"Yes! Orders! We are yours to lead. You saved our lives and we are now indebted to you. Aren't we boys?" Thanuel called out. Roars of approval echoed out from the men gathered, the loudest of which being Jarken.
I separated away from Thanuel and turned to face the group, "I'm not your leader! I'm the youngest of you all to be sure!"
Thanuel pointed a big finger at me, "Ahhh but you are the smartest!"
Giving him a direct look I said, "I very much doubt that Thanuel."
Thanuel shrugged his shoulders and smiled ruefully before then kneeling down on one knee and saying authoritatively, "It does not matter! You are a man. A good man. A man worth helping and I for one want to be a part of what you get yourself into. Here is my sword and my hand is ready to wield it, but it lacks direction as does the course of my life. Now, what are your orders?"
The others echoed much the same and I found myself staring down into the expectant faces of 14 battle hardened men who stared at me as if I was the source of their purpose for being. How had this come about?
Feeling unsure of what was expected of me as a leader I said by way of an order, "I'm headed north."
Thanuel clapped his hands and rose to his feet, "North it is then!"
I shook my head as a sudden thought came to me, "We should see if anything remains of the cargo and catch up those camels grazing over there. I have no money. I can't pay you anything, but if we complete the journey then maybe we'll have something."
Jarken nodded and walked toward the grazing camels slapping me on the back as he passed by. Half of the group followed, while the other half headed toward several piles of cargo that had gone untouched by the flames.
I stood there with Thanuel as I watched the others move off to accomplish the orders that I had just given.
"Why?" I asked aloud.
"Why not?" Thanuel responded.
I shook my head, at a loss for the way things were changing. I felt overwhelmed and excited all at the same time. Panic seized me all of a sudden. What if I messed up and got these men killed?
Thanuel stepped beside me to view the burning oasis. The mistress's tent was gone and yet when he spoke I instantly knew what he was referring to, "That was special, what you did. I have seen few men, and none of your age, resist temptation such as that. You've already succeeded in one area where most have failed."