The Sahara Chronicles #1: The Young Foreigner (Available in full on Amazon)

PART I: THE YOUNG FOREIGNER

713 SM

Sahara

The young man, so far away from home, in a land of absolute strangers, could now be considered a foreigner.

He was called Yor Castel and he arrived on the shores of a land far, far away from one of the two southernmost territories of the world.

After a year of travel in search of the fortune he was convinced was awaiting him somewhere on Sahara, he arrived at the small island-kingdom of Aloris the night before, by a royal merchant ship that was headed in the same direction. The next morning, Yor was trudging slowly through the populated streets with the captain, who felt the need to repay the younger man's kindness on his ship by showing him around the shore. The people he saw around them all looked happy, like they had everything their hearts desired. Such a look on their faces sent a pang of homesickness in Yor, since this was, by far, the longest he had been away from his village.

The land, he could see as soon as he stepped down onto the harbour, was green with lush trees, beautiful flowers, and exotic fruits! – fruits he had only heard from traders in his village or read the in books in the libraries he visited. 'Ah, such beauty!' thought Yor delightfully. He could see happy families waving to ships as they entered the shores behind the Stella Argentum. The Sahara Ocean was calm to-day and by the way the aquatic creatures on this side of the shore were dancing, the weather had been like this for some time.

He could see mermaids and mermen dancing on the surface of the water, fishes and whales floating in and out around them in a circle, and sometimes, some joining or leaving them. It was a very beautiful sight indeed, especially to one who had never lived by the ocean before.

The captain of the ship watched him carefully with an amused expression on his face, which the young foreigner could see despite his mouth and part of his nose covered with grey beard. "You certainly have never been to this part of the world, have you, son?"

Yor turned to him, an awed expression on his face. "No, sir, not once! Uh – thank you so much for the voyage from Cramarick!" He dug into his belt pocket and brought out some Lirers. He counted them on his hand, before presenting them to the older man. "Here you are, Captain Andreas—payment for your generosity and a little more."

Captain Andreas guffawed. "I rather say you'll need the money more than I do, young man! Here, take these ten; I'll have five. It's all I can do for all the help you've given us, especially when some of the men that got sick." He saluted. "Aye, now, if you don't mind, I'll take my leave. Got some cargo to deliver and pick up. Busy day to-day for the Stella Argentum!"

"Aye-aye, Captain!" Yor saluted. "You take care of yourself and your men, sir, while I go explore the island and, eventually, the rest of the world!"

"Aye! And if you ever are in need of my help, do not hesitate to ask me or my crew!—we'll be glad to see your face again!"

"Thank you, sir! I'll know where to find you!" With that, Yor bowed and parted from the captain and his ship.

The land never ceased to enchant him. 'I wish I could stay here forever...!' he thought wistfully.

Yor sighed and turned away. He had business to attend now, a fortune to seek, for which he had begun this journey in the first place. And thus far, he had been only a little lucky, though the prophesised fortune still seemed far away.

'I have a master to make proud,' he resolved to himself with determination. 'A chance to prove myself capable of taking on the world on my own!'

With such thoughts, he walked on, away from the shore and happy creatures, towards Aloris.

Aloris was a very unique country, as far as Yor was concerned.