outside the south gates

Alex knew he was being followed when he left the guild hall for the street, he'd been followed often whenever he left the hall in the last month. However, whoever was tailing him stopped once it became obvious that he was leaving the city.

(Lousy tail) Demon grumbled in thought.

(Any worse and he would have tried to stab me)

(I was hoping he would try.)

(I'm going to guess that the new Thieves guild still hasn't figured out how badly outmatched they are dealing with the street. If that's the caliber of their sneaking abilities then One Eye and Shade are going to slaughter them.)

(I heard about this Shade fellow, but never saw him. Who is he?)

(Not even Spike knows. Shade just adopted the guild, they call him shade because he's pretty much a ghost. In his letter of introduction Shade said something about watching Spike take control of the guild and being impressed. Whoever Shade is they see more about what goes on in the city than pretty much anyone else can.)

(I never sensed a presence like that. I'm very curious though now.)

(So are most people in the guild.) Alex looked out the gate, (That looks like the caravan we're supposed to meet up with.)

(They're already breaking camp? You haven't even arrived yet.)

(Not a normal merchant caravan remember. You need at least one chaos priest to enter the blood sphere safely.) For all her ages of knowledge, there were things that Demon didn't understand that Alex knew, (Chaos Priests are all some sort of crazy, you have to be if you willing chose to serve that god, so you never know what you're going to have to deal with until you meet them. Some have foresight and or distemporial issues and know what's happening, but not when or where. Others have random bouts of mania, or just peculiar habits.)

(So in short the priest might have decided to wake everyone up over a smelly fart?)

(Sure...I suppose that works too.) Alex thought that might be a bit of a stretch, but it was still possible. (In most places in the land it's not uncommon when bad things happen for simple folks to burn loopy people to **** claiming they're chaos priests.)

(Are they?)

(I've never seen one who was, doesn't stop the uneducated people from hating someone they don't understand.)

Demon curled up and sighed out loud, (I hate stupid people.)

Alex reached over his shoulder to scratch her a little, (People are people everywhere. For the most part they're all the same.)

Demon just made a grunting sound.

As Alex wandered upto one of the guards the guard said, "You must be the mercenary."

Alex gave a lazy salute, "I'm a mercenary. Am I the only one you're waiting on?"

The guard looked over his shoulder, "The guide said he had a word from god last night, something about you being here with the sunrise and that we shouldn't waste time."

Alex immediately thought about Marium announcing that she was going to pray to the chaos god every night before bed and cursed softly, the god had heard her and wanted Alex to know it. Internally Alex began to curse violently, but he asked, "Anything you need help with so we can leave?"

The guard pointed to a man in red and black with raven feathers for garment trim, "Maybe ask our guide. He's basically calling the shots until we get to Tut 'Tal, then he said he's got somewhere else to go."

(I'm going to guess that's our priest?) Demon was looking over Alex's shoulder.

(Obviously. He's dressed like a Blood Raven, so the guards probably assume he's an Inquisitor of Sakhmet.)

As Alex approached the guide he turned to Alex and smiled, "Ah. The famous Alexander, I've heard so much about you."

Alex cringed internally, "Mostly lies I assure you."

The man's grin was almost harlequin in size and intensity, "Oh, you positively radiate dark energies, but your shell remains intact. You are an enigma I'm so looking forward to observing as we travel."

Alex leaned in close enough to speak in low tones without looking conspiratorial, "Out of curiosity, are you actually a Blood Raven or are you playing the role as cover for being a Chaos Priest?"

"As a matter of fact I am both. The vows do not conflict so I can be both."

Alex leaned back and assessed the man more carefully, He might be insane, but if he was capable of being a priest of chaos and an inquisitor for the goddess of **** he wasn't someone to take lightly. "How familiar are you with the desert?"

"I can get you anywhere you want to go, the desert has been my home my whole life. Now I hunt the people who are past time to die and think they can hide among the sands."

(That good huh.) Demon piped up.

Alex extended his hand, "Glad to have you leading the way then."

The Raven clasped hands, "I'll see to it that you get where you're going as swiftly as I am able."

They watched the rest of the camp being loaded into the wagons, and when they were all done the merchant who owned the caravan approached the pair, "We're ready to leave now gentlemen."

The Raven clapped his hands, "Excellent, well take point. Please follow us." And then started walking.

Alex turned to the merchant who seemed unsure of how to respond, "I'm Alex."

"Oh yes, I'm Julian. Do you happen to know our guide's name? I'm afraid to ask him."

Alex shook his head, "Not a clue, I only just met him this morning."

Julian sighed, "This feels like it's going to be a long trip."

Alex laughed, "Best not to delay it any longer then." And started after the Raven.

Behind them the wagons creaked as they started forward. At a walking pace it would take almost two weeks to get to the desert monolith called Tutmanu 'Talika. From there it would only be a few days to Alex's real destination, and this crazy raven would be his guide the whole way.