Walking towards Old Dun Cow

As the count arrives at Kai's shoulder, where he keeps the pace of 
the larger man, he says "Ok, well this is fine now. We will see who 
comes and who does not. I will have to send my squire to fetch our 
mounts stabled at the Rusty Barrel Inn, so us two can walk together, 
if it fits your plans. Then at some point I, or we, have to find a 
guide to help us in our travels." Kicking a small pebble Manon sends 
it flying.

"indeed you understand well my ideas of leadership  we act as though
what we want is what all will naturally wish to do" Kai rejoins in a
murmur "a guide may well keep you all alive but an we know not where to
go he will do us little good in actual guiding"

"Hmm, I know you don't need any provisions strangely enough. But I 
do. So I need to buy that as well." Again telling his squire to 
pick up the pace Manon continues, "we will surely pass a shop where 
we can buy provisions. But I dare say it might be a good idea to ask 
our guide what to bring more than what you and me find essential." 

"indeed so" replies Kai "and for my mount which will require far more
than you or i or e'en the rest of the party save mayhap the old man as
will yours and each of the others'  my calculation neglected your squire
i fear though i still say that should quill manage the herculean task i
set him twill be through thorough knowledge of his sorcery such that
another dozen gallons will be as naught"

Remembering Kai's stories about his travels through the desert Manon
turns to his left and says, "But you should know what to bring and
what not to bring..." 

"for myself" kai replies "naught is needed  and your lordship has surely
seen my care for my steed in such environs is untutored  speaking then
merely from experience and observation i can say that we should
provision the horses in grain and sweet feed whereby they can maintain
longer on the weight and laden them well with water  seventy gallons 
weigh five hundred sixty pounds and rare the mount will carry over four
hundred  if thou'rt serious regarding a five day ration we will need a
cart or two or perhaps what the jades call travois  which be but two
poles dragged behind each mount with the cargo slung between" Kai looks
at the rapidly vanishing fellows of the group and continues "tis too
late to advise the others of this but i suggest you purchase enough
travois rigs for all  they cannot be any real expense"

"I wonder if there any other animal than a horse that is more 
suitable for travelling in the desert. I think I have seen other 
strange mounts with the reptile men but I might have been mistaken"

Turning back to the road ahead, Kai moves to a new topic "as i mentioned
i have no concrete notion of how to proceed nor where to go in the
salanar  the encroachment is a notion i have pursued for many years on
and off so a sudden breakthrough on my part is unlikely  it is my hope
that by applying the various abilities of the others together with my
knowledge of the situation we might get a handle on this i have missed 
given that this be true  what might your lordship bring to such a quest
know you of any seers or perhaps a shaman of the jade   i myself rarely
frequent divinators since i as any man of my advanced years have too
many secrets of my own  perhaps your plainer situation would enable you
to prevail upon them for aid on this matter  tis sure we need some
manner of hint  i intend to prevail upon quill for the same when we
rejoin him"

Talking to Kai the count continues "I know of these shamans. There
would be several of them in the whole clan, but where we find them I
don't know personally" Flecking away a feather that fell on his arm
Manon continues, "But I do know that reptile-man magic focuses
chiefly on elemental and earth magic. Hopefully, if we find a guide 
worth its name, he or she would hopefully know where to find a 
shaman. But I do believe we have to be careful of what questions we 
ask. The reptile-men might like the expanding desert. They might even 
have something to with it."

Nearing The Old Dun Cow Kai stops and faces Manon.  He pulls his hands
off their perches on his pommels and extends the right as if to clasp
hands.  When the Count, well versed in etiquette, reciprocates, Kai
instead grasps his wrist with his left hand in a deft if unusual move
and pulls it in to his left dagger, reaching out to grasp the hilt of
Manon's sword with his own right hand.  "If anything should happen to
me, you must take my sword...do not worry about my body or what may
happen to it, but you or Kirion must get the sword." rings Kai's silent
voice sincerely as he pulls the count in for a brief hug.

Surprised but honoured by this first sign ever of emotion from Kai
the Hawk, Manon utters "I can't imagine any of us lying face down
in the desert, but you do have to prepare for all eventualities. 

Pausing to look Kai in his eyes, "I would like you extend the same
favour for me regarding a few things of my belongings. Please return
my fathers sword to my castle... and this ring." With this the count
presents a smooth golden ring which he is bearing on his left index
finger. "Not much to the world, but when you wish for speed you get
it." 

(If you would have been able to see the inner surface of the
ring you would have found different engravings of running feet
covering the full circle of the ring). 

"Please return these two artefacts to my spouse, and explain how this 
ring works else the knowledge might befall the world"

The count obviously needed a minute or two to realise what was wrong 
with Kai's request. Looking more carefully at Kai's equipment, "If 
you have no more equipment than what you carry, I am puzzled. Where 
is this sword Kirion or I have to guard if you are not any more among 
us?"

"little pitchers potatoes walls and a pot that never boils" intones Kai,
as he turns into the inn.  "i'll see you at dusk with the others"