[This is part of my Creative Writing Experiment.]
The village of Tea Kettle was little more than a cluster of mud brick huts surrounded by a great stone wall in turn was surrounded by mountains but because of the great well which never seemed to run dry it had quickly become one of the largest settlements of free folk in the desert. The chieftain, Chahl, a short bald man who happened to also be built like a brick wall watched as numerous wagons full of weapons and armor rolled into his town. Beside him stood the leader of the caravan train, a slender and sly looking man with sharp eyes.
"That's the last of them," the merchant said proudly as he nodded to himself with his hands on his hips. "Now great chieftain, you might stand a chance against the army of the Wizard King! Compliments from my master, Drisana, of course."
Chahl's steely gaze didn't move. "Chance bigger with more people. Your master to send warriors also?"
"Sorry," shrugged the trader. "That wasn't part of the deal. Speaking of warriors Where are our pretty gladiators anyway?"
The stocky man turned slowly to him and ever so slightly cocked his head in a vague direction with a grunt. The merchant knew better than to ask for specifics as Chahl was renowned both for his combat mastery and for a temper as short as his stature. The wry merchant simply bowed and made his own way from hut to hut. Eventually, after pulling open the curtain door on the eighth or so house he found the people he was looking for... in various states of undress.
After sharing a moment of being awkwardly shocked with each other Nessa managed to yell a few choice curses while Indas, fully nude bar for the bandages wrapped over her wounds grabbed the scrawny man by the neck and forced him back outside. She looked particularly menacing now that she was missing many more teeth. The other townsfolk stopped as they watched the naked giant effortly lift and slowly choke the scrawny merchant with one hand. Fortunately for the man, Nerith managed to get a long tunic on and calm her companion down enough to release him. With an angry grunt, Indas returned inside the hut while he coughed some air back into him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." began the heavily embarrassed merchant, who wisely remained down on his knees.
"Who are you and what do you want?" asked Nessa from within the hut. She had opened the curtain just enough to show that she was armed.
"I am called Notaku and Drisana sent me here to deliver her thanks and the payment you earned for eliminating the wyvern bandits and Balkazar. She also wanted me to give you this amulet. It's of the magical variety and through simple touch and concentrating on Drisana's caravan can instantly warp the four of us right to the Sand Market."
The sisters shared a quick look between them before Nerith spoke "That won't be necessary."
"B...but there's a war coming! Having seen what you are capable of Drisana doesn't want you to throw your lives..."
"I said, that won't be necessary," repeated Nerith, more sure of herself this time as she leant down to help the man to his feet.
Flustered, Notaku looked at the sisters meekly. "Ok fine, but please just take the amulet anyway. I'll get into trouble if Drisana thinks I stole it from her."
With one eyebrow raised Nerith cautiously took the amulet from him and feeling no danger from it, decided to put it around her neck much to the chagrin of her sister. Having completed his task, Notaku gave an awkward bow and took his leave while the girls all relaxed back into their hut. It wasn't long before the curtain door opened again though and once more Indas, who was dressed this time, was the first on her feet but stopped suddenly when she saw the two blonde ladies at the door.
"Long time no see," smiled Jasmine of sorceress of Gedrin. Beside her was Chaya, the leader of the Sedrite village, also grinning from ear to ear.
"We heard there was a war coming and we want in."
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