Page 110 - Microsoft Word - FANG EMPIRE - NOVEL.docx

He walked with Judar out of the palace and around to the back. “Where are we going?” he

said as the sun began to set.

“To meet with a man, a Rhune Mystic, a captain among his tribe. He is my eyes and ears in

the desert.”

Judar led him over to a desert-worn man in traditional Rhune Mystic robes standing next to

his camel with the orange sunset behind him. Judar spoke to the man in Arabic.

“May the stars be with you.”

The Rhune Mystic removed the scarf from his face.

“And with you,” replied the Rhune Mystic.

They both bowed.

“This is Maran Dara,” Judar said to Ramoth.

Ramoth nodded respectfully but tersely. Judar motioned to the Rhune. Maran Dara took a

torn leather strip from his camel pouch and wrapped it firmly around his hand and fingers as

Ramoth looked on impatiently. Then he removed an old sack from his saddle, reached in and

pulled out a desert hare by the loose skin of its neck. The animal’s eyes were closed and it hung

limp.

“A dead rabbit?” said Ramoth.

“Not dead . . . undead,” said the Rhune Mystic.

He looked to the west at the setting sun. They all watched as it dipped behind the horizon.

The rabbit jerked and opened its eyes— perfectly black, bestial vampire eyes. Then fangs grew

from its mouth. The creature looked unreal, like something from a nightmare. It began to snarl

unnaturally and bite the air in bloodlust.

“What the hell kind of rabbit is that?” asked Ramoth.

“Your dinner,” said Judar with a smile.