Big Tusky blew a load of sand out of his trunk. "Did the trip here have to be so...dusty, Jayhawk?" MRed asked, tipping sand out her herbals bag.
"Sorry," he apologised, watching everyone pat sand off their clothes. "I guess I...who's that?"
Everyone looked where he was pointing. Three elaborately decorated chariots were approaching. They appeared to be full of guards.
"I hope that's a welcoming party," Et Flavius muttered.
The foremost chariot pulled to a halt before them. "I bring you greetings from the Court of Tut-Ankh-Amun!" the Captain of the Guard boomed.
"Well, that's a relief," Ishaius sighed.
"How did you know we'd be here?" Jayhawk asked him.
"The Oracle of the Pharaoh's Court foresaw your arrival, and has sent us to offer you guidance to the Palace," the Captain explained, unravelled the scroll he held in his hand, and began to read from it. "He instructed us to travel to this spot, and find a group of people who are being guided by a man with wings like an eagle's, and a woman with a backside like an elephant's."
"I BEG YOUR PARDON!!" Incon, Gustavia, MRed and mouse shouted in unison, putting their hands on their hips and glaring at him.
The Captain's eyes widened, he blushed, and checked the scroll. "Oh...sorry. It says 'And a woman who likes to RIDE her pet elephant.' My apologies, the Seer's handwriting is...*really* bad..."
"Hmph," Incon said, patting Tusky's trunk.
The Captain consulted the scroll. "He says you will also have a Lying Blamer among you."
Et scratched his head. "D'you mean Lion Tamer?"
"Oh, yeah...sorry...and is there a blouse in your group?"
"The name's MOUSE!" mouse fumed.
"Whoops...this is *really* bad writing...erm, which one of you is Pig Flusky?"
Tusky approached the chariot until their eyes met. The Captain gulped audibly in the light of the pachaderm's angry glare.
"I think I'll just put this away," the Captain rolled up the scroll and put it in his breastplate.
"Very prudent, if you ask me," Gustavia commented. He looked at her.
"Ah, you must be Bus-Gravy-Ah. The Seer said you would be most wise."
Gustavia glared daggers at him.
"What d'you think, Jay?" Lion Tamer asked him. "Should we go with them?"
"Hm..." Jayhawk mulled it over...
[This message has been edited by Incontinentia (edited 07-05-99).]