The East Side was relatively quiet. Indeed, most of the damage in the previous attack had been sustained in the west, and with many people occupied in rebuilding efforts, the east side was indeed almost abandoned compared to the usual bustle. One senior guard remained in a small wooden gatehouse, with most of the others on break or simply too bored to pay any attention. It was this guard that noticed a man walking across the path to the gatehouse.

Although he had every look of a villager, the guard was not afraid to admit to himself that the man had a suspicious... [i]feel[/i] about him. He instinctually half reached for his sword, but let his hand rest. [i]Damn it you, you've gone paranoid. He's done nothing wrong...[/i]

He was drawn to the suspicious man's less than natural eyes and the pitch black hilt that indicated a sword. Both gave him a tingly feeling inside; one he hadn't felt since staring into the empty eye holes in the skull of a flaming skeleton. [i]I must be going mad...[/i]

Before he knew it, the man stood expectantly at the closed gate. It was later in the day, but the old guard realized that the gate should have been open. The other crews seemed less inclined to leave it open after the... incident.

Walking down the gatehouse stairs with a little effort - the stairs were steep, and chain mail and age didn't help - he pushed the gates open for the strange man. "Sorry 'bout that," he grunted after pushing both doors open.

The man gave him a smile which cheeped the guard more than anything and said, in a voice that made him feel the same tingling as before, "[color=darkred]Thank you. Do you happen to know where the town center is?[/color]"

[i]His voice is as weird as his eyes[/i] he thought, ignoring the fact that someone who looked local didn't even know where the center was. "Just down the street, left on the corner with the ole' cobblestone shop, and just down the road. Can' miss it." he said in his almost grunting mannor, still looking at the weird sword and trying not to look into the man's eyes.

"[color=darkred]Thank you.[/color]"

The guard shuddered again, grunted a response and made his way up to the gatehouse again. [i]Paranoid, just paranoid...[/i]

[hr]

Zargon noticed rather quickly the man's apprehension and became annoyed with himself as he walked down the road, slowly, not looking like he was going anywhere in particular. [i]I'll need to work on my social skills.[/i] He noticed quick glances by some street walkers and felt others temporarily lingering at windows. [i]Definitely not the subtle entrance I had in mind.[/i]

His plan was simple; it was only a matter of putting it into action. If all went well, and the red herring was properly set, the opposition would be split in two. He hoped his presence wouldn't be detected by hunters or the equivalent before schedule... and more importantly, to whom the presence belonged.

[hr]

Grhesus felt, rather than heard, another demon behind him. He hadn't changed much, and the contents of his table hadn't shifted at all since Zargon had left.

"[color=yellow]What is it this tim- Artholath?[/color]" He had spun in his favorite chair, expecting one of the Blood Knights to complain, and instead saw Artholath in his demonic form looking down at him.

"[color=blue]I'm a demon of few words, so I'll state this bluntly... do you like your boss?[/color]"

Grhesus thought about it a moment too long before replying, "[color=yellow]Well, of course. He's fair, I get title and authority... and...[/color]" [i]Damn, but I can't lie to save my life.[/i]

Artholath looked at him, and turned around. "[color=blue]Times are about to change, my friend. I've learned a good lot about this world. And there's more where I came from...[/color]" He walked away, leaving the slightly confused other demon on a cliffhanger.

Grhesus didn't know if that was a hint, offer, insult or some combination. He decided to ignore it and spun back around to his table of junk. [i]Time to get Craxis out of his measly little hole again...[/i]