Thread: Student of Dune (DarkAngel & Sync)

The morning slowly slipped past, and the two Fremen were still remaining patient. They had learned the value of patience on the desert flats. Shai-Hulud would grant things to those who waited patiently, would punish those who rushed ahead blindly. After so many years, decades, of hardship on Arrakis, the Fremen had well-learned the lessons of being impatient. Many lives had been lost in fool-hardy ventures when the Fremen then nomads who were now referred to as Zensunni wanderers first arrived on Arrakis, that the virtue of patience had been ingrained into their beings. Slowly, the throng of people milling about in the small marketplace began to fade away. As the heat of the day began to press its weight onto the city, people were more careful about going out, preferring to remain indoors or keep to shades area. The Fremen pair were not so concerned they were properly fitted out in stillsuits, their suits well-worn and well-designed. Like all suits of Fremen manufacture, theirs would limit their water loss to bout a thimble-full per day. These Fremen had come from the deep desert, and were planning on returning there quickly suits were a must. I cannot abide these water-fat off-worlders Tal muttered under his breath, keeping his speech to the ancient dialect of Chakobsa. They have no respect for the planet they live on. Look at her, he added, pointing to a woman who was apparently content to walk across the marketplace with little more than a thin dress on, she will heat up and lose water, then go inside and complain about how hot it is and drink water in a wasteful manner to help her cool down. If she took the time to prepare, she would not be bothered by the heat. I understand what you mean, Tal, the younger Fremens companion replied. They do not understand our ways, or the ways of Arrakis. We would teach them, if we had the time to. And if they had the inclination to learn, Tal bit back quietly. They come here and expect us to change to suit them. And thanks to the God-Emperor, we are. Ravis chose not to comment. The taller, older Fremen knew his younger companion was less tolerant of off-worlders than he should be, but he also knew the younger man would learn tolerance. This duty he was being asked to perform would teach the younger man as much as it would teach and protect the person theyd been tasked by Reverend Mother Jessica to look after. Something caught the older mans attention, though, and he paused to look. For an instant he saw a flash of a Fremen-like cloak in a doorway, then the figure disappeared and was gone from sight. Normally a person disappearing from view was nothing of itself, but when he was inside the city walls and wary Do you know anything of this person the Reverend Mother asked us to protect, Ravis? Tal murmured. Ravis nodded slowly. I do know. For your own benefit, at least until weve met and are travelling, I cannot tell you who the person is. You must have faith that because the Reverend Mother herself asked us, it is an important person to look after. Hpmf. The noise sounded the same in any language, and carried the same meaning of discontent. Clearly, Tal wasnt terribly impressed with the response, and he also knew there was little he could do about it. Ravis touched the younger mans shoulder and nodded in the direction hed seen the flash of cloak. A bird flew up from approximately the same location as where the person had disappeared, then another. Again, nothing to be alarmed about normally, butit looked almost like the birds had been startled into taking flight. Be on your guard, Talgar, the older man instructed. There are forces in play whod kill you to get to the person we are to protect. Those birds have been startled, and I have reason to suspect that our blades will be blooded before this morning is done. For all that he might have been hot-headed on occasion, and less-then impressed with off-worlders, Talgar understood the need to be wary and prepared for battle. He gave a small nod of his head in understanding, and his hand crept to the sheath on his thigh to make sure his crysknife was present and ready to be drawn. A single Fremen warrior from the deep deserts was easily worth five or six regular soldiers from any House Major, and worth two or three of the once-dreaded Sardaukar soldiers. If that is how things are to go, I will make sure they earn my water, the younger Fremen agreed quietly.