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5.

The rough rocking lullaby of the cart had come to a sudden stop. The Dehsii males reappeared around the cart and studied me then they all looked to Rohtheer. He yip sang in howls and barks inciting a smooth flow of many hands lifting my body up and settling me down on a woven mat warmed by the baking sand. The young male Dehsii that had poked me upon the beach was left to stand guard over me as the men left. The higo and cart were sheltered in a crevice between to reddish boulders with a woven mat fixed over the gap to offer dappled shade. Several of the men were caught up in a reunion of young children and female Dehsii. Rohtheer, I had noticed, made rounds among the other Dehsii groups then vanished into a tent of pilmoo hide. The encampment was decent in size with what I assumed were open aired tents; wood rods sunk into the sand with more of the woven mats for roofs and makeshift sleeping pallets where pilmoo hide was left folded.

My head pounded with pain as I tried to move and get a better look at this nomadic settlement. The Dehsii youth yapped something at me and the stick he still held nudged me back into lying still. The youth had a serious look in his blue eyes and had the focus and anxiety of someone given a grave task to protect some sort of treasure. Behaving my steadfast guard with little energy to be rebellious I took up watching more of the natives from what views I could take. The number of Dehsii gathered in the large clearing of sand that the open air tents huddled around appeared to be the entirety of the camp. It was a bit difficult to tell which were kittens or adults and male or female as many seemed rather slim and bereft of fat often seen on the well fed Felissii. Their clothing was my only clues to sorting out the puzzle. The men had only hide loin cloths, the women had roughly woven gowns of a light pale straw with belly fur exposed to the air and sun. The kittens were often left in bare fur or simple woven loin cloths. The village was mostly women and kittens by a rough estimate with only fourteen males that I could see; fifteen if Rohtheer was counted. As many hugged, greeted and a few embarrassingly intimate gestures were traded, the kittens all seemed to drift from the adults and stood in a wavering line of curious eyes and noses all pointed in my direction.

Something didn't sit well within my stomach and it wasn't solely the salt water I had swallowed during the storm. I felt that there was a sharp lack of males in such a rough settlement for how many kittens were about. Perhaps these nomads preferred more females? Were they being preyed upon by Humaran enslavers? Did they have multiple offspring per union? The questions brought on another head ache and I just groaned. The young Dehsii male glanced at me nervously and then he looked to the milling storm of kittens waiting to charge in at us. He looked around to see if someone was watching him, made a hand gesture at the kittens that had them all laughing in glee, and then he left me. My amber eyes followed his movement and how he ran with ease on his paws. The kittens hadn't moved, as if following that odd gesture the young man had made. He seemed like a hardy boy, perhaps just touching the boundary of manhood. He stopped by a woven basket and withdrew several small globes of milky white glass. There was a sharp bark from one of the older male Dehsii that had caught site of the young man digging into those baskets. With an apologetic sounding yip, the young man put back most of the globes, though I saw one tucked up against his body and the crook of his elbow. He was soon back at his guard post then looked down at me with a feral grin showing healthy canine teeth. He crouched and held out the milky white orb to me.

"Swiis" he yipped. "Swiis. Swiis." He said insistently to me.

I stared at him, unsure if that was a word or his name. Perhaps it was the name of the glass globe he held. I weakly reached out to the globe and that's all it took to break the patience of the waiting kittens. They charged in, yipping in the glee of the young at seeing something new and strange. I never touched that glass orb. I was too occupied flinching in pain as the kittens yipped loudly around me, small hands rubbing my fur, tugging on my ears, a few bumping the bits of metal Rohtheer had seen that were beyond my pained view. The young man yipped several times in realization he'd just instigated a free for all to harass the wounded stranger.

Several sharp barks and scolding yips announced that Rohtheer had returned from that hide tent. The kittens scattered and the young man stood up quickly, the glass orb falling from his hand to land in the sand with a sloshing sound. Rohtheer gave the young man a scathing look and a nip to the ears then a pat on the back and relieved of his duty to join the rest of the settlement. I settled with a pained grunt and glanced at him from my supine position.

"The pups are curious." Rohtheer said to me. "They can be a bit rough in their exploring. Our healer will see you soon." He knelt and took up the dropped water globe with a chuckle. "That boy was told to guard you. And yet he found a way to steal a water globe." He chuckled.

He cracked a stubby glass stem on the globe and held the newly made spout to my muzzle. I felt cool water flow into my muzzle and I coughed as I gulped it down too quickly. He pulled the water away and drank from the globe as well. A new canine face loomed into my view; this one was somewhat slender and thin as if it belonged to someone needing to eat more. Silver eyes gazed down on me and slender wolf like ears folded into tri-points naturally glittered from several silver rings pierced along the edges. Soft reddish fur peppered the dominating white on the face and muzzle as it drew closer with a gaze familiar to me; a person that was used to passing judgment upon a single glance.

With a few gestures the new canine person drew Rohtheer away from my place of rest. I gave the person some slow study. Faded white and blue robes that appeared frequently mended with whatever cloth was at hand clothed them. The swell at the chest and flare of the waist pegged the person as fairly female to my mind. I took a moment to listen for their words which came low on the wind. The female spoke freely in the common trade tongue with Rohtheer.

"Are you out of your mind, Rohtheer?" The female spoke in a low tone, silver eyes trailing to the nomads that had returned to their tasks. "You should have left that woman on the beach!" She pointed at me.

"Watch your tone with me Mihlihsah. You know what she is. You've seen it now with your own eyes." Rohtheer said. "I will not toss aside someone so valuable."

"Yes, I know what she is and you are a damned fool bringing her here. You can't hide her like you can me. How long do you think you can play hide and seek with Kahrthuhn's men? Bad enough these poor nomads were stuck with you and your grand illusions. How many have they lost to your dealings?" Mihlihsah sneered.

"These nomads have worked out well. They have enough members to keep the camp and hunts running. They breed fast enough to allow the culling of those that fetch a high price. The ones that remain know how to follow orders. They do get the job done. I caught you, didn't I?" Rohtheer said.

Mihlihsah gave him a hard slap to his muzzle that drew the attention of a few nomadic women. They didn't watch for long and returned to their cooking and weaving.

"You caught nothing. You wooed them and had them surround an injured woman after you poisoned Mahrlehsh. You killed my husband you bahstrii!" Mihlihsah snapped her words.

Rohtheer rubbed his muzzle and growled low. "Wooed. Caught. It is all the same. Mahrlehsh would have lived it he wasn't so loyal to Kahrthuhn. He's dead. Move on. I have you now and I'll start things over in this damnable sand box!" He returned her slap hard enough for me to hear her jaws click together. "Now, do I have to remind you of your place? You're not where Kahrthun can hear or find you. You have no protection coming from him. You are going to heal that woman over there. Why? She is going to do wonders for my reputation back in Spihrihtohr City. You will do wonders as well if you cooperate. Don't give me a reason to slit your throat." Rohtheer said.

I could faintly see a look of utter rage simmering on Mihlihsah's face and muzzle. Her thin hands clenched into fists and I thought perhaps she was going to pummel him. Instead, the healer spun on her paws and stormed off into the hide tent.

Rohtheer stalked towards me, anger being smothered in liquid silver eyes. I feigned drowsiness and held what I heard to myself. He looked me over and whistled. Several male Dehsii, the ones I saw on the beach appeared and with rough effort lifted me up. I was taken towards the hide tent and brought inside it. They placed me on soft bear furs and pilmoo hides. The air was smoky and cool within the tent. Mihlihsah appeared by my in a blink of an eye. She snarled and barked a few things tersely that scattered the nomad males out of the tent. We were left in silence for several long minutes.

She dropped her silver gaze to me for a measured heart beat then sighed. "It would seem the nomads failed to find fish for our dinners. Instead they found a Felissii in ragged condition. What am I going to do with you?" She said.

"Let me live?" I said with a croak.

"Let you live?" Mihlihsah said in amusement. Slender fingers stroked her furred chin. "Death is not an option for you. You're in a bit of a predicament stranger. You are quite injured, but don't fret. You're not bleeding too fast."

The female vanished from my sight then returned in a moment or two to press a cup to my lips. I felt cool water touch my lips again and I drank deeply of the cold sweet water. The cup was pulled away and the female sat beside me, her hand laid upon my chest with gentleness and kept there as if feeling for something without moving the hand.

"Let's have a chat, shall we? You need to convince me that a Felissii here in Luupihnohs is not the start of invasion. Furthermore, how did you even find our shores? Answer those questions and I'll heal you. Otherwise I will allow the nomads to handle you like most who are near dead. You'll be buried in hot sand with no life left in you. The Dehsii nomads here rely on swiftness to move when they are threatened. They have little belief in healing a person severely injured. To them, that is the way of nature. If you become a cripple you take from the pack. Cripples cannot help defend the pack and become an extra mouth to feed for nothing in return." Mihlihsah said.

Had I the energy to be snippy I would have delighted in slapping the female and describing the inadequacies of her father and mother. I'd be asking questions as well. Yet, drained as I was, those silvery eyes upon me seemed to hold a strong compelling gaze to answer her. I felt my words and voice come out with ease and energy.

"I am not part of an invasion. I flee for my life from my homeland. The galleon I rode upon. We were caught in a severe storm. It crashed into a rocky reef. Lightning threw me into the water as I searched for some pilgrims." I said with a pant of effort.

Mihlihsah held the cup back to my lips for a few more sips then sat the cup down. "Well fate has put you on a rough path of life it seems. You are now in the lands of the Luupihnohsii."

I felt her hands caress and lightly press on my wounds making me groan out in pain. I tried to move away from her, but she pinned me down easily with her hand upon my chest. She leaned over to a small wooden chest near my head and withdrew a clear glass ball and returned her hand to my chest. The ball remained in her lap.

"You have metal debris lodged deeply into your side. It'll be tricky to remove, but you will live. It'll take a lot of effort for me to heal this. I am Mihlihsah of Sehlahn, a Sister of Fohkseengaal Healers. Who might you be?" She asked. It felt as if her hands were buzzing like an annoying gnat in the ear and they both felt hot to the touch.

"I'm Trisha of Talon, Crusader of the Golden Crosses. I follow Cala Mormor and the True One." I said.

"I'm not familiar with these Golden Crosses you speak of, Cala Mormor or the True One." I felt a slight sting of pain and something metal clinked in a glass dish beside my head. "Your wounds speak true to what you've said. Your fur is crusted in sea salt and these metal bits appear to be from some machination. Would seem you are not here on a sly agenda. You will be safe from death from your injuries. But you are going to cause a lot of trouble Trisha. Your kind is not supposed to be here." More stinging pain followed the clinks of more metal pulled from my side.

"I mean no ill will or disturbance in your land. Just asylum." I said weakly.

She gave a small sigh and more metal clinked near me. "Your very appearance will disturb all who see you, Trisha. How to put this simply. You are a cat in a land of dogs. You will draw the eyes of everyone you meet. This could bode ill for you or be put into your favor. Many in these lands look for the exotic like you. Even the nomads here will grow to covet you."

Something caused hot jagged pain and a large clatter of metal was heard. Mihlihsah seemed to pale a little as she looked at my side. "I'll honor my duties as a healer and attempt to mend your broken body. You are in worse shape than I thought. You will owe me for this, Trisha of Talon. You will owe me heavily. Now, close your eyes and rest. You are in my capable hands." She said.

Her words seemed to hum in my ears and I felt like bliss hearing them. Mihlihsah's words lulled me into a deep slumber. Those words held a coolness and comfort to them. My eyes fluttered once in resistance then I sunk into a deep, dreamless sleep.

~ ~ ~ ~

I awoke to soft silvery shadows within the tent as a cool breeze ruffled the hide walls of the tent. Everything within glowed with a dim luster as if a painter had dipped everything inside with silver splendor. I knew then that I had been asleep for sixteen hours; the sky was now guarded by Linus watching the evening lands in shimmering glory. I noticed a complete lack of pain in my body and more of a humming numbness that pulsed within me. I dared myself to sit up and felt nothing hurt. The sharp pains in my side were gone though my head had a dull ache still. Mihlihsah lay across my legs, warm, light weight and drooling as she slept. The clear globe was held tight in her arms and seemed to faintly pulse white and green in rhythm to her breathing. I wondered how a woman her size felt so light and frail. I gently rolled her off my legs, onto her side and slowly got to my paws. She never stirred from that exhausted slumber.

The cool breeze sifting through my fur had me glance down. I was as nude as I could get while covered in fur. I ran fingers over my side where I saw faint pink scars and felt the gentle sting of wounds that would have taken days of rest to heal. I should be dead from some of the wounds I felt; yet I was healed and felt nothing sharp within me. Now that I knew I was not leaking precious blood or entrails I slowly moved about the worn tent to get my bearings. My legs felt weak and my belly grumbled with hunger. Worn but thick furs blanketed the sandy ground and a few fat looking cushions large enough to curl or stretch out upon sprawled near a cold fire pit. The remains of a camp fire were kept within a ring of sand stone where I had been laid for my miracle.

Near the flap of the tent was a neatly stacked pile of wood and branches. Beside the wood was the shredded, sodden mess of my cotton cloak. I could smell my own blood and the sea on it. I shied from the reminder of my water logged night as I took an arm full of wood. Slowly I piled it within the campfire ring. I realized I was without matches or flint and steel. Before I could stand to search the tent again, someone rustled the flap of the tent; Rohtheer appeared and came within, he knelt by my side. He held a small glass orb in his hand that was swirled with brilliant red glass strands within and blew on it. Flames trickled out of the orb and licked the stacked wood. A fire caught hold on the wood like a thriving weed. My amber eyes narrowed in awe and fear. They possessed miracles without being on holy ground. Rohtheer glanced at the still form of Mihlihssah and reached out to feel her nose.

"She wore herself out. I see you live." He said. Another glance my way as he studied me. "Our meeting was a bit informal on the beach. Let me greet you properly. I am Rohtheer of Spihrihtohr. I was surprised to see a Felissii on the shore half alive. We saw one or two from where you lay. They were lifeless."

His words poured cold water on my heart as I wondered if it was two of the sailors or two of the pilgrims. "Were they men or women?" I asked him.

"Men." Rohtheer said. He slowly warmed up his hands and pulled a hide blanket over Mihlihssah. "Don't take this too harshly, but you're continued survival is not solely up to me. You're part of a nomad tribe now. Many of the younger men seem enthralled by your looks, but the older males are not sure if you are a help or hindrance to their tribe. You will need to help us in many ways. You need to pull your weight. Do those things and they'll accept you. I have pull over them to insure Mihlihssah is unharmed given her weakly state, but you are our guest for now." He said.

I gave him a slow nod as his words sank in. "I'll give you my word as a crusader. I will pull my weight in this tribe. Allow me to return your politeness. I am Trisha of Talon, Crusader of the Golden Crosses, follower Cala Mormor and the True One."

"Pleasure." He said to me with a calculating look in those silver eyes.

"May I ask what you did with that glass orb? How did create a miracle without being on holy ground?" I asked.

He held up the sphere. "This is a soul gem. I'm not sure what a miracle is, but this gem allows me to perform crude magic. Within it is the soul of an angry mahgiit. The soul must do whatever the owner of the orb wishes. If I want fire, I blow on it and flames appear. Do you not have magic in your land?"

"Well if that is magic, then it is quite similar to miracles the priests of our monasteries can perform. But they have to be in the presence of the True One to do such works. Is Mihlihssah a Dehsii like you?" I asked.

Rohtheer shook his head no. "She is a Sohltrii. They are mostly Mahgiit. Sohltrii are all crafty ones, sometimes crazy and love to steal."

I glanced at the sleeping Mihlihssah. She could use magic like the soul gem could. Normally I would doubt anyone telling me they wielded the power of the True One while not being a Felissii, but I knelt before Rohtheer whole and without pain before a fire that was not started by mortal hands. I felt humble within that ragged tent.

"I have much to learn and understand here Rohtheer. May I ask where are my satchels I had with me from the storm?" I said.

"Mmm. Much to learn but you seem sharp of wit. As to your satchels, I'll take a few men and see if I can find them on the beach. We were in a bit of a hurry to get you healed." He said and stood up, the soul gem tucked back into leather pouch belted around a bleached white cotton tunic.

"Ahem, I am naked Rohtheer. May I get some clothing? Or do you Luups have no respect for a ladies modesty?" I hissed.

Rohtheer smirked as he walked for the tent flap. "The tribe doesn't stock pile possession to hand out to strangers. You want clothing, you must go to the women, ask and they will show you how to make some. I would advise you to stay in tent. Leave when Mihlihssah says it is okay. She will get very angry if you head out and get hurt. I will bring you both food and water in the morning. Get some sleep for now Trisha."

I watched him leave and spent some time reflecting on my situations. I'd fled to keep my family name from being drug through the muck of enslavement. I am shipwrecked in a strange land. I am a guest to nomads that may or may not keep me around or claim me as some odd property. I have to learn how to make clothing for myself and help out in this little tribe. At least the pilgrims may still be alive out there somewhere in this land. That gave me a tiny spark of hope to cling to. I drug a few fur hides and a cushion over next to Mihlihssah. I slunk onto the cushion and drew a hide over me for warmth. I gave my growling belly soothing if empty promises that it would be filled when I wake again.