All laughter abruptly died at the sight of about 200 moon outlined forms against the horizon. The caravan only had 45 people in total and only 30 of them were trained fighters. I heard Bruton calling out commandingly and before I could believe it over half of the caravan's camels were saddled with cargo and moving out of the oasis at a fast clip.
What were they doing?
Almost half of the caravan's cargo still lay upon the sand of the oasis, unloaded. I saw my benefactor on a fast looking horse up by the caravan's master and it was suddenly obvious to me what their plan of action was. She was sacrificing the guards, who had no means of escape other than their feet, along with what looked to be the less expensive items of cargo, on the wild chance that it would give her the time needed to escape with at least half the caravan's cargo intact.
Her plan seemed to be working, because the large body of riders was converging on the oasis and not on the fast disappearing line of camels. The men who remained abandoned by their mistress were running about in evident panic as it became clear to them what was about to take place. The enemy riders were closing in.
I rode into the midst of a panicked bunch of men and called out authoritatively, "Get into the water! Get into it now!"
I got blank stares in return, but my audience was then brutally shoved along by Jarken and Thanuel, who seemed to know what I was about to do.
I spurred the horse I rode onward and, leaning out of the saddle, I snatched up a burning torch from near the caravan mistress's tent and wasted no time firing it and all the cargo I could find. Arrows zipped about me, but none landed.
The cargo ablaze, as well as many of the tents, I dropped the torch and wheeled the horse toward the central waterhole. The horse gave out from beneath me as a javelin plunged deeply into its side, but a few inches from my leg.
I kicked my legs free of the stirrups and bolted from the saddle in a head first tumble. I somersaulted up to my feet and just kept running. Flames had already spread from the tents to the overhead canopy that was as dry as tinder.
I heard the sound of a horse's neigh of terror from behind me as burning embers from the overhead canopy fell to the ground. A lance thrust past me by the barest of margins and I reacted aggressively. I dodged to the left and slammed into the horse's shoulder, whose rider had just about gored me through.