Chapter Twenty-Six—Preparations for the Uratai Steppe

After bathing and eating, Shiro, Ali and Debaku went to the local adventurer’s guild shops to see what they could buy.

Now they were all outfitted with cold weather cloaks rimmed with fur on their cuffs and hoods, good leather boots and gloves, cooking pots, dried meats and other foods that could be hydrated with water and easily cooked over camp fires.

They had also bought a stout tent that could be erected by three men, and of course, extra provisions in case of emergencies.

“Where is Ali?” Shiro asked.

“He is out in the yard looking at the camels.”

“Oh,” Shiro said, then stepped out to find Ali, of course yelling at the seller and haggling like his life depended on it.

“Fine, fine!” he finally said, and dropped the coins into the seller’s hands. He turned and glanced at Shiro. “Ten silvers apiece! Can you believe it?”

Shiro nodded. “For a rich man, you haggle hard, Ali.”

“Ha!” he scoffed. “The rich don’t stay rich by throwing money around.

“When we reach your friend in the mountains, do you think he will ask for help before he will assist us?”

“Oh, I am sure,” Ali said. “Why would he not? He’s not going to just drop everything.” Then he shrugged. “But he is crazy, so he might.”

“If we help him, we can recoup our losses on this trip.”

“Oh,” Ali said, waving a hand. “Almost any loss would be acceptable, Shiro. I’m sure you agree, yes? You want Jessamine back, I want to help you, and in so doing, get my own life back.”

Shiro nodded. “Mm.”

He was glad that Ali saw things the same way.

“Are we prepared?” Debaku asked, coming up behind them.

They both turned.

“We have the camels,” Ali said. “Now we need a guide”

“A guide?” Shiro asked. “Are you certain?”

“Yes, of course,” Ali said. “If we do not have a guide, we could be lost, or go into a hostile tribe’s territory and never be seen again.”

“Not likely,” Debaku said.

“Should we not be careful?”

Shiro shrugged. “We are very capable, Ali.”

“Ha!”

“Will a guide be expensive?” Shiro asked.

Ali shrugged. “Probably not. We will find some local adventurer willing to work for a pittance. Or we could follow a trade caravan, but hells, those are slow.”

“Hmm,” Shiro noised. “We do not want to waste time.”

“Why not? Jessamine isn’t going anywhere, right?”

I hope not.

“I do not know. But Darius did put her in a dungeon for half a century, remember?”

“Oh, right. Hmm. Perhaps we do want to move with haste. No caravan then.”

“Should we not bring extra camels laden with supplies?”

“Of course!” Ali said. “That is why I bought five camels. One for each of us, and then two more for our supplies.”

Shiro nodded. Then he unsheathed his scimitar. It was dull, and a little bit rusted.

“Perhaps some more weapons as well,” Debaku said. “Is that not the same scimitar you picked up off a dead man when I rescued you on the road, Shiro?”

He nodded. “It is.”

“That is not acceptable,” Ali said. “Here,” he said, taking out his. “Take mine.”

“Ali,” Shiro said with a frown. “I cannot take your sword.”

“I have another in my pack,” he said with a smile. “I come prepared, my friend.”

“Oh,” Shiro said. “All right.” He took the sword offered by Ali with a nod. Then feeling curious, he said, “Ali?”

“Yes, what is?”

“Your other sword.” He paused dramatically. “Is it that one given to you by Darius himself?”

He laughed. “Of course not. I will use that sword when we attack the palace.” He then gave Shiro a wink. “Ah, the irony will be epic.”

Unable to help himself, Shiro laughed.