The Winter Palace
Discovery College, Aashman Vyas, Fiction: Group 3
T
he air contorted and twisted itself, raising an immense bulk of sand, whirling it around,
faster and faster, until it eclipsed the sky. The setting sun, streaking the sky with a deep
crimson hue, was now blocked out by a darkness that was this great swirling mass.
A small distance away laid a cracked stone path tunneled between hills of sand, an
intricate web in a deadly labyrinth.
The desert stood still, imposing its silence on anything and everything. Among this
impervious stillness, the hooves of a camel struck the steaming, stone pavement with a sharp yet
loud clap as they trekked along the terrain. On top of the camel was a weary man, worn out by
the long journey he was undertaking. His hair was of a brownish colour, and it ran behind him in
a tempestuous manner. In front of him lay a sight different to the scattered rocks and sand he was
accustomed to. As he looked upon the vast landscape flowered generously with colossal heaps of
sand he finally understood the scale of task he had to complete. He was to make his way through
the eerily enormous jungle of sand, which was the Gobi desert. Even though he exhausted, he
continued his journey. If he was to make it to his destination alive, he had to get there before
nightfall or risk falling prey to the numerous threats that walked these sands at night.
Wei and his camel trudged forward, driven by both fear and fatigue. The last rays of the
Sun spread their tattered glow among the great sands beneath them, infusing the day’s final
spark of life into the world. What Wei had feared could have become reality – in a way, it could
be inevitable. Above them the night sky was blanketed by many millions of stars, all of them
blinking in a different manner. Wei had been sleeping for most of the time he spent riding his
camel, but sleep still came over him, uncaring of his previous actions.
Deep voices and the clatter of metal suddenly jolted Wei from his short-lived sleep. Around
him were dark, bearded men, with hoods covering their faces. Their swords were drawn, and
emanated a splendid shine in the moonlight. “Who are you?” questioned one of them in a
rumbling voice. There was no reply. “Answer me!” the voice asserted angrily. There was now a
blade held to the soft skin of Wei’s throat. “M-My name is Wei,” he stuttered.
“Where do you come from?” the man demanded, with a string of rage tailing behind. Wei’s
panic subsided slightly. I must be careful, he thought. Most likely these bandits will attempt to loot
me, only slowing me down. Wei thoughtfully eyeballed the man, who was now stroking the rich,
supple mane of his horse. These horses are much faster than my camel. I can’t hide, because they
possibly know the quickest routes in this desert. Silence pierced the air between them. Unless…
“Where I come from is of no concern,” spoke Wei. “Although you may be interested in where
I am heading - to the Winter Palace. I am one of the King’s men. I know of a secret passageway
to the central chamber of the palace. If you fancy following me there…” Wei’s voice trailed off.
The central chamber had been fabled to hold some of the King’s most precious treasures, and this
created mutual understanding between all of the men. Wei spoke once again. Attentively, they
all listened. “Unfortunately, if you wish to follow me to the palace, I need a horse. I must arrive
before dawn.”
The men nodded with a seemingly deep understanding, and pulled down their hoods further.
The night sky was as imposing as ever, echoing with the galloping and the sharp claps of
