Onwards

Great Desert of Skulls

The woman looked at Tarmen and frowned. She was probably younger than he had thought, still a teenager. He estimated maybe around fifteen or sixteen. Her dark wavy hair cascaded just past her shoulder, her lips although parched and cracker were red, and her eyes a dark shade of brown.

She shook her head at the question and pointed back towards the south and raised five fingers, signalling that Tarafit laid back among the deep sands. She pointed to the west and said 'Gra'akast', raising 2 fingers. She seemed slightly unsure.

Tarmen noticed the girl had pulled the bodies away from the oasis and taken what she could use. He knew sooner or later scavengers would be attracted to the smell of rotting flesh. He could already see four or five large birds circling ahead.

She looked west and back at Tarmen. She pointed at the two and at a nearby camel. The meaning was obvious.

Before he could answer she pointed at herself and said: "Silina."

Later Tarmen would learn her name meant 'sunset' but also 'charmed'...