A day’s walk along the river—with more attentive step—brought Sabit to a crossroads. Several eastbound travelers filled their skins, amphorae, and jars with as much water as the containers would hold. Westbound travelers tarried in the cool waters, drinking as much as their bellies would hold. A caravan of well-provisioned eastbound merchants—their wagons laden with … Read more
The river was chill, but not cold. The current was swift, but not torrential. Sabit made her way quickly toward the bank. Finding purchase on a boulder half-submerged, Sabit’s eye caught something out of place, reflecting the sunlight from beneath the murky water’s surface. Swimming closer, she grasped a necklace of finely-wrought silver chains as … Read more
Sabit’s reverie nearly ended her life. The warrior’s foot was poised to step upon a sleeping bear cub when the mother’s roar shook Sabit from her thoughts. Instinct lowered her iron-tipped spear to face the mother’s charge, the butt set firm against a root. The hillside was steep. The mother bear charged up through underbrush … Read more