Thespis faced Dungr and Rugr, his unease palpable. He knew this meeting concerned Sela, and their strained expressions deepened his apprehension.
Rugr began recounting Will and Maya’s unsettling report. He omitted the most graphic details of Sela’s condition, sparing Thespis the full horror. The couple's shock and Will’s comparisons to the Dark Witch were enough. Thespis clung to his memories of Sela, the last pillar in a life shattered by lies. Rugr, a reluctant guide, had become a constant, nudging Thespis forward.
When Rugr finished, Thespis, stunned, his voice cracked. “She vanished into the desert? She won’t survive. I have to find her.” He rose, ready to leave.
Dungr raised a hand. “There’s more.”
Thespis hesitated, sinking back into his seat, a flicker of desperate hope in his eyes.
“The reason we found her trail so quickly,” Dungr said, “was a patrol report. Strange doesn’t begin to describe it.”
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“What did they see?” Thespis asked, leaning forward.
Dungr exchanged a glance with Rugr. “They saw a woman near where I found Kleo. Details are hazy and… strange.”
“What did they see?” Thespis’s voice was tight.
“She was naked, covered in wounds and markings,” Dungr said. “Arrakian spider toxin damage. Scars like tendrils coursing through her veins. I’ve seen it on the dead. Never a survivor. It’s… gruesome.”
Thespis winced, his expression darkening. “Her entire body?”
Dungr nodded. “And the strange part. They saw her summon a giant scorpion from the sand. She mounted it and rode it into a canyon.”
Thespis stared, disbelief etched on his face. “You’re joking.” He turned to Rugr. “Is this a cruel trick?”
Rugr held up his hands. “It’s their report. We’ve no reason to doubt them.”
Thespis sat back, reeling. Despite the absurdity, he had to take it at face value. “I have to find her. I need your help to survive the desert.”
Dungr’s eyes softened. “We’ll train you. We’ve lived here for three hundred years.”
“And we’ll have patrols keep watch and share updates. Training starts tomorrow. Does that work?”
Thespis nodded quickly. “Yes. Finding her is my purpose.”
The brothers rose, leaving Thespis alone.
He clenched his fists, guilt tightening his chest. Dammit, Sela. Why didn’t I defend you?
Tears welled, regret flooding him. But resolve hardened within him. He would find her. He would make amends. He would stay by her side, always.