Stranger

Pilgrimage of Bones

For a few heartbeats no sound or reply comes from the tent, as Islana can't help and cast glances at the cooking meat, roasting over the bright flames.

The sun has set over the horizon and the full moon casts her light over the silent dunes and the camp. The camel bedded for the night glances once at the young woman before turning its head away, as if bored.

Suddenly a man appears at the entrance of the tent. He takes her measure looking up and down at her sorry state and finally emerges fully from his abode.

The man has yellowing skin, and rather thin. He has two black tattoos on his sunken cheeks, glyphs of some kind and he is wearing a long greenish robe. As he emerges from his tent you look inside into an opulent interior, filled with rugs, pillows, a desk, and what seems to be some sort of bathtub.

The man greets you in the Ozainae tongue and beckons for you to join him near the fire...