The giant wasp hovered above, just outside of Javindar's reach. The Prince's eyes followed his enemy as it bobbed in the air, ready for its strike, but mindful of its brother behind him.

"Go get em' Javi. I have two gold on you!" shouted Gola as the rest of the crew cheered him on.

Javindar ignored Gola's casual abbreviationof his name as well as his cheering section as he concentrated on his flying opponents. The wasps flew in a slow pattern but they were fast as cobras when they striked. He was still sure he could block the insect in front of him though, but he would have to rely on a blind dodge from the one at his back.

"To your left!" shouted Lazy eye as the front wasp jabbed downwards with his stinger.

Javindar stepped to the right, bringing his scimitar down, almost hacking off the wasp's stinger in the process. The Bey then twirled to the side, slashing at the other wasp which narrowly missed him, bisecting it at its thorax and abdomen. Before the first wasp could recover from his parry, Javindar sliced away at its wing, clipping one, causing the creature to fly in a chaotic weaving pattern overhead to the laughter of the crowd.

"Pay up! " chortled Gola, even as the wasp spun wildly out of control, first striking the mast, before bouncing off and into the ocean.

"That's enough," said Javindar with a frown as he sheathed his scimitar.

"Yes, my lord," nodded Nahbob. The Prince's servant waved his hand, causing both the segmented creature on deck and the one thrashing in the ocean to vanish. "Were your sparring partners not to your satisfaction?"

Javindar shrugged. "I was hoping to practice on flying opponents, but those wasps proved little challenge. Perhaps you should summon giant bats next time or air elementals. Also the crew's shouts and warnings spoiled my training."

"True, but given you did not know if Alkim was referring to his left or yours, or if he had laid money on you to win or lose, you did quite well."

Javindar wasn't sure if Alkim was the Lazyeye sailor or not, but considered Nahbob's statement and nodded even as the sailors dispersed. Though his little training session garnered quite a bit of attention from the crew, Captain Wissam quickly put them back to work. While they were still leagues out at sea, they were rapidly approaching Grom City. Nahbob had mentioned that they should reach port within a day, and Javindar knew there was lots of work still to be done aboard by the crew.

"I shall return to my quarters to practice my katas and recite some prayers, do not disturb me till we reach land," said Javindar as he headed below deck."And Nahbob, please memorize some more offensive oriented spells like we discussed. I do not wish to be caught off guard again."

"May you at least attend to your wounds first? " asked Nahbob. "Gola may not be a priest but she has some effective healing poultices. "

Javindar glanced at the cuts and bites the wasps and the wolves before them inflicted and shrugged. Some of them were still bleeding but he could endure them. "I can attend to them myself. "

"As you wish my lord," bowed Nahbob.

Javindar proceeded to his cabin and was greeted by the inquisitive look of Chit, the emperor mongoose. He wasn't sure if he was Whelp's or perhap's Lalit's pet, but the creature gave him a worried look as its head bobbed up and down seeking some form of affection. Javindar smiled and relented, scratching the overgrown weasel on the head before he examined his own wounds.

The cuts were deeper than they looked, but not serious. The Prince sighed and placed his hand on the ugliest looking bite and channeled some of his divine energy into it, as Chit scrambled up his arm to watch the procedure. While he was a better fighter than healer, he was still a holy warrior of Puranas and was proficient enough to mend such an injury.

With his wounds more or less healed, Javindar placed Chit on the ground and then proceeded to practice his sword stances, repeating a long complicated series of swings and slices that resembled a complicated dance. Though he was using the scimitar rather than his favored Khanda, he noted to himself that he would not always have the luxury of using the weapons of his choice. Much like what happened back on that island….

*Knock Knock*

Javindar frowned. He thought he told Nahbob and the crew not to disturb him. Except of course for Gola. Her coconut crusted snapper was well enough reason to take a break from his training.

"Sir, it is I, " said Nahbob unexpectedly from outside.

"I told you my wounds are fine," said Javindar looking again at his handiwork. While the wounds did heal, they was some scarring left over from his sloppy application of magic.

"Sir, it's not about your wounds. I just wish to talk."

Javindar paused and considered his request. "Enter," he said at last.

Normally, Javindar had no need to discuss anything with Nahbob unless he was seeking counsel, but there were things on his mind as well.

"My lord, forgive me for my intrusion but there are things I wish to discuss before we make port," said Nahbob.

Javindar nodded. "Aye. The middleman that Whelp had discussed with you, and transporting the scroll back to Vinraj after we've secured it. "

"Yes, err nooo….," said Nahbob hesitantly. "Whelp's contact is an academic at their local university, but that's not what I wish to discuss. I don't know how to say this but you are taking … our recent difficulties quite well. Too well in fact."

Javindar paused mid step and turned to his servant. "Eh? By stepping up my training regimen and asking you to prepare more offensive minded spells? That's just common sense. I do not wish to be caught unprepared again like back on the island."

"No my lord. I just wish to point out that you've said very little about ….Whelp…since we were separated from her. I know people vent their frustrations in different ways, and that is fine, but if we are to recover the Black Scroll we should be ready with a clear mind."

"You think my judgement is clouded?"

Nahbob paused. Javindar could see his servant sweat. "Yes my lord. I can see you are ignoring your grief, and that could cause you to lose focus, " he said at last, bracing for his well-deserved slap.

Bey Javindar did not strike him, but instead stood tall. While he wasn't a particularly tall man, his eyes blazed as his presence dominated the room. " No Nahbob. I've never felt more focus than before. We could have turned the ship around and attempted to rescue or at least seek revenge for Whelp, but I'm no fool. They have three War Kaylons to our 'smuggling' barge. They had exotic weapons that outrange anything I've ever seen to the Mermaid's tail mismatched collection of bows and crossbows. They had a war wizard with power unlike anything I've ever seen to, no offense, you, my servant wizard that mostly specialize in enchantments and spells that make my life easier. I'm not using these factors as an excuse for not rescuing Whelp, but they are things we could not overcome…yet."

"Yet? " asked Nahbob.

"I will not ignore my duty to Ghata, Vinraj, and Holy Sampada. I will retrieve the Black Scroll and return to the Holy Temple with it. The gurus, swamis, and sadhvis can deal with it from that point. For myself, I will raise a real fleet, a Ghatian fleet to seek out those Khanian War Kaylons and bring them to justice. If that doesn't work, I'll bring my case directly to the Great Khan himself and demand to know what his people are doing taking slaves on the oceans. "

Nahbob studied Javindar's face before nodding slightly. "I beg your forgiveness my lord, for both my intrusion and my incorrect assessment of your character. You are correct. You are more focused than ever. You do your line proud."

Javindar took that as a compliment and grinned.

"Just one more thing," said Nahbob as he was at the door. "As your servant and diplomatic advisor, I should point out that the Khanians and the Great Khan in particular would not take kindly to attacks or even accusations aimed at their direction. I do not know if the Khanians we encountered are acting under their lord's will but they are a very close knit people. If you antagonize them, that could break the peace your father fought so hard to achieve. "

Javindar shrugged. "As far as I'm concerned. They've already broken it. "

Javindar was well disappointed.

Grom City was supposed to be a city whose very name was synonymous with swashbuckling, adventure and unlimited wealth. A city of vice where life was cheap and anything and anyone can be bought and sold. The rallying point of mighty heroes like Monte Nabisco, and Stillman the Sea Ranger where they drank and celebrated before marshaling forth to fight orc armies and pirate kings. Where the 'Demon' Emperor held court and binded mighty fiends to power his infernal golems. The last outpost of civilization in the west before the lands descended to barbarism.

Javindar had visited the white towers of Thyatis, the golden streets of Specularum, and even the exotic spice ports of the Emerald throne. Being as this was his first time in Grom City he wasn't sure what to expect. Perhaps a metropolis cloaked in darkness, or even some barely civil demon controlled city. Instead the whole place looked rather pedestrian and dull. More like a city that the inhabitants forgotten to clean rather than the infamous den of thieves. The sprawl of buildings before him seemed to be constructed from whatever materials the grubby inhabitants were able to scrounge, and the city possessed no proper layout what so ever. Everything seemed in chaos as he saw roads that circled onto themselves and streets that seemed to lead to nowhere. What was worse however was the smell. For a city of such a fearsome reputation, he expected the smell of spice or perhaps the dangerous aroma of illicit narcotics and seductive perfumes. Instead the odor of garbage, sweat, and wet dog seemed to prevail over the place.

Even the supposed throne of the 'Demon' Emperor was well below Bey Javindar's expectations. While he was not a diplomatic envoy and thus did not require to pay the local satrap a visit, he and Nahbob did pass its shadow. He was sure the ruler of Grom's palace would be covered in unholy symbols or decorated by the swinging corpses of those that crossed him, but the once feared scourge of the known world seemed to reside in a simple big fortified stone box. It seemed defensible enough, but besides a really big statue , it was all in all very boring aesthetically to the Ghatian Prince.

Since they had parted paths with Captain Wissam, Gola, Lazyeye, and the rest of the crew of the Mermaid's Tail, they had wandered aimlessly around the city's jumbled streets. Several urchins had offered to guide them for some coin, but both Nahbob and Javindar did not trust the look of them and declined. Instead they marched up and down Grom's dirty streets in search of a proper inn. Though his servant did have a bag of holding, Nahbob carried the rest of Javindar's luggage manually. Nahbob could have enchanted some magical disks to carry the weight, but by Javindar's request he did not memorize the spells. Not that the Prince would have wanted his servant to use such magic, it would only attract attention and thieves.

When they finally made it sufficiently out of the dock district, the air cleared a bit and some adequate lodging was found. Though Javindar wasn't tired, he had his fill of the city for one day. He needed some time to practice and pray, to drive the stink and chaos from the city away. Nahbob on the other hand seemed eager to make further arrangements, resupply, and inquire about their contact.

"Just make sure I get a proper meal," insited Javindar as his servant left. While Gola's meal were far from the Tamasic standards he was accustomed to, at least they were tasty, fresh and…'clean'. Javindar couldn't imagine anything clean, especially food coming from this city.

"Yes sir," said Nahbob as he was leaving. "I'll make sure your needs are properly met. I'll insist from the innkeeper a proper serving of fresh fruits and vegetables to be brought to you."

After a few hours of kata training, Javindar's meal was served. The Prince was dubious of Nahbob's earlier claim when a bowl of chopped leafy vegetables served with some milky sauce on the side came to his door. The Prince sniffed the sauce and ignored it, but found the rest of his meal pleasantly crisp and flavorful. Chit seemed to enjoy it as well as he stole a strange orange tuber from his bowl.

As Javindar ate his meal he was surprised to see Chit's hairs suddenly stand up as it turned to face the door. Javindar curiously stared at the little mongoose and then he recalled the reason that Kings and Queens favored them as pets, their uncanny ability to detect supernatural evil. His hand reached for the hilt of his scimitar, when suddenly a light knocking came from the other side. The holy warrior's eyes focused on the door, and indeed detected an evil presence from the other side. Not just the aura of a greedy man, or one that valued his own worth more than others, but that of a murderer, or…demon.

Was he being attacked? Has his quest for the Black Scroll attracted the attention of the Asura. He doubt it was the Khanians, he saw no sign of them at the docks. Also while the ones he dispatched back at the island did radiate some degree of evil, their auras were not of this magnitude. Even the old man in yellow did not possess such a powerful aura of malevolence.

"May I come in? " asked a soft voice.

Javindar remained silent. If he was to be attacked, he'll let his foes make the first move. The door way can be used as a choke point. He'll pounce on them while they break through the door, hopefully getting the first swing in and clogging the entrance with his foes' bodies. He had little faith in the local constabulary and did not reinforcements once the fray was joined but perhaps he can break their moral before they overwhelm him.

Chit on the other hand, seemed to relax when he heard the voice and he lost his angry demeanor. Unexpectedly, the mongoose broke from its defensive stance and ran to the door, making high pitched 'ooking' noises as it jumped up and down at the door knob.

Javindar couldn't believe what he was seeing. Did someone cast a glamour on the emperor mongoose? Weren't they supposed to be resistant to magic? Unsure, he strode across the room to try to grab the little guy, but it was too late. With a mighty leap, Chit leaped up on the door handle and pulled it down with a slight but still audible click.

Javindar was ready to stab whatever intruded through the door, but was surprised when the slowly door slowly swung open.

Instead of a demon as the auras indicated, he was confronted by a beautiful young woman with light blue hair and a long black dress. She was of average height, approximately as tall as Holy Sampada, but bore herself with a regal poise. Her skin looked healthy and radiant despite being pale, and though her dress was full lengthed and conservative it did nothing to hide her seductive curves. Her eyes…her eyes were wide and of an unnatural blue. Though most people from Vinraj had brown, or rarely green eyes, Javindar had encountered 'sky' eyed people before, though none had such a strong piercing hue like the woman before him.

For a second Javindar was speechless before this beauty. Was this a woman that his servant had hired to see to his needs? Nahbob had mentioned he would 'educate' him in the finer details of the opposite sex in the next port, but Javindar did not think this was the time or the place for that. Especially after the passing of Whelp….

Javindar shook his head and cleared his senses. He remembered the demonic aura. Of course this wasn't a prostitute. While he met demons mainly on the battlefield, he knew there were creatures amongst their ranks that could take pleasant forms to deceive and seduce men. The deadly Erinyes, the sultry Pairaka, and of course the mesmerizing Succubus. Despite its beguiling guise, Javindar knew that this wasn't its true form. Though he was fairly confident he could take such a creature in battle, he doubt it was alone. She was probably supported by more and deadlier brethren nearby.

"Stay back! You are not welcomed here," warned Javindar with his blade drawn.

The woman gave Javindar a surprised look as she noticed his blade. "Oh forgive me, do I have the wrong room?"

She took a step back, looked behind the door, and stepped forward once again. "No, I'm at the right room. Though, it doesn't appear I am welcomed," she said as she nodded at Javindar's blade.

"Begone to the pits that spaw…"

Before Javindar could finish, Chit suddenly hopped up at the woman. Javindar was expecting the creature to go for her throat or at least her eyes, but instead she caught the mongoose in her arms.

"Oh Chit! It's been so long," she said as she hugged it. Chit return the affection by bobbing its head merrily and making happy 'ooking' noises.

Javindar stared at the two in confusion. "Wait, you know Prince Lalit's pet?" He asked, though he still wasn't sure whom Chit belonged to.

"Chit? He's not Lally's pet, he's Sammys. I think Sammy left it with her brother to help ease his nerves after that incident ten years ago," she smiled as she scratched Chit's head.

"Sammy? Lally? Holy Sampada? Prince Lalit? You know them?"

The woman nodded.

"Aye, Baroness Stille at your service," she said as she curtsied as best she could with the mongoose in her arms. "Though my role was small, I was one of the band that rescued Lady Sampada ten years ago from that Rakshasa tribe."