Verik had calmed considerably by the second day and he was forced to admit that Asha had proven to be a great aid in keeping him from snapping at others as he continued to think over recent events.

During the journey he had gained a great deal of perspective on this world but also of the locals themselves: there was a clear distinction between the hoard at the bottom then the slim middle class and finally the near non-existent top of the economic scale.

This "grand caravan" they traveled in was a wonderful example of how "trickle down economics" did not work: Caravan masters dressed very well compared to the average sod who had to pull their wagons and the wealthier merchants had oxen to pull things while others preferred teams of slaves.

It was clear to any observer you either sat at the top or the bottom of this pecking order that had been established and the overwhelming mass sat at the bottom. As he kept watching it appeared most sat even beneath that low mark: it was like they hit the bottom of the barrel then drilled for oil.

It was strange but kind of historically accurate seeing the wealthy riding wagons while teams of servants or slaves pulled all of whom were flanked by personal guards while the other caravans such as the one Verik traveled with seemed to rely more on "local" defense than sell-swords.

Each night the various groups would nearly battle it out over who got to camp in the "best spots" but somehow Zuberi always managed to weasel them around in such a way that most failed to notice them slip off to a nice quiet spot on the fringe. As to why he kept them on the fringe he did not know but knowing that one he had his reasons.

Soldiers camped to their front about twenty yards off each night give or take and when they stopped everyone stopped be it day or night. When they left so did everyone else no matter the time of day or night in a mass scramble to keep up with their column.

Fighting over the water wells was another issue as here along the main road more existed but battles erupted anyway since there were more bodies per well and only so much space. Soldiers got first pick no matter what as they would form up and keep everyone back at spear-point. The wealthier merchant groups however would seize others not occupied by soldiers through force of arms till they were satisfied then once they finished collecting water the fights broke out all over again as the pecking order worked its way down.

It was not all bad though: venting a little frustration on the other groups at the well had helped both Verik and the Wete when he snarled at the cluster of water gatherers fighting over the well. Equines that had gathered at the well backed off quickly allowing the Wete water gatherers to collect hurriedly before shuffling off but it had resulted in those caravans nearest them keeping a wary eye on him.

Most however dismissed him as a foreign mercenary after he had changed his garb somewhat by tying a cloth "belt" around himself and stuffing the throwing sticks into it he soon came to somewhat resemble some of the poorer "hired help" that guarded the other caravans.

Wagons were once more rolling into their evening positions when it finally struck him that he had no idea where they were going or why Zuberi had them on this route.

"Asha, where exactly are we going?"

Jelani beat her to it however when she broke out laughing causing Asha to stare inquizically.

"Two days. Two days you no care where we go, now you suddenly want to know!" *Hah!* "We travel to Mjesani before turning East and home, you done brooding now yes?"

"Yes I am done brooding... Why are we going this way? What about the other route?"

"Too risky, maybe we kill all bandit, maybe not, we see small group going that way before you return. Zuberi say we go this way, Safer."

Safer?

"How exactly is it safer? I thought the other routes like this one were too dangerous to travel."

Jelani nodded as the wagons were stopped for the day and the rush was on to claim wells, as usual they would wait till those willing to kill for the wells gathered theirs first then departed.

"Bandits no attack soldiers, Fareed make deal: they attack caravans but pay him for permission. They no take too much or caravans no longer come and no attack soldiers or mercenaries, that Fareed's deal. We travel with soldiers so safe, maybe."

"Do you Wete always add "maybe" to everything?"

"Maybe."

"Fine, so as long as the soldiers are here the bandits wont try anything right?"

"Maybe." Jelani smiled and grabbed some rope and a water pouch from a wagon before walking off to a well where the fighting continued.

Great, they say maybe to everything and-...

"What the hell is that?"

Asha followed his arm and stared as the grisly totem beside the road farther away and nearest the soldiers camp. Looking over the tall pole that held some equine skulls and a large, crude sign he could not read.

"Ask Zuberi, he can read."

Verik stared a moment longer realizing that no one cared about the warning sign and after finding Zuberi and asking about the sign he noticed the caravan master to be somewhat bemused by his curiosity, it was as if the sign was normal.

"Bandits put that here, it probably says in very crude Arabian to either pay in coin or body." He glanced towards it a minute and shrugged. "Or die."

"Chipper world you have here. Is that normal?"

"Yes, why?"

He did not answer his question but shrugged before moving off after Jelani to help in gathering water. After his growling at the others yesterday Zuberi had been quick to suggest he be the one to get water or at least clear a path and indeed the others did remember him allowing them quicker access.

Filling the jars and returning to the camp everything settled again for the evening as the various groups kept to themselves. Their only movements were to turn quickly with suspicion to any sudden movement or passing group.

"You feel better now?"

"Hmm?"

Glancing at Asha he pulled the cover away from his face, Sefu had suggested they always sit with their backs to the soldiers or at least to the side so none would recognize him not that they would he guessed. Any interest had long been lost and out here there was nothing to gain from his incarceration.

"Very unhappy two days, no talk, you talk today, better now?"

"Yes, better but still a lot on my mind. Thank you by the way, didn't notice at first but that was you patting me-"

Asha quickly nodded and waved him off, it was hard to tell their expressions under that fur unless you looked at the ears and eyes but the way she squirmed slightly, ears twitching and eyes quick to stare at the ground as if to bore a hole while a small smirk graced the corner of her mouth he could guess she was somewhat embarrassed by it.

"It helped a great deal. Thank you."

Nothing more was said between the two as things continued to cook and bubble in the small jar and then after serving the contents Jelani joined them for a bit while staring blankly at Verik.

"So you come with us yes?"

"To Wete? I believe so, after what I have seen it would be very wise."

"Good! Could use more to protect village, bad times, very bad. Besides!" She gave a toothy smile at Asha. "This one be very, very happy if you come with us."

A hiss was the response which made Verik scowl a moment at the both of them.

"Alright, since I have come here I have seen you folks make all kinds of crazy noises: little sounds, expressions, twitches, flicks of the tail and even hissing. Its like watching a herd of cats communicate."

"So?"

"So what does it mean? You hiss when you want someone to stop and I get that-"

"Ah, that, you just watch and learn, hard to explain. In time you learn."

"Could you at least tell me what some warning signs are then? I just got here and have already beaten the brains out of a bandit with a rock, a wheel spoke and survived things that frankly are beyond my understanding as to how then even survived a near lynching by city guards."

Jelani and Asha stared at each other a minute before shrugging to each other before Jelani stared at him quietly for a minute.

"You see this," she turned her ears slightly back and lowered them a little and looking at her eyes and near nickering mouth it was clear she was offended. "Mean you anger them, offended."

It was rather obvious though, anyone who had seen an angry cat would be able to understand that one but as she went on with a few subtle nuances of how to tell if someone was angry and to what level it boggled his mind as to how much of their language was the body and not actually spoken.

She ended his instruction with one he hazily remembered and was a lesson he learned in passing a very long time ago but thought it a joke.

"They say they "get their friend" you grab weapon and fight, they return they kill you."

"Noted. What are the odds of that happening though?"

"In Wete? Hmm... Like anywhere I think, some like you, some not."

A fair conclusion he had to admit. Indeed these zebras and Arabians were no more socially different than anyone else: they had likes and dislikes, groups, families, friends and enemies. Others might say they were just animals or an abomination but they were farthest from it.

They could talk in different languages, had cultures, nations, written language, stores, cities, homes, economies... Civilizations. All here were well and truly sentient beings going about their lives save the slaves who were shackled to their wagons. Slaves, they even had one of the oldest known institutions: slavery.

Not one of them was an animal and if they acted like an animal which a few did that night as they fought in a drunken brawl they were no more animalistic than anyone else could ever be.

Bodily wise they walked upright and had a more... What was the word? Softened face? Not that of a horse or zebra but softened, more sapient. The legs though were not as they were digitigrade and ended with hooves but he did not cares one bit: they were sentient.

More than anything though, they had not blinked an eye at having him join them save a few untrusting souls not that he would blame them.

His eyes continued to trace over their surroundings before his gaze lingered for a moment.

"Hey Jelani?" Verik continued to stare off into the darkness at the soldiers camp but specifically along its outer edge where some figures had caught his attention.

"Who are they? Over there on the edge?"

Pointing off at the odd, shadowed gathering Jelani followed his arm before slapping his arm back down to avoid attention, she continued to stare for a few minutes before shrugging but kept an eye on them.

One lesson he had taken to heart absolutely when dealing with anyone who worked for Fareed was "trust no one." They continued to watch for a few minutes until the figures parted ways but two of them did not rejoin the caravan's camp: they wandered off into the dark and away from the caravans.

Jelani slowly lifted herself up and waved for them to stay then walked over to Sefu and after a few words they joined Zuberi and Zuri in hushed conversation.

"I got a bad feeling about this..."

Asha turned and looked back at him and shrugged.

"If problem, Zuberi and Sefu solve."

"Do you always rely on them to decide?"

"No, but this time yes, they know, I do not."

"Very wise."

She had that embarrassed expression again.

Zuberi, Zuri, Sefu and Jelani sat around their little fire, to the first it was an unwanted visit as it always meant trouble and the later saw it as necessity.

"Alright, what is it Sefu?"

"Jelani and Verik see soldiers get visitors, not stay in camp, they leave and walk into tall grass..."

"Right, well... So long as the soldiers stick around they wont make a move, Fareed at least upholds his end of the bargain... Usually... Probably came to see if they would be allowed to pilfer anything."

"Maybe, we need watch closely tonight, just in case."

"In case of what Sefu? So long as the soldiers stay nothing will happen-"

"If soldiers gone?"

They all looked at Jelani a moment before exchanging looks.

"You think we were walked into this Jelani?"

She started at Zuberi and shrugged.

"I do not share in your theory of infinite "maybes." Either they did or did not and right now the soldiers are still here so we stay. Besides, if they betrayed us so blatantly Fareed would have their heads and they know it."

"Maybe, maybe not. We keep close watch on soldiers yes?"

*Aughh* "Fine, Sefu you can stay awake all night then and watch them, be my guest but we leave at dawn or whenever the soldiers pack up to leave."

Nodding Sefu stood then beckoned Jelani away.

"I take first watch, you second, have Verik keep watch too."

"Why? Verik not trained. Barely know how to fight."

"He say there be two yes? He see them leave?"

"Yes..."

"His eyes good, see in dark well, two sets of eyes better than one."

She nodded and stopped at Asha and Verik's camp to share the news: for the first time he would be sharing guard duty.

Asha was sound asleep but not tossing or turning which had allowed him to move off and sit on top of the large wagon then stare out into the darkness without the low burning fires bothering his eyes. It had been a long time since he had sat up staring into the darkness and the last time was because a rabbit had gotten into his garden and only came at night.

It had not ended well for the furry varmint.

Neither did he have those same tools and weapons but the moon was still somewhat full, casting its silvery light across the landscape allowing his eyes to adjust easily and make out clearly the bulk of the caravan and the soldiers camp.

Their own location tonight was much closer to the front than it had been thanks to Zuberi's tactics of worming their way to the front a little more each day and again in when everyone stopped for the day.

Jelani was not far away from him sitting on some boulders beside the road staring out over the savannah and by the way her tail twitched she was quite bored much like himself.

For whatever reason he had the honor of staring at the soldiers camp: Sefu had been oddly specific about that. Verik was fairly certain Sefu did not trust anyone or anything outside his own small group for tasks like this which made it a massive leap of faith on his part.

Neither did he trust anyone either. Well... Except the thieves, that was a strange matter of "trust" but all the same he did to at least some extent trust them as they upheld whatever deal they made. His deal at any rate.

Eyes roaming the camp he watched the camps officer stand then walk over to a few others kicking them awake, they then began packing things up quickly. It was fairly easy too as the soldiers traveled light and moved fast and from what he could see the bulk of their carried weight was nothing but food.

Probably enough to get them to the next supply depot...

Continuing to watch them the small group then moved about the small camp and began rousing the rest quickly but quietly. A chain reaction spread through the camp as one woke another who then woke two then four and eight. Before long they were all up and without saying a word they rapidly dawned their shoddy equipment.

Turning his head towards Jelani quickly Verik wondered how good zebra hearing was as he made loud "snapping" sounds with his teeth and tongue as yelling "HEY" in the middle of the camp would bring more attention than he wanted.

At first her ears twitched but as he got louder she finally turned and looked, pointing to the soldiers camp she followed his movement starring at them before before hopping down quickly and racing to Sefu and with a touch to his shoulder and a few words he was up in a moment and already packing.

Sefu looked at Verik and pointed quickly to Zuberi who was sleeping nearby before he began to wake others, he did not need any more hints as to what the pointing had meant: Jumping down from the wagon he shook Zuberi then Zuri awake.

"Soldiers are preparing to leave, fires are still burning but they are packing."

Zuberi sprung up and began to wake others as Zuri and Verik went around the camp. Unlike the soldiers however they had nothing to really pack nor put on so loading the wagons quietly was an easy task.

Sefu ran into the camp and started to kick fires out while motioning to the others and in just moments the fires were out leaving them to wait in the darkness while staring at the soldiers camp.

"What happen? What wrong?"

Verik looked down at Asha as she tugged on his cloak he had left with her, somehow she found this heat "too cold" and had been shivering.

"Soldiers are up to something, if they leave we leave."

"Why they leave?"

"Dont know but I think those two who visited them earlier were bandits."

Her grip on the cloak tightened and he felt something brush his arm.

"Asha, you have lived here your whole life... Are things really this bad?"

Jelani nudged him from the side and pointed at the camp as the soldiers put their fires out then quickly formed up.

"Yes."

Once the fires were out the soldiers finished lining up into a column then began to quickly march off down the road and off into the darkness. Without waiting Zuberi hurried everyone into position and they began pulling or pushing the wagons off into the darkness after them.

It was a slow going for several minutes, the soldiers had gained a fair lead on them by the time they were on the road again but looking back at the massive caravan camp it was clear others had not been so trusting either.

A few other caravans had also packed up and scurried after the retreating soldiers into the darkness but it was when Verik heard Zuberi swear that he knew things were not going well.

Indeed it was a trap: sucker as many caravans as possible into following the soldiers south then encircle everyone then wait for the soldiers to leave so the bandits could close the net.

It would appear that either Fareed or the soldiers were playing by a new set of rules as it meant betraying one or the other's word. Perhaps someone just got greedy?

Up ahead of them a thin line of figures had started to stalk onto the road causing Zuberi to grab the lead team pulling the wagon and push them towards the side of the road then off into the tall grass while urging them forward quietly.

Fortunately for them the tall grass did not conceal any large rocks or piles of boulders as they moved off the road quickly but neither did they slow nor stop.

If anything rattled Bwnai was quick to stuff sleeping mats between them silencing the noise from searching ears. After several tense moments the wagons were near silent save creaking and groaning of the wood and wheels which could not be helped.

As they pushed and pulled their wagons into the darkness the bandits on the road were too busy with their grand prize to notice the paltry amount of wagons slipping past them but like all things in life: eventually luck runs out.

Author's Notes:

With any luck this one has better editing than the last, if not point out issues or PM them to me.