...she could replace the desert sands with them. Frustration grew beneath Aurora's frown.

Tezaro stopped and faced her, "Once we arrive in Morid we can ask around for any signs of them. Though I already have an idea of where they are taking her." He moved to continue walking but Aurora's bandaged hand held his forearm.

"Where do you think she is?"

Facing her again, Tezaro took in a deep breath debating whether or not to tell her the truth. But how could he deny her. He sighed. "I do not know where she is."

Eyes widening in alarm, Aurora stammered, "But...but you said..."

"I know where she will be. Ilsurni Castle, if you can call it that, in the elvin kingdom of Mithoran." He scoffed. "And that is to our advantage, but I have no way of knowing which Crossing Lord Fennaris used or which path he is taking." He began to walk, his form a dark crimson silhouette in the sunset.

"We must hurry if we are going to save your friend. At the moment, we need to make it to that rock formation before nightfall. Finding shelter is our first priority and we cannot linger in the desert at night. It's not safe. There are more than desert animals to fear here."

Aurora blinked to gain clarity and nodded. "Right. Shelter. And then we find Lily." With a set mission in sight and stubborn determination, she began marching alongside Tezaro, her only link to Lily, and each step took her closer to finding her.

The sweeping wind covered their tracks in the sand while the chill of a desert night began to seep through Aurora's thin clothing. Tezaro removed his coat and offered it to her.

When she shook her head negatively, he ignored her and draped it across her shoulders anyway. She could not help but be thankful of Tezaro's warmth trapped in the coat. She was indebted to him in more ways than one.

They were walking almost side by side when Tezaro motioned for her to stop and be silent. He pointed at the sand below the dune they stood upon.

At first, Aurora couldn't see what he pointed out. The space between them and the desert valley was empty. Slowly she began to detect the sand changing. It was there a moment and then it was gone. The sand was moving!

"Sandwyrms: about four of five of them. Although they're blind in the desert sun, they can sense the shifting of the sand above them. Stay here while I get rid of them. Do not move." Accustomed to being obeyed, Tezaro did not wait for a reply.

He reached for his sword at his back and smoothly released it from its scabbard. With his sword drawn, he inched forward down the dune closer to the wyrms and farther from Aurora.

Aurora watched as one of the wyrms detected Tezaro's movement and rose from the sand ready to strike. Another quickly followed to move behind the leader. For the first time, Aurora got a clear view at the sandwyrms. Almost six feet in length and more than two feet in diameter, the wyrms were particularly fast, Aurora marveled at the creatures.

Sleeting effortlessly across the sand, five gaping mouths rushed at Tezaro. He would quickly be surrounded. Right before they reached him, Tezaro launched himself to the side while he slashed his sword through one of the wyrms then rolled onto his feet. The animal screeched in pain then withered and died with its contents oozing from its soft flesh where it had been sliced.

The other wyrms began to approach and attacked by spewing green venom meant to paralyze their prey. Tezaro effectively dodged their first venom strikes, but occasional splatters landed on his arms. He could feel the venom cling to his skin before numbing his muscles.

The wyrms began to circle around him. As one jumped to attack, Tezaro dug his sword into the pudgy flesh. He retrieved his sword smeared with more blood.

Another wyrm behind Tezaro also pounced to attack. In a bite meant to kill, the wyrm twisted in pain from an unseen force blocked it from its victim. With a loud screech full of agony and anger, the wyrm redirected its attack to the new prey.

Aurora acted instinctively to protect Tezaro and created a force field around him. As Tezaro turned he saw the wyrm spring; he raised his arm to shield himself, but the attack never came.

He heard a crackle in the air and saw the wyrm twisting in pain. It was easy to deduce what Aurora had done. "No!" He howled, but it was too late. Knowing the creatures were drawn to magic, Tezaro with one word ignited his sword, drawing the wyrms to him again.

Stumbling up the falling sand, Tezaro reached another wyrm and severed it in half with a fiery strike. In a series of slashes Tezaro cut through the bellies of the sandwyrms, and left them to burn alive. Their wails of agony quickly ended and he led Aurora down the dune but away from the carcasses.

She glanced at his sword before he sheathed it. It was an ordinary sword again: cold and slate.

He placed his hands on her arms. "Are you hurt?" She shook her head wrapped her arms around her waist to keep from trembling. "Your life above mine, remember? That's the second time you have saved me. I must be losing my touch." Tezaro gave her a rakish smile.

He held her close and rocked her side to side. She needed to be reassured; at least that's what he told himself. "We seem to make a good team," he said into her hair then released her brusquely.

She felt safe in his arms but disappointed when he released her. Aurora bit her lip nervously then saw him clench and unclench his fists. "What's wrong?" She hadn't seen any wounds and he had proved to be a skilled fighter once again.

"Numbness venom." He showed her where he had been struck with it. She saw splashes of green on his arms and his clothing. "It's not much, but it will take time to pass." Tezaro produced a cloth from his pocket andwiped his arms to ease the numbness. Turning from her, he drew his sword and began gutting two of the remaining wyrms that had not been charred.

Aurora was certain she would never forget the stench emanating from the wyrm carcasses. Covering her nose she paced a few steps back afraid she was going to gag from the smell. However, she quickly forgot the stench when she saw Tezaro sticking his hands in its entrails.

"What are you doing?" She asked dumbstruck. Tezaro yanked at something, replaced his sword for a small dagger, sliced and withdrew his hands from the wyrm. He proudly displayed his finding to her.

"This is a water sac. It is how wyrms survive in the desert." Tezaro knotted the open endings before he moved to the other carcass and did the same. After he had secured them, he used one of them to remove the venom from his arms and cleaned the blood of the sacs.

"We're going to need water to drink, being so that neither of us thought to bring any. Unless you have a water sac in your bag?" Tezaro saw her face change from mortification to resignation. "No? I thought so. Let's go before darkness is upon us. We are almost there."

He hung the sacs over his shoulder and began a brisk walk to the rock formation. As they approached, they saw an opening along the surface of the formation several feet from the ground. With a bit of climbing they reached it. It was a small space but good enough for rest and shelter.

They sat on the floor and Tezaro undid the knotted sac and drank the water. "See?" He held the sac out to her. Gingerly she reached for it and poured the water to her lips. To her amazement the water was fresh and soothed her parched throat.

She removed Tezaro's coat and her pack as he removed his sword. Just as darkness entered the cave a thought penetrated Aurora's mind. They were alone. At night. Her heart began pounding uncontrollably. Suddenly, her throat was as dry as the desert around them.

Out of the darkness, flames leapt from the ground and caused Aurora to creep back. After her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw flames radiating from Tezaro's sword as the blade pierced the ground.

Tezaro looked at her, "I thought we could use a bit of light." The light danced across his face, although it didn't reach his eyes.

Regaining her voice she looked at him and asked, "How does it do that?" She pointed at the flaming sword between them.

His fingers caressed the hilt as he murmured an unintelligible word. "It's a magical sword." He sat across from her. "Its been in my family for generations. And one day it will belong to my son." Tezaro's eyes bore into her.

"You have a son!" She blurted it out before she realized what she'd said. She hadn't even thought he was married.

He shook his head in mirth. "No. I meant when I have a son, it will be his. See this?" He removed a medallion dangling from a thin leather strap around his neck that had been concealed beneath his shirt. "It is my family's crest." He moved next to her as she took the medallion.

Aurora held the medallion in her palm. It was a rounded, slender rectangle, golden and silver in coloring. Symbols that she could not read were outlined in gold against the silver background in relief, and above the symbols was a tree burning. She'd seen it before.

Then she looked up at the sword and understood. It was Tezaro's sword engulfed in flames, forming the outline of a tree with the sword as the trunk.

"Tell me about your family," she asked softly. Tezaro stared into the flames, his face stricken and silent. "I'm sorry; did I say something to upset you?"

"It's alright." It was a while before he spoke again, though Aurora had thought he wouldn't continue. "My father is a great man, a knight by profession." He omitted his own renounced titles.

"So are you a knight like your father?" That explained his great skill.

"No." His answer was quick, and his face stern. "Not anymore." That was the end of that discussion. She returned the crest to him. He reverently tucked it under his shirt and heaved a sigh. "Tell me about your family."

Aurora drew her knees under her chin, hugging her legs. "I have no family. I never knew my father, my mother died years ago and I have no siblings. All I care about is Lily. She is a sister to me." Her voice was somber. They sat in awkward silence as the night stretched on.

Tezaro rose, reached for his overcoat and placed it around her shoulders like he had done before. "Go to sleep. I'll wake you when it's time to go." With that he headed outside the shelter into the night.

She used her pack as a pillow and lied down, but sleep was long in coming and still he did not walk in. Something poked her hip. It was the crystal leaf that Tezaro had given her.

She took it out from her pocket and as she unwrapped it, she heard its familiar humming. It began to glow and spread out from its shriveled form into a leaf. Then it vibrated violently.

Aurora righted herself and leaned on her forearm to study it closely. Suddenly the crystal flew from her palm and struck her chest, and melted into her. A pale lilac light radiated from her as she passed out.

*~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~*

A/N: Apologies for the long chapter, but I really didn't know where to cut it so that the second half wouldn't be ridiculously short.