"Ahm Ali is well known in the neighbourhood," Dunes explained, escorting Adam through the town, Uli following behind them. The Black Lion was not wearing his armour, though continued to carry his blade at his side, upon Adam's insistence. The half elf, too, was not adorned in his armour, Dunes also deciding against wearing his vestments, but wore a silver amulet that was half tucked within his shirt.

"Does he give great haircuts?" Adam asked.

"The best," Dunes admitted. "It is not just his skill with a blade, though. He helps the local community, he keeps the children out of trouble by letting them watch, and he has taught many who sometimes assist now and again. Some go on to make a career of it, but most enjoy assisting him now and again, not wishing to go into competition with the best barber in Aswakima."

"What a nice guy," Adam said, smiling slightly. "That's how it is, isn't it? The elders of a community need to watch out for it, and they make sure to keep the young ones safe."

Dunes nodded, smiling too. "Often, those who come for his services bring extra food so he can feed the young ones."

"Then lets buy a lot of food, shall we?" Adam smiled awkwardly. "I suppose if the wealthiest city in the world, Jabal Adh Dahab, has homeless people and children who starve, then I can't really think too poorly of Aswakima."

"Sometimes people slip through the temples watch…" Dunes cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing out to the side, and he was thankful Adam didn't speak up further on the topic, though Uli glared at the young half elf's back.

As they approached the small complex, the smell of bread coaxing Adam ever forward, he noted an older man brushing the floor outside. The old man wore full black, save for his turban, which had been as though it had dipped into a thousand different buckets of paint at once. He was tall, thin, his skin dark, tanned by the sun, and his beard, as one might have expected, was thick, neatly lined with an expert hand.

"Ah! Mo Dunes!" the man called as he noted the appearance of the trio, each of whom seemed well armed, and though he did not recognise the other two, he reached out a hand and clasped the Priest's hand within his own. "You have become a stranger!"

"I apologise, ahm, I was busy."

"Did you find her?"

"Aryashukhur," Dunes confirmed. "We married."

"Married?" The old man hugged Dunes tight, patting his back, laughing with joy. "Any children?"

"I am blessed with two daughter."

The older man laughed, a hearty laugh full of joy, bringing Dunes in closer. "Aryashukhur, you are blessed! Ah! Where are my manners? Are these men friends of yours?"

Ali could feel the terrible aura coming off Uli, who was certainly a man born and raised within a militaristic faction, but he didn't seem familiar to the elderly barber, so was he someone from the military? A noble family?

"This is Kal Uli who is escorting us through the land, and this is Mo Adam," Dunes said, motioning a hand towards the pair.

Ali smiled, reaching out a hand to shake Adam's hand, while Uli remained far enough away that he felt too awkward to step forward. "Many blessings, Mo."

"Many blessings, ahm," Adam replied. "I've heard so much about you and your skill with a razor."

"How unfortunate I will be unable to shave your beard, but if it is hair you wish for me to work, my humble hands can assist," Ali said, flashing a wide smile, the kind that was playful, yet held a touch of distance.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As they entered the large open space, Adam noted the figures who stood around, workers who were brushing the floor, as well as a few others who sat to one side, enjoying their pipes. Dunes paused a moment, narrowing his eyes, before approaching the pair of men, each perhaps in their thirties or so.

"I did not realise they allowed smoking within this premise, but I would ask, as a Mo, for you to put it out," Dunes stated, glaring down at the pair.

"If a Mo asks, what can we do?" one replied, putting his out, while the other held the Mo's eyes for a long moment, though eventually did the same.

Dunes stood in front of them for a long moment, feeling their dark gazes upon him, while his own gaze remained equally as dark. As the seconds passed, the Mo stepped back, his eyes darting across the others around, from the workers to Ali, before the young Priest smiled politely.

"It seems so much has changed since I left."

"So it has," Ali replied, snapping the cloth, waiting for the Mo to take a seat.

"Is it fine if I get my haircut first?" Dunes asked.

"Take your time," Adam said, holding up a hand towards a young man who approached him. "I'll wait for ahm Ali to finish the Mo's haircut."

Uli kept an eye upon Adam as he sat down near the pair who had smoked, each glancing his way, noting the amulet upon his chest.

"That is not a symbol of Lady Arya or Lord Noor," one said.

"No," Adam agreed. "It is the Iyr's symbol of the Lord of Death, Lord Sozain."

"You are an Iyrman?" a man asked, rubbing his own forehead, where Adam's tattoo would be, though he wore a different tattoo.

"My brother, my grandfather, they're Iyrmen, my children too, but me?" Adam smiled. "I bring a lot of death, but I don't take as much pleasure as Iyrmen."

"We are familiar with death too."

"Who is the most impressive death?" Adam asked, leaning in slightly.

The pair of men smirked between one another, before shrugging their shoulders. One began to talk, only to be struck by the other. "We do not take great pleasure in speaking such words, but we have killed during our escorts."

"Ah!" Adam nodded, leaning back casually. "I've killed quite a few, although I'm not sure who is most impressive. A Fariq? A dragon? I do not know."

"Which Fariq?"

"High Garden," Adam said. "In Aldland, in Floria now, there were three Orders, and they merged to form this new Order. The Fariq came to me, wishing justice for his Vice Commander, so I had to cut his head clean off. He is with Lord Sozain now, Sozainshukhur."

The pair laughed, one holding up his hands, as if to say he didn't want any bother. "How amazing, Mo. A dragon as well?"

"Well, my grandfather killed Forgryn, and my children, they always praise him so much, so I couldn't walk around without killing one. I helped kill Vandra, if you know of her?"

The men frowned. "Mo, you should be careful speaking such words. If the Iyrmen hear of this, of you speaking as though they are your brothers and sisters, and that you have killed such dragons with their name, they will kill you."

"The Iyr has wanted to kill me plenty of times before, but they won't, since my grandfather will stop them."

"Who is your grandfather?" Ali asked, wondering if it was the same fellow he was thinking of.

"Mad Dog Jarot, though you might be familiar with my grandmother, Flame Brand."

"Mo Dunes…" Ali began.

"It is surprising, shocking, I know, but Mo Adam has yet to lie," Dunes said, sighing heavily, causing Ali to narrow his eyes. His eyes fell upon the half elf, who remained focused on the two. "Your grandmother is Flame Brand?"

"Though I am not as handsome as the rest of my family, with their beautiful red skin, their horns, and by Lord Noor's will, I cannot handle the Aswadian sun as well as them, but they are my family all the same," the half elf said, smiling wide as he stared at the pair. "Shukhur, I am blessed."

'What is this ploy?' one of the Aswadians thought, throwing a look to his companion.

"How did you come to meet Mo Dunes?" Ali asked.

"About six years ago, we met at Red Oak, I want to say, and we began to adventure together. It was… before Vandra, right?"

"It was. You charged on ahead with the Iyrmen, much to Jurot's annoyance, and assisted in slaying her. I should have known then you would have been trouble."

"Why are you acting like you didn't come to die with me last year?" Adam asked, throwing him a look. "This guy. We came across, uh, you know the meeting between the Aldish and Florian Orders? Someone there killed my children, two of them, a Vice Commander and his apprentice. There were a few of the Fariq, but mostly it was their Vice Commanders, and we went there, I went there, to kill the bastards. Mo Dunes here, he followed me there to die. Thankfully, my grandfather, my grandmother, and many of my granduncles and grandaunts, the Chief and Elder Peace too, they saved our lives."

"I heard there was trouble at the meeting…" Ali admitted, turning to face Adam. "You were that trouble."

"Yes. Oh, the Lion King was there too. He helped us out. In fact, actually-," Adam began, only to stop as Dunes cleared his throat. The half elf smirked wide. "I mean, he is currently with us. Have you ever cut his hair?"

'The Lion King?'