The heat was oppressive, and he still hadn't got used to it. He sat under the awning, which provided cover from the noon sun that bleached the surrounding sand. The oasis that they were positioned near had no buildings; only tents and makeshift shelters provided shade or areas to sleep. A hiss and snapping sound erupted from across a temporary pen where the beasts of burden were kept.
A handler holding a long, pole-like implement similar to a spear, but without a sharpened point, teased the beast with an enormous chunk of meat. The beast's mouth opened and snapped closed again in frustration as he did. Upon seeing the handler, the other beasts reacted, approaching where the feeding was about to begin.
"No need to fight. You will each get fed," the handler said.
It had taken him weeks to find them. The nomadic lifestyle of the clan meant they moved from oasis to oasis, allowing the resources to replenish before returning. Though numbering only around two hundred, this clan's ferocity compensated for its size. They were feared within the territory for their prowess and absolute will. The beasts they had tamed and bred were like large lizards, their bodies almost fifteen feet long and with long prehensile tails reaching another ten feet that ended in a sharp spike. Spines and spikes protruded from their faces, and the long, triangular-shaped head was filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth designed to rip and tear. The natural thickness of their scales provided them with armour as strong as, if not stronger than, plate.
When he first encountered the clan, he almost ran away upon seeing the monstrous lizards, fear welling up inside him. The draconians bred them to hunt and kill, as well as pull the clan's belongings on the large sledges as they traversed the desolate landscape. There was no reason for them to have carts or wagons in the territory, with over 95% of it covered in sand or rocks.
A tall draconian approached, ducking under the awning and letting out a groan as it lowered itself onto the blanket and cushions that provided comfort. Its scales were yellow with flecks of brown, but there was a pale undertone of green, unusual for a desert draconian. Its colours offered it natural camouflage in the territory's surroundings.
"How did it go?" he asked, mopping his brow with a handkerchief. The draconian looked at him, shrugging. He was the chief of the clan, a draconian called Kalliqi. "They will do as they are told. The gnoll tribes know what is best for them."
"So, when will they attack?"
"Soon. I would expect within the moon cycle," Kalliqi said.
He was sitting there, eagerly rubbing his hands together. It had taken him months to confirm this plan, but he would seek revenge for what had happened to him.
"Our ancestors will stand proud when we claim what is rightfully ours," he said.
"The land will provide us with much. My clan has always fought for everything we own in this forsaken territory we call home."
"Why did you never leave?"
"To where? We couldn't enter the north; only now, with the border opening, can we take advantage of it? On all other sides, the territories are even deadlier than here. Our clan is not large; if we had the numbers, we might have forged south, but the losses would be great. We must ensure that the numbers are maintained where we are. Our hatchery is controlled; only when an elder passes can a newborn replace them. If we had allowed our numbers to grow, we would not have found the resources to survive. That doesn't stop us from being the strongest in the territory, though. Our fighters are fierce and our riders fiercer. Any hostile act against us will bring death to those who challenge us."
"I am just glad I found you, and you are on my side, cousin. Our fathers would be proud that we are joining forces to bring back what is rightfully ours."
Kalliqi raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "Cousin. Don't get me wrong, I understand your wishes, but this isn't just for you. This is to provide the haven that my clan has long needed. It will allow us to expand and grow, to become the veritable force that we should have always been. Not hidden away in a territory with restrictions against us. I will support your claim in honour of our fathers and forefathers, but do not assume that the clan will ever be yours to command."
"I understand. I am just grateful that you see the benefits of my plans. Regaining control of the township and allowing for the growth of the clan will indeed honour our family."
Bellakiy lifted a waterskin and downed the refreshing water. The awning offered a brief respite from the oppressive heat. He sat wearing an unbuttoned shirt and loose pants. He had tried to switch to wearing sandals on his feet but had to return to boots; the sand had driven him crazy between his toes. Ever since that twisted fae had arrived in Killic, his life had become awkward. He had been planning a takeover, working across the villages within the territory, providing them with the information to back a change in leadership. Zigferd, that oaf of a bear, had stolen his rightful position as chief of Killic. The villagers should never have given Zigferd the position, but when his scheming was revealed, the council voted against him.
His anger had boiled over, and he had left the town behind, heading back to Asterfal, where his sister presided as one of the most powerful figures in the city. She ran the Astaria and had connections he could use to rebuild again. He had not been received well. His sister scorned him and berated him over his greed and stupidity. She had always been the controlling arm of the family business and held the purse strings. His actions had brought his downfall. She had removed him from the company. He had no rights, no power. All their affiliates were under strict instructions not to work with him because of the shame he had brought to their family name.
That was when he had planned his revenge. He'd use any means to regain what belonged to him. It was only when he had been at their family home in Asterfal and was going through his father's old manuscripts that he discovered the link to the desert regions. He knew that their family was vast, with ties in many areas. Draconian lore held that two draconians were rarely separated by over three generations. Most considered themselves related, however loosely, fostering civility among draconians. It wasn't always the case, and as with any race on Amathera, clans fought for power and rights.
He had a direct link to the clan in the desert region, which was controlled by his father's brother — his uncle, for lack of a better word, although he had never met him, or had been until his passing, when Kalliqi took over the mantle. That was why Bellakiy had travelled to the region, leaving Asterfal and its political actions behind him. He hadn't told his sister about his plans; he had left her a note wishing her a long life and taken his valuables before departing.
He had secured the clan's support, and with the system changes, he knew that the borders would open in Killic, and when they did, he would be ready. The anticipation of this moment had not been lost, and when the system's territory border update had occurred, he had shouted in excitement. His cousin had been wary. Not wishing to change the clan's path, holding to his father's path of controlling the region, but with the system changes caused by the fae legionnaire, it had proven Bellakiy's words, and Kalliqi could not ignore the opportunity that it gave them.
Bellakiy wanted to seek revenge against that interfering fae, but knew that if he had done so, it would have prevented his plan. However, knowing that the borders were open, he would get his revenge on her and make her suffer for his downfall. Those who shunned him in Killic would pay the price. He would force the town to its knees, making them beg for his forgiveness. He would become mayor, as was always intended.
As soon as the border change had occurred, Bellakiy had gone with Kalliqi and two of his trusted men to scout the township. The valley's defences surprised him; their construction presented a setback. He had hoped to march into Killic with the clan and take control, disposing of his enemies, but he couldn't do so now. Kalliqi, not knowing Killic before, had not seemed phased by what they had seen. The tunnel that led through to Killic was easily traversed. The lizards could use it without hindrance, and there were no defences by the main entrance into the territory. It was only once on the plains that you could see the walls that were constructed surrounding the path that led to the plateau.
The defences were impressive; the walls stood twenty-five feet tall, and Bellakiy had been concerned about how they could overcome them. Kalliqi had brushed his fears off. With the agility of the lizard riders, he knew that they could get over and once inside, the gates could be opened. The gates hadn't been completed yet. They could be closed to block the path, but there were none of the usual defences that a walled gate would house. It would be a simple task to overcome them.
Prior to their plans commencing, Kalliqi had ensured that the gnolls were aware of their position. The territory consisted of three gnoll tribes, each under the watch of Kalliqi. They feared the draconic clan more than the harsh reality of the territory they lived in. Their clans were not weak; they were also powerful compared to many, but the sheer ferocity of the draconic clan humbled any that stood in their way.
The gnolls would strike first, and only once the gnolls could not continue would the clan move forward. Kalliqi had said that there was no point in them losing any of their number before the worthless beasts threw themselves at the mercy of the town. The gnolls numbered over five hundred between the clans, and they were all hardened to the harsh reality of the desert. The enormous sand serpents, gargantuan sand beetles and the impossibly fierce beasts had meant that they often fought to survive, and then to top it all, there were the carrion claws. The giant, almost skeletal birds that would attack anything they found alone in the early morning light or at dusk. Fortunately, only the rare gila monster was diurnal among desert creatures. Most found shade during the sun's zenith as it scorched the sands.
Bellakiy had not seen one of the gila beasts, but from the tales he had heard since arriving with the clan, they were indeed true beasts. They were rumoured to dwarf the lizards the clan rode on, being almost three times the size, and could swallow several draconians whole easily with their massive mouths. They were also highly toxic, not only when bitten with venom, but they could also spit venom in a stream. Bellakiy had shuddered hearing the tales, and his first few days had caused him sheer panic at discovering them. Thankfully, they always travelled alone, and according to the clan, they were found closer to the south of the region, though occasionally one might stray further north.
Bellakiy had seen a sand serpent and a sand beetle; they alone had been terrifying enough. The serpents swam through the soft dunes, and their bodies could grow to twenty feet in length. It wasn't their size so much as their ability to strike from beneath that was terrifying. They would wait for a hapless fool not to be watching where they stepped and strike, injecting a paralytic into their victims before consuming them whole.
The sand beetles, on the other hand, were colossal beasts. They weren't violent and didn't hunt like the predators in the territory, but they did eat anything they found. Over the years, several draconians had met a fate worse than death. If a beetle stumbled on the resting place of a draconian patrol, it had no problems starting to eat them, slicing through their bodies like butter with their giant pincers. Their armoured bodies made them almost impenetrable to any form of physical attack. The desert was a hostile environment, not just because of its climate, but also because of the beasts that lived there.
"Why will it take a moon cycle for them to attack?" Bellakiy asked, frustrated by the continuing delay.
Kalliqi sighed. "There are three clans. They need to gather as one before they strike, and the scorpoids are the most southerly clan from here. They will be the brunt of our initial attack."
Scorpoids were giant scorpions, characterised by their armoured carapaces, vicious pincers, and venomous tails, making them a formidable force to be reckoned with. The problem with scorpoids was that the gnolls could fall foul of them as much as anything else. They weren't mounts like the lizards; their size was only like that of a draconian or gnoll, but they were violent, and when released from their bonds, they would attack anything in their path. The only reason the draconian clan had ever survived was because of their lizard mounts. Their mounts thought scorpoids a delicacy and would almost savour the opportunity to eat one.
Bellakiy smiled a twisted smile. His lip curled, showing his sharp teeth. It wouldn't be long now. He just had to wait, and all his planning and scheming would come to fruition. Soon, he would get his vengeance against those who damaged his reputation.
