Down in the cellar.

Chainik was speaking in her sleep, muttering out a tongue foreign to her people.

Her skin slowly radiated as white pulsing veins dug all over her body.

Klossi sang his song, soothing her pressure and pain. Slowly the veins retracted, revealing her silver soft skin.

She weakly lifted herself up, falling onto him as Klossi caught her.

Raising her face, to him. She smiled faintly as her crusted cracked lips strained her broken voice.

"Will I survive…. all this?"

"With the help of Śiekl, you shall!"

"There's something I need to tell you from now on"

"What is it?"

"I want to teach you some words, of my people. If the translator comes, they may choose to kill you. Offering to be a translator will probably be your only saving grace. You hear me!"

"I'm prepared to pass…over to the Linniq!

If the Śiekl approves" she said wimping under the pain.

"No! You can't, you must live! For your family's sake, your people too. Your nation will be destroyed after they find the Sel'nijj! None of you will remain"

"So, what can I do?"

She shouted out, frustrated under the pain. Straining her voice.

Klossi rested his hand on her palm.

"You must be the foreteller of doom to Uun Ābid. A prophet if need be. Some shall reject in coercion with Morenn. Dissent shall grow rapidly after the war. Your people will scatter and be dismayed under Tal Morenn influence. Your job is to warn them best as you can as a translator and flee!

Flee!

Warn the army Uun Eein!"

"But if they shan't listen…"

"Find an opening, and escape into the desert lands to the north. The war will wage on for years, Taāk and Caciccaci won't let it spill easily onto them. In that time, you must find me in the desert homeland of Caciccaci, my wife Adaemazi will help you"

"Your wife…" Chainik responded in a kind of hurt manner. Her voice sunken and her heart throbbing rapidly. She had slowly developed some feelings for him all this time.

Klossi buried his head down.

"Right!?, she might actually be dead or long moved on by this time. It's been seven years or so… I've been entrapped. My old friend Isho will offer you aid. I'll find you there, no I should be with him"

A sigh of relief dropped in Chainik's heart, although she hid her feelings.

"Why can't we go together!?"

"They'll separate us. Be sure of that, plus I won't flee, not until I've killed this bastard who raped and killed my sister. Also, for the pain, he's inflicted on us!"

"Don't let your anger overrule you Klossi. If you are met with an opportunity flee and meet me. Let's live, first for the life you've toiled away as their slave here. Rather than risk it all to die in your captor's hands!" Chainik explained to him, sorrowfully grasping his hands tightly on her chest.

Klossi took her words in, gritting his teeth. She spoke the truth he was not ready to here. For up to now he had lived for the opportunity for revenge! Now he was slightly rethinking it because of this mysterious girl.

He clenched his fist.

Chainik saw his frustration, she grasped his hand again, easing his temper.

Nightfall came descending on the group.

They congregated together planning their descent.

The moonlight shined down. Gifting them just enough light for Kairui to fire the crossbow across.

The arrow shot parting the clouds as it is piercing through the air, before latching itself in the rocks.

Kairui tapped her hands, waiting for a response.

The others copied before chanting out blessings on her.

Quine nodded to the group as she held Kairui's shoulder.

"A'si"

The rest of the group knew their roles.

Ussu and Aya held down the crossbow and rope. Jamming it deep into the ground to secure its safety and fasten it in place.

Yannu was prepping Shassii as she would be the best and first to go across.

Kairui spotting the soldiers, catch a glimpse of the zipline. Preparing and armed themselves to shoot any stragglers they see crossing.

One of them bent down trying to get sights to try cut the rope.

Near the canyon drop, a loud thud caught the attention of the soldiers.

In between the open sandy Dry Plateau. Lay open like giant circled the cratered arena. A humongous canyon sat idly in between the gap, separating them. The carcasses of vultures and dried-up buffalo were wasted away. Obviously, in an age past, the area had some green lush lands now it was just barren and dried up. No life resided here apart from the desert heat. The ground had a tinted reddish-brown sand that sprung and sat atop of a dried up river. The skeletons of dead fish and maggots could be seen in daylight. Hot pool springs of steam burst up from holes open to the ground. The temperatures rose. Traversing through there would be playing with your fate.

Let alone what the Śeingtt's instilled upon you.

In the sand, a loud landing and envelope of sand erupted up forming a cloud around her.

They all caught sight of her, drawing their weapons out. A small band of six men. The other three were laid back laughing at the vein attempt of this woman. Who scoffed at the idea that she could take them on?

From above, Quine leaped off the edge being caught by Kairui before settling down.

The two men high-fived before drawing their weapons.

This would be an easy victory for them, they thought.

Kairui stepped up, motioning them to come.

Two of them started spinning their swords, in a flamboyant wrist fashion.

Chuckling and sniveling as they approached her.

She smirked as she casually walked up to them.

The first tried to strike her from above, she dodged to her left snapping her shoulder back. Before releasing a powerful thrust of her dagger into his underbelly.

The other raced up trying to free his comrade and tried to chop her handoff. She shoved her dagger in deeper, thrusting him to the side. Leaving him for Quine to finish!

Quine cut and stabbed him, through his chainmail. Leaving him left for dead.

Kairui parried the blow, flicking the sword away. Opening his guard, she gave out two jabs as they stabbed his chest. Ducking as he delivered a high outside blow that narrowly dodged her.

Holding her position she was left vulnerable.

Quine spotting this opportunity and stepped in, jumping on her back. Lunging her sword through the soldier sending him stumbling backward.

It took a moment but the pain sank into him. A loud wail and groan billowed from his mouth. The wound inflicted on his upper collarbone rendered his arm nearly immobile.

The others stepped in trying to surround them but Kairui took the front lead shoving Quine away.

This left them able to fight and not pinned back-to-back together.

The two glanced at each other, smirking, and grinning. Enjoying this fight, was an understatement. They longed for it.

Raised on the clifftop.

Yannu sent Shassii away with the blessings of Aya not wasting any time.

The group was very focused they had no time to waste on goodbyes, refusals, or objections, not like before.

"Yannu help them below they need help!" Aya reminded him.

Yannu unfroze, he was worried about the distance and whether the zipline would hold out.

Shassii was trudging along very nimbly and quickly. Unafraid but the ropes constant vibration worried her.

Yannu turned to Aya and Ussu.

"You guys got it over there. Or should we switch out!"

"No, just help them, okay help them!"

"Are you sure, I don't want the rope to grit your hands, Ussu?"

"YANNU!!" Ussu shouted at him, dismissing his cautious concern.

He made his way to the sack, retrieving his bow and quiver.

Drawing arms, he knelt on the edge spotting the six men surround them.

One heavily wounded and holding onto his wound. He saw the others take up arms, trying to cover for him.

Aiming his sights, he fired, hitting the crossbowman.

He hit him in his arm, an excellent shot from the angle above.

Then he swiftly drew again, aimed down, and Shot a swordsman. Knocking the sword out his arm, he was like a sharpshooter when aiming down on an infidel.

Kairui took advantage of the cover and launched an attack. Wielding the dead soldier's sword. It wasn't a saber-like she preferred but it would have to do.

Tearing through, she made way to carve open their confinement. Quine followed through, this time faster and nimbler than before. She swayed back and forth parrying blows between the two soldiers. Her wrist had strengthened and reflexes sharpened. Swordplay was like a dance to her now and she had caught the rhythm.

She blocked an overhead blow and kicked another the other soldier back.

Clamping down on him she gave out a full front kick, dropping his guard. She sliced him open, turning back to the other soldier and releasing a series of swings. Fending her off he stepped backward and formed an evil grin as they locked swords.

Behind the soldier came trying to cut her while he was open.

Kairui seeing a break in formation. Parried the soldiers one by one then abruptly. Drew her dagger flinging at the soldier sneaking upon Quine.

Quine heard a loud thud and saw a body drop beside her.

She noticed the dagger, releasing her sword from the lock. She ducked and rolled, retrieving it from the soldier's head. Flicking it at the soldier in front of her, he blocked it reflecting it away. But her sword thrust deep inside him, carving up his stomach. Kicking his lodged body to the side, they continued fighting the men.

Yannu shot another two arrows, making it easier for them to overcome their foes. The two overcame four of the six men. Chopping and cutting them down. With aerial support, they were had to strike down.

Kairui cut and killed the last of the two duels wielding the two swords.

She took a moment and threw one of the swords to the ground.

Wanting to make the fight more fun for her.

There were now just three left. The other soldiers were quacking and were scared of seeing this sight.

On the other side of the Plateau, Shassii was halfway across but had stopped.

Whenever she reached out the rope shock like a loose pin or nail.

She was afraid if she continued her weight would send her spiraling down to her death.

"Guy's!!!, am stuck this rope is not fastened properly!" she yelled out, her eyes sealed shut.

"Hold on! We'll help you in a second" Aya mentioned out.

Kairui catching wind of this, nodded at Quine.

Ready to attack.

Aya shouted out to them.

"Kairui, my sister she needs help that rope might snap or break!!"

Kairui looked up to her, the soldier took advantage trying to kill her.

With an elbow strike, she halted his advance. Beating him down mercilessly with the hilt of her sword until she bruised up his face.

His comrades wanted to step in, but Quine blocked their path. Her confidence unmatched she wanted them to lose their edge and attack.

Kairui glanced at the bruised man's facing, seeing it bleeding and bloody she stopped. Satisfied that he was done for the count.

"Quine, kill these two quickly. Don't let them escape no matter what? You know what'll happen if they do, right?"

"Am not stupid?"

"Good, collect their swords after. All of them. Their gauntlets too. Put it in a sack after. We need them for the desert after".

Quine nodded following the command.

Kairui let go of the beaten-up man leaving him grumping on the floor.

"Oh, and kill this infidel too"

Quine nodded, crouching down she held the man by his collar. Locking sight with the men, she slit his throat mercilessly, then dashed his corpse to the side.

Scampering away she made her way crossing through the dried-up dead river. Tieing a small piece of her headscarf she wore as a face mask. The soil was cracked up and broke apart with each step she made. To her left and right, she could see open vents in the ground.

The steam rose and shot up in front of her path.

Dodging past, she twirled past like an angel. With it burning her arm slightly, masking the pain she ventured on. The spring vents arose in the wake of the night, spitting out steam all around. It was like the Plateau was alive.

Soon she was below Shassii.

Looking up she winked at her scared face.

"GET ME DOWNNN!!!"

"COVER YOUR MOUTH! THE AIR IS POISONOUS!"

Kairui ignored her remark, heading straight to the cliff. She had lodged her sword between her bag and her sack. Her reason for keeping her sack was in case she would have to lodge her spare rope. Between the loop and pulling on the other side to strengthen it.

Met with the giant Towering Canyon. She skidded on the Plateau open grounds, her boots gripping the sandy cracked ground. Rocks and sandstone flew up as she stopped.

The steam hit her face as it swam around the dead river track. Like a ghostly spirit lingering in a family residence.

Peeking up, she saw the mountain she would have to climb.

Holding her breath, she summoned her cat-like strength again.

Racing and latching on the rocky depths. She leaped, clawed her way up, fighting the altitude and harsh steam, tickling her throat. She reached the bolted arrow, removing her extra rope, tieing it around the whoop. Then she took her dagger and reached out over the edge, bashing the arrow in. Logging it inside the rock. Her flexibility was amazing. Climbing up the rest of the journey, she pulled the rope strengthening its grip.

Then she waved across to Shassii to continue.