[Tags to
@Moonie ]
Passage through the Moraki Desert desert always conjured up a high price. Honest work was hard enough to come by as it was. For now, at least, Atalier had been able to take his place among the guard for the Hakir family merchant caravans wandering from Essyrn to remote settlements deep within the dunes.
The day had just dawned and the trail of carts, Kaadir, and others left a visible silhouette against the horizon. Atalier's brow was covered with various beads of sweat, and he took a swig out of the water skin that was slung over his shoulder. His dark robes were light, and he was kept in the shade of the carriage he was riding on. He was quiet, and watched the wheels turn beneath him.
"You gonna share that, aren't ya?" said Tellemac, an ebony fleshed mercenary that was one of the eclectic group that were hired by Hakir to guard the caravan on it's route. Scars riddled the man's chest, shoulders, and neck. Gladiator marks as he called them.
Atalier sniffed and tossed him the water skin, which he caught with a plop and took a hearty drink. "I'll go check on the others. And take over once I get back, okay?" Tellemac nodded and tossed the water skin back to the mage. Although he had a blade at his side, Atalier really had no intention of using it. Not unless he really had to. The rout was well trodden before and the Hakir family was well-guarded. And it didn't hurt to hire a few expendable hands as well.
Triarch, their destination would be several long and hot days away. Nestled in dusty basin, and just northwest of Essyrn, it was a prime spot for mining. Nothing more than copper, but a commodity nevertheless. Water was present here from underground wells, and springs that were hidden deep within the canyon and spreading outward in narrow rivulets through red stone.
Atalier had never been there before, but he was looking forward to new surroundings. Anywhere was better than Essyrn. Out here there were few who knew him by name or face or reputation. He was a ghost like any other, a lost soul without a true identity. And perhaps there would be more information here on a trade route than there would be within the city walls.
For now, he wanted only to rest his mind and so he crawled back to the rear of the wagon and, passed across the gap that separated the two, held together by c-grip connector (like train cars). He crawled over the wooden slat that shielded those riding in the back. There were a few that had managed to pay for passage along this route, and they had to do little more than enjoy the ride, as the dual-wagons were pulled by the kaadir up ahead.
Atalier looked at them all, although none of them made eye contact with him. Good. Sliding down into the shade again, he looked to the woman across from him. Pear-shaped and crazy-haired, he stared at her for a time. She was pretty grimy, like she hadn't bothered bathing for a few days. Then again, sometimes that was a hard enough feat to keep up with. Atalier scooted over to her, plopping at her side and pulled the water skin from his neck.
"Thirsty? You can have some if you want?" he said, handing it over to her.