Chapter Ten

Away from the others, Bitey continued. "Miss Mille, would you please go get my nephews. Keep them out of sight of those monsters; I need to get the lads to this man's cart while getting the prisoners to the other." He hesitates. "Miss Mille, the Prophetess was spirited away. I believe that she was tracked down by the dark mage or his ilk because of the evils inflicted by those men. It may have happened anyway, but I think they provided a pathway for this evil. Maybe what this inventor says is true, that he may help find her. But I am going to follow this path before me. I need someone to watch the lads, as they cannot go with me. It seems that you are without charge and I am without guardian. What do you say?"

Mille looks down for what seems like an eternity. She stops fumbling with her staff, and stands motionless. When she looks up, her eyes are visibly near tearing up. Her voice is rock steady though.

"I have a duty to perform noble Imp. I'm sure you understand that. My charge as you call her is my life. I cannot, no, will not be without her. Whatever took her away will pay."

She looks Bitey right in the eye, and grips her staff tightly.

"You saw her book. You know. We are all we have left of our past. I won't let her go, not for anyone, or anything. About your request, I am sorry. Have Taran or Serena watch them. They seem more than capable."

She bites her lip, and then focuses on the inventor in the distance.

"You said he would help? I'm sorry, but I'm going to talk to him. I'm sorry Bitey. I can't watch your nephews, not while I have another duty that beckons."

With that she brushes past him, and heads to the inventor.

"Excuse me, sir? I'm sorry about the blood, but I heard that you may know how to help Alouen. She's the one who disappeared here. I need to know more. She's my friend, and I can't leave her to whatever fate befell her."

Leaving Bitey behind, Cyrus was watches as the young girl approaches.

Her question was exactly what he expected. "Yes young one, well the blood will come out...hopefully. I see you are quite a feisty one, and with that determination and what we have in our city, there is for sure a chance that we can find her. I don't know how long it will take, but with all the information that comes into our city, someone, somewhere, will surely have found something. I know we can find her."

Bitey sighed. This was utterly hopeless. There is no salvaging this 'band'. He followed Mille, listening to her conversation with the inventor. "Very well, Mille. You have made your choice. Mister Cyrus, I have an amended proposal for you. I have two charges I must see to safety. This walled City of Inventions seems like the best place for them. Since Mille will not accompany them, even though she seems intent on going there, I need someone to watch out for them. I will give you a map to the Kingdom. Should I not return, our peoples may still be united. I only need borrow one horse, one rifle, the ammunition for the rifle, and as many of our supplies as I can carry. Is there some sort of belt that I might carry the ammunition in? Sir Slyde will see you to your home. I must warn you, however, that Serena and Kamis are thieves I had previously detained. I would have turned them in to the appropriate authorities at the next city center. See that Sir Slyde does so, or have your city's security do so, if you even allow them to travel with you." Bitey goes to take the aforementioned items, checking the weapon to make sure it was similar to the inventions from home. He grimaced. "I apologize, Mister Cyrus, for being shorthanded at the moment. Apparently, supplies and competent soldiers are uncommon in these human realms."

Blaize turns as he hears Viva's voice, "Hey, don't listen to them. They're scum, and besides that, they're all present and accounted for. Slyde and I have everything under control." After he finishes, Bliaze walks around to where Marcus is laying and kicks him in the stomach and tells him, "Why in the do you even want to get untied, anyway. The only thing that'll happen is us having to dig another hole. So just shut your bloody mouth, you ." Standing next to Kamis Mort calls out to Serena, "excuse me, Serena was it not, might I have a word with you and Kamis." [Ed. Note: Some of these posts are cut. For some reason, several players thought Bitey was present in every scene and could be directly insulted at will. Only posts where Bitey was actually present or insults were indirect will actually make sense.]

Once they are out of ear shot, leaving Serena to aid Kamis' travel, Mort explains the reason for the meeting. "The reason why I have called you here is that after the events that have happened so far I need someone who I can trust, and from your actions I believe you two are the most promising."

"Some of the other members of this group, especially that impertinant Bitey, I do not feel are the sort of people I would want in a situation where my life could be at risk. All that I am asking of you two is to try not to rile the others as much. I know that is made easier due to the amount of flaws that they have but if we stay back and let them do all the work...then they take all the risks."

Kamis chuckled. "I first thank you for including me into this discussion. Though I did not plan on remaining in your company for long, recent events have convinced me otherwise." He looked at Serena, who was supporting his injured side. Damn wounds. I feel like a helpless babe. He thought about the offer for a moment and sighed.

"In times of war a leader is needed. Our dear Sir Bitey has taken that thankless role upon himself. I know him for a soldier, and a good one. He upholds the honor and integrity of his rank even in lands that do not recognize it. But he is also blind to the fact that lives depend on him. His unyielding stubborness of his ideals have obviously caused some of his men to question his authority. And that....is not good leadership." Kamis moved so that he could look at both Mort and Serena. He lowered his voice even more. "If you feel you cannot trust these people, then may I ask why you remain with them? Why not take supplies and go on your way? Forget all about them. If they continue on this course they will all end up dead anyway."

Bitey returned to the cart, retrieving the sleeping lads. They will be sick, He thought, again feeling sorry to leave them to an unsuspecting human. Still, he had not counted on a black mage. It would never do to put them at that kind of risk. He put them on Cyrus' wagon. "They are Rusty and Rudy, my nephews. They do not speak human yet, although I have been teaching them. They only need a little food and a stern eye to watch them." He filled his pack with supplies. He checked the rifle and ammunition. It was time. He takes the horse, climbing on by tail.

Overcoming his dislike for the height, Bitey directs the animal to Slyde and Blaize. "Farewell, gentlemen. Please watch over Mister Cyrus and the lads. Tell Taran I am sorry, but lessons must wait. Perhaps you two might make something of him. I would recommend that you turn Serena and Kamis in to the nearest authorities, as I'm sure they are both wanted felons. Now I must go. The Pr-- Alouen awaits."

Bitey spurred the horse back, towards Camea, making the mental shift from calling her Prophetess to Alouen.

Mille was growing impatient. "How long until we leave? I have to go find her. When can we go?"

She watched as Bitey grabbed up the rifle, and ammunition, then took off on a horse. Where is he going to? She thought, as his dust spurs rose behind his horse.

"Hey, Mr...uh. I don't know your name. My names Mille. Can I have a gun too? My..uh...daddy showed me one once. I know how to use it. Please?"

Mille opens her eyes wide at the inventor man, hoping he'll let her take one. "He didn't take the last one, did he?"

Blaize watched as Bitey said his farewells and left. When Bitey was a safe distance away, he turned to Slyde and said, "So is Bitey just leaving? Maybe this means we won't have to be so bloody formal all the time, eh? Yeah, about turning Serena and Kamis in. Serena is a thief I know that, but so is Taran, if we turn one in we'll have to do the other, just wouldn't be fair. Personally though, I don't want to turn in either of them. As for Kamis, he doesn't look like any thief I've ever seen. I say we just go on like we always have and forget all his friggin' self-righteousness." He looks at his captives for a second. "But what do we do about them. I really don't like the idea of them going with us. They may try something. What do you think we should do, Slyde?"

Bitey rode the horse creature as hard as he dared, his newfound weapon and heavy pack strapped to his back. The time for planning was done, at least for him. The humans would plot and counter-plot all day. They would bicker until something came along and ate them, or at least hurt them badly. Then they would bicker about how badly they were hurt and which of them was eaten. He'd begun to forget what it was like to have real companions.

He briefly wondered if they would even get to the city at all. Sir Slyde would have his hands full. Taran had more sense than most of them. Blaize could hold his own when he wasn't sulking. But what of the others? Serena was a difficult case. Slapping blind women around, spoiled to the core, and tainted. And Kamis, a man who turns around and robs the very people who saved his life. Those two might even have been useful in this mission. Instead, they would no doubt leech off of the others, so long as the hospitality lasted. Sir Slyde could probably keep them alive, but with their criminal tendencies it would be tough. And with his frightened children to deal with as well. Bitey could sympathize. He was sure that his own lads would be all right. They didn't have anything worth stealing. He would repay Cyrus the favor someday, or his family could if the man was successful. His thoughts turned to Los, the last of the group. His incomprehensible mutterings had been strange, and he also felt tainted. But it was understandable, as he had not been human after all. No one could deal with humans for long without becoming insane. Except someone with the patience of Sir Bitey.

He put the humans out of his mind. He would think about them again, when there was time. He directed the horse toward the forest. Finding a suitable place, he tied the animal. He climbed up in the branches of the tree. He balanced carefully and reclined, looking at the sky. He cleared his thoughts, the events of the day already lost in their own meaninglessness. {So, Celestial Being, have you seen? It would seem a circular path I travel. I have lost all in search of one.} He closed his eyes. Then he opened one slightly, {Just a little heads up, there.} Sleep followed.

Bitey had stopped riding his horse some time before reaching Camea. It made no sense to rush right into a city at full speed, he knew he had to keep his cool in order to get answers. At first few people paid attention to him until they realized he was not human. A few people on the outskirts of town only stopped to stair. A few other ran into their home to shut their blinds. An Imp was in the prescence, and by its dress there was battle, a war, something, or else why would he wear armor, they all thought to themselves.

"Well, you must have a name..." said Bitey to the horse. "Yes, something you are called?" He leads the horse down the road. "No, I don't think... no, why would you...?" He sighs. "All right, that's probably a fine name for a horse. So, are you a... girl horse?" He turns to the horse, shocked. "'Take a peek,' indeed. I don't think I want to talk to you." They walked on in silence.

Approaching the city, he began to see sparse inhabitants. "Excuse me, I am looking for a man called..." Now what was that name again? Gundaga? "Gundaga. Been through here lately. Sound familiar to anyone? Lots of soldiers, various bad things?" He wandered into town. "Hey, have you seen a man called Gundaga? Gundaga, anyone?"

As he wandered through the town with his horse he started looking for anything that might give him clues as to where to start. Some ideas came to his head, but he'd been standing in the same place for so long he figured it might be more efficient to move, rather then to stand still. The people around him had been staring for some time. They rarely saw his kind in the city, or any town for that matter.

Just as he was about to go on, he heard the sounds of a woman screaming. The scream is not one of pain, but surprise. He looked in that direction only to see someone crawling on the ground, seeming to be injured.

The being seems to be clawing the ground trying to move. The woman screams out, "He can't breathe someone help him!"

Duty calls! Bitey dashed over to the stricken individual. "Are you choking, sir?" He grabs for the man's face, prying open his mouth, and looking down his throat. He reaches in, trying to find obstructions. "Not to worry, mister, I shall soon have your pipes cleared." It looked like he was going to have to perform the dreaded explosive lung expulsion maneuver. He climbed on the man's back. "This may sting a bit, but if you survive, you will breathe better than you ever have before." He lined his feet up to roughly where he thought the man's lungs would be.

The shock was enough, Los would have drawn his blades on anyone who reached down his throat but for the fact that his arms were still throbbing and this strange thing took him by surprise. In the shock he had stopped breathing again, he just lay there wondering why he felt the world slipping away again. He gasped and drew in a huge lungful of the low level probably dusty air and managed to squeek out. "Stop." Breath. "Don't." Breath. "Do-that." Breath. Los rolled back, trying to get off the little man that had jumped him.

Everyone watched the imp in armor grab the man in an unfamiliar way. Many thought the monster was going to kill him, with the man now lying on the ground and the imp standing over him. Everyone held their breath, except one man.

"Hey you! What the do you think you are doing, the man is choking, now be gone with you so that someone can help him. We don't like your kind around here your freak, now go on, get outta here!" No one else supported this man's outburst, but kept they lips tightly sealed and never blinked.

The man rolled over and Bitey jumped free at the last moment. He got his first good look at his choking victim and recognized him as Los. The crowd was getting restless. The obnoxious human yelled something about freaks... "You there, loud human, are you a doctor? Only a skilled man would be so arrogant. Come quickly, this man has something very wrong with him and needs a decisive individual such as yourself." He bent down over Los. "Don't speak, save your breath. Nod if you are choking..." Bitey watched for a nod. "Were you poisoned?"

The man closed his mouth and looked around. Everyone was looking at him now, waiting for him to respond. The man took a few steps forward, and then stopped. At the imp's insistence the man walked forward a little more afraid that the creature would attack him much like he attacked the man lying on the ground.

"You-, what are you doing to him?" The man stuttered now that he had been singled out from the crowd.

"I shall gladly explain. I'll use small words. I have checked his throat," Bitey pointed to Los' throat, "for something that would prevent him from breathing. I would try to force it out with air from his lungs, but since he can speak, that means his breathing tube," again, pointing to the throat, "is not completely blocked." Bitey looked at Los, somewhat perplexed. "Shall we cut a new air passage? I haven't actually done it, but I've heard good things. I am reasonably sure that he could survive it." He looks at the spokesperson. "But since we have your expertise, you can do it."

The man looked at Bitey then to Los, and then back to Bitey. "I uh- Well I uh-," the man only swallowed and started to back away into the crowd, hoping to just disappear.

Bitey didn't even look as the loud man retreated. He discarded the tracheotomy idea, for the time being. Not blocked, not poisoned. Perhaps it was a blow to the chest. Maybe a shock or surprise would straighten him out. Like another blow to the chest. Perfect! "Come now, man, breathe, in and out," said Bitey, preparing for a swift chop to Los' abdomen.

Los was breathing. He didn't know if the Imp was trying to help him or kill him though Bitey had mentioned something about poison. "If... [Inhale] you're trying to help.... [Inhale] Get me off the road.... [Inhale] And away from the people..." Los was having trouble timing his breath and his talking. He didn't want to blurt out in front of all these people what he wanted to say. Bitey was just like them, so he didn't want to blurt it out to him either. Los was trapped like a caged animal. All his urges told him to fight his way out. But how can you fight your own flesh... who could he strike out at to make this better and regain his freedom. This wretched shell had lost its life and now he felt like walking carrion fodder. Oh for a little privacy... and a little company of anyone he had known from home.

"He's breathing!" exclaimed Bitey, watching Los gulp like a fish. Or something like breathing. "Thank you all for your concern," he said, bowing to the crowd. "Nothing I could not handle. I will watch over him for the time being." To Los, "Come along, now. You could probably use some peace." Then to the crowd, "I am Sir Bitey, and I represent the Imp Kingdom. I am glad to be of service. Now, has anyone seen a man called Gundaga?"

The people of Camea only watch as the monster bows to them. It was not until his question that he got a reaction. Men suddenly turned around, and women hurried their children along back inside. Everyone was leaving, all that remained were Bitey and Los.

"I rather thought as much." Bitey tried to heft Los in the general direction of the horse. "You can use the riding beast, Los. You really needn't have followed me, you know. Of course, it would seem it is out of our hands. Perhaps you will help me find this Gundaga? I would think that should be a simple task for one such as yourself."

Los didn't weigh much, he gathered support from the animal but didn't get on it. The beasts had a habit of becoming dead under him. Just standing now Los thought over what Bitey had said. "One such as Myself?" He repeated between long forced breathing. Los wasn't too sure on who this Gundaga person was but he knew it would be difficult for him to find anything when he could hardly find his breath. Los was sweating horribly as what could be called toxins started to leave his system. The cells they left could not find enough sustance and complained. His stomach turned on itself begging to be filled. "I think first... we should find... a place to eat and rest... I don't like... being stuck at the scene of commotion." Los stood up, it was considerably harder to breath this way but it made him feel like he could survive the ordeal of life leaving him. He continued to rest one arm on the horse for support.

"Yes, I suppose that would be best," Bitey groused, not liking the delay. Still, it didn't seem like anyone was going to give him the information he needed. Los probably had a better chance at it.

Bitey agreed with Los in that finding a place to stay would not be a bad idea. From where they were, they did not see much other then a few homes with animals and people walking away from the commotion. Further up the street they saw the beginnings of shops and other small business. At the corner right before they turned out of sight there was a small wooden sign that says "Mug'o'Ale Inn" The picture of a mug full of ale stands out with a small bed in the background. Here is the inn you are looking for, but it's is almost seventy yards or so away, hopefully Los can make it. Los held firmly onto the side of the horse, thinking what a crutch of meat would be if it were really a meal and a crutch of bone. "Ale... disgusting stuff..." Los began trying to prompt the beast forward slowly, hoping Bitey would take the lead. "wait... you were traveling with the others... why did you turn back... and without your boys..." Los didn't really understand how anybody would want to leave their home in the first place, let alone their family. Los wanted to get out of sight... fast. Like a wounded or weakened animal he wanted a place away from predators. If the place they could see had no private rooms then they would have to go elsewhere. All this happy open space and other people were making him feel odd. Now more comfortable Los slipped back into old habits, his breath grew slower and finally stopped again. He mentally commanded his lungs to inhale. The air smelled full... overburdened with scents to his nose. Los wondered how long it had been since he last drew breath to live like this... could it have been yesterday? or when the world itself was just newly breathing itself.

Bitey was pulling the obstinate horse and somewhat obstinate Los towards the first sign. He thought he could already smell the place. Grimacing, Bitey tugged on the reins again. "No," he said, "others were following me. Destiny called, I am answering. They are not." Bitey quickly tallied... This Gundaga has flushed out a group of vagrants and captured a Prophetess in the space of one day. That's roughly three days of work, multiply by four added to one... Grumbling to himself, "This Gundaga has fifteen days advantage." He approached the door to the Inn. He directed Los in, trying to pick out the owner. "After you... feel more yourself, how quickly do you think you could pick up the trail of a mad mage?"

As they looked into the inn they noticed that the setup is different from ones they'd seen before. Instead of table after table of drunken slobs they found that most of the people are dancing to the sounds of a minstrel playing the lute. A few patrons are sitting at tables, and others had just sit themselves down to a warm meal.

As they both stumbled into the inn a few people stopped to turn and look at them. All actions stopped; they only stare, not saying a word. Bitey can see the owner of the inn sitting behind a makeshift desk. He looks like a mosquito of man, thin and wiry, greasy hair and spectacles that kept sliding off his nose. He was wiping his dirty hands on an already dirty cloth and only stared at Bitey and his companion.

Bitey bowed low to the goggle-eyed group. "Good day to you. I am Sir Bitey, Emissary of the Imp Queen. This man has suffered a recent mishap and is in need of... food and rest, I suppose. I will go tend my riding beast now. Carry on."

Bitey turns to gather his horse and take it around the side so that it can be groomed, fed, and watered. Los was left alone standing in the bar with everyone looking at him. No one moved to help as they had just finished watching the little creature walk out of the inn. They knew it was an imp, but never had one come to this city. Los stood there, open, exposed, to the eyes of the entire inn. Bitey had promised to be back, but Los did not like standing exposed for one second, still he needed rest, food, and possibly a bath.

In the back, Bitey guided his horse to the stables. The stable hands walked up to get the reigns and froze when they realized the person walking the horse in was not a man, but an imp. The youngest stablehand ran back a couple of feet in fear that this creature had come to attack. The oldest of the stable hands walked up and reluctantly asked for the reigns of the horse.

"I will be happy to care for your horse, we have food and water, and my brothers here can help you with your bags if need be." The boy swallowed hard, this imp was dressed in armor and apparently fit for battle. The weapon did not help ease the young boy's mind, but work was work, and it was his job to make sure all guests had their horses tended to.

Bitey bowed to the stable hand. "Many thanks, my good lad. How much do you charge for this service?"

The stableboy looked at Bitey then at the horse. "I only require 10 gp, to ask for anymore would definitely incur a beating from our master."

Walking out of the stable he noticed that the other two boys are nowhere in sight, apparently run off like the scared children they were. He could only laugh inside at the silliness of humans.

He made his way back to the front and went in, seeking out Los. "Feeling better? Ready to go?" The man didn't seem to be any better at all. In fact, he seemed more nervous and sick than before. "Well, I suppose we should have a small something, some sort of meal. You there, sir," he said, motioning to the thin man at the counter. "What do you have in the way of services? We shall both require a hot meal." He briefly wondered about human food, but he'd survived some already. He cast a glance around the room, then spoke quietly to Los. "What happened to you?"

On Bitey's second entrance only a few remained staring at him. Others kept quiet and ate their meals or drank their ale with him in sight from the corner of their eye. At least they were not all staring at the same time.

The innkeeper was startled to hear the bellowing voice of the tiny imp, still he knew better then to make comments, especially with the sword at his side.

"Yes sir-" The innkeeper was on his feet fishing for something under the counter he stood behind. His hands return with a menu at hand along with prices for rooms.

Bitey perused the menu, occasionally looking at his comatose comrade. He clinked the coins he was carrying, pulling one out and giving it a once over. It would probably be wise to conserve as many of these as possible. The humans value them so. "I will have this soup, he will have the roast meat." He counts out twenty coins to the man delivering menus. "Perhaps I will leave these additional coins for excellent service. And perhaps you know where I can find a local constable, or information regarding disturbances here, of late?"

The innkeeper counted out 20gp and smiled.

"Well my good sir, I welcome you to a table here for you and your friend. I will have the food brought out to you as soon as possible."

The lanky innkeeper walked to the back and yelled out he order. He walked back to the table and adjusted his glasses on his nose.

"As to your question about disturbances your best bet is the guard house on the north end of town. They can take your report if you wish."

The innkeeper leaned forward and whispered to Bitey. "I do say, you might want to care for yourself while in this town. There are rumors that there are creatures taking part in the battles of the north. I'd hate for them to mistake you for them." Standing back up he looks at Los. "I don't think your friend here looks very well. I can call a medic if you'd like. How about a room? A bath maybe?"

Battles... north...creatures Tapping his cap to the man, "You speak wisdom; the thought had occurred to me, also. I will... have care. This is a fine and interesting place. Where I come from, we do not have places to buy our sleep and bathwater. It is a novel idea." It did seem a bit too mercenary for his tastes, but he had truly underestimated the hold these coins had on the humans. It was almost amusing to watch their eyes light up at the thought of money. Almost... it was really a shame that they couldn't feel that way about worthwhile things. "I'm sure he appreciates your concern. I think he will say if he needs help." He looked at Los skeptically. "So, how is business?" he said casually, waiting for the food to arrive. He hoped to avoid delaying in this town long, although it did seem that Los would benefit from a bath.

"Well business has been as usual. There have been warnings along the roads to beware refugees coming down from the north. We are already experiencing food shortages, and with more refugees, things do not look good."

As he finished his comment a serving girl came around with a tray of food. She gave the soup and bread to Bitey, and the roast meat with veggies and bread to Los. She curtsied and walked away to the back.

"Well boys enjoy, eat up, and if you need anything you have only to find me." He smiles at his two patrons and walks back to his post at the desk, his eye wandering on the bar maid who disappeared in the back.

Los sat there before he began on the food; he ate in simple ways Utensils only useful for the bare minimum. He lacked social etiquette. He was still working on the breathing while eating thing, and coughed once or twice when his timing failed. The small pieces of food slid down his throat with difficulty and filled the sack of acids that was his stomach, they filled him and made him tired.

Bitey dipped the bread into the soup and nibbled it. Not bad. He decided watching Los for insight into local customs was probably a bad idea. These people were different, but he doubted they would remain so polite without the promise of gold. Maybe that was Serena's problem; no one had reached her price yet. Perhaps price was related to self-centeredness. "Do humans have a word for {ego}?" he mused out loud. He sipped the soup, bringing his thoughts back to the matters at hand. Refugees... War... Creatures to the north were forcing refugees south. That was an event that he could do very little to remedy. It could hinder him, so he would keep it in mind.

He watched the people dance as he finished his soup and bread. He could spend some time here trying to garner more information, but it would probably be best to try for this north end. "So, Los, are you prepared to travel?"

Los couldn't talk while eating but when he had finished a significant amount he stopped to reply. "Hurt..." He couldnt remember what he was trying to say, the fog drifted around him in his tiredness. "Want... home..." His language was twisted and seemed to be in a heavy accent of something else. He continued to eat his body warming to the food and relaxing some making breathing easier. Los finished that next portion an closed his eyes as if concentrating. "I'm hurt... I need to rest before I can travel again properly... though I am eager to travel home myself..." Los had meant to say more but he hadn't the languige. He began to finish the food before him. Coughing every now and again when his rythym failed him.

From the shadows of the inn a shadowy figure watched on as the two newcomers ate their food. The first was an interestingly looking human with a bandana, the stranger made sure looking this individual up and down. The second was a strange one indeed, an armor clad imp, the stranger wondered where such a person would come from. The stranger watched on with interest as the two ate their meals, and remained unoticed.

Not having any idea of what to do, Bitey watched the strange man choke down the last of his food. The man muttered about being hurt. There was no help to be had for it. Los was not going to be fit for travel for some time. If ever. The brief moment of curiousity about Los' mysterious affliction passed.

The dark figured wondered if that person was sick. He seemed to cough and have trouble talking. The figure wrapped his cloak tighter around him, and simply watched.

"Mister Los, I need to make some... investigation. I would suggest you rest here until I can return." He looked to Los for some sort of comprehension. He wasn't sure if Los' expression passed for understanding, but decided to chance it anyway.

"Thank you, humans, for your warm hospitality," he said the the people in the room as he reached the door. He bowed low and smartly exited.

The dark figure watches the the imp soldier exits the inn leaving his bandana friend alone. Not knowing where the imp was going, the figure thought it would be best to follow. Knowing the bandana man would not be moving anytime soon, the figure decided to move. Passing by unoticed the figure headed upstairs to the top of the inn. Luckily Camea was built in such a way that rooftop travel was not uncommon by those able to withstand the heights.

As he walked out, Bitey noticed that night has come. The streets are lit by the individual flames of thousands of torches. The extra long torches were held up on posts in the streets and it was just enough for him to know where he was going. Heading north, his mind was set on getting to the guard post and inquiring on the happenings inside of Camea.

Bitey plunged through the darkened streets. He brought himself to alert, knowing full well what kind of beings preferred the dark. Staying to lighted avenues would be enough for any decent society, but for these humans it likely wasn't. He made sure to take in his surroundings and note escape routes should the need arise. His odd assortment of weapons waited at the ready.

There is nothing that he could see that seemed out of the ordinary. Bitey looked north and started to walk. He saw a few people walking the streets, but they are mostly people on their way home. The sounds and smells of cooking fill the air as dinner time for many had come. Already nightfall, he stayed close to the well lit areas, weapons at the ready in case anything happens. He didn't know how long it will take you to get to the guard post, but it was his best bet for official information.

The shadowy figure had alrady disappeared upstairs and was able to see Bitey below at a distance. The figure made sure to keep itself unseen and walked steathily on the rooftops. Camea was an interesting city being built very closely together with rampways connecting buildings. It was not uncommon for a person to walk where they wanted by rooftop, what was uncommon was for someone to do it at night, with little light. Still the figure was confident with it's foot placement and made sure to keep a good distance behind the creature heading north.

Continuing his venture north, he finally come upon large gates that are surrounded on both sides by what would be guard houses. Several uniformed men stood outside with weapons drawn. The sounds from inside was raucous laughing. There did not seem to be anyone in particular to talk to, so he decided the first person would be just fine, sure that they would take him to someone who could give him the information he requested.

"Good evening, noble guardsmen. I am Sir Bitey, Knight of the Imp Kingdom. I need to speak with a commanding officer about a man I seek who has recently been here with soldiers, killing citizens and burning houses, among other things. The matter is very important, and I may be able to help in some way."

One of the guards did not know where the talking was coming from until he looked down at the armored imp. He looked up to his fellow guard and they both looked down.

One of them spoke. "This is not a place for children wearing monster masks. I say, be gone with you and run to your mother. It be far to late for children to be on the streets, come back when you are old enough to join the guard."

The other laughed and joined in, "Yeah, go to your mother's skirts, we have no time for kids here. Now go before the captain catches you here, then you'll be in trouble."

They both laughed and returned to standing guard.

The soldiers were stupid. When an armed and armored individual approaches, it's probably not the best thing to relax your guard. Still, it might work to his advantage. "And if I'm a lost child, wouldn't this captain want to be seen taking me home? It's a heroic deed, and parents are often glad to have their children back. Yes, let's see what this captain has to say about it." Why are these humans so fixated on their mothers?

Just as you were talking to the guards and they finished laughing, a tall, older looking gentleman came out of the guard house. He wore the red crest of the noble family in Camea on his armor and had a small white mustache on his face. His face had creased with age, each wrinkle telling a story of a battle, but the angles on his face still stayed as chiseled as ever. He stopped short to see his guards laughing and a child talking to them.

Walking over he shouted. "Attention!" The guards snapped to attention and you only watch on as the well armed man approached. "What may I ask were you doing?"

The first guard stuttered his answer but was able to get it out. "Sir- Sir, this child here is in need of assistance."

The captain looks down at the "child." "Son, I am Captain Alemorea, Captain of the Guards for Camea, loyal follower of the noble house of Almar. What can I do for you child?"

"Greetings, Captain Alemorea. It is good to see someone upholding the dignity of his office for a change. However, your men are quite mistaken about me. I am Sir Bitey, Emissary of the Imp Queen and Knight of the True Kingdom." He approached slowly and bowed low to the Captain. "I would speak to you of disturbances of late, but I would prefer to do so away from..." he looks around, then at the guards, "distractions."

Captain Alemorea looked in disbelief as the creature before him was not a child but an imp. The Captain was shocked and at a loss for words. His guards were also shocked to see what they thought to be a child in a mask was actually one of the creatures they had heard about.

Just as quickly as he was shocked the Captain ordered for his guards to sieze the beast.

"Seize him and bring his weapons to me!" The guards rushed the imp and grabbed him by both arms. The alarm had sounded and soldiers poured out of the two guard houses, all with weapons drawn.

"I know your kind, you're the ones we've been hearing about." The captain spit in the imp's face as the guards held him so that another could disarm him.

"Sir, what do we do with him?" The guards asked.

"Chain him, take his armor off, we must examine it, and bring him to me. I have some questions for him." The captain looked back down at the imp. "You're a long way from the war demon spawn, but now you're mine." The captain stood up triumphantly. "Take him away." The guards listened and started to usher the imp away.

The captain stood after the imp was gone thinking of what he was going to ask, and wondered if one made it through the gates, how many more would be there as well?

Not far off in the shadows of an alley the figure stood watching what had happened. Cursing silently the shadowy figure began to plan on how to fix the situation. Turning to run down the alley the figure disappeared.