Sandstorm

Part 6

The entire party held up their hands. King Brum slid off his horse. “We are here to help.”

King Kol met him. They looked at each other with caution. “You will answer to Kessa.”

He bowed to her, “what do you need?”

She, Max, and Kol looked over a map of the city. “We need to figure out where to move the debris too. Do we burn it?” She asked as she wiped her face with a cool towel that Beth had handed her. “Thank you.”

“You know what we could do?” Max pointed at two spots next to the barracks. “We could use the debris to expand our training ground.”

“Or,” Kol pointed at the ocean. “We have been talking for years about putting up a barrier against the waves. We have extra help. Why not start now?”

“Alright.” Kessa answered.

They started to walk away. Kol called to her. “Kessa, you and your team need rest.”

She bowed her head, “thank you, my king.”

She and Max led King Brum and his troops to the beach. “Let’s not have to work harder than we need too.” She disappeared for a moment. There came a loud noise followed by two explosions. Kessa wasn’t about to show the Shadow People the full might of Mecca, only two ships answered the call to the harbor. The first one docked to the left of the beach. She pointed to the small yet impressive vessel. “Let’s start filling her up. The platform is wide enough that a horse drawn wagon can go down and turn around. While you are getting your first load ready, we will test the platform.”

King Brum bowed and they left.

She and Petro took a small boat out to find the spot where to start putting the barrier.

Kol was standing on the beach when she and Petro returned. They had placed five barrels out in the water outlining the spot where the debris was to be dumped across the water front.

When she stepped out of the boat, Kol was furious. “Kessa, I want you to rest.”

“There’s still a lot of work to do.” She said in protest.

“That’s an order,” he hissed. “You and the Bejhar.”

Frego was standing by his side. She stared at the prince for a moment. It was disrespectful to protest. Even more so in front of his son. She said not a word as she walked away.

It was almost night fall before the first load of debris was loaded onto the ship.

Sandstorm

Part 5

Max came running up the steps. “The wall is intact. No breeches. We have found a great number wounded. Mostly by debris.” Kessa and Max walked away.  

Kol shouted after them. “What do you need?”

Max shook his head, “hands to look for survivors, my king.”

“What do we do?” Rajaf asked. 

“If you find someone, bring them here or to the temple whichever is closer.”

A soldier came running around the building, “the fire is spreading!”

Kol stayed at the palace. Kessa went with the new soldier. People that wanted to help find survivors went with Max. Those that didn’t, stayed behind in the palace.

The fire raged into the night. They were able to contain it to the market.

Daylight found Kessa and the fire fighters covered with black soot. All of the hot spots had been put out. Every muscle she had ached.

General Marcus spoke from behind her, “that was a great idea you had.” They both stared out at the sea.

“Thank you kind sir.”

For the people that their homes survived, they were cleaning up. Mostly sweeping out sand or replacing shutters. Repair work had already started on the palace.

Over all, five hundred people had been injured. But no one was killed. Truly a blessing from God.

Beth and Petro had even come down from the mountain to help.

They were at the palace when all the fire fighters came walking around the corner. Kessa in the lead. Kol’s heart was about to bust when he saw her. It took every ounce of resistance in him not to run to her. Even though she was dirty from head to toe, she was a sight for his eyes.

Kol was covered in sand and blood. Rajaf and Frego were teaching him how to do minor things; clean and bandage wounds. The Queen Mother was cutting material into bandages and filling water pots.

Kessa turned her head and in an instant pulled a sword from nowhere. A circle formed around the king.

King Brum and a group of shadow people rode into the city. With the soldiers being so busy with other duties, no one was guarding the city. An oversight they might pay for with their lives.