After the sun moved from the danger zone, the caravan continued their journey. Once again trudging through the sands, Shyla scanned the horizon. The well-traveled routes between the cities of Koraha were lined with shelters. However, with the constantly blowing sand, you’d never know they were well-traveled. The only time the sand stopped moving was when the sun reached the apex of its jump. Most times a steady breeze blew the grains, but on rare occasions, they were blasted by a howling sandstorm.

When the sun hung low in the sky, Lota stopped them at another shelter. This time the wagons were parked in a circle to keep the gamelus inside. The sun shade was draped over all the wagons, creating a thin ceiling for the herd. It also blocked the wind and trapped the sun’s heat emanating off the sands and off the animals. Enough warmth so the guards on duty didn’t freeze.

Shyla admired the design as she circled the outside of the hut during the start of her twenty-five angle shift to protect the wagons, checking that all was well. Then she turned her attention to the wider surroundings. The starlight from the five brothers constellation illuminated the sands just enough to spot the approach of any sand pirates without having to use a druk. But Shyla still used her power to seek the souls of any hidden attackers. Rendor and the others were just a shout away. He wouldn’t admit it, but Shyla knew he remained awake when she was guarding the wagons.

Satisfied no threats lurked nearby, Shyla practiced manipulating the sand with her magic. Sand was a powerful weapon, and she still hadn’t mastered moving large quantities of it. Starting with the easiest task, she focused on her footprints in the sand and used the magical command, Return. Her prints disappeared. Then she moved onto the more difficult task of hiding her body underneath the sands by creating a furrow she could lie in before settling a layer of sand over her so the ground appeared to be undisturbed.