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They looked as though they were designed to keep intruders from entering the residence from above. They didn't deter the throng, they only slowed them down somewhat.
Czari released my hand and we walked single file out a door which led to the roof.
The simple but expansive terrace afforded a stunning view of the Vault and the desert beyond.
Wait. That's not possible.
"How is there a desert there?" I shook my head. The nearest desert was… I don't know, but a lot further than virtually outside the door.
"The bubble," Czari said, as though that explained everything.
I suppose it did. Everything I saw so far suggested the Vault was outside the normal world, like we'd stepped through a portal into somewhere else entirely. At this point, I couldn't rule out anything.
"We are definitely not in Kansas anymore," I said under my breath. I'd never been there to begin with, but this sure as hell wasn't it.
The expanse of sand was to the east. The Vault hugged the coast for kilometres both north and to the south. To the west, the harbour jutted like a nose into the ocean. Beyond that, I imagined I could see Narnia or Wonderland on the far horizon of the glittering sea.
Weird. As. Fuck.
I walked to the edge of the terrace, placed my hands on the iron railing and peered down.
Only a wide yard and a few streets stood between the residence and the desert.
I glanced up, but saw only early morning sky, blue with a tinge of pink where the sun still rose. No planes, no smog, no high rise buildings.
"They're going," Czari called out.
At least three dozen figures were down on the ground. They moved through the yard at a trot. Bain and Dex jogged side by side near the front. The crowd on the roof let out a cheer. Dex and several others turned to wave.
Servants carried up chairs, which they placed near the back of the terrace. Others carried bottles, cups and plates of food.
Two men and three women dressed in bright blues and greens sat in the chairs. Around their wrists they wore bands embroidered with musical notes. Each had an instrument; a flute, a drum, a guitar, and two wind instruments I didn't recognise. They started to play an upbeat tune while the crowd clapped and handed around food and wine.
"So, we get to come up here to watch them leave?" I asked dryly. Unless I was mistaken, I could have sat up in bed and seen them pass by below.
Czari laughed. "Oh no. So much more. The warriors hunt the sand dragon, while we celebrate the hunt."
"Wouldn't it be more fun tojointhe hunt?" I asked. I couldn't keep a hint of wistfulness from my voice.
Czari waved a hand. "The hunt is dangerous. We ask Hades to return the men safety to us with wine, bread and cheese." She reached for two glasses and pressed one into my hand. "It's bad luck not to drink." She took a gulp. "A lot."
I took a sip of the soft, fruity wine. "Thank you. Any chance of a bourbon and cola?"
Czari gave me a funny look.
"Never mind," I muttered. How backwards were these people?
Czari gave me a nod and turned to someone beside her. They spoke in excited tones about this man and that, but none were any I knew, so I tuned out the chatter and looked back toward the yard.
A wide gate at the other end swung open and the men filed out two by two. They wound though the street and were lost from sight until they trotted out across the desert. They quickly became specks, but I was sure I could tell which was Bain and which was Dex.
"I heard the sand dragon was near the oasis," a man remarked. He held a telescope to his eye and looked out, his other eye shut, his mouth pulled up to one side.
"Who told you that, Quentin?" a woman asked.
Quentin shrugged but didn't look away. "I just heard it. They're heading that way, anyway."
The men became dots before they disappeared out of sight.
