D'eshkar sits alone in the midst of a great desert, and yet the thirsty traveler can find a number of clear springs and drinking fountains at which to quench his thirst. This is because the city sits above one end of a cleverly constructed underground system of tunnels that brings water to the city from the rivers of the Starfire Mountains. Along the route of these waterways are places where water is brought to the surface in wells by devices using ropes and claypots, and so the caravans that bring food and goods to D'eshkar are provided with places to rest and refresh men and beast.

As might be expected such places are prized and have been fought over for centuries by those who live in the towns around the water and those who freely roam the sands. As is the way of such things, these battles gave rise to tales and legends, and any storyteller in the market of D'eshkar can relate them when asked.

One such legend is that of the Chieftain's Daughter and the Headman's Son.


Long and long ago there was a town a week's ride from D'eshkar called WhiteWell for the color of the stones used in building the walls. Nearby were several clans of the sandriders, and many were the times when the people of the town were forced to defend themselves, for the clans claimed the well was on land belonging to them and that the townsfolk were trespassers. This fighting went on for many years until finally a certain headman of WhiteWell devised a cunning plan. Perant had several of the clans closely watched, and then when the men of one clan had ridden out of their camp, the headman led the townsfolk on a raid, destroying the camp and leaving items lying amongst the dead to make it seem a rival clan had done this evil deed, for all the women and children of the clan were slaughtered, save one.

The chieftain's only child was spared, a beautiful girl whom Perant had taken prisoner as a bargaining chip should her father learn who had really done this dreadful deed. Biessa was brought back to WhiteWell and placed in a strong cell and no one allowed to see her except Perant himself or his son, for if word of what had really happened should. leak out the clans would turn their wrath against the town.

For a time, all went as the headman of WhiteWell had planned it. The chief, grieving for a daughter he believed to be lost to him waged war upon the other clan. Biessa was kept in her locked chamber and her only human contact was with Perant, Marstal his son, and the mute servant who saw to her needs. All her meals were brought to her by the mute until one day when Marstal brought the food and sat there watching her as she ate. When Biessa had finished and he had taken the tray away, the girl sat there staring at the door for several minutes.

The next day when Marstal returned, Biessa stopped him before he could leave. "Don't go! I have been here so long, and there is no one to talk with me. Stay, please, and talk with me?"

And although his father had warned him against becoming friendly with their prisoner, Marstal agreed, for he had already fallen in love with the chieftain's daughter.

From that day on Marstal brought Biessa her midday meal and then sat by her as she ate and told her of the latest news, and of how the weather was, and of the comings and goings within the town.

This went on for several months until one day when Marstal came into her chamber with the tray of food he found Biessa curled up on her bed, her face turned away from him. He set the food down and walked over by her bed.

"Biessa, are you ill? Should I fetch a healer?"

She shook her head without turning. "No healer can cure what ails my soul. I cannot live like this much longer, shut away from the sky and sun. I will die here." She said no more, but kept her face turned from Marstal, and although he stood there and tried his best to persuade her to eat, it was no use. Biessa would not eat. Not that day, nor the day after, nor the day after that. Marstal grew more worried and recalling stories about wild beasts that would starve themselves to death in their cages, feared that the woman he had come to love would do the same. He could not bear the thought.


And so late one night, the chamber door swung open and Marstal softly called her name. "Biessa! You are free!" He led her out of her prison and through the town in the dark and at last let her out through a passage only he and his father knew of that led beyond the walls of WhiteWell. He leaned forwards, kissed her just once in the way he had dreamed of doing so many nights, then turned and walked back inside the town.

The next morning, the mute, finding the door open and the chamber empty, ran to the headman to report the escape. By signs and gestures she told of her suspicions, and Marstal was summoned by his angry father.

"Do you know what you have done, you fool?"

The boy nodded. "I set free the woman I loved. Do with me as you wiil."

Perant cursed his son. "You've brought our doom upon us. Let the girl's clan deal with you as they wish." Then he stormed out of the room and gave orders that the people should gather what they could and leave WhiteWell as fast as they could.

And so Whitewell was abandoned to its fate. Perant led his people away up the road to D'eshkar, all except Marstal.

The last time the headman' son was seen, he was standing at the town gates, waiting for the clans to come, and that was the last anyone ever saw of him.


The townsfolk along the trade routes say that Marstal was taken by the clans and died a slow painful death.

The desert folk say Biessa pled for his life and some among them claim to be descended from the famous lovers.

No one can say for sure.

But what the storytellers will say as they end their tale is this:

Many emotions are imprisoned in the hearts of humans.

And love is the most dangerous prisoner of all.


10/2004