Time to Wander...

Wandering around the exterior of the crumbling monastery, I step carefully, avoiding the larger stones and finding footing in the rubble of the crushed ones that must have fallen during the great fight. “Much more epic than the minor squabbles we dealt with in here!” I smile, even though I had required many potions and salves to recover.

The book that I had found, and read, was fascinating and told an incredible tale about the Genies and a great war! “Genies!” I exclaimed aloud, shaking my head. “So much to learn.”

I continued ambling, letting my braying donkey, Oatty, pick the path. He stopped after a bit, in the welcome shade created by a still standing tall wall and I stared up at the ages old stone, wishing it could talk – the tales it could tell; the visions it must have witnessed. I could only imagine the people that must have passed through its courtyards – its Temple.

Would they all have been important rulers or merchants? Would peasants have found worshipping here ordinary? Humdrum? (As opposed to Conun, Hum is a much smaller locale...)

I observed the stonework laid, how many years ago? Such attention to detail. Every stone snug against its neighbour; that they were still standing was a testament to the builders.

“Those clashes must have been mighty,” my thoughts form on my lips as the visions of colourfully-garbed gigantic pillows of ethereal wisps, only their shoulders and heads visible, their eyes sparking and flashing; the sky rumbling with the battle...

Arms, thick as barrels, waving, tossing giant stars to explode and crater the soft earth, while delicate fingers strummed creating cataclysmic waves, shattering mountains and laying forests flat...

It was as if I were there! I pulled the book from my sack and sat among the stones, reading the one page over, staring out at the desert harshness wondering what could cause the Genies such anguish?

Who would think it wise to anger them; to make their jealousies stir and their petty vanity to simmer?

Shaking my head I slip the tome back into my rucksack, flicking a small scorpion off, deciding maybe I should keep strolling. I stood and stretched, feeling a slight wind tickle my arms and bare mid-riff.

In the desert any breeze is welcome, and this one was none more than any other. I glanced about, and, seeing no one, I removed my skirt and immediately felt the temperature difference! “Why do we need to bother with clothing?” I petulantly questioned Oatty. “I mean, we’re all built the same.” I giggled. “Well, basically. Oh, I know. Stop looking at me like that!”

Oatty brayed softly and I smiled. He really could understand me, I had no doubt. “Those others,” I continued, moving closer to him, petting his nose and letting him nuzzle my neck, “they just don’t understand animals like I do. You wouldn’t poop in there now, would you?”

Oatty brayed and shook, as if to say, “What? Me? My manners are impeccable! How could you suggest such a thing!”

I giggled, “Too damn smart for me, aren’t yah, Oatty?” I reached in my rucksack and pulled a treat out for him, which he accepted gratefully, and then, forgetting his manners entirely, gulped the morsel down, chewing with his mouth wide open.

“Ewwww; pig!” I teased. I pulled my skirt back around my hips and fastened the belt and tied a thin strip of cloth around my hair, pulling its heavy weight up and back, feeling decidedly cooler.

“Let’s keep going.” I slapped Oatty’s ass and, after looking at me balefully, he continued picking his way to the solid soil between the rubble and the shifting sands. I followed, content just to be out of that monastery.

“I mean, it’s okay to have a place to hide from the worst of the weather, but how can someone breathe inside those rooms for long?” Shuddering I glanced at the windows, “Unless they are open, there’s no way for fresh air to reach so deep into the building!”

 

“Oh, what have you found?” I stepped up to where Oatty had stopped and was braying. “Wow. Look at that!” The pretty flowers of Lithops, were blooming and couple of the ‘stones’ were bursting from their rock-like ‘seed’. “Well, thank you, Oatty! That is a view most people don’t get to see!” I hugged Oatty, and he nuzzled my hair.

“Okay, okay, let’s keep going. How big is this place, anyway?” I looked forward and back, only seeing the back side of the monastery. I picked up one of the flowering ‘seeds’ not yet open and plonked it in my rucksack before continuing to follow Oatty, while thinking about the vegetation.

“There is some palms and grasses so there must be an underground water source,” I considered. “And, there was dampness inside the monastery.”

I felt the breeze again and longed to strip down and revel in its comfort, “Damn modesty!” I muttered. Oatty brayed in agreement. We rounded the far corner and made out way along to the rounded jut-out of the Sanctuary.

“Oh, disgusting! Who craps here instead of going to the toilets!? Filthy pigs!” I utter coming close to the Sanctuary walls, denoted by the once lovely windows; most of which, were shattered, the slivers of glass lying under the openings. “Maybe someone who was dissatisfied with the sermons?”

Oatty let loose a long ‘bray’ that sounded like laughter, making me double over. “You are such an ass, Oatty!” I threw my arms around his neck when I was able to stop laughing. “The only one who understands me.” I kissed his nose.

I remembered one of the twerps we were supposed to kill had escaped by jumping out the window. "I hope he landed in the shi... crap!" I laughed, running my hand down Oatty's side, who joined with me once again. Continuing around, we found ourselves finally back to the front of the damaged monastery, or, at least where we’d started our stroll.

Much busyness was still taking place as brooms were in motion; movers were hauling all manner of furniture about. I picked up a broom from a large pile of them and headed to where our party had decided to set up our camp, in the conservatory. At least there was fresh air, even if the place did smell of smoke, the evening breezes had almost gotten rid of the sooty-odour.

I noticed we all set our tents in separate corners and smirked.

Going to the area I had chosen for myself and Oatty, I began the cathartic motions of sweeping the soot and ash into a pile off to the side. I had visions of flaming it again, just to reduce the volume! I laid my bedroll on the ground on top of the square of oiled canvas I’d found near the docks on evening.

“Supper, a night of reading and rest and I’ll be fresh and ready for the morning!” I spoke to Oatty, after hauling in some straw I found in the pen with the other animals, and letting Oatty make his own bed.

A large bowl, found in the kitchen served as first a wash-up bowl for myself, and, after cleansing, and refilling it, a drinking bowl for Oatty.

“There, time for me to find the mess hall. You stay here, I'll bring you back some of those orange melons you like so much.” I tossed a length of rope over his neck and let it trail on the ground. "Now you stay and don't make a mess." I told him as I turned and went in search of the dining hall, counting my coin and trying to remember how many healing potions I could purchase before we were sent on our next missive... and would the Cleric have enough ingredients?

o0o