Msaka soon located and quizzed the gate guard about pending caravan departures, though he was careful not to sound too eager about the subject. The information he received was mixed. There was indeed a caravan leaving shortly for the north, but it wasn't heading in the direction of Silmaria, and would in fact pass by that region entirely. Still, it would get him somewhat closer, and perhaps he could arrange for westward transport once he was neared his goal.

That done, he sought out the caravan master and arranged to act as a guard for the trek as far northward as he planned on going. Fortunately, the caravan master was agreeable to the idea, and they soon settled the deal. "At last I can be gone from this dry, dusty place," Msaka thought as he selected a mount from the herd. "I just hope there won't be any more armies of jackalmen waiting to attack along the way. Once was more than enough."

He waited astride the saurus while the caravan continued to assemble, the sky slowly brightening above it all. He considered it an unfortunate necessity to have to travel in this fashion, given the lack of privacy and the fact that he'd be taking a longer route overall, but given his experiences in the desert, he didn't care to be facing its denizens and other hazards alone, and the lands beyond wouldn't necessarily be that much safer. Bandits seemed to be a constant problem throughout all lands, and they sported a bewildering variety of monstrous threats as well.

As he watched the activity, he noted with some surprise that one of the other men outfitted as a guard looked like one of the survivors of the caravan from Raseir. Curious as to why he had joined this expedition, Msaka slowly rode over alongside the fellow, who seemed equally surprised to see him there.

"I would have thought you'd want to rest for a while, not rush off again," Msaka said casually. "Or do you find the city disagreeable?"

The man, a burly northerner whose skin had grown quite tanned under the harsh desert sun, shook his head somberly. "It is naught to do with the city, but more to do with this desert. Our last ride was not the first one here which I have seen meet with serious casualties. Thus, I wish to be away for a time, riding some place less dangerous than Shapier has proven to be."

"I wasn't aware there was such a thing as a caravan route that is safe," Msaka replied, then realized just how sarcastic his statement had sounded and tried to smooth it over by continuing, "I admit I have only done a little of this sort of thing, but all the places I have been through, there has been some kind of danger or hostile creatures."

The man nodded this time, scratching his cheek, then frowning at the scar that still showed on the back of his hand, courtesy of the jackalman attack. "I have this and other scars to prove that claim true," he replied, angling his hand to display the mark clearly. "But all the same, there are some lands where the danger is less great than this, and the climate less prone to picking off those who might otherwise have survived such incidents."

"It also seems that an unusual amount of interest was taken in the last one, and your part in it," he added, giving Msaka a curious gaze. "I'm not sure why that would be, save perhaps the display of magical power you gave might be of concern to the powers that be. Nonetheless, I was asked several times about both the battle and the trouble in Rasier. Though I suppose you too have been queried on the subject."

Msaka frowned slightly, having just received all the confirmation he needed that he was suspect in the elemental's disappearance. "Yes, I have been asked about it," he said distractedly, looking over the rest of the caravan, which was now moving into formation for departure. He'd certainly made the right choice in leaving, before the inquiries could become more forceful. "But there wasn't much I could say that any of the rest of you could not."

The guard nodded again, a distant look in his eyes. "I think I'll visit my homeland. I've heard that the troubles there were resolved last year, though that's hard to believe. Still, I will see with my own eyes whether it's true. Well, time to ride out, we'd best get into place."

Msaka grunted agreement, and the two of them separated, Msaka moving to the head of the column, where he once again had been assigned to watch for magical dangers. It was, he reflected, going to be another very long journey.