A matter of tribe

Breakfast was enjoyed that morning, the barmaid only raised an eyebrow at the request for an extra bowl of milk with uncooked eggs floating in it. But she smiled when she brought the meal out and Alex slid the bowl over to demon.

(Does master fancy a barmaid for brunch?)

(No,) Alex thought back as he ate the bread he ordered, (Besides, I already have a terminal condition I don't need the risk the diseases that might be found in a travelers tavern.)

(She's a barmaid, not one of the whores who were in here last night.)

(Ok, she's not my type.)

(Too passive?)

(Too local. She looks like she's lived here her whole life.)

(You mean to tell me that you didn't use your fame as a hero to get laid in the past?)

(When I was young and stupid? All the time, I assumed I was doing the girls a favor and making dreams come true.)

(Not every girl dreams about a hero you know.)

Alex glanced in the direction of the maid they'd been discussing, (What ever she might be dreaming about I am not.)

Demon chuckled into his mind, (Her bedroom is right above the one we stayed in. I'm quite sure that you ARE what she was dreaming about last night.)

Alex didn't reply, but his hands went still for a moment, a resigned sigh, and then a large gulp of ale.

(Awww, my master is blushing) Demon was now seated between Alex and his plate, looking up with all her fake feline innocence.

"Hey," Alex muttered, "I'm not done eating."

Purrs.

Then the room fell silent.

Alex followed the eyes of the room to the door where several orcs stood surveying the room, when their eyes found Alex they approached his table and sat down.

The huntress from the day before spoke softly but solemnly, "Our Shaman has made her decision, we will follow your advice, but we cannot hire you any further. We would like to offer you payment for your advice, but we do not know what you would find most useful for payment."

Alex was not expecting the tribe to accept his offer to help them cross the bridge with them knowing he'd been cursed, even if they didn't know he was demonized. But he also wasn't expecting payment for his free advice on how to cross the bridge as cheaply as possible.

After a long awkward silence Alex reached forward an put a finger on one of her leather bracelets, "This warding bracelet will do for payment."

His suggestion was met with growls from from the companions to the huntress, clearly they were displeased with his request. Either that or they were displeased with knowing that Alex knew which of her many ornaments were just decoration and which ones were actually magical.

She said nothing, just looked mildly surprised before she quietly took it off and handed it to Alex. She hushed her companions objections with a gesture, "I have more," She said calmly, "That one is old, the magic is strong, it will keep your secrets."

"Thank you," Alex took the band and put it around Demon's neck as a collar, "I cannot feel the magic in it, but I did know what it does."

(WHAT IS THIS THING!) Demon immediately started trying to get her head out of the bracelet.

"Leave it alone Demon," Alex hissed, "It makes it impossible for anyone else to feel your magical energy."

"So cat is magic, like mother said."

"The cat is very much magical," Alex replied rubbing Demon's head trying to get her to calm down. "And this will help keep it a secret."

The huntress sat in thought but said nothing, finally she rose from her seat and leaned across the table, "I too will keep you secret. Be safe man hunter."

Following her lead the other hunters rose and left the building, but the only look they gave Alex was pure venom.

Alex however didn't care, he was busy trying to get Demon to calm down, "Shhhhh, you'll get used to it."

(I HATE IT! I CAN'T HEAR YOUR MIND! I'M ALONE IN HERE...I'm trapped again...alone...)

(Demon. You're not alone, I'm still here.)

(I can't hear any thoughts with it on, It's like that cave again, the world sounds dark with this on.)

(Xenrdomu!) Alex rarely used her real name, and when he did he only used it to command, (Leave it alone!) She did, immediately compelled by her name. (Trust me a little sometimes. You will get used to it, but we'll be in Orc territory for a while and if every Shaman can guess at what you are we'll never live to make it to our destination.)

Demon curled into a small ball, (I don't want to go there anyways.)

(We have too, it's the only place we might get answers on stopping the corruption process.)