The morning sun was losing its redness, and the glare of the rolling hills of sand hadn't yet started to unleash its heat when the caravan moved out. Lilith and Xenith had put up their own camp after Lilith helped Xenith take down the watch-ring. Lilith was feeling well after a good night's sleep, while Xenith's system was still trying to adjust to a night of watching via magical means rather than sleeping. She wasn't sure if she was sleepy or just dazed.

As the caravan started to roll Lilith and Xenith rode out front, following the path that it would take. After riding about half a mile in front and sensing no danger for a couple of miles, Lilith rode back with Xenith riding a pace or two behind her. Lilith examined her companion's aura with some curiosity. Hmmmm, so we've got a lot of deference and respect, a bit of admiration, and a lot of hesitation caused by fear. All fine, except for that last part.

As they expected, Seran was driving the first wagon in the line. "Good morning ladies!" he called cheerfully. "And what do we have in store for us today? Not another scurat, I hope?"

Lilith smiled and shook her head, and as they came closer she said, "No trace of anything like that for a couple of miles, at least. The way is clear for now."

"Glad to hear it! I'm sorry that you had to exhaust yourself yesterday evening, but I guess these things happen."

"Actually, it might not have happened if you'd taken my advice about traveling another mile or two before stopping for the day." Lilith said it casually, but the tone underneath caused Xenith to wince and even Seran sensed something wrong.

"What do you mean? I never got any advice. The first I knew about it was after we had camped and you went off to stand watch- I thought. Then Turins said that you were looking for something, but he didn't know what."

Lilith's eyes sparked briefly before she got herself under control. What she thought, though, would have smoldered a certain fur. "Sir, I detected a regular trail that the scurat was using, and it came almost into the camp. I told Turins that when he was deciding to stop, and made my objections plain enough that he went back to talk to you. Then he returned and informed me that you had said not to worry about it."

Seran's own jaw tightened. "He said he had talked to me about this before we halted?"

"No, you had halted, but hadn't started unloading to make camp yet."

"Adept, this is the first that I knew about this warning." Anger and determination dominated his face, but Lilith could see fear and helplessness hiding underneath the surface. "Please accept my apologies for needlessly putting you at jeopardy. I don't like to say this about my own son, but at least in this case, he has proved unworthy of my trust. In the future, please do not accept orders from him, nor trust what he says. I will deal with you directly, and if you can't find me, Scandran here will relay a message."

He motioned to the other fox sitting beside him, who looked uncomfortable. Lilith smiled- she'd hate to be in that situation too. Bad enough to be a witness to Turins' humiliation, but then to be in effect promoted over him? "I understand, of course, Seran. Believe me, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Anyone who is in my position sees it all the time, it's just part of life. If I held that sort of thing against furs, I'd have a large heap of dead in my past." Not that I don't, and for more or less that reason, but he doesn't need to know that.

Seran returned her smile rather weakly and Lilith could tell he was still afraid of her. "Thank you for your understanding, Adept. And believe me, I will make sure it doesn't happen again. We depend on you to be our eyes out here, and we would be foolish to disregard your opinions."

Lilith laughed and shrugged as she replied, "thank you for your high estimation. I don't know if my opinions are always right, but I admit I do know what's out here. For now, though, I think my apprentice and I better get back out there to make sure it stays calm." She waved and she and Xenith rode back out front.

"How many times have you absorbed life energy?" she asked Xenith.

"Not many, Adept. In fact, I can't remember the last time I did."

That did it. Lilith pulled to a halt to one side of the caravan's route and said, "You've been in the guild for a year, Apprentice, and I have yet to hear anything they've taught you beyond the novice stage. I think it's time you told me just exactly what has been going on. Who has had you under them, for how long, and what did they do?"

Xenith gulped. "Well, uhmm, I first came to the guild after my family found out I could see life-cords. They sort of regarded it as a scandal, and then this fox came and said that the guild could 'take care' of me. So I went with him and he had me made a novice, then after a couple of q's he had taught me enough to be an apprentice. After that, he gave me to this other fox master who created the bond and said he'd show me how to do... experimental.... stuff... he never touched me, but it felt.... felt even more like he did than if he had...."

As Xenith's eyes watered, Lilith interrupted and said, "Ok, I see that, so who did he give you to and when?"

"Well, it was about two quarters and he transferred my bond to a rat who had it for not too long before he transferred me to the other rat-- I think it was some sort of wager or something, I'm not sure who lost what. Anyhow, he turned me over to you."

They had started walking their horses forward slowly as Xenith talked, and now Lilith's tolerance had been exhausted. "Of all the tales of neglect, exploitation, and abuse, I couldn't have scripted one better myself! First, your family thinks of you as a scandal and a headhunter finds you so that he can get the guild finder's fee, then he gets nominal fees for teaching you and a slightly larger fee for getting you to an apprentice stage- and to do it that fast, you must have had potential." Her voice was starting to drip with sarcastic hatred as she continued. "Then, not satisfied with that, he almost certainly gets a sizable under the table bonus from a sex perverted Master who uses you as a toy until he gets tired of you, then transfers you over to a rat Master--"

"Adept" Xenith murmured in a choked tone.

"Oh-hoh! That makes it even better. To a rat Adept who probably doesn't understand the first thing about vixens and what they might be like after such treatment. An adept, no less, who is almost certain to have regarded you as a prize, being a lowly adept with an apprentice of his own! No doubt he got his ego all puffed up like rats always do until he got taken down a few pegs by a rat Master who decided he'd had enough of his foolishness. Then the rat Master finds out he got more than he bargained for when he got your link, so he starts looking around for some place to get rid of you. And it just so happens he has an old buddy who knows of a vixen adept who'd be just dandy for the job-- or at least can be convinced she is! If I was in that situation, I wouldn't just hate it, I'd be ready to spit in the faceof fate himself and leave the perverts, exploiters, fools, and ignoramuses in the dust! In fact, I may yet kill that sex pervert if I ever find him!"

By now, there were choking sobs coming from behind Lilith. She pretended not to notice as she said, "Look, see that cactus on the next ridge?" When she heard the rather affirmative mumble, she said, "Good. Ride up there and wait for me, I've got some things to tend to." Then she turned away and rode off at an angle as Xenith did what she was told.

Lilith shuddered as she drew in a deep breath of her own. She let her hands shake for a bit as she thought bitterly, Well, you just managed to scrape open every wound that poor vixen has had since she joined the guild. Did a nice thorough job of it, too. You ought to be proud of yourself. She knew she wasn't, though. She sighed and squeezed her eyes shut to try and keep from crying herself, as she felt both her own misery and Xenith's. Well, we're going through hellfire with it, but maybe we can come out better on the other side.

In the meantime, there was some more heat going on at the front of the caravan.

"I told you I didn't trust that scheming adept! She's just trying to get me in trouble. Look at you, a couple of days out and she already has turned you against your own son!"

Turins was working himself into a self-righteous lather, but his father was having none of it. "Every one of us is lucky she isn't going to hold it against you! You almost got our guide killed, and us too! If that beast hadn't gotten us, her apprentice probably would have, and I wouldn't blame her if she had. Look, I've had enough of your irrational hatred in this matter. It's not going to happen again because I'm not going to let it happen again. If I see you talking to either one of those vixens, or even looking at them wrong, I'll lock you up in the strongbox until we get back to civilization, do you understand??"

The response was an injured, self-pitying tone and a "your own son! Who has worked himself to the bone for years in this caravan, learning every trick of the trade from the wagon wheels on up, and then you discard all that for a couple of guides we don't even need!"

"I'm through arguing with you about that. You know very well we're going out to the middle of a desert where we've never been before. If you think you know a better way to get there than what they're leading us through, feel free to take your horse and go follow it. I'm sure the vultures will be disappointed at the lack of meat on your skinny carcass after you starve to death."

Turins simply turned his horse towards the back of the caravan, giving what was meant to be a snort of contempt. It was too weak, though, and that weakness made it sound more like a baby's sniffle than anything else.

Xenith felt the slight coolness of shade from the cactus as she sat huddled over her horse's reins. She had finally cried herself out- or at least managed to dry it up, she had the sinking feeling she'd never be able to get it out. I wish I could be mad at her for saying that, she thought, but it's just too true. I never did try to push myself forward. All I wanted was to be happy by myself and then this just destroyed everything. I didn't have any idea what was going to happen. Oh, what's the use of saying that. I couldn't have done anything if I had known. I'd pity myself, but it's not like I didn't ask for it. If I'd just.... oh, I don't know, there must have been something I could've done. I wish I knew what. But I didn't really ask for it, did I. It just... happened. There was a sigh behind her, and she quickly turned around to find Lilith coming around the cactus.

"Xenith," Lilith said, then she seemed to pause as she forced the next words out. "I... I think I owe you an apology for.. back there." She waved vaguely toward the caravan. "You've already been hurt enough without my adding to it by rubbing salt in. I guess I just got so upset with the situation I didn't think. I just let it all out, and I hurt you. I'm sorry for that."

Xenith's tears started again as she looked back forward. "Don't be, Adept--"

"Lilith, not Adept. I think you've earned the right to a first name basis after that little outburst. At least on occasion." Lilith added with some of her wry humor back again.

Xenith smiled a bit. "Lilith. Don't be sorry for it. It hurt, but... well, it was you simply calling things like I hadn't had the courage to do myself. It's sort of hard to be upset at things when you can't even admit you're hurt, and well... I hurt."

This time, Lilith brought her horse beside Xenith's, and let Xenith lean into her shoulder as she started crying a bit again. After a few seconds, Xenith simply said, "Thanks.... Lilith."

Lilith sighed a bit, and with a mumbled, "You're welcome" let the subject drop. She turned to the cactus and said calmly, "Anyhow, I think it's time to get you some of the energy that's floating all around here. This cactus is as good a place as any to start. Take a look at it."

Xenith did so, and for a bit simply lost herself in the delight of looking at all of the energy flows through the cactus. "It's beautiful, " she murmered.

Lilith grinned and replied, "yes, we get to see lots of that. So many people never even know the beauty they miss simply because they can't see it. Now, put out your hand and gently draw the cords from that area toward you." As Xenith did, Lilith continued talking. "Of course, as you do so, your own attention makes them thicker, and it creates the connection between you and it. Now that it's reached you, simply relax and let your awareness absorb it's feel. Good, that's perfect. Now, you're probably feeling the slight pressure from it as it's energy is flowing. Just let it flow into your mind, and warm it up so to speak- you're probably feeling it like a cool breeze now. Let it slowly warm up, and as it does so, gently concentrate on your earrings...."

Xenith felt relaxed and calm. Even happy, she admitted, in a remote sort of way. She concentrated on guiding the flows and began to feel a slight tingling in her ears as her earrings absorbed the energy she guided to them. After a few minutes, though, they got warm, and suddenly she snapped out of it, dropping everything to yelp a bit and grab at her ears.

Lilith laughed and said, "that's what happens when they are holding all they probably can safely. It starts piling back up into your system, and you weren't used to that. Don't worry about it, it means that you've done a good job. My turn now..." She turned to the cactus and began the same process, though in a quicker fashion. After a couple of minutes, though, she stopped and said. "Ok, that's enough. Take a look at it now."

Xenith did. "Oh, I see. It's a lot dimmer, isn't it."

Lilith nodded. "Exactly. A lot dimmer because we drained it. You don't want to go too far, or you might hurt it. That's about as low as you can go with those things. See if you can remember how it looks, you don't want to go around killing cactuses if you can help it."

Xenith giggled a bit, and continued looking. Lilith, in the meantime, stretched her right hand out, with fingers spread, and suddenly a net of dark blue life lines, very fine, shot forth from her fingertips. They touched all around the area behind Xenith, who turned around to look in amazement. The lines brightened and glowed a bit, and Xenith realized that they were draining energy from seemingly everywhere--- she looked closer and saw the targets being rocks, and even small rodents and beetles, and.... oops. Almost her. She pulled away a bit and continued to watch until the net disappeared.

"That's the other way," Lilith said. "It comes in handy when you know how to use it, but if you don't, it can be disastrous. I've put a couple of dozen furs to sleep in seconds, and it started out with a net just like that. Only problem is you could leave someone in a coma, or dead, if you didn't watch it. Of course, some fighters do that on purpose. Now let's go on back and make sure the caravan is following the right trail. Hmm, did I say back? Looks like they've caught up with us. Come on."

As they rode toward the caravan, Xenith asked, "how many of those wagons have merchandise, anyway? I'd think that a lot of them would be supplies."

"You're right, they are. As to how many, I don't know. Why don't you ask Seran for yourself?"

"No, that's all right, it's not that important."

"No, now, no backing out. You wondered, and it's actually a good question. If you're going to be guarding this, it would help to know just what you're guarding. And don't worry about him not thinking it's a dumb question, " she continued as she saw Xenith's hesitance. "I assure you, there's probably nothing he'd like better than to fill you in on all the details you want to know- and most of those you probably don't want to know, too."

As Lilith had intended, Xenith laughed a bit. "Ok, I'll ask him sometime."

"Nope, not sometime. In about one minute. In fact, here we are."

Seran waved as they came up. "Checking in again already?"

"Just making sure you don't get lost, wagonmaster," Lilith replied with a grin. "Also, my apprentice was wanting to know something about your caravan here."

"Oh? What's that?"

"Xenith?" Lilith turned with an expectant look, and there wasn't anything else Xenith could do without seeming nasty about it.

"Oh, uh, well, I was just wondering how many of these wagons are actually just carrying your supplies. I wouldn't think they were all merchandise."

Seran laughed. "Very perceptive, young lady. You are so right. In fact, we've got five wagons with nothing but supplies-- mostly food, one of them has all of the cooking equipment, and then of course you have the spare parts and equipment for the wagons. Mostly that's wheels, yokes, leather strips for reins or whatever else they are needed for- you'd be surprised all the uses a simple leather rope can have..."

Lilith interrupted gently at this point to say, "while you're telling her that, I'll go look up front again."

Seran waved goodbye, and with a shouted "ok" he turned back to Xenith to continue filling her in. Lilith laughed to herself. It looked like Xenith was going to be learning more than one trade on this trip. And, she had to admit, putting Seran in the position of teacher would probably go a long ways to making him feel more comfortable around her. That's the best thing that could happen to those two, she thought. They both need a bit more self-confidence around the other.