Chapter 5DEADLY WATER
D’Arlan barely had time to tell Juin to order the men at the oasis to retire to the hamlet and to be prepared before the four Arab riders could bring their horses to a halt, near to where the captain and a few of his men were standing, just outside the hamlet in the shade of an old palm tree.
D’Arlan couldn’t keep his eyes off the exquisite grey stallion that was lifting his legs high in a fast triple trot, while holding his head up majestically. His nostrils flared and his tail bent boldly. He looked carefully at its rider but could not make anything out because all four riders were wearing traditional Arab dress, which did not leave much of the face exposed, being designed to keep the hot rays of the Sahara sun off the skin.
When the riders came near the hamlet,
