Iron and Blood

[Hriky]

Why did Akshat even bother to come up here? He didn't exactly belong in the enemies land at all. But he is always wandering when having nothing to do anymore. He was also trying to find anything out about their movements, though he wasn't exactly aware of doing so right now. He turned his head to look around, he wasn't going to go much further out into this desert. He would stay here unless he found a reason to move forward.

The Loxodon didn't look like the most friendlest thing in the area, towering over everyone he stood looking around. His money would not be any good here and it would give him away to being part of the Federation. He drummed his large fingers on his palms. Slowly, he turned to look for a place to rest. He had been moving around endlessly for about a weak now. He couldn't exactly place where he was in Asterion, but he would be heading back tomorrow.

Sitting down on the ground he leaned against a large tree in the oase. It was tropical and not very large but it would support him leaning against it. His large ears covered his eyes from the sun. Thinking about it, what would he gain from even staying. This was the public and they didn't know much about the war. If he saw soldiers he would think about it. He wasn't going to be a spy anyways, that wasn't going to be something he would never be good at.

[Heavenly Descendant]

Rurthgar snorted as sand was blown into his nose by a brief gust of hot wind. His thick eyelashes protected his eyes from the barretting sand, however, his nose and ears were left totally at the mercy of the desert wasteland if he didn't wear anything to cover them.

The bull man's sharp eyes scanned the wasteland as he trudged alongside a supply wagon. He had been hired to protect the wagon that contained mostly blankets and lamp oil--not exactly an ideal combination--from bandits who might try to hijack or simply rob it.

The supplies were for some of Kurultai's soldiers in small camp to the east. The fact that only one wagon was sent was proof at just how small the camp must be. Obviously, the camp had only be set up as a precautionary measure.

As another gust of buffeted Rurthgar he noticed a rather large figure leaning against a palm tree to his left. He made no move to approached the figure, but he did wrap his hand around his sword hilt. For all he knew it could be just be something resting in the shade, but he was being paid to protect this wagon--and when you were protecting something you never made assumptions. It was better to be safe than sorry as they said.

[Hriky]

Akshat noticed not many people around at this oases at all. It must've been just a small refreshing stop. He didn't dwell on it much as he saw a wagon go by. A symbol of the military on it. He thought he should follow and find anything out. If any fighting breaks out he will deny anything about being part of the Federation. He will try to avoid any conflicts if nessicary, he wasn't the one to charge into a pointless battle. This could be useful information if it was anything. What was being transported anyways? It didn't matter, if was going away from the capital city, so a base maybe. Locations were always important to figure out.

There was a Minotaur there, hand on his blade. This wasn't going to be easy if that person was going to interfer. He wasn't going to do anything much besides follow, but this was going to be a problem if he was watched. A fight wasn't something he wanted to get into at all. He would wait for a while, he had only glanced at the wagon once as it passed by.

After waiting for a while he thought he should follow it now. It had been a few minutes and it was ahead of him now. He stood up and almost knocked the tree down when he did. He walked onto the road and behind the wagon at a slow pace. If he needed to he would speed up a little to keep the wagon in sight. He didn't want to lose it in this desert. The only reason he didn't decide against this was that he would have to go back this way anyways. He kept his eyes set on the Minotaur for his actions.

[Heavenly Descendant]

As the wagon passed the figure didn't move from its position beneath the palm tree providing scant shade for the enormous creature. From Rurthgar's position the figure seemed to resemble a mix between a Human and an elephant. Loxodon. A race of large, fiercely strong people who were near unstoppable in battle.

Rurthgar frowned at the Loxodon as he passed by. It was the habit of many of the Kurultai Empire to ride war elephants into battle because of their great strength and endurance. He could only imagine what the more intelligent, human-like counter-part to the great mammal was capable of. Truly, the Loxodons were a race to be respected.

For sometime Rurthgar continued walking alongside the wagon undisturbed, but after a while he began to get an itching feeling between his shoulder blades. It was the sort of feeling you get when you think you're being watched. Rurthgar looked ahead, to his left, and to his right, but he didn't see anything or anyone watching him. Then he turned his head backwards. In the far distance he could make out a rather large figure trailing behind the wagon.

Snorthing Rurthgar increased the tempo of his stride so that within a split second he was walking alongside the wagon driver.

"Pick up the pace a little," Rurthgar commanded, "There's someone following us, and I'd prefer to lose him if possible."

"This is about as fast as she goes," the Human driver said, "It's the sand. It slows down everything whether its on feet or wheels. I guess you'll just have to take care of it if it comes to trouble. That's your job after all."

Rurthgar grunted. He knew what his job was. He just wasn't sure if he'd be able to guarantee the safety of this imbecile if it did come to a fight.

"You go on ahead," Rurthgar said, "I'll fall back and check it out."

"Alright," the driver said, "Don't take too long."

Rurthgar grunted again, and abruptly stopped. He turned around and stood in the middle of the road clutching his scimitar in its sheathed on his left hip. He waited for the figure to come closer.

[Hriky]

Akshat continued along the path for a while now. It wasn't long before he would be noticed, if the Minotaur had any sense of being followed or not. It did happen soon enough. The Minotaur broke off from the Wagon and waited for him on the road. It would be much better to try and ignore him and keep going. But it would be obvious if he was following the Wagon afterwards and after he passed the man.

Moving closer to him he stopped after getting to the point of only being a few feet away. He looked over the Minotaur quickly. His hand was on a blade to his left. Seeing this Akshat moved his right arm to his back and plant his grip around the shaft of his hammer. He looked at the man and snorted through his truck. "May I help you, sir?" he asked in a dry tone not thinking that it he would get an answer, but was never sure. If he was questioned he thought about much of how he would answer as well. If he was asked where he was going, south, was he following them, no. The first one was the truth, the second one wasn't. He had a few more questions already thought out. He wouldn't answer too fast. He wasn't one to make much haste ether.

His eyes locked narrowly with the Minotaur's. If he could avoid a fight, he would. His large ears covered his face from the and heat wind of the desert, this wasn't going to be a very good day. But the sound of the war drums brought together violence. He stood there as the air seemed to go thick with tension. He didn't have to hope anymore, he knew this would break out into violence. It could be felt in his bones.

[Heavenly Descendant]

The Loxodon came to a halt just a few feet in front him. The giant being was intimidating Rurthgar had to grudgingly admit, but he wouldn't let a bit of intimidation keep him from carrying out his duty. His grip on his sword tightened as he eyed the large warhammer strapped the to back of the Loxodon.

"May I help you, sir?"

Rurthgar snorted and replied, "I'm curious to know why you've been following the wagon I've been escorting. If you have any foul attentions then I should warn you that it is my duty to stop you from carrying them out."

He eyed the giant being in front of him warily. If it came to a fight he would definitely be disadvantaged. Not only was the Loxodon's enormous size and strength a factor, but also so was Rurthgar's lack of weapons. A sword was a very versatile weapon, but against a foe this big a spear would've been preferred.

[Hriky]

Akshat narrowed his eyes even more in a quick glance, top to bottom of the Minotaur. His fingers tightened their grip around the shaft of his warhammer. It would probably be needed in a few moments. He was prepared to answer the question but did so in his normal slow speaking. "Sir, I believe there is a difference between following and going in the same direction." he answered the first part in his dry tone of voice.

If this didn't go well, the Minotaur's weapon was a quick one, unlike his hammer. If the sword was used to it's advantage, it would be quite effective against him, but that is all to say if he can avoid the warhammer. He kept focus ready for the first movement, he didn't want to be the one to make the first strike.

"Assuming you said you were escorting the wagon, I assume yo are doing your job and making sure nothing bad happens to it. Though I will say I do not mean any harm to that wagon at all. I would wish to avoid a fight with you if possible." he said speaking the truth there as well, in his whole response he had never said anything that wasn't true, he was following but he never said he wasn't, and he didn't mean any harm to the wagon ether.

Akshat would have brought his Warhammer to his front, but it would make it seem like he was going to attack. This was a very tense situation and he knew it. One slip up in his actions or words could cause quite the trouble between the two. He would have to plan out his words quickly and hope for the best.