"Guild Master, you're already back." Smiled Jelena.

  "At least for once, it doesn't last all day." He answered. "Find me, runner. I need to speak with Commander Lucius. One silver should be enough." He placed the coin on the counter.

  "One runner for Guild Master." She grabs a coin. "Pela, you ready for some running?"

  "Yes, miss. I had enough rest." Answered the resolutely young boy. He was an orphan like almost all city runners. It was a way to keep kids busy when they didn't have to attend class for reading, writing, and counting. Also, they get some money for themselves. Some kids try to work for specific customers because of a chance to learn specific skills. After the ceremony of revealing their path, there was a chance to have an exact path. Others keep running even as adults, but they go mostly between cities. All kids wear armbands, so anyone knows which kid is working today.

  "Good. Like you heard, Guild Master. Find Commander Lucius and bring him in."

  "I know where his house is so that it will be fast."

  "Great. Now run."

  As the boy said, he was next to the commander's house in just a few minutes. He was lucky because he was standing outside.

  "Mister Lucius!." He waved at him when he was getting near.

  "What is it, boy?" Commander asks.

  "Guild Master Bernul wants to speak with you."

  "Tell him I will meet him tomorrow. I'm busy today."

  "Yes, sir." The boy nods and runs away.

  The next day, the commander went to the adventurers guild.

  "You called a Guild Master?" Lucius asked, entering the room.

  "Yes. I have some important things to discuss with you."

  "You want to send me on an expedition? In two or three weeks, we should be ready."

  "We?"

  "Me and my wife."

  "I understand she is your wife, but it is a great desert."

  "She is from desert tribes. It will be like going back home for her."

  "Understood." Guild Master nods. "About expedition. I want to send you as a temporary guild master. Maybe even a real one if you are interested."

  "Me?"

  "Yes. You have level and experience. I read your records, and even the Grand Priestess from the Temple of The Sun approves your candidature. You also met the Dungeon Mistress and talked with her. I already have everything ready. You have to sign."

  "Give me a day or two. I need to discuss this with my wife."

  "Good. I will give you three days."

  "Luci, you back. What does an old man want from you?" Paeli greeted the commander when he entered the home.

  "Better sit. We have a lot to discuss and think about."

  "Old man, want you on an expedition? We talked about this. It's no problem."

  "Guild Master wants to make me temporary and most likely permanent guild master for a new dungeon."

  Paeli made wide eyes, and next, she hugged him.

  "You should take the offer." She said, really happy, her tail was wagging right and left.

  "What about you? I will most likely be stuck there."

  "I go with you."

  "There is nothing there. Only the dungeon. What about kids?"

  "You forget who your wife is. I'm a proud warrior of the desert fox clan. An unknown desert dungeon is what makes my blood boil. And don’t worry about our future kids. It will take two or even three years before they grow up enough to need other kids. By that time, I bet there will be quite a big village or even a small town. And there definitely will be kids from nomad tribes visiting Oasis."

  "What about later? Kids need to learn to read and write. And what about his path?"

  "You worry too much. It’s a dungeon outpost. There will be a lot of priests. It shouldn't be a problem to find at least one who can teach. And there isn't a better place to learn about possible paths than dungeon town. It's the only place where you can meet the most rare warriors or mage class. Crafters will be there, too. Who will repair broken armor and weapons?"

  "Are you sure?"

  "Definitely. And I remember one more thing. I will meet my family that way. Yes. It’s decided." She firmly nods.

  "So be it. I will go tomorrow to Arthuros and talk with him about my stepping down from being a commander."

  "I forget about this. You know we can try temporary things. That way, you will not need to resign permanently."

  "You are more important. And I know that desert is calling for you just like for me."

  "Thank you." She hugged him tightly, and they sat there for some time.

  It took three days for the commotion to calm down. Still, there was a lot of excitement and anticipation from everyone. The city of Freyharf was where most caravans began their journey through the desert. That means there will be a lot of merchants and adventurers stopping in their city. Everyone was thinking about how to get rich. Some shady figures have already started. It was true that guards and paladins did their best to catch bandits and cultists, however, in big cities, there were a lot of places to hide. Gates also weren't a problem. Secret tunnels or completely legal and honest businesses used as cover for sending messages were quite a common solution for spying. Usually, those methods were used by other lords or kings, and when their spies were caught by guards, they usually just got kicked out of town. However, cultists from the north also used these methods and many sinister ones.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "What have you got?" One masked figure asked another masked figure in the forgotten basement.

  "Nothing new. I think we send what we have and add that detailed rapport will be sent in a month or so."

  "You are sure that it's a good idea?"

  "Do you want to see how pissed they could be if they got this news from someone else, like from warlocks or demonologists? Better send what we have. We buy one month to find everything else."

  "It will be easier if we can just grab one of the people from the caravan and not so nicely ask questions."

  "Are you stupid? Half of the fucking inquisition will be here the next day. I hope you are quite good at running. However, we can work with your idea. We need a list of those people. There is always someone who likes to drink ale too much or has a problem with gold."

  "We eventually can make these problems for them."

  "It could take time. But it is one more option."

  "Good, let's send what we have. Who knows, maybe we get some opportunity for old-fashioned torture."

  "Send a letter, and don’t be impatient, or you will regret it. Remember, for whom we work, death is not an option."

  "I know, don’t worry."

  A week later, in the early morning before the eastern gate, there was a small gathering. There was a small platoon of holy knights, just fifteen men. A few merchants started to organize their carriage with adventurer escorts and Shewa and Thuldir.

  "Commander Remzi." Started priestess. "We are ready. Thank you for escorting us to the citadel."

  "Of course, Priestess." He nods. "I and my men promise to ensure your safety."

  "With respect for the Commander, but safety means we will be bored to death. It's a long road to the citadel."

  "Well, mister Thuldir. For me, after the excitement in the desert,t I don’t mind a little boredom." Smiled Shewa.

  "You know what, maybe you are right." Dwarf hesitated. "But once or twice, something like wolves won't be bad."

  "I'm afraid wolves or some goblins are almost guaranteed." Said commander. "Adventurers doing their job. However, there is a lot of wilderness, and goblins just need a hole to hide and infest their surroundings."

  "True. Fucking warlocks." Swear Thuldir. In the far north, deep in the underground torture chambers, they create many monstrosities like the most common goblins and orcs, or rarer ones, chimeras. And they release them to plague the world.

  At the same time, Naomi was reading a scroll about magic and runes when she got a warning that someone was approaching her gate from the western side. She immediately ran in to see who is it. In some distance stood numerous people with camels. However, it wasn't a caravan because Naomi saw kids. It was one of the nomadic tribes. She takes a deep breath, stands at the gate, and starts jumping and waving with her hands. It works. Three people were coming in her direction.

  "Just like last time, Naomi and everything will be good." She said to herself. "Maybe without running away this time. Yes, let's try that." She joked to encourage herself.

  "Greetings. I am Durtar. Shaman of this tribe, and this is my path." Stepped forward, an old man with a staff from old wood.

  "Welcome. I’m the Dungeon Mistress of On Taram Dungeon Oasis, and this is my path."

  "Ach. It’s like I feared." The old man sighs heavily.

  "No, no, no. Wait!" Naomi shouts. "This is a safe floor. It's prepared for travelers as a place for rest and restocking supplies. In towers, I have basic preserved food and simple healing supplies. Inside are stables for animals and a place for tents. You can eat fruits from the orchard as much as you can. Please enter and see for yourself." Naomi almost begged, fearing what could happen to the children if, for some reason, the tribe ran low on food and water.

  "I’m Juntur." Said muscular fox beastman warrior, stepping forward. "I’m chief and guide of our tribe, and this is my path. We will accept your invitation."

  "Uff." Naomi sighed with relief. "What do you want to see first? Supplies or Oasis?"

  Later in the afternoon, in the tent, the chef gathered a group of the highest-level people of the tribe.

  "Durtar, what is your final verdict?"

  "We shall stay. Every word of the Dungeon Mistress was true. This place is a gift from the gods. Only fools would reject such a gift. And there is one more thing." He plucks one blade of grass and shows everyone how slowly it disappears.

  "Wait, it shouldn't be possible. It should disappear immediately." One of the warriors said.

  "Don’t," Shaman warned those who started reaching for grass. "We are under the law of hospitality. One or two blades of grass won't hurt. Take more than necessary, and you will be punished."

  Everyone stops.

  "And it’s not impossible." Said Juntur. "It just happens in the deepest floors of the dungeons."

  "Yes. But the Dungeon Mistress put so much heart into her creation that this place is almost real. And doing so, she gets rewarded with getting blessed by two more gods, besides The Lady and The Smith, who are her original patrons."

  "Wel,l for us, it is most important that we have a safe place for our two women who are expecting to give birth at any moment. Rest we can leave for adventurers and priests from cities." Declare chief. "Anyone have something to say?"

  All shake their heads.

  Early morning, Naomi approaches one of the sentries.

  "Hello. I’m Dungeon Mistress of Oasis, and this is my path." She politely said.

  "Good day, Mistress." Surprised elven women stammered. "I’m Buni, and this is my path."

  "Nice to meet you," Naomi said. "I want to meet your chief or shaman. Can I enter the camp?"

  "Of course." Buni was completely confused. She doesn't understand what's going on. "You can find them easily."

  "Thank you. Have a nice day."

  "You too, Dungeon Mistress."

  Naomi, oblivious to the shock she caused, entered the camp.

  Finding the chief was indeed easy.

  "Good day, Dungeon Mistress." Juntur, great her. "Thank you for your hospitality."

  "Good day, chief. I’m glad that you liked my oasis. But if you need something, tell me. I can't promise anything big, but small things should be doable."

  "Everything that you prepared is enough." He answered. "I may be overstepping, but I want to invite you, Dungeon Mistress, for a simple breakfast."

  "I accept." Naomi smiled. The chief showed her a free place around the campfire where a few people were roasting something.

  "Scorpions?" Naomi asked, surprised.

  "Yes, Dungeon Mistress." Answered the shaman, who sat next to her. "Have you ever eaten roasted scorpions?"

  "Never. Once in my past life, eat sea creatures who look similar, just without tails, but no scorpions."

  "We can organize something else if you want."

  "No, no. I'm curious how they taste."

  As an honorary guest, she was given the first portion.

  "Thank you. Who can show me how to eat it?" She asked.

  "Let me help you, Dungeon Mistress." Smiled Durtar and started explaining

  "They are quite good," Naomi said after the second one.

  "There are few left. You can have it, Dungeon Mistress." Said Juntur, pointing in the direction of fire.

  "Thank you. However, I don’t need to eat. I do that mostly because I like good food. You should share the rest of them between yourselves. I think that I saw one pregnant woman, she and her baby could be interested."

  "So it was good but not so much." Joked shaman.

  "I admit that I’m a little spoiled by city food, but I still think that they were good. Maybe someday I will ask some cook from town to try doing servings with something extra. But that is for the future."

  "And about the future. I have a question, Dungeon Mistress." Said chief.

  "Yes?"

  "We have not one but two pregnant women, and both of them are expecting babies at any moment. I want to ask how long we can stay."

  "As long as needed," Naomi answered. "And please don’t be hasty with departure. Give future mothers and newborns enough time to rest before the journey."

  "We will do that." Chief smiled happily. He didn’t understand why the young dungeon mistress was so kind, but he knew that she was sincere. Thanks to that, these two women and their children will be safe.