[Cspace]

Silently, many of the people here are beginning to leave their village. Some remain, but everything is much quieter now. The previously bustling market no longer holds any crowds, the entertainers along the roads have disappeared, and the air seems clear due to the lack of dust that is normally stirred up by the day's activity.

[Bashae]

Reikin did not understand what was happening, but he knew well enough to know that an action like this must be linked with everything he has learnt up to now about events taking place.

So he finds the ragged cloak that he used that he received when he was exiled from Arunakil and wore it over himself in order to draw away attention from his alien appearance. At the same pace of the Maldera, he decides to follow some of that are leaving the town.

[Cspace]

A mercenary approaches Reikin... One from the same group that Reikin previously joined in the desert.

"Now, I'm sure you're not thinking of leaving..."

[Bashae]

Reikin cursed his luck. Although he had inadvertantly left the group behind in the desert, he thought this would work to his advantage and that he would not encounter them again. He examines the mercenary and wonder if he could take him on, as the mercenary was by himself; although, once he did, the others were bound to look for him. He would have to avoid combat at all costs, but he did not like the idea of the mercenaries tailing him either. It was times like these he wish he were a Telepath.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't leave? I did willfully put myself into your group, so I should be able to willfully pull myself out," Reikin stated. "I have given up searching for the two sailors; they are not here, and I no longer have any leads. I didn't ask for payment, and I was only going to assist if it was worth the time; something you should be all too familiar with."

[Cspace]

The mercenary makes a fist out of frustration, and you can hear his knuckles crack. In a low tone he says, "It's a mercenary's job to fulfill a contract. Regardless of payment, if you sign to accomplish a mission, you stay until the end. If you leave you may find a knife in your back someday." He pulls a concealed dagger from his plated vest, and with his arm relaxed, he casually points it at Reikin. "No one said it's fair, but that's the business we're in."

The mercenary suddenly grabs Reikin by the collar and pulls him closer. With the dagger in hand, he commands, "I sense your hesitation, but you're going back to Maldenar! Now! I will hunt you down myself if you let us down... We have a big reward coming when we claim the artifact, and I intend to get a piece of it."

He pulls Reikin a little closer, and speaks with a whisper...


"Sorry, I'm being watched. It's pointless for us to be searching this vast desert for two sailors and an artifact. To tell the truth I don't even want to find it, but I can't leave. You can. Get lost in the town, and when the mercenaries leave, head south. Aderon is coming from the northeast, and Forlon is coming from the west. You can escape to the south. Trust me, something bad is going to happen here... You shouldn't stick around."


The mercenary releases Reikin. "Now get going! You don't want to keep us waiting."

[Bashae]

Reikin simply stared at the mercenary for a second before finally realising what he said.

He nodded.

"It looks like you won't simply let me go after all."

Reikin headed back into town.

South... That would be Zolandor or Dharonia. Once again, the Zal'Dharon are involved in this. Always this peaceful race seems to be the center of mysterious and powerful events, possibly because they are linked to the Movers..."

Not too soon after, he finds a dark alley, quickly heads in and turns into an Espheir. He walked out of the alley and did a quick search around for the mercenaries. He attempts to leave town once more.