The endless sea of sand was home to Agnimitra. She didn't have the customary white tents to blot out the high noon sun. Rather, the black fabric that she would seek shelter in later was for the cold nights, when the heat of the day was chased away. For now, she lounged on the burning sands like one would a beach and idly picked at the meat of a snake that'd been caught the night before. She wasn't all too hungry, but it seemed rude not to at least eat some of it when it'd been brought by her napping companions. They might've been able to tolerate the heat more so than most, but even the banda couldn't be bothered to move around during high noon.
It was just too hot.
Desert hot was one thing, and one she was entirely familiar with, but the sudden shimmering heat wave that rolled down one near by dune was unnatural. She sat up, molten gaze narrowing, before she actually scrambled to her feet as the shimmering air turned to actual,
too hot for her fire.
The banda rolled awake, hissing their displeasure and backing away. Even Agnimitra had to retreat a step from the heat as stark red horses pulling a glittering golden chariot stepped out of that fire and into her world. The horses were
huge, of a breed and appearance she'd never seen before. Radiating a warmth that was uncomfortable even to her. Manes, tails, and hooves rolled with blue flame as the pawed at the now blistering sand.
The chariot opened and a maroon skinned man decorated in extravagant wealth stepped lightly out. He was easily taller than Agnimitra, with long ashen grey hair and eyes as fiery as her own. There was something both familiar and terrifying about him, causing her to take even more steps back.
Her banda further retreated, heads lowered and frills fanned. Irritated but unwilling to challenge the ifrit in their mist. Not even for their bonded.
"Dearest," he spoke, voice like lava down her back. Hot and molten and enticing all the same. "I want to make a deal with you."
Her thoughts were scattered and scorched. Her skin felt like it might very well
burn, which was the oddest sensation for her. Something Agnimitra wasn't sure she should fear, or crave. Before she knew it, though, she heard herself say, "What do you want?" There was an almost desperate eagerness. Another chance to see him? A chance to deal with him? Whatever it'd take...
"I want you to go to Essyrni, to a temple there and seek out a woman. She's need of a guide." One of his large hands lifted, palm up, to summon a fiery replica of the woman Agnimitra should look for. It lasted but a moment, the flicker of a candle flame in the wind, but the image was burned into Agnimitra's mind. "Go to the temple of Hakeshna to find her."
Agnimitra shivered but nodded. "In exchange...?"
He laughed. The rumble of a volcano threatening to loose its top. The sand jumped around his feet. "In exchange, you get to ask me three questions regarding your father."
Seeing as how she'd never even seen another ifrit before now, let alone one who might know anything about her... "The terms?" She couldn't get distracted.
His molten eyes glowed, amused. "Guide as you do, until the end of the supposed journey. Until the woman you meet says she is satisfied with your job. Then return here, and we will speak again."
Here. For almost anyone else, the seemingly random spot in the desert might be hard to find again, but the half-ifrit would. She set her jaw, considered for only a moment, but knew she'd already accepted before she nodded.
"Best hurry then. It'd be a shame if she left before you could arrive."
OOC
Sorry for the rambling.
