Chapter 164: Sandskimmers

“Hello!” Amelia chirped.

“Meep,” the sandskimmer responded.

In her old world, the deserts had been historically traversed with camels. Here, in the Red Sands of the Southern Terra-Firma, the beast of burden was something quite different indeed. Sandskimmers had no legs, taking on the form of an enormous flatfish. They were big. The one before Amelia must have had a wingspan of at least four metres. Or was that finspan? The smooth, almost rubbery fins rippled a hand’s breadth above the sand, undulating gently on aetheric currents. Their lift organ hummed rhythmically, smooth and gentle, like a miniature arcwhale.

“Aren’t you just gorgeous?” Amelia murmured, reaching into the pen and running her hand over its back. Its back was a pale tan, and slightly patterned, mimicking the desert dunes. It had two humps on their back, where its shoulder blades would be if it had them. The mounds weren’t quite analogous to the distinctive humps of a camel. These were wider, more streamlined against the slim body. This, alongside the thick layer of blubber across the sandskimmer’s back, were where they stored their energy and water.

“You’ve made friends already, my anisa.”

The words belonged to the owner of the sandskimmer pens; a Hakian man named Noor. He’d been surprised to encounter their group, so eager to enter the Red Sands so close to the Red Moon’s moonrain. Judging from the way his eyes had widened, he had been even more surprised to find they were a group of women, most of them Easterners. Still, he was a wise businessman, and had pushed aside any questions he had when Serena hadn’t blinked at the increased prices.

“Even so,” Noor said, turning back to Serena, “my insurance won’t pay if I hire my skimmers to an unprepared group. Pyrinn’s rain is near, my anisa. Even the bravest of traders wouldn’t skim the sands now.” He gestured to the sandskimmers. “I see they react to your aether. You have power, I know. Yet the Red Sands have claimed many warriors and mages who thought they could take on Pyrinn’s gaze. It is a choking heat, my anisa. Worse for women. Worse for foreigners.”

“Tell me about it,” Finella muttered. Even in the early morning, when the sun had yet to reach its zenith, the Northern demon was sweating. She was the fairest of them all, even with a strong Ishaq-born tan. 

Noor nodded sympathetically. “I can only let you take my skimmers if you can show me you can draw groundwater and build shelter. You must have an icemage also to cool yourselves. Insurance demands it.”

Serena blinked. “Officer Aikawa,” she said, “shelter and water.”

“Aye aye,” Hinako affirmed. She stood in the open and spun up her aether. Within a few minutes she’d constructed a rudimentary shelter, big enough for them to sleep. Next, she carved a hole in the ground. It took another thirty seconds of concentrated effort, but eventually clean water bubbled up, forming into a miniature pond.

Noor sniffed, rubbing his chin. “Good,” he said. “Good. And the cooling?” He raised an eyebrow at Hinako, who glanced at Serena and Amelia.

“Miss Liona,” Serena said. “A cooling breeze, if you could.”

“Aye aye!” Amelia paused stroking the skimmer and spooled up her aether. A moment later sand and dust danced across the floor, picked up by her summoned wind.

“Good,” Noor said. “Good enough. You are very talented, my anisas.”

“Do the sandskimmers need shelter?” Serena asked. “Do they need cooling?”

The Hakian shook his head. “They will burrow, my anisa. Into the desert. It is how they sleep. They will also do it to hide from the moonrain. They will need water, so make sure you share. Do not worry if they do not drink. They know when they are thirsty.” He chuckled, adding, “As we say, you can lead a skimmer to water but you can’t make him drink.”

“Food?”

“They can go weeks on their reserves,” Noor explained. “They will forage themselves. The Red Sands are not barren as they look. The desert’s bounty is only sleeping. There is much to find under the sand. Rock nuts, sweet pods, pig tails. They are edible for demons as well, so if you go hungry…” Noor shrugged. “Dig where they dig.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Finella murmured.

“They will nest,” Noor continued. “Like that.” He pointed to an enclosure at the end of the pens, within which a sandskimmer was pushing its head into the ground before heaving sand and dirt into the air. Amelia thought it was like watching a huge, hovering, biological shovel at work. “They will do it anytime you change location, my anisa. It is in their nature. Have you seen how a peeka walks in circles before sitting? The peeka looks for snakes.” Noor nodded at the nesting sandskimmer. “The skimmer watches for the wurm and other dangers.”

The sandskimmer, after throwing around more sand and dirt, let out a satisfied meep and settled into the floor, its aetheric hovering fading into nothingness. Still, it wasn’t done yet. Its twin tails whipped into the floor, letting out an aetheric pulse that rippled through the aetherfield. Then it raised its tails erect, in the same manner Rommy did when he listened to the aetherfield.

“It’s sensing, isn’t it?” Amelia asked.

“Yes, my anisa.” Noor approached what Amelia had already decided was her sandskimmer. He opened the pen and stepped inside, running a hand across its body, down one of its two tails and gently lifting the slightly bulbous end so they could all see. “When it strikes, the impact compresses stored crystal. It is like a ping”—he motioned a small explosion with one hand—“from an aetherscope. The desert is dense, so the signal travels far. They will do it often, and warn you of approaching danger. However…” he glanced at Hinako. “It can be distracting for you mages, yes? You may want to sleep away from them.”

“We’ll be fine,” Serena said. “Anything else?”

“Yes, my anisa.” Noor produced a brush and began brushing the sandskimmer’s back. “Always brush them before you ride. Always check the spine for grit. They have saddles, yes? If sand gets between their skin and saddle, it’ll rub raw in hours. Pyrinn is close and Rhaknam is awake. The desert is active in these times, my anisa. You will face sandstorms. Sand will get under the saddle. If you bring them back and I see their backs are raw, you will be charged.” 

Noor continued circling the sandskimmer. “Check for rubbing under the straps. Reddened skin, swelling. That sort of thing. Like other animals, they puff up when saddled, so you must tighten the girth twice.” he slipped three fingers beneath the main strap. “Too loose and the saddle rolls. Too tight and they’ll hate you before noon.” Satisfied, he reached under and patted the sandskimmer on its softer underbelly. “Skimmers are friendly beasts. They like riders. If they throw you off, it is because something is hurting them.” He looked at them, wagging a finger. “Don’t hurt my skimmers, my anisa. If they come back happy, I will be happy. I want to be happy, understand?”

“You will be happy,” Serena said, the edge of her lip curling. “You speak Imperial well, Mister Noor. I would have thought to find someone with such clear pronunciation would be a rarity this side of the Salabans.”

Amelia, while stroking the meeping sandskimmer, found herself nodding. They’d run through the night, following the famous Golden Path that wound its way north through the mountains. It had been an enjoyable few hours for Amelia. Running through the cooler night air with only the Red Moon’s light to see the way was almost a meditative experience. They’d exited near Hakim, but instead of entering the plateau city proper, they’d stuck to its lowland outskirts, finding Noor and his sandskimmer pens. Serena didn’t want to waste any time before attacking the desert.

“I supply desert travel, my anisa,” the Hakian replied. “Scouting parties from Centralis come to me all the time. The man who speaks our Empress’ tongue is the man who gets their business, and I, Noor the Skimmerman, speak it the best out of all Hakim!” He jabbed his chest with a proud thumb. “Noor’s skimmers are the best trained, best fed, and most loyal in the Great South!”

Amelia grinned. “Scouting parties?” she asked. “What are they looking for?”

“For crystal, my anisa. The moment Pyrinn’s rain ends, it is a race to find the new deposits to mine. Only a little of Pyrinn’s crystal is safe to gather. Much of it falls within the dominion of the desert.”

“Dominion of the desert?” Amelia tilted her head. “Are you talking about the wurms?”

Noor nodded. “The man who finds an unclaimed, mineable deposit and reports it to Hakim’s Greatlord will become a rich man. Many die trying, too. They think that just because the moonrain is over, it is safe. No… that is when it’s most dangerous.” His expression became serious and he said, “If you go deep, make sure you find solid ground. During and after the rain. The desert becomes alive. I would say you scouts should wait, but I suspect from your question that you are not scouts, yes? You are seeking the Red Sands for other reasons…?”

“Training deployment,” Serena said smoothly. “With the conflict over, the bighorns now believe the best way to break in new officers is to put them out here to experience a moonrain in difficult conditions. Expect more of us in the future, Mister Noor.” Without waiting for a response, Serena nodded at a line of empty skimmer pens. “I see we’re not your first customers. Who took them?”

“Scouting party,” Noor responded. He scratched his chin, looking thoughtful. “Left yesterday. Like you, they were eager to go out into such danger. Strange lot. Secretive. But they paid my premium prices, so who am I to complain?” The Hakian laughed, tapping his satchel that sang with the weight of new wealth. “Well then, my anisas. Let’s teach you to ride! Pick a skimmer. You’ll be close friends, so find one that likes you as much as you like it!”

It took a few seconds for everyone to gather their courage, but they soon shuffled down the line of pens, stopping at whichever skimmer looked friendly enough. Amelia stayed where she was. She’d already gotten close enough with her four-metre pale tan skimmer. 

“You’ve picked a big one,” Noor said appraisingly. “And you are friends so quickly, my anisa! The bigger they are, the more difficult they are to accept new riders. You will be the pack leader, perhaps!” He chuckled. “That one is Barq. He is large, but also fast! His name means lightning.”

Serena was watching them. Amelia met her eyes with a wink.

“Meet Barq,” she said, tapping the animal. “My new skimmer friend and pack leader!”

Serena said nothing for a few seconds. Then, without a word, she strutted down the pens, stopping at what must have been the largest, most intimidating skimmer of them all. Its back was slightly darker than the rest, and bore a wicked scar across its body where a wound had ripped across its two humps. It made threatening clicking sounds when Serena approached, slamming its twin tails into the floor.

“Ah, my anisa,” Noor called. “That one is called Naji—the one who survived.”

“What attacked it?” Serena asked, eyeing the sandskimmer. “A wurm?”

“I do not know. Naji returned without his rider. The man who rode him out was an experienced trader. Something terrible must have befallen him.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Naji has been… picky ever since. Only the strongest man can earn his respect. Perhaps you might—”

“Is Naji the largest sandskimmer you have?”

“Yes,” Noor said. “Naji’s finspan is five metres. Five! He is a Lord amongst skimmers, my anisa. I would suggest—”

“This one is fine,” Serena said, opening the pen’s gate. “I need only a moment.”

She took another step forward. Naji clicked, the sharp sound carrying a clear warning. Its tails whipped the ground again, throwing out two more aetheric pings.

“Stop this complaining,” Serena said, chastising the creature. “And behave, you big fish.” She took another step forward, flaring her aura. Then, she paused, and went onto one knee.

And stared into the sandskimmer’s eyes.

No, this was Serena, after all. It wasn’t quite staring as much as it was…

“Haha…” Noor chuckled nervously. “You are brave, my anisa. To challenge Naji with that look in your—”

“What look?” Serena snapped, cutting the Hakian off as effectively as if she’d poked him with her sword. “I am merely establishing who is the rider and who…” Serena’s expression darkened as she glared at Naji. “Who shall be ridden.”

“Click! Click! Click… click…” Naji’s clicks became less confident each second, and then, with an almost regretful tone, it made its first meep. Its fins rippled, and it hovered up to Serena, nudging her hand with its large body.

“Quite right,” Serena said. She stood up, flicking Amelia a gaze of pride before settling on Noor. “This one is perfect for me.”

“Ah… I see…” was all Noor could respond.

Really? Amelia communicated to Serena with her eyes.

What? Serena shot back innocently.

Amelia grinned, and turned to see how the others were getting on.

Hinako had cautiously gone with a smaller sandskimmer. With a three-and-a-half metre finspan, the orange-backed creature fitted Hinako perfectly. The demon was cautiously stroking it, building up confidence as she earned a few adoring meeps. It was called Layyin, which meant gentle in Hakian.

Finella was just finishing up befriending her own. A little under four metres, her sandskimmer was coloured the lightest of them all. It seemed strangely fitting, for the Northerner to find comfort in the one whose back resembled a field of snow. Perhaps Finella was hoping to ward off the desert heat? Either way, she had found her skimmer, named Thali.

And Mel…

“This one keeps…” Mel trailed off, backing into the pen’s wall. The sandskimmer within had taken quite the liking to her, affectionately booping her with motions that made the demon jump each time. “It keeps—Ah!” Mel screamed, for a long pink tongue had slipped out from the sandskimmers mouth and aggressively licked the side of her leg. “It’s eating me!” Mel shouted, raw panic flooding her voice.

“Officer Mori!” Serena barked. “Kindly conduct yourself in a fitting manner more suiting of someone with your station. If you are being eaten alive, do so quietly.” Serena turned and patted Naji’s back. “You are annoying my skimmer.”

“Meep,” Naji said in agreement.

“It’s, it’s licking me!” Mel gasped, managing to keep her voice down a notch. Still, the demon kept jumping as if she were struck by lightning. “W-why is it licking me!?”

“It’s the salt,” Noor called, half laughing. “The salt in your sweat. Do not worry, my anisa. Skimmer do not eat flesh.” The Hakian grabbed a nearby rock and dropped it in the pen. “Here, Jasur, here!” At his words the skimmer retreated from Mel and hovered over the rock, where it began to eagerly lick it with its long, anteater-like tongue.

“They do not get much salt in their diet,” Noor explained. “So they lick the rocks. You have nothing to fear, I promise you, my anisa. Jasur has taken a liking to you!”

“Well I haven’t taken a liking to him,” Mel muttered. She straightened her clothing and, taking a deep breath, approached the skimmer and slowly began stroking it. As it began to meep, Mel seemed to forgive Jasur’s former boldness. There was something oddly soothing about the sandskimmers. They were massive creatures, yet so gentle in so many ways.

Noor clapped his hands. “Right,” he said. “Who have we chosen? Barq, Naji, Layyin, Thali, and Jasur.” The Hakian laughed, his eyes twinkling. “How curious, you are five women, and you’ve chosen five male skimmers! You shall have fun out there in the Red Sands.”

“What kind of fun are you thinking of?” Mel muttered quietly.

Amelia suppressed a grin. The moment she’d seen Jasur’s long tongue, she’d already thought of a perfect joke to let slip when the moment was right. Whether it would work best against Serena or Mel, she hadn’t yet decided.

“Bring your skimmers to me,” Noor called. “They are big and heavy, so do not worry about pulling hard on their head harness.” At his words, Amelia and everyone else guided their skimmers over. Noor led them down a path to a large enclosure.

“Now then…” He looked over them all. With a smile on his face, he said. “Get on.”

Geton? Amelia thought, looking over Barq. How? It seemed like a simple task, but when faced with a hovering skimmer four metres wide, with rippling fins, it was difficult to figure out how to climb onto the centre saddle.

“How?” Finella asked, echoing Amelia’s thought.

“Do not step on the edges of their fins,” Noor explained, using his own skimmer to demonstrate. “You will hurt them. They are easiest to approach from the front. Their bodies are strong. You can put a foot here, grab this strap and…” The Hakian, in one strong movement, pulled himself up and into the skimmer’s saddle. “One strong movement,” he said. “You will not hurt them. Try now!”

Amelia took a breath. “Okay Barq,” she said. “Let’s do this! Quick and—oh” Barq, being the amazing sandskimmer he was, had reduced his hovering and dipped his head slightly, tilting his great body so the exact spot Amelia would need to place her foot was presented to her.

“Why, thank you,” she chirped. With a smooth motion, she hopped on the skimmer, twisting and settling down in the saddle. “Noor!” she called. “Barq bent down for me! You have the best trained skimmers in the world!” The compliment had its intended effect, for Noor had the biggest smile on his face.

Giving compliments really was the best, wasn’t it? It made everyone feel good!

She relaxed on Barq’s back while watching the others climb on their skimmers. Just sitting on one made her heart race. It was amazing how big the skimmer felt. Four metres didn’t sound like a lot, but when you sat on four metres of animal, then it was something else entirely. It was a lot of mass, even with the slim body of the skimmers. With that mass came power. Amelia could sense the strength within the creature, both its physical strength and the aetheric pulsings.

She could already tell that, despite the upcoming desert heat, she would thoroughly enjoy her time skimming the Red Sands. She couldn’t wait to tell Daichi and the rest of the squad about this. They were missing out!

“Good!” Noor called out. He circled them, expertly maneuvering his skimmer. “Let’s get you familiar with skimmer tack. See these? These are the guide reins! Skimmers respond to both these and weight shifts to know what the rider wants! Now slowly, take them, and give them a gentle tug…”

And so their short introduction to skimmer riding began.

Amelia had been worried it would be difficult, or that it would require a whole day of practice, but in reality it turned out to be remarkably simple. The skimmers were well trained, and seemed to understand their riders were beginners. Within a quarter of an hour, they all had a firm grasp of the basics. Within half an hour, Noor was confident they could ride at a standard good enough for his insurance. They spent a final half-hour going over skimmer care, and how to unsaddle and saddle them. Serena was a deft hand, her noble upbringing meant she was well familiar with harnesses.

As quickly as it had begun, they were done. The food and water they’d carried from Ishaq was loaded onto the skimmers. Serena signed some final documents and then they were ready.

“Bring them back happy, my anisas,” Noor reminded them. “I look forward to being happy, yes?”

“You’ll be happy,” Serena affirmed. She looked at the group. “All ready?” she asked.

“Aye aye!” came the chorus in response. Amelia patted Barq’s back. The skimmer gave a meep, his lift organ humming happily. He seemed as excited as she was to get going.

“One last thing!” Noor called, just before Serena gave the command. “You should know, my anisas. Saladin the Mighty has passed new desert laws in recent years. If you find someone in distress, you must render aid if it is in your ability. No one is expecting you to battle a wurm, but if you have water to spare and you do not quench the thirst of a stranded man, Saladin will see it as murder.” Noor scratched his chin. “They say these days Saladin travels the Red Sands. Who knows, perhaps you will meet?”

“Perhaps!” Amelia echoed with a grin. 

“I’m sure I’ll melt before then,” Finella said, tugging at her clothing. They all wore white cloth, covering their bodies, arms, and even their heads. It was traditional desert wear, supplied by Menes. You didn’t take clothes off in the desert, you kept them on, letting your body sweat into it so it could evaporate. With the Red Moon’s moonrain mere days away, they needed every advantage.

And where their advantage failed, Amelia could step in. Although, she couldn’t just bruteforce the desert with her shard-enhanced capabilities. Too much aether would irritate the skimmers, and any more after that would attract the wurms. Still, the occasional cooling wind or manifested chunks of ice to cool down Hinako’s drawn water would be fine.

“We shall manage, Officer Bright,” Serena said, shielding her eyes against the sun and peering at the enormous Red Moon bearing down on them. “A little bit of Pyrinn’s gaze is nothing we can’t handle.”

Amelia followed her girlfriend’s gaze and looked at the Red Moon. 

For a moment, it felt as if it was looking back.

Accepting their challenge.