Princess and the Emperor
Chapter 1
She lay on her back, arms spread, unconscious. Her hands, palms up, curled. Rumbling in the distance grew. An army gathered like a storm, producing whirling clouds of dust as they raced towards her body.
Sand surrounded them, a vast ocean of nothingness.
"I see her!" He shouted excitedly. His voice muffled by a red scarf. It had taken so long for this day’s arrival. The Collector [A1] worked.
The group thundered closer.
He jumped off of his ride, unable to contain himself. The animal reared, shrieking as it narrowly avoided trampling on her.
Gracefully, he landed by her side.
Reaching out and cradling a large palm under her head, he leaned close. Searching for injuries. Checking her breathing. The Shinoquoia [A2] Desert was unforgiving and deadly. They didn’t have much time.
Nervously, he waited for the approach of his right-hand man, Ojabelo [A3] . An older fellow with blond, tightly curled hair, whiskey eyes, and skin the color of tobacco leaves.
Slowly and carefully, he removed the red scarf covering his face. "Is she with us?” He rasped, kneeling beside her.
At this query, her eyelashes fluttered.
Ojabelo pointed at one man in the unit. “Tijani. Get me water. Quick!”
The big hand cradling her head moved lower, circling her shoulder, providing leverage to prop her up. He retrieved the flask of water held out to him without glancing up. Gingerly, he placed it at her dry, chapped lips and tipped.
Drinking too fast, she choked. He rubbed her back, waiting for her to recover. Ojabelo chanted, waving a hand up and down the length of her body. His chanting gave her strength. Dizziness faded as words swirled and gathered in her mind. She managed to ask. “Where am I? Who are you?”
A broad hand lowered the red scarf covering his face. A smile, bordering on menacing, stole across his handsome face. His deep voice boomed. “I am Maximillian Tan-Shin.” [A4]