Leaving the tent, Tekna looks for the nearest signs of civilisation or a market. The sunlight is harsh and bright after the gloom of Grandfather Wa'aii's tent. It is midafternoon. The torpor of the siesta time is finishing and a few robed folk of Bnazie are emerging from their tents.
Tekna finds his feet leading him towards the oasis itself, where lush blue-green vegetation grows and tall palm-fronds sway above, providing some shelter from the heat. A few nomads are out and about, talking quietly, smoking water pipes or playing backgammon; siesta is not yet over. Tekna follows his nose to the trading tents near the oasis, really just the personal tents of the caravan-masters; there anything can be bought and sold. There is the stench of camels combined with the subtle reek of hazia fume which reveals a row of semi-comatose nomads lying in the shadows of some nearby palms. No one else is visible outside the tents.
Making sure his camel is comfortable and watered, Tekna looks about for a backgammon game. Maybe there is more to this story than first meets the his eye, and the eyes of those that don't look often see more than they know.
In the shade of a tent not far from the oasis, Tekna spots a game just finishing. He ambles over and the tent owner gestures to him to sit, offers him sweet tea and a water pipe (but his eyes are unreadable).
The game commences. Tech-na's natural luck and crafty mind means that he easily wins the first game but the second goes against him. The third game is also Techna's.
While the game continues, Tekna's oppenent talks idly He is a fat man in a white desert robe, named Ambuul. Apparently life continues as normal in the oasis. Caravans come and go. the sheik has a new daughter who he is apparently very proud of (though not a son). Some say a new prophet has appeared in Dothar2, home of the godless fools. Ambuul smiles at the irony. He says that the old man is not seen much nowadays, "..except by Ba'Tun." When questioned about this worthy, Ambuul says, "They say a leopard with a lion's mane is still a leopard." and promptly jumps two of Tekna's pieces "Your turn."
"From the past the present, some things never seem to change <with a grin>".
Tekna spends the rest of the day idly engaged in this game and the next (when its owner grows weary of banter).
While not attempting to draw overt attention he listens more than he speaks and attempts to assemble the social paths and architecture of the local community.
Finding that nothing loosens the lips like hard contest and victory, Tekna ensures (to the best of his ability) that he allows his opponents their fair share of 'luck' throughout his encounters.
The evening seems to be a long time coming. Tekna finds other backgammon partners and plays many games as the sun sinks slowly behind the dunes. However the talk is unenlightening. Ek'kil is a small oasis town, with small-minded folk and not much news.
So passes the rest of the day and the evening until the moon rises. Then taking, his prayer mat Tekna returns to the old man, as before, with more questions than answers, more faith than certainty.
Pulling back the flap of Grandfather Wai'aii's tent, Tekna observes the old man in a state of meditation. After a while his eyes open. "Come, come, wanderer. Unroll your prayer-mat to face the east. There is much to be done. We must meditate before our journey. Fill your mind with the tides of the vast ocean, the face of the great moon. Let the black wind carry you to the dark shore."
Tekna composes his mind and seats himself cross-legged on his kilim, emulating the old man. He empties his mind and enters a meditative state. Time passes. Tekna looks up to see Grandfather Wa'aii standing above him. Moonlight streams in through the tent doorway. "It is time," says the old man, who seems somehow less frail than usual.
Tekna follows Wa'aii into the desert, leaving the oasis and the silent tents behind. The dunes glow softly in the moonlight, but neither Tekna nor the old man disturb any sand with their footsteps.
As the pair walk, Tekna notices that plants have begun to sprout up through the sands. The plants grow taller and taller, blocking out the moonlight.
Soon, you will meet the priests Nasht and Kaman-ThahGrandfather Wa'aii is gone, lost in the woods.
Answer them truthfully
To enter the shadow-realm.