Arin backtracked his path to reach the site of the massacre of last night. That sight was a sharp contrast to the lush green surrounding. Green grass had turned black due to dried blood. A simple person might not understand the kind of mayhem that had been unleashed in this site last night. However, an experienced trained eye of an instigator; or someone well versed with bloodshed and gore; or, someone with enough magical acumen to trace the residual dark energy still lingering in that area would realize a seed of chaos had been planted here, which was going to loom large in the whole continent. However, neither the Old World's Old Guards, nor the Chaos incarnated himself was aware of what turbulent time they were going to usher in this chaotic world. Ironically, the Chaos Bringer was desperately searching for his way to bastion of Order right now.
Arin tried to remember from which direction exactly those guards were coming from, and he went that way. After roaming a while he found a metal road, and after walking on it for a few hours, he eventually found a road wide and maintained enough for him to consider as main road leading to a proper and big settlement. Arin hoped that if he could find a Caravan or at least a Cart travelling to the nearby major settlement. He could accompany them to enter the town. He had no intention to avoid people on road. Afterall, there was no good in hiding himself on road, when his main objective was to let himself be surrounded with unknown, potentially hostile people.
As he was walking down the quiet lonely road, a distant clatter grew louder, accompanied by the unmistakable clip-clop of hooves. Arin felt excited and looked behind. To his joy he saw a horse-drawn cart approaching from behind.
"Greetings, traveler!" the cart driver, a bulky man with a big moustache and an even bigger smile on face, addressed Arin, "Might you be in need of a ride to your destination? My cart has room for another; if goodman has coin to hire the ride"
"Indeed, I need" Arin replied pulling his hood down further to cover the signs of him being an undead.
"Then hop on" the driver said as he stopped the cart in front of Arin. Arin glanced the cart and sat inside. The cart was mainly stuffed with various goods. Arin made a place for himself among the goods and started conversation with the driver.
"You are either very brave or very naive" Arin said jokingly.
"Why, because I gave ride to a suspicious fellow, who can kill me and steal my goods?" the driver smirked.
"Am I wrong?" Arin replied, faking an embarrassed face.
"Indeed. If you were really a smart bad guy, you would not rob my car when we are so close to the Siterion." The driver laughed.
Arin felt a bit relaxed. Convincing someone of your idiocy often can help you save from many danger- it was something Arin had learnt from his day of conning others.
"You are wise indeed, Sir…" Arin paused.
"Bohan" smiled the Driver, "Not Sir, just Bohan". Then he gave Arin an inquisitive look, "Are you really thinking me a Knight? A burly old man driving a cart as a Knight?". He turned backwards further to look at Arin better, "Are you new in this region? For, even your dialect is a bit strange, I cannot recall I have heard this dialect anywhere!"
"What are you actually trying to project?" Arin smirked.
"I have a feeling you are willing to go to the settlement knowing well it is not a very safe endeavour for you?" Bohan chuckled.
"And what if you are right? Are you planning to hand me over to the authority?" Arin asked.
Bohan twirled his moustache, "If I had such plan then I would not make you alert, and just make you busy in talk until I had approached the Guards!"
By now Arin had realized that this man was not a simple cart driver, but rather most probably either related to smugglers or shady elements of town, or in league with the rebels. And, from his experience of his past life, Arin could understand that the man was actually wishing for Arin to seek Bohan's help, and then he would extort good money in exchange of help.
Well money was least concern for him anyway. He had twenty gold coins with him in the pouch, and forty-three in his backpack. So Arin decided to step on Bohan's trap willingly, because it was his only opportunity to make his way to the city right now.
"Then, can you help me enter the town?" Arin asked him.
"How were you planning to enter if you had not met me here?" Bohan asked in return, instead of answering him.
"First I would try to enter from front gate, and if does not work" Arin answered, "then find another way."
"Then you are not a wanted criminal" Bohan rubbed his chin, "but someone who would still be denied entry for…."
"Can you help me or not?" Arin stopped him in his track.
Bohan shuffled his sidebar for a while, and showed him a mask, "This will help you!"
Arin looked at the mask, and asked "Would not the guard ask me to take it down when entering?"
"Don't talk like fool;" Bohan chastised him, "You think I would not think that?"
"Beg your pardon" Arin apologized.
"This is a magical mask. You have to imagine a face while taking it down, and you will wear that face for the next fifty steps" Bohan explained.
"Did not get you." Arin was really confused this time.
"As expected," Bohan spoke with a tone mix of frustration and humiliation, "Kindly pay heed as I explain, for I do not like repeating myself!"
Although this was going as Arin had wished for, but Bohan's attitude and condensing nature was getting on his nerve a bit. But he needed his help, and so nodded obediently without uttering anything, as if he was afraid of opening his mouth and reveal own stupidity further.
Bohan scoffed and continued, "This effect will continue on your face as long as you are still at a place, or standing, or sleeping, or sitting. But as soon as you start changing your location, this illusion starts wear off, and at around fiftieth step, it's effect completely wears off, until you wear the mask again, walk another fifty steps, and repeat the same process. Am I clear? Hope I am, for I am not repeating myself again"
"Yes, you are" smiled Arin, "thank you so much my generous lord"
Bohan probably appreciated this small flattery, and smiled, "Mention not, my good man; but you see, I am a tradesman, and I am not going to give it to you out of sheer generosity!". Bohan raised his left arm and rubbed his thumb against his index and middle fingers to express his desire to get paid.
Arin spoke with a dejected tone, "Oh! But I am really poor, and I am afraid I can not pay much for this marvelous item!"
"How much you have?" Bohan asked with disappointment.
"I have only this much", Arin showed him the pouch he was carrying, "Only twenty gold, and I have to eat, find a place to sleep and things to purchase as well!"
"Don't worry for that", Bohan taunted him, "Undead don't need to eat"
This was the time Arin realized that this man had become too dangerous for him to continue living. He quickly tried to grab Bohan's neck, but with an agility which was sharp contrast to his bulky physique, Bohan grabbed Arin's neck instead. "I just need to tighten my grip a bit, and your rotten neck would crush instantly"
Arin was at loss, and did not know what to do. He felt like helpless rat trapped in ratcatcher.
Bohan shook Arin a bit and freed him from his grip. "I am letting you go because it was your first offense, as well as it was evident since the start that you are an idiot. However, I am now going to take the whole pouch", and he snatched the pouch from Arin. "I actually had thought of charging 10 gold coins" he continued, "but after the foolish stunt you pulled, I am charging it all"
Bohan tossed the mask to Arin and ordered him, "Get down from my cart and walk straight for rest of the path" and he stopped the cart.
Arin did not make any protest or excuse and obediently got down from the cart.
Bohan had stopped the car, so Arin started walking leaving the cart behind.
Suddenly Bohan started speaking to him behind his back, "Patience is a virtue which is core to Undeath, for they have time; unlike Human whose life is fleeting, and thus always in a hurry and commit mistakes!"
Arin did not look back; bit lowered his speed. Bohan continued, "As you walk towards Siterion, think of all the mistakes you have done the whole day!". Suddenly Arin noticed that Bohan's voice is changing to something very otherworldly. Arin stopped in track. "These types of human like mistakes is not expected of someone who has been bestowed with the Title of Hem'netjer Nerthazir. You are no more a Human, don't act like one!", Bohan spoke in commanding voice!" A chill shiver ran down Arin's spine, as he looked back, but no one was there anymore- neither Bohan, nor his Cart.
Arin murmured spontaneously "My Lord, you?"