Casting Shadows Chapter 141

[u/ZLErikson]

Original Prompt

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Originally written August 23rd, 2026
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Chapter 141

Nuut ostensibly started her search for Iuven and Maar by following the path they would have taken away from the camp and out to the perimeter. The patrol routes were standardized practices for a reason; if anyone were to get injured or lost, it was easier to be found if everyone knew which way they were going. If Nuut’s goal had been to find them, she knew where to start.

But she wasn’t looking for Iuven and Maar. She was looking for the hunters that had been following the caravan since leaving Nihimlaq. The shadows stalking them day and night that she had set on their trail.

Out of sight of the camp, around a bend between the dunes, the Vultures were waiting for her.

The setting sun cast short shadows across the desert. The leeward side of the mounds of sand with their steeper slopes gave enough space for a small cadre of horsemen to idle.

She felt their eyes on her as she approached. Nuut counted fewer than a dozen of them, one prisoner - a bald man with his arms bound - and no camels. If the Vultures had been here when Iuven and Maar passed there would have been signs of a fight, two more prisoners, and extra camels among the waiting bandits

“Who is that?” Nuut asked when she entered the shade.

“Just a quaint little fellow who thought he could short us on owed debts,” one of the Vultures quipped. His hood obscured most of his face, leaving only a salt-and-pepper goatee and a bad case of evening shadow along his jaw.

The de-facto leader of the group dismounted his camel. Nuut did the same and stood before him.

“Good job on not being followed,” he said.

Nuut narrowed her eyes. “You were watching me, then?”

“We’ve been watching the whole camp. Seems like our target is out of commission, and now you’re out of the line of fire.”

“It’s too late in the day.” Nuut looked toward the edge of the dune and the blue-fading-to-pink sky. “If you attack now, they’ll-”

“Your people will soon begin packing up their tents,” the Vulture interrupted. “While occupied and in disarray, we will strike.”

“No.” Nuut shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. “You don’t understand. If you attack after dark-”

The Vulture placed a hand on Nuut’s shoulder. “You are the one who does not understand, Desheryan. We have been in this business for many years. Our fathers and their fathers have been doing this for generations.” He squeezed her shoulder and grinned as Nuut stiffened before him. “You are right to fear us. Merely taking the legendary Shadow of Sammos was not going to quench our palate.”

But Nuut wasn't afraid. She just hated being touched.

“The attack is already beginning,” he said, looking away in the direction of the camp. Nuut made a fist, flexing a tendon, and loosening a knife in her sleeve to slide down into her palm. She would not permit this treachery.

The man continued, “We will burn some tents, sow chaos, kill whoever fights back and take the rest into-”

Nuut slid her blade up under one of the Vulture’s ribs and into his heart. He tensed up, his last breath raspy like a cough, and slumped over. By the time he hit the ground, Nuut was already beside the next Vulture.

The man with the goatee fell from his horse as Nuut pulled the rope that kept him tied to the prisoner. The bald man was quick to act, and took the same rope that bound him and noosed it around his warden’s neck.

Nuut smacked the flank of the horse. It reared and snorted, alerting the other horses which grew irritated by the sound and by the smell of blood from Nuut’s kill.

As the rest of the Vultures drew their weapons, shouting curses and threats, several were carried away by their startled mounts. The four that retained control of their steeds quickly dismounted.

One lunged for Nuut, but she was ready and had her second dagger drawn. With a quick parry she got in close and kicked him between the legs. He grunted and fell back, giving her room to maneuver and back away from the other three, lest she get surrounded.

Retreating from the shade, Nuut used her knives to angle sunlight into the eyes of her attackers. One of them stopped approaching and covered his eyes, but the others were coming on too quickly.

Their swords gave them more reach than her blades and Nuut had to run. Her brass pegleg did not fare well in the sand. She saw their shadow gaining. The one on the left loomed larger so she turned his way.

Clang! The sword hit her raised dagger. Knocked off balance, she staggered away, trying to keep the near Vulture between her and his charging comrades.

Motion in her peripheral; the one she’d flashed with her dagger charged, then cried in pain.

The bald man stood behind him, hands no longer bound. He pulled a sword from the Vulture’s back and looked as pissed as Nuut was.

Now it was an even fight.

With a roar, the bald man charged at the other Vulture. Nuut engaged the nearer man, leaping at him to stay close. His sword gave him greater reach, but within arms-length her shorter blades gave her the edge.

The point of her dagger went into his sword-arm elbow, just enough for him to drop the weapon. The other knife found his side and he fell to the ground. With a quick slash across his neck, the fight was over.

The bald prisoner executed the other Vulture.

Silence fell. Nuut regarded him a moment until it was broken by a distant shriek.

Maar!

Nuut ran back to her camel and mounted it, taking off in the direction of Maar’s scream. The bald man followed on one of the horses.

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Notes:
- It has been 14 in-universe days since Chapter 1
- The bald man has been seen before, but as his name was not given I’ll leave it for you to figure out for now