Chapter Eighteen

Travel Delays

"WHAT!" Heero said, shocked about that the man had just told him.

"Sir, please, it's been the rules for a long time now. You must have a guide and a caravan to get through the deserts. There have been to many people lost to the worlds of sand, that our King has placed these rules for the protection of the people." The man said looking at Heero like he was dirty or something. Heero growled.

"I can protect myself, and my group is more then capable of protecting themselves." Heero growled out.

"It doesn't matter what you think you can or cannot do, what I am telling you is what must be done for you too leave these gates. If you wish to get back on that sinking ship of yours and go around by water then you are more then welcome." The man said, his voice still calm and arrogant.

"And how do I find a guide? For a matter of fact, how do I find a trustworthy guide?" Heero asked.

"I do not know, sir, maybe in the town." The man said. Heero's eye twitched.

"You mean to tell me that you don't know where I can find a guide?" Heero asked. "Or a caravan?" With that the man laughed.

"It takes many days to get a Caravan ready for departure, and a guide has to be licenses and willing to leave his family for the three month travel across Elfour." The man said. Heero was ready to kill this little arrogant bastard.

"This is the most re-"

"Is there a problem?" A voice said from behind Heero. The man Heero had been talking too immediately got to his knees and bowed. Heero turned around and found a tall man standing behind him, his skin was tan from the sun, and he only wore a black cloth around his hip with a longer yellowish orange one that reached his ankles. He also wore a pair of knee high black leather boots, and his arms were heavy with jewelry. His hair was a sun color of blond and trailed down to his back, long bangs sweeping his forehead.

"Your majesty." The man said.

"Who are you?" Heero asked.

"My name is Ra." The new figure said with a smile and a lifted brow. "You do not bow?" He asked.

"I bow to no one." Heero said.

"Even to a god like me?" Ra said with a smile.

"Not a self proclaimed god." Heero said and pushed passed Ra.

"I have a Caravan ready if you need a way through the desert." He said not turning to look at Heero. He was too busy picking at something under his nail. Heero stopped walking.

"At what price?" He asked.

"No price, all I ask is that you work with the crew." Ra said.

"There are six of us." Heero said.

"I'm sure I can find six places for you to be useful." Ra said, looking at Heero over his shoulder. "You look like you would make a good guardsman." He said. Heero thought about it for a moment. They really needed to get though this damn desert.

"When are you leaving?" Heero asked.

"In about half an hour, my Caravan is located on the other side of town, meet us there then." Ra said and walked away. Heero made his way back to the café the other were at and caught them all laughing and joking around while Duo was busing himself with holding his hand about a chicken that was made from fire. It was dancing and spinning around. Heero rushed to the table as he caught the looks of the people around them.

"Duo stop that, are you trying to bring attention to yourself?" Heero asked, putting his hand over Duo's. Duo looked up at him.

"No, I was just trying to have a little fun." He said.

"We are trying to get through to the White Fang-"

"Heero I don't see how me using a little bit of my powers will draw attention to us?" Duo asked. "They have powers as well, I mean they said this Ra guy can control the movements of the sun and fire, and sand." Duo said. Heero just shook his head and sighed.

"Anyway I made arrangements to get though Elfour, unfortunately we have to have a guide. But I figure once we are far enough away from the gates we can just ditch the group and go our own way." Heero explained.

"So you're saying the only way to get out of here is to go with this guide?" Wufei asked.

"Who is it?" Odin asked.

"King Ra, I guess, I don't know, some self proclaimed god or something." Heero said rolling his eyes. "All I know is that I don't want to be with him for too long, he's arrogant and full of himself." Heero grumbled.

"Like Odin?" Trowa asked.

"Not funny shadow boy." Odin growled.

"Knock it off. The sooner we get out of here the sooner we can be on our own again." Heero said.

"Maybe it would be a good idea to stay with them Heero." Duo suggested.

"What do you mean?" Quatre asked. "Duo, if these people find out what we are they will try to use us. All humans are alike. They try to use thing greater then them to achieve these 'great' things." Quatre said.

"Yes, but if Une is after us and she attacks while we are with this group then wouldn't we have a better chance at defending ourselves, or at least getting away?" Duo asked.

"Not likely. If Une sends out another one of her creations, like Bane, then it could easily destroy the caravan with out so much of a blink of an eye. Duo you destroyed the crew on the ship like it was nothing. I know you didn't mean too, but as Shinigami, the humans didn't stand a chance, if someone like Bane was to attack then it would be blood shed and I don't only mean humans." Heero said.

"I guess your right. But Bane is dead." Duo pointed out.

"But Une is not and as long as the witch has you power she will not stop chasing use until King Trieze has what he wants, you." Heero countered.

"Good point."

"I think it would just be wise to stay away from humans as much as possible." Wufei said.

"I also think that would be a wise choice. Who knows if Une has spies around or something along those lines." Quatre said.

"I don't really trust this Ra guy anyway." Heero said.

"The sooner we get away from him the better I think." Odin said.

With that settled the six of them packed there stuff and made their way to the Caravan, the horse were loading up into a sand wagon along with a few other animals. The Wagons were tired to large sand dragons that paws at the ground anxiously. (1)

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(1) Sand Wagons have no wheels, there like sleds but HUGE!! And Sand Dragons only have webbed front legs while there back end is like a snake, the webbed from feet, help pull in the sand. :D