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Xavier was curious about what was in the crates. He looked for any hints that might suggest their contents. He was careful not to be too obvious about it. He didn't want to be kicked off the wagon before they even left the city.

As Xavier poked around he made sure that J's pack was secure. "Hey," he whispered, "what are the chances that this thing is going to blow us all to hell?"

"It is good that all are well, but if none here need my services we should be on our way. We've still got a long journey ahead of us and time is short," stated Charon.  He started to feel very uncomfortable again. Charon could handle being in groups as long as he had an important goal to focus on. Now that his services would not be needed, the panic began to set in.

Xavier shook his head "No", stowed his gear, and silently entered the wagon.

"Ornery? Pfft, this guy was downright cuddly compared to Shanteel," thought Xavier. "This should be a nice, uneventful trip."

"Thanks again Mr. Marks!" said Xavier, giving him a polite wave. As they moved away from Mr. Marks and started to leave the alley Xavier whispered to Jared, "She's not going to say anything because she doesn't know anything. Now let's just get moving, we don't want to be late."

The two walked around the corner looking for Mr. Church.

OOC: Ah, I misinterpreted what Leslie was saying. When she said " he ain't got one" I thought she meant he doesn't have a father (because Jared lives at the orphanage). I also didn't get that his dad was homeless. I knew he was a drunk, I didn't realize he was a homeless drunk. Regardless, we could still be going to see his homeless dad. Jared might want to patch things up (and maybe we will). I don't think there is anything particularly suspicious about that.

"She's so smart how come she didn't know anything about your family?" Xavier smirked at his friend as they stepped away from their table. A group of kids quickly took the open spot.

"Leslie is smart, I'll give you that. But she doesn't know nearly as much as she thinks she knows. It's gonna get her in trouble one day." Xavier lowered his voice, "Maybe even the bunch of us."

Xavier and Jared continued in the direction Mr. Marks walked. Hopefully they would stumble into him or the ornery merchant.

"Well, guess you don't know everything after all," Xavier exclaimed incredulously. "J does, in fact, have a father ... he just doesn't see him much. Do ya, J? Got a mom, too. Don't get a chance to see her much either. That'll change soon enough though." Xavier slapped his friend on the knee reassuringly.

"So we are going to J's dad's. We might not stay long if he's as much of a goat mater as I hear he is, but we are going. OOC: We're not. So why don't you be a good little Monkey and get back to entertaining these folks?"

Xavier looked to his friend, "We really should get moving J. I want to be ready and waiting to go before this merchant is." Xavier got up and slung his pack over one shoulder.

"Oh, hey, Chipmunk. What can I bring you back from our trip?"


OOC: I just realized that Xavier's nickname for Leslie makes no sense. Cut off from the rest of the world as they are would anyone even know what a monkey is? If not, I'll have to pick a new nickname. Hmm, maybe Chipmunk?

"C'mon, Chipmunk. You think I don't know how tough a Karh'Thul is? 'Sides. if I were really going hunting I'd invite Renee, not J. No offense, J." Xavier casually looked over to his friend. "She's more experienced with Karh'Thul and ... other things." Xavier tapped a closed fist against his lips and pushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek a few times, indicating her particular kind of experience. "It would make for a more interesting trip, that's for sure!"

"Hey, Chipmunk," replied Xavier reaching over and tousling her hair. "And it's Xavier ... or Iggs, not Z. But you're right, we're not really going to his father's." Xavier leaned in close to Leslie and whispered in her ear. "We're going to the Rim to hunt Kahr'Thul."

Xavier leaned back to enjoy the wide-eyed expression on Leslie's face. He'd make a point to remember this moment, as it was the first time he had ever seen Leslie's mouth open without a long stream of words falling out of it. When she finally took a breath to speak, Xavier interrupted her with laughter. "Ha, ha, ha, ha! You should have seen the look on your face! I wish Shannon was here to see it. I'd pay her good coin to capture that on paper."

"Ornery, huh? Sounds like we'll be right at home," said Xavier, nudging his friend Jared. "I'd probably be uncomfortable around a nice happy family anyway". Xavier stood and picked up his pack. "I guess we should get moving. I don't want this merchant to leave without us. You ready, J?"

"Mr. Marks!" exclaimed Xavier while reaching out to shake his hand. "I only wish the orphanage was a prison, we'd likely get treated much better."

"Hey, J," Xavier said as he sat next to his friend.

"Gotta thank you for the ride, Mr. Marks. Saving us a lot of time and blisters, likely."

OOC: I take it Mr. Marks does not know our true destination and, in fact, thinks that we are going to visit J's dad?

Xavier stood staring at Shanteel for the duration of two breaths. He fought off the strong urge to give him a "salute" right back. Instead Xavier returned the same wave, making sure to finish by running his hand through his hair as he turned to walk away. Xavier knew Shanteel would get the meaning. Without looking back, he imagined Shanteel's condescending expression turning to rage as two black tentacles reached out from within the Headmaster's jacket and slammed against the window frame.

Already Xavier was feeling a sense of freedom like he had never experienced before. Soon he would be at the "Can't Get There From Here" where he would officially start his journey. The free ride was an unexpected boon. Funny how things like that worked out, Xavier had actually planned to travel to the south. He would have to remember to bring Leslie back a memento of some sort.

(OOC) Yeah, it's like the Karh'Thul eat parents for breakfast.

"Parents, the other white meat." - successful Karh'Thul ad campaign.

It was the last day of school. Summer was finally here and with it, freedom. Normally Xavier dreaded his summers. Being cooped up in the orphanage, dodging punishments from Headmaster Shanteel for some imagined offence or another was not Xavier's idea of a cold summer. It's as if that guy got off on hurting kids. No, this summer would be different. This summer Xavier would go wherever he wanted, do whatever he wanted. This summer he would go to the Outer Rim and kill a Karh'Thul.

He first had the idea while nursing his wounds after yet another Shanteel beating. Xavier was so furious that he very nearly followed through with a plan to assassinate the bald mother-mater. Xavier never got the nerve to actually do it. Shanteel was a powerful man and Xavier was unsure of his ability to stand toe-to-toe against him. He knew that it would only be a matter of time, though. Eventually Shanteel would push Xavier over the edge and one of them would end up dead. Xavier often daydreamed of how the battle might go. It was during these imagined battles with Shanteel that he first came to think of the man as a vicious, and bald, Karh'Thul. And that is when the though struck him. If Xavier could take down a Karh'Thul he could certainly take down Shanteel.

So it was that Xavier's plan was put into motion. He would claim to be heading to his friend Jared's home to work for the summer. Jared would tell his father that they managed to get a work detail with some engineers looking to improve the roads and bridges in some distant village. They would actually pack their belongings and head out into the wilderness. Just surviving on their own would be challenging enough, but Xavier was determined to at least see the Rim, if not actually fight a Karh'Thul.

Xavier finished packing up his gear and started to head out of his room. He was to meet Jared in a hand to start the journey. Xavier was a little early, but he had no reason to hang around the orphanage. With any luck he could avoid running into Shanteel on his way out.

Xavier leaves the meeting quietly. Though he did not say anything, it was easy to tell that he was not happy with anything Renee said tonight. Anything, that is, except for the existence of The Sword of Truth. Xavier might need to question Renee's little information monkey later.