Chapter 11

MARGARET

He moves towards the ship with an easy grace that belies his size. I watch in something akin to awe as he uses his tail and wings to glide across the sand. He looks as if he's drifting more than walking.

The footprints lead into the tear on the side of the ship that Jean had told us about. They lead off and up a sand dune to the right. Mohlad goes to the left, approaching the tear but remaining out of sight of anyone who might be inside the darkness of that opening.

My stomach is a tight knot as I watch. He is crouched low, lochaber held in his right hand, point aimed at the ship. It isn't long at all before he is next to the ship. He presses himself against the wall and moves towards the opening. I try to watch everything. Darting my eyes all around including the sky. It's clear that someone has been here, but who?

The sand has been moved away from the opening. When Jean was here there'd been a sandstorm and she said that the opening was mostly blocked when they left. We'd come prepared to handle that, having packed shovels, but it was already done.

The footprints cannot be that old. There is an almost constant breeze blowing across Tajss that shifts the sands. Footprints do not last more than a day, two at the most. Which means either these newcomers are still here or they left very recently.

Who are they? Even this far away the prints look too big to be made by a human. They have an odd shape, elongated, and I can't be sure from here but it looks as if there are hashmarks. I lean forward until my head is next to the gusters.

"It's okay girl," I whisper. "He'll be fine."

The guster snorts and shakes its head as if agreeing with me. The alpha that Mohlad rides casts a baleful glare in my direction then returns to staring straight ahead.

Fuck you too buddy. No one needs your negativity.

Mohlad is at the opening. He looks at me then in a fluid motion he leaps out and moves into the opening with his lochaber held high, ready to strike. My heart stops. I swear I don't breathe or feel a single beat of my heart as I wait. Staring at that dark tear which looks like it opens onto an abyss into which my treasure just threw himself.