The road beyond the small city of Saritunis was dry. Not as packed down as the one with in the walls. A familiar scene to be sure, the desert was a dull landscape. She had been to the jungles only once since she began taking jobs. A small part of her always thought she should head there instead. A change of scenery would be nice. Aliyeh knew she could never leave her home city permanently. Saritunis called to her whenever she was away for too long.<br/><br/>Not even midday yet, the sun was already beating down on her slender shoulders. The temperatures were reaching the high eighties, which meant it was going to be an extremely hot day. The sky was cloudless, offering to reprieve from the suns hot rays. She would need to find a good shady place to wait out the hottest part of the day. Pulling a water skin from the saddles horn, she took a good drink.<br/><br/>Traveling this exact road more then a handful of times, she was aware of the shady spot she needed. Thirty minutes is all it would take to reach it. She and her only companion would need to hold out just a little longer. Putting the water skin to her lips again she took another quick drink before hanging it off the horn. Lesan was already starting to drag his hooves. Something he did to show displeasure in the current activity. Patting the stallions neck, "soon Lesan, soon I promise. Then we will wait until the sun is nearly down." Aliyeh received a snort in return.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~</div><br/><br/>When finally they reached the small area, there was a circle of palms in the center. In the middle of those was an even smaller spring. Big enough that Lesan could drink from it, and she could splash her hot skin. Leaning back against one of the palms, she let her companion have free reign. He wouldn't go very far, the sun was too hot to leave their little shady area. She was never too far from her blades. Even out in the open one never knew who could attack when you least expected it.<br/><br/>Daggers circled her thighs, and two Kilij hung from her waist. They were always kept at the ready for any attack. Sitting with her back against the palm, they lay on either side of her. From the sun position she would have a few hours before the day cooled off. Taking the time to get sleep, since you never knew when you would get another chance.<br/><br/>She had just dozed off, at least that was how it felt. Hearing soft shuffling footsteps woke her. Odd that someone could actually get that close before she knew they were coming. Her hand flew immediately to her Kilij, ready to strike the intruder. What she was faced with however, was not what was expected. A few feet away, standing on the banks of the spring was an elderly woman. Dressed in rags, a gray wool cloak littered with holes covered the woman's face. She hadn't bother to turn towards Aliyeh just yet. Simply staring at the water, that rippled slightly with a breeze that hadn't been there before.<br/><br/>Pushing to her feet, the shifters eyes searched left and right. There was no one else there that she could see. Then again she couldn't understand where this woman would have come from in the first place. "What are you doing out here," she asked with apprehension in her tone. She didn't dare approach, magic users liked to use illusions to lure travelers into traps. For a moment to woman continued to stare into the water, saying not a word. Again Aliyeh asked, "what are you doing out here old woman." Slowly the woman turned, gray milky eyes look at her without seeing.<br/><br/>A twisted hand rose slowly, while a gnarled finger extended. "Great dangers await you, your journey will be long." The woman spoke in haunting tones. "The perils that you will face, will be harder then any you have seen. Keep strong girl, for you will not be alone." The twisted hands reached out, taking hold of her Aliyeh's wrists. "Love will find you, do not deny what your heart seeks." The woman didn't skip a beat, allowing no room for questions.<br/><br/>"Wait what are you..." she tried to speak.<br/><br/>"Brothers, one you should trust the other will be uncertain. Survival is still undecided, but continue on this path."<br/><br/>Then the woman was turning away, the conversation apparently over. "Wait, where are you going," Aliyeh started to follow. "You can't just leave like that," reaching out she grabbed the woman's shoulder. The moment her hand touched the woman, she vanished, leaving behind a pile of ragged clothing. Dropping the tattered gray cloak, she searched to scene. No trace of the woman, or even how she had gotten here. Lesan seamed completely unaware of anything that happened. Was she the only one to see the woman?<br/><br/>Senses on full alert, she was sure there would be no more sleeping. Nerves on edge, the old woman's words ran through her mind. What love was she talking about? She had never had plans to even search for love. There wasn't time for such things. Who were these brothers, and why would she trust either of them? She was accustomed to danger of all kinds, what would be different now? Was there really a chance that she wouldn't survive this? The main questions was, how did this woman know all this? Spending the next few hours contemplating what all of it could mean. The obvious was there, but the words had been so cryptic, vague.<br/><br/>The sun had finally sank low enough in the horizon, the days heat was bearable. She mounted Lesan, heading back towards the road, or what most resembled one. Her mind still on the old woman, she needed to refocus herself. Her mind needed to shift from the events from hours ago, to what might be ahead. If she were to take the warning seriously, she needed to stay alert. When was she going to meet these brothers though?<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~</div><br/><br/>When night finally fell, she had managed to push her thoughts to the foreground. For the moment all seemed....normal. Nothing had jumped out at her, in fact the road had been pretty much empty. Now with the sun completely down, the chances of running into something more sinister then trades men were bigger. This would prove true with in moments. First it started with flicker of light in the distance. Appearing as just another traveler on the road. Getting closer, the small flicker of light, began looking more like a fire. Perhaps just a camp, a place where a group was resting. Aliyeh was smarter then your average traveler though. She mentally prepared herself for what could come next.<br/><br/>When she got within a few feet of the camp fire, the area was empty. Food laid out, as well as bed rolls. This was a trap, a lure to bring in unsuspecting victims. Her animalistic senses told her it was trolls, their stench was strong. The goods left behind were to pull people in, thinking they were getting a good haul. Even Lesan was a good target for trolls, horses supplied a large amount of meat. Other races weren't safe from trolls though, anything could be a meal. She pulled a kilij from her waist, just as the first troll attacked. He had thought he had the element of surprise. As she swung out with the sword the situation became more dire.<br/><br/>The shifter had assumed it was a small band of trolls. Reality was the band was much larger then the average. From the sands emerged at least fourteen more. Sorely out numbered, Aliyeh need to think fast. She could take out some, but her main objective would be to run. She was good, but not that good, not many were. Her blade struck the target, catching an ear and a cheek. She swung around to the other side, slipping to the ground in the process. Battle while on a horse was difficult at best. She squared off, Lesan stayed close at hand. Before they could run, she needed to buy them time. Three were converging on her now, Aliyeh braced herself.