The Keepers of Chaos: A Vault of Hell

Asher Exitium: LXVII

A Brush With: LXVII

Asher rode comfortably in the cart. It had been a little while since he could relax so he took every chance he got. The Nimblewrights body was in the back stored carefully over a bed of hey, Asher was lucky the merchant who rented them the cart didn't have any questions over the wooden body. Would he assume it was a sculpture? He sure hoped so.

"Just like resupplies huh?" Asher attempted to jest with Alekzandr, the old sniper was sitting in bowseat though in this case he was holding a gun.. So more like a sniper seat? There had to be a word for the non driving spot but Asher wasn't really sure. He started thinking about the old war, the damned slow resupplies, the bitter cold weather, gods of olympus, why did he insist he needed to head out on his own? Vestus was probably laughing and cracking dad jokes for years over all that. Huh.. Asher thought, he should probably send a letter to the old man to see how he was doing, check in with; Exitium house.. Maybe contact his kids..

"Ha! This would only be like the resupplies.. If we were being given the hardest bread, and our balls were currently inside of us. Comrade let us enjoy the ride." Alekzandr clasped a hand on Asher's back. He chuckled, reaching over to pluck.. Was that another flask? How many did this guy have?

"Ugh, this sun is blinding, how much further to TrollSkull?" He held a hand up to block the light, the horses clacked against the pavement of fillet alley. Alekzandr pulled up a rather large map of waterdeep the whole thing extended over his legs and across his arms.

"Well, let's see here." Alekz started reading the map, making little grunt and mutters at every turn.

"Let me see that!" Asher snatched at it dear god's there were a lot of streets and dots on it. 'How was anyone supposed to read this thing?' He ran a finger down one line seeing the faintest words TrollSkull manor. "Ok down that way two... lefts and a right? God's be damned this sucks." he crumpled up the map and tossed it behind him.

"Comrade, we must rejoice."

"Rejoice? Rejoice what? The fact that we got a ride back home for almost nothing while everyone else is walking?" Asher asked with a chuckle. Alekzandr smiled.

"Exactly that." The two laughed together in unison, slapping a knee Asher was careful to not let go of the reins. The two rode in a jovial silence for several minutes, taking the time to admire the small crowds of people who littered the sidewalks. Luckily none had been too bold in walking through the street Asher would.. Love to run someone over.

"I've got to ask.. What happened?" Asher broke the silence, the question floating in his mind. "I mean.. You were THE scout of the rushiki, the creator of the first rifle.. What.. I know why you left." Asher paused, seeing a growing look of anger on Alekzandr's face. "But like.. I've heard the stories Alekzandr.." Asher felt the fear that spilled from every captured Ercelans mouth, the frightening sensation they gave off when talking about Da Belaya Kavir. "You were a crack shot.. Deadly to a fault. What are you doing here hanging out with a bunch of rookie, first time adventurers?" The question stung a little, Asher knew it was weird for him to ask, seeing he was there too, not like he cared.

"I got rusty."

Asher decided to not push the subject any further, he could feel all the mild contempt he held against the drunk Rushiki, and didn't change a damned thing. Though.. If he had stayed, maybe it would have changed Rushiv's fate. Ares, he can't think about whether he was really to blame for Rushiv? 'It's.. it's what Dmitry asked for.' It's what he was told to do. And good soldiers follow orders. Asher put his eyes down and focused on the road, periodically checking the crowds for who knows what reason. "What..." He whispered, slinking in and out of the shadows in one alleyway he spotted a face staring, no. Beaming at the cart with soft purple eyes, blue skin furled upward until a wild wicked grin appeared. Judging on the silverish hair and the creepy demeanor Asher's mind raced for a quick answer.