A couple long days.

After running for an entire day without seeing so much as a plant, you can't help but wonder if you are going the right direction. Sure the city was supposed to take a week or more, but you expected to see something. The first night alone, deep in the middle of nowhere is actually rather frightening. It is so weird to hear nothing but the wind and sand. The next day you are thankful for the provisions in your pack, yet water might be a problem. Sadly as you hit the sands of the desert you find out first hand that no matter how comfortable, high heels just don't do well in sand. A bit sad to do so, you switch to the much more sensible, and some would say no less sexy, simple sandals. Luckily you seem not to be bothered all that much from running, and while during the hottest part of the day, you decide to rest, using your blanket for a shade. Otherwise while you do sweat like never before, as long as you are drinking water, it never gets that bad. The following day is when you start to worry, as your water runs out. As you move across the desert you keep your eyes out for anything, and finally you find a bit of salvation, a bird in the sky. Following it across the sky leads you to spot a clutch of plants. As you reach the plants you find a 2' diameter pool of water. Your first worry is that it won't be drinkable, but as you look around you see some tiny critters drinking it, and the plants all seem all right, so you can't resist, and quickly strip naked. Hopping down to the pool, you aren't able to swim, but you do get to soak yourself and fill your water skins. Munching down some food, you drink your fill and decide to go ahead and spend the night here.

That night in the desert among the short bushy plants you are able to find a comfy patch of dirt, lay out the armored cloak, and go to sleep. A noise you can hardly believe you heard ends your sleep in the dead of night. Trying not to be noticed, your right hand finds your dagger, while your left pulls your derringer from it's holster. As the movement gets far to close to ignore, you decide to get to your feet. A quick flip later and you are standing in a rehearsed defensive stance, looking into the night. At the watering hole a group of 10 men look over to you startled by your movement. “Wait, don't hurt us.” One of them says holding his hands up, sensing danger from you.

“Well as long as you keep your distance I am sure we will get along just fine.” You reply suddenly aware of your nudity, but not caring all that much all the same.

“Don't worry, we are just traders. We don't often see people out here this far from the cities.”

“I am heading south to the city of....” Suddenly you realize you don't even know the name of your destination. For that matter it just dawns on you that you don't even know the names of the city you left, the people you met, or even yourself. “What is the name of the city by the oasis anyway?”

“I assume you mean Almas. The jewel of the desert. You are half way between there and the fortress city of Dolvor.” They all seem a tad flustered by your nudity, but it does put them at ease just a tad, as you don't really seem all that much of a threat. Once you are pretty sure they aren't a threat, you slip on the mail tunic and put your weapons away. Once you are a bit less, well slutty, one of them asks, “Would you like to do some trading?”

“I don't know what do you have?” You ask, happy to have some coin in your pouch.

“We bring silks and fancy garments from the south if you would like to look. But they do go for a good sum of coin. We have some nice dresses for only 10 to 20 silver.”

Part of you kind of likes the idea of a sexy silk dress, but you are running low on food, and aren't even sure that you are going to get paid for delivering the message, so you decide it would be smarter to pass. “Well as much as I would love a sexy new dress, I suppose I don't have the money to spend.”

Most of them seem to nod their heads, as if this is a reaction they are quite used to, but one, after wringing his hands a few seconds nervous asks, “I would be willing to trade something for it.”

“What did you have in mind. I don't really have many things. I was robbed a few days ago.” Not exactly true, but close enough, you figure.

“Well it has been some time since I laid with a woman.” He says sheepishly, and for a second you can't help but think that it is a fair offer.

Looking him over, you have to say he isn't ugly, but all the same, that would make you a prostitute of sorts. Although on the other hand, you are an assassin after all, not exactly a paragon of virtue. Thinking it over you answer...