The wind whipped across the desert, climbing the dunes easily, shifting them, moving them. While there was a lot of the wind that day, it offered no relief from the heat. Carrying sand in its heart, the gale assaulted Korel. Misery followed behind it, leaving nothing but the desire to be rid of this place.

He reached up, pulling the metal mask away from his mouth. It was a cumbersome thing, heavy, bulky. Two cylinders protruded from a smooth wedged plate that covered the mouth, allowing Korel to breathe, even in the harshest of conditions.

He loosened the sand coloured cloth about his face, looking out to the twelve men that stood before him on the wasteland’s shifting floor.

‘You survived?’ He asked, his voice hoarse.

One of the men, a large one with dark eyes, nodded. He was dressed in similar attire to Korel, albeit a crude imitation. Yellow cloth wrapped most of his body, to protect him from the storms, and hid him from investigating eyes.

Korel shifted the long, steel spear in his hands, ramming the butt of it into the ground. ‘What do you have to offer me, Appuja? You left here with twenty of your best men, you left with a Kilrot beneath your feet. You swore to me an oath, in the name of the old god. You told me you would bring back what I sought, or die.’

Appuja shifted, his face twitching. Korel didn’t know if it was from emotion, or simply cowardice. He didn’t care.

‘The man… The one you sent us for, he was powerful, Korel. He destroyed my caravan, he injured my men, slaughtered my Kilrot!’

‘Did he kill your men?’

‘No… But we were defeated. If we had pressed our attack, he would have-’

‘Killed you,’ Korel nodded, ‘yes. So, if I am to understand this, you were more concerned with your own lives, than incurring my anger?’

The man straightened. ‘We are men of Akri. We fear nothing, but to die without meat in our bellies, and gold in our hands.’

Korel closed his eyes. He hated this sort. Men who thought themselves above fear, above death. They were an odd sort to deal with, but he had found they could yet be persuaded.

‘Khana…’ Korel called, glancing behind him. Desert stretched back for kilometres, untouched. In the far distance, an outcropping of high, mountainous stones clawed at the sky. Beyond that, unseen, was the ancient city. Cursed lands to the Akrian people, especially the pirates.

His eyes moved away from the distant horizon, settling onto the form of a woman. She was slender, corded with muscle. She was wrapped here and there, with tight bands of sand coloured cloth, but her legs were exposed, and her feet bare.

‘Master Korel?’ She asked, stepping forward, a metal spear not dissimilar from Korel’s held tightly in her hands.

‘The gentleman seems to be under the impression that there is nothing to fear in death…’

The woman glanced across from her, to the only other man who stood with Korel, facing down the dozen Akrian pirates. ‘There is only fear in death!’ she said, turning back to face Korel.

‘As I have taught, so you say,’ he nodded. ‘I pray you teach this man as I have taught you.’

‘Master?’

‘Send him to the dark one.’

There was silence. He turned more directly to her. She had stiffened. He hardened his gaze, his eyes burning into her. ‘Khana… I have given you a command!’

The woman shook herself free of her thoughts, her fears, and nodded. She stepped forward, holding her spear aloft, levelling the tip towards Appuja. ‘As you command, so I do.’

‘Korel, please!’ Appuja said, his eyes wild. ‘I have done more! I have not failed you!’

Korel lifted a hand, and Khana stepped back, letting her spear drop to her side.

‘More? Speak it now, Appuja, or you will learn what awaits you beyond this life. You will learn to believe in the old gods, as I have learned.’

The pirate swallowed. ‘By your word, I speak!’ he took a steadying breath, looking behind him, to his men. ‘Serji!’

There was movement within the ranks, a small man, no taller than Korel’s waist, bustled through the group to stand near Appuja. He bowed. ‘Appuja!’

‘Tell him! Tell him what I commanded of you… When we were met by the strong man!’

The little man bowed again, turning to Korel. He saw a dark glint in Serji’s eyes as he ran a hand over his bald head. ‘When we set against the man, Appuja didn’t believe your words about him being more than a man. But still, I used a potion on them, and put them in a great sleep. The power of my drink should have lasted for days, lord Korel… but they awoke in hours!’

‘And this is when the battle broke out?’

‘Yes, lord Korel.’

‘And then, your Kilrot dead, you let them escape?’

The man bowed again. ‘Let them away… But not escape!’

Korel narrowed his eyes against the little man. ‘What do you mean?’

Serji smiled. ‘Do you believe yourself to be the only one in favour of dark gods? I have served longer than most, lord Korel. My faith has given way to blessings…’ he wrung his hands. ‘Magics! The darkest kinds…’

Korel straightened. He looked on the little man, understanding dawning on him. Yes, he understood, but found himself confused. He knew the dark gods granted powers to their followers. Twisted magic, the likes the world had not known in eons. Still, he knew little of them. He had been tasked with different matters by his master.

‘What have you done, sir Serji?’

‘An ancient spell…’ He insisted, with a twisted smile. ‘Darkness follows that man, lord Korel. You look to him, not knowing what he is, only knowing your master wants him. I look on him, with the eyes of the ancient gods, knowing him…’

‘Then name him!’ Korel insisted.

‘Wishcharmer!’ Serji smiled.

Korel twitched. ‘Impossible!’

‘Perhaps your master tells you little of your deeds? A Wishcharmer has been raised, to stop your master from awakening.’ The little man raised his hands, patting the air to calm Korel’s rising panic. If a Wishcharmer was still alive, if they could be called to cause, to stop the awakening…

‘What dark spell have you worked?’ Korel growled, levelling his spear on the little man.

Serji laughed. ‘Fear! You fear to fail him… Serji wonders… What have you promised the dark one, in return for your position, for your power? I wonder, what is the price?’

‘You spoke of service to the dark gods!’ Korel snapped. ‘You spoke of knowing this Wishcharmer… Then tell me, I say, what have you done to stop his course?’

‘Wayward Shadow!’ Serji cackled.