Fortunately, there are small rock formations along this stretch of desert where the party is able to find some shade. With Girgal's guidance, the party is able to take shelter and avoid the worst effects of the heat.
This does however slow travel, and food begins to get scarce as you push on into the desert for three more days, despite the occasional edible cactus or snake that Girgal manages to find along the way. Your supplies of food and water are exhausted. If you don't find something soon, you may have to turn back and hope to reach and survive the swamp again.
It is therefore with relief that you hear the clomp of many hoofs on the dusty desert this late afternoon. You see a large caravan approaching from the east. The animals are not horses, but large brown hump-backed things - camels. There are several dozens of them.
A number of armed warriors ride ahead of the main caravan on their strange mounts. A dozen of these pull up closest to your party, and one of them gives the command to halt. He wears a chain shirt and carries a longsword, as do a couple of others; the rest are in leather armor and carry longswords and spears.
"Greeting travellers! We travel in peace. But know that if you attack us, we will give you no quarter."