Kai hissed in the clear blue sky of Cardo, then swooped down towards the shores of the South Lake of Seva.

Asana had already attached a heavy leather arm guard to her left arm, waiting for Kai's arrival. "Kai" swooped down, its golden wings fluttering, its claws gripping Asana's raised arm with precision and firmness. Asana saw that Kai had grown a little bigger over the years, and she looked at its sharp eyes and gently stroked its newborn golden feathers. After whispering a few more words to it, Asana removed the bound scroll of paper from the claw side of Kai.

The scroll of paper slowly unfolded, and Asana saw a short sentence written on it: "Sala knows that everything is going well, Sahedah has accepted our terms, and has sent an envoy to greet you, please leave on a certain day."

Asana let out a long sigh of relief after reading the contents of the scroll. She then slowly tore off the paper roll and threw it into Lake Seva.

"Sara, is Kai good news or bad news? Is Noor still okay? Kutsaya asked, approaching Asana, who was looking at confetti floating and soaking on the surface of the lake.

"Good news." Asana turned to Kutsaya and smiled, "Dimi's Sahedah agreed. ”

"Agreed? So, we'll be able to lead our people there soon, right? Kutthea asked in surprise.

"Yes."

"Sala, then the Sahedah people you just said must have a large territory in Dimi, right? He can get our whole tribe to move there. ”

"Sahedah means king of kings in Dimi language." Asana said softly.

"Ahh Kutseya said with some surprise, "I didn't expect that Nur had found the supreme ruler of Dimi. ”

Asana nodded slightly, but sighed again with mixed feelings.

Seeing this, Kutsaia asked her, "Sala, what's wrong with you?" Isn't that good? ”

"No, that's good, Kutthea." Asana looked up at Kutseya, she reached out and gently stroked Kutse's cheek, and said, "This is the best result." ”

"Then why did you sigh just now?" Kutsaya asked.

"No why, Kutthea." Asana took her hand off Kutsya's cheek and said, "Go tell Sharik and let him tell our people that we are about to begin a long migration." ”

"Oh, okay, Sala."

Four days later, in the early morning, the wind from the north lifted the sand and dust from the ground, and the Sinwa tribe that had been displaced in Seva left the Oasis of Seva under the leadership of Asana, and they began their migration journey to the south of Dimi.

"Sala, there are a hundred and ten families who do not want to leave, and they are determined to stay in Seva." Sharik rode a sturdy dromedary to catch up with the group, and he hurried to Asana's side and said to her.

"Did you persuade them again?"

"As you commanded, I did my best, and they did not want to leave the Oasis of Seva and move to Dimi with the people. Most of them are also old or sick and find it difficult to support the long journey. ”

"Okay, I got it." Asana looked at him and said, "Sharik. Thank you for your hard work. ”

"Sala." Shariq asked, "I'd like to confirm with you that we did get permission from Dimi Sahedah, didn't we?" ”

"Yes. Nur must have been received by Sahedah and promised by him before he released Kai back to report to me. Asana said, "Rest assured, Shariq, Noor can't go wrong in this regard." ”

Shariq nodded and said nothing more.

After walking for a while, Asana turned back to Sharik and said to him, "Sharik, you are a cautious man, and you have traveled with your father from north to south, and I think I must ask you to do something." ”

"Sarah, please command." Shariq said.

Asana pondered for a moment, then spoke, "I would like to send you to the remote mountain pass of Ilo, and you will go and tell the Ilo people that Azar is gathering the various tribes of Khaldo and preparing to deal with them together. As for which tribes were attached to Athol and which were neutral, I think you all know. ”

"Yes, Sara, I know all of that, but tell the Ilo about this...", Sharik pondered for a moment, and said, "Sara, in that case, but even Seva..."

"I know." "But even if I don't send you to tell the Ilo about it, Seva and several other tribes of Khaldo are caught between two powerful empires, and it will be difficult for them to stay out of the war between them. I have been in Azor, and I have been to Ilo some time ago, and I know how prosperous and powerful these two countries are, and between two empires so powerful and about to be at war, the loose Cardons can hardly protect themselves. ”

"What do you mean, Sala?"

"I don't want to see the Azor people win any war." Asana said to Shariq, "So, I am willing to do anything I can to help Azor's enemies." ”

Shariq nodded, "I see, Sarah." I immediately headed for the Yaoshan Pass in Ilo. And report to them on the infiltration of Yasor in Cardo. ”

"Stay safe, Sharik." Asana told him, "We Sinwa have nothing to lose. ”

"Sala, don't worry."

To the south of Seva, after passing through a sparse pasture, the terrain begins to become undulating, with a continuous stream of barren hills and standing hills, making the migration of the Sinwa people more difficult.

"Sala, the scout just reported that we need to head southwest, where there's plenty of water and a town to exchange for supplies." As the migrating party passed through a barren hilly terrain, Kutsya found Asana and spoke to her.

"I see, Kutsaia, take some of the warriors of your tribe and go there first, and lead them to help the herdsmen get their cattle there first." Asana said, looking into the distance.

"Where's Sala? Aren't you going? Kutthea asked.

"I'm going to stay here. At the back of the line, there were many old and frail clansmen who were now very tired after this long journey. I'm afraid they'll be left behind. ”

"Sala, I'll accompany them later, or you should take the soldiers first." "Last time we went to Seva, you were left alone behind, and I fear that you have been captured by the Azor, and you have cried all day. ”

"All right, Kutthea, how could I get lost?" Asana smiled, gently raised Kai on her arm and said to Asana, "Even if I want to get lost, Kai won't allow me to get lost." Go as I command you. ”

"Sala—" Kutsea was about to say something more, but Asana said, "This is my mission for you, Kutsea, go quickly." This is a time when the people need you. ”

Kutsaia hesitated for a moment before nodding at Asana, and then she hurried to the front of the migration procession.

Looking at the many elderly people who were slowly moving forward at the back of the line, Asana felt very distressed. She repeatedly ordered the pace of the rear ranks to be slowed down so that those with limited mobility would not be left behind. But the consequence of Asana's actions was to disconnect the entire tribe's migration procession.

By the third day, the procession that had gone to the water source had disappeared. Asana had a vague sense of concern, but she still insisted that no one of her clansmen should be left behind, and she walked at the back of the line, encouraging everyone to move forward with difficulty.

After helping an old man to the camel cart, Asana saw a lightly armed camel scout galloping from behind.

When he got closer, Asana saw his nervous expression. She greeted her with some concern, only to hear the scout say to her, "Sala, the enemy has been found in the northwest!" ”

Asana's heart tightened. After hearing this, Asana knew that her worst fears along the way had happened. She looked around behind her, and now Shariq went to Yaoshan Pass and did not return, and Nur was still far away in Dimi, and the two warriors who could lead troops to fight were not around at the moment. Even the most warlike part of the clan went to the water source first. At the moment, there are very few warriors here who can defend against the enemy.

"How many enemies are there?" Asana asked the scout, "Who are they?" ”

"Sala, they are not clearly marked, they should be the savage tribe living nearby. It was observed that they had gathered a force of four or five hundred men, and at this moment they were coming towards us, and were rapidly approaching us. ”

"How far are we from here?" Asana asked nervously.

"And... There are less than thirty quamans. ”

"So close?!" Asana wanted to reprimand the scout for doing a poor job of investigating. But then she thought about it, the terrain was unfamiliar and unrecognizable, and the current barren hills were undulating, and if the scouts went too far, it would greatly increase the risk of them getting lost or dying.

Thinking of this, Asana looked at the silent scout and did not say anything more. She pursed the corners of her lips, lost in anxious contemplation.

"Sara.. What are we going to do? The scout nervously asked Asana.

Asana exhaled, and she glanced behind her again, not far away, a vast procession of clansmen was slowly marching across the barren land of bare sand.

Asana clearly knew that it was too late to call back the vanguard that had already gone to the water source first. Although the number of enemies is not too large, it is the old and weak women and children who have no combat effectiveness at the end of the migration team at the moment. At this moment, even if she organized them quickly, that fierce battle was inevitable. She couldn't even imagine how much damage a battle like that would take.

"Take me to see it."

The scout was stunned for a moment, he didn't understand the meaning of Asana's words, he asked hesitantly, "Sala.. You."

"Take me in the direction the enemy is coming from." Asana repeated.

"Yes."

After Asana boarded a camel, the scout quickly turned his camel and led Asana to the northwest.

Asana followed the scout to a gently undulating hill. Standing on the barren hills, she saw from a distance that on the barren wilderness covered with sand and gravel, a group of barbarian troops with their cloaks scattered, walking or riding, armed with rudimentary clubs and weapons, were chasing this side. Asana judged that they had come to plunder their livestock, food, and household utensils.

"You go back." After taking in her surroundings, Asana said, "Go back and inform your people and tell them to slow down, but be sure to stay in the direction of your progress and don't let anyone get separated. ”

"Sarah, you are..."

"Go ahead, do as I say." Asana interrupted the scout's hesitation and said firmly, "Tell the people that if you really can't move forward, just wait where you are, and don't wander around." ”

The scout was confused, he didn't know what Asana meant, but looking at Asana's determined eyes, he had to leave Asana alone on the mound, and then quickly ordered to leave.

At this time, on the barren hill, only Asana, a camel, and an eagle remained.

After releasing "Kai" and looking at the approaching enemy, Asana lowered her head and untied the scimitar at her waist, holding the precious scimitar she had always carried, which was as important as life, and Asana briefly recalled the experience at Asol.

Asana's slender fingers wrapped the scabbard tightly, her red-stained nails contrasting with the turquoise of the scimitar, and as her other slender fingers grasped the hilt and slowly pulled it out, Asana whispered the name of the sword, "Sandstorm." ”