Making camp

The day was walking. Boring walking. Demon hated it, Alex was resigned to it. And the young Alexander and Edward somehow seemed respectful of it and didn't spoil the boredom with inconsequential prattle.

Eating was done while walking. Drinking was done the same. The endurance of the human body is exceptional and far exceeds that of anything found in the animal kingdom, only outdone in their ability to travel great distances without taking breaks by birds who can soar, but those are technically cheating since they are both resting and traveling at the same time. The horses needed a few breaks from their riders, and the young knight and squire we not so arrogant to **** their mounts to carry them the entire day, so they too got in their share of exercise.

As twilight approached and the sun drifted towards the horizon over the steeps Alex signaled that it was time to make camp. Which for him was a simple matter of unrolling a bedroll. Edward took to setting up a tent while Alexander tended to the horses.

(Color me surprised) Demon mused.

(About what?) Alex responded.

(The brat is actually useful for something)

Alex looked over his shoulder from the campfire he was making, and for the first time felt a degree of being impressed by the young lord. (Interesting, I'd have figured he'd be sitting on his rear doing nothing.)

(Maybe he's actually serious about the hero business?)

(Maybe. But he needs to learn humility and respect before he'll be able to get anywhere in that line of work.)

(Where did my master learn humility? Because you had none when you faced me.)

(A common village boy doesn't learn humility, we forget it when you give us fame and power.)

(Poor master, to forget something so basic to your nature.)

Demon's sarcasm was well deserved when compared to the life that Alex had lived. The classic heroic journey of a boy rising from obscurity to glory, but most stories end there. They leave out the way that a human heart can be polluted when immersed in pleasures and praise, especially when they are unearned. After the last Orc wars Alex gained the support from one of the currently most influential clans of Orc-Human politics, and since Alex had been instrumental in their consolidation of power his name began to travel faster than he could. A few nobles requested his assistance and once the work came in Alex could chose the jobs he accepted.

That's when the drifting began really, choosing jobs that either highlighted his "virtues" or gained the most reputation allowing him to gain acclaim quite rapidly. He often got to travel the lands in the company of the mighty who hired him as protection. He dined with lords and kings, and he was able to take his pick of talented companions who believed in his "mission" to rid the world of evil.

In retrospect Alex thought that he had always been a mercenary, heroes just pretended to be better, more righteous, more noble. But in reality the jobs weren't much different that he was doing now, the difference was the people who were hiring his services, they were no longer lords and temples, they were now mayors, merchants and military men. There was no real recognition or fame to be gained this way, but that was what Alex now desired. And to that affect he didn't wander near temples and he kept his tokens of divine favor in a sealed container much like the warding bracelet around Demon's neck.

Alex set his thoughts aside, and returned his focus to the fire. A new set of thoughts crept into his mind as he worked on the evening meal.

(I can't read your thoughts anymore unless you project them at me. But I know your thinking face.)

(You can't see my face.)

(You always bite your bottom lip while thinking, and I can see that, master.)

Alex sighed and immediately stopped biting his lip, he made a mental note to break that habit. (I was thinking that I might help the brats get a head start. A little weapon training might save their lives, and it's not like we have a lot to do between here and Grumen 'Kal.)

(They may one day be hired to hunt you down you know.)

(We'll cross that bridge when we get there.)