is the pressure of time.

Monotony is the **** of the soul, so it's been said. And traveling across the expanse of sands involved a lot of it, to anyone who did not know the desert as Raven did every step looked much the same as the previous and the concept of progress could not be seen here.

As a result Julian became more and more concerned with his perishable cargo with each passing day, during one night Julian confronted Raven on the matter, "Shouldn't we be able to see at least some lights of the city by now?"

"Not here," Raven explained, "We're on lower terrain than the city and the walls of the tiers will block any lights. There is also a great lack of moisture so their isn't even a glow in the sky. Unless you're flying high enough to put the city light below the horizon even the Temple of Time itself is easily mistaken for stars by travelers."

Julian sighed.

Raven explained a bit further, "The king's road that you are used to traveling down runs through the foothills of the Giages Mountains, so the lights become visible at night clearly as you descend into the dunes, but the city is still up on a tall hill from our perspective so you will not see it from here."

"Can you see it from here?"

"No. Probably won't be able to see it for another few nights myself."

"But you are sure that we'll be there in time?"

"Defiantly." Raven smiled enthusiastically, "But I understand that you have to trust me when I say we're actually making good time even if you cannot tell."

Julian was sour, "I don't have to, but I choose too."

"Of course."

And yet the following day it could be seen that Julian was beginning to smell around the crates for any indication that anything was beginning to spoil. A habit that became obsessive in a few more days.

Alex asked one the older guards if this behavior was normal and was told that it wasn't normal, but wasn't unseen before. However Julian showing his growing worry about the condition of the goods didn't help the moral of the guards and even caused a growing worry for Alex.

"Should we maybe put him to sleep until we can see the walls of the city?" Alex asked Raven one day.

"No. While it might be fun for a time he'll only be angry with us if we do."

Alex frowned, "Might be worth it for the good of the company. Everyone is getting agitated with his impatience."

"You aren't everyone, Alex." Raven chuckled darkly, "Most of the guards have seen this before, those who haven't are taking ques from the veterans. You however are feeling every bit as impatient as Julian so his visible impatience is agitating whatever is eating at you."

Alex winced under the blow, there are times when a simple truth could hurt more than a strike to the face. A man of low conviction would contest the accusation of his own weakness, but Alex was far too seasoned to behave so childishly. "Yes," he conceded, "I am impatient, and time is my enemy."

Raven reached out and tapped Alex's shoulder with a fist in symbol of solidarity, "Time is every man's enemy. And there is no defeating it, there is only surviving the onslaught one ordeal at a time."

Alex didn't respond, he nearly clinched his fists, Raven was right, but being right wasn't really helpful to him.

Raven continued, "Most men think that the gods have escaped time by becoming immortal, but it's not the case, it only changes the battle. Now they exist in a perpetual state of boredom wishing for a touch of mortal drive to give them purpose again. And the mortal men who find immortality without the aid of divinity eventually all become monsters, like all men do if given enough time to become fully corrupted by their darker deeds."

Now it was Alex's turn to laugh darkly, "For some men that's a very literal progression."

Raven nodded, "Feel any better now?"

Alex shook his head slowly, "Not really. Exchanging feelings of irritability for feelings of defeat isn't exactly an improvement."

Raven laughed and Alex joined in, he did feel a little better, but he also knew the laughter was just a placebo. Involuntarily he traced his thumbs across his finger tips.

(Master) the soft voice took him off guard, Demon had been rather quite for most of the trip since Grumen 'Kal.

(What is it?)

(You've been trimming your nails every day this week. Are they growing so fast that it's necessary?)

Alex sighed, (The corruption has spread almost to my elbows, and my nails are growing faster. I'm worried if I don't keep active control of then I'll end up with holes in my gloves when I'm not looking.)

(We should buy you a new set of gauntlets then, one's like Raven is wearing that are decorated to look like talons on the tips of the fingers.)

(Eeeh, those get in the way of a good grip. And the decoration is mostly pointless.)

(For other men yes, but you are growing actual talons off your fingers master, they would allow you to hide them behind armor without looking out of place on a mercenary like yourself.)

Alex thought about it for a minute, (I should have bought some Orcish mittens, they often decorate the fingers with talons and claws of the monsters they hunt. My nails would have looked more natural sticking out of those.)

(Then we grab a pair when we get back if we need too.)

Alex inspected his gloved hand, (I suppose a new set of gauntlets is in order anyhow. Mine are getting too small for my hands anyways.)

(Your hands are growing too?)

(Yes)

(Too bad that's the only thing on you getting bigger.)

"Uuugh."

Demon chuckled in his mind. (That's better.)

Alex groaned internally this time, (You're a deviant child.)

(Yes, I'm the perfect woman for you.)

Alex resisted the facepalming, (You'll be the **** of me yet Demon.)