Keeping Watch

The night was divided up into shifts of two hours, so that nobody would be deprived of too much sleep. As the newest arrivals, Fred and Exotica were given the two least popular shifts: Exotica from midnight to 2 AM and Fred from 2 AM to 4 AM. (The caravanners kept time by using hourglasses.) As the caravanners had not yet realised that Velus was anything other than an ordinary dog (Fred and Exotica had decided that it would be easier not to try to explain), he escaped being allocated a shift, but out of companionship he decided to accompany Exotica on her stint.

Exotica was duly woken at midnight to take her turn. There was a full moon that night, and she found that keeping watch with Velus for company was quite restful. In fact once she almost dozed off, but Velus barked to keep her awake. About halfway through her shift:

1. She saw that one of the camels had somehow managed to break free, and she chased after it.
2. The wind started to get up, and soon a sandstorm was raging.
3. She saw a strange light, seemingly not very far away, and went to investigate.
4. Fred came to join her, even though his shift wasn't due to start for another hour. Apparently he had had trouble sleeping.
5. The remains of her chains, which she still wore on her wrists as it had proved impossible to remove them, suddenly vanished into thin air. What magic was this?
6. A group of riders appeared over the horizon, illuminated by the moonlight. As they might be hostile, Exotica raised the alarm.

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