The next day the work camp was awoken early. Unguzi explained that a Sunwise Healer was coming the next day so everyone would have to work extra hard today. There was some grumbling but people got down to it. Out on the work crew Calebain and TC Uki began looking for someone to help them in their quest to escape. One choice, who happened to overhear what they were talking about was Olfen Grimwald, a huge sunburnt Truil. There was some dancing around the issue and how they got into the work camp, but in the end it was decided Olfen would make a good ally.
That night everyone was exhausted but Ndege felt it was important to try out one of his new runes since TC Uki had a knife he could use. He spent hours carving his chest while TC covered for him. When dawn came he felt almost dead, but also very tough. TC was up and took a look outside where he saw (and called Ndege to see) a figure brighter than a torch coming towards the camp. The glowing figure was talking with the guards and brought into the camp before they went to sleep.
The next day the options were to go work or line up for the Sick Tent and the Great Heleo who would be holding forth there all day. Ndege got kicked up to the front of the line by Healer Dha and proceeded to disrupt the whole schedule by taking 8 hours for Heleo to finish with him. In the end Ndege felt better than he had in months.
Meanwhile Yowahkim had volunteered to clean the well and search for some Blood Oyster Lichen, but he was unsuccessful. Later he got some moss that could act as an extreme purgative for Olfen, who'd been complaining about the poison they'd been feeding him. He did and the Truil puked like he'd never done before. When he was done the Butchers all kind of met by the latrines to figure out what they wanted to do to escape. They drew maps in the sand and debated. Yowahkim knew they were due to receive a supply convoy in the next few days and they could maybe slip out on that. Ndege was an advocate for uncollaring Calebain and rousing up the rest of the prisoners and having a good old fashioned uprising. In the end, they decided to sleep on it. And that's when they heard horses.
Calebain and Olfen saw a few riders approach the camp. Guards approached them and Unguzi soon showed up. They were arguing but the two Butchers couldn't make out what was being said. They did see the rider spit at Unguzi and stalk back to the horses with her bodyguard. Olfen sprung into action, sneaking around the sick tent to where the riders had left their horses and were mounting up. The male rider seemed jumpy and nearly shot the Truil. He tried to talk to them but realized they had no languages in common, so after some ominous gestures he asked them to wait so he could get someone who could speak a bit of Futai. Calebain was ready to help. They headed out to a dune where the three riders were waiting.
The leader of the riders was an old lean woman. She stared right at Calebain and had no time for most of his words. He explained that he wanted to help the riders and she said they'd all be dead. The camp had refused them hospitality and now everyone in it would die. After some negotiations Calebain offered their services to the nomads if they'd be spared. She thought about it, insulted him as being water-fat and grudgingly accepted his help. "Protect the healer, we have need of him. And we'll find uses for the rest of you too." With that ominous statement the riders set out at a slow pace.
The next day on the work crew Calebain tried getting some people together for a revolt. Just a few who'd be able to take on weapons when the time came. There were some noncommittal shrugs that he took as a good sign. Ndege thought about how many weapons he'd be able to make from the firewood lying about. Olfen managed to trick the guards into keeping the wolfsbane out of his system. That afternoon as they were returning to camp they were passed by the supply convoy. Yowahkim said they usually arrived in the afternoon and left back for Punga the same night. While they unloaded, dinner was delayed and the sand drifted over their scrawled out maps. It was time to decide. Slip onto the convoy or wait for the raiders to attack and throw their lot in with them?
