"By turns, yes. As will the caravan's other senior guards." 

Layla gestures to where she'll be leading the caravan from. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to learn the faces of everyone in the caravan."

"I hope so. It would be a shame to be a stranger to you all, since I'm helping you out of the goodness of my heart and all." 

Baqir slips a gold piece out of his pocket, and strides over to the head of the caravan as he tosses and catches it. "I hope the gnolls try us, too. I've got a combat preparation ready and it would be a waste if it didn't go to use."

Hoo boy. It's going to be a full-time job managing this man.

Rana should join her soon. She knows Baqir better than her, she should have more of a handle on this.

For now she takes up a position next to Baqir and calls down the line. 

"Everything loaded and settled?"

"Yes, Layla!"

"Everything's done here, Layla!"

"The guards are ready, Layla. Camp's been broken. Rana and Naila should come up from the rear any minute now."

"Heh." 

Baqir looks off into the desert sands. His coin jumps from hand to hand, back and forth.

A few moments later, Rana comes up the line. 

"All camels are loaded and ready," she reports. "Everyone's done their final checks and we're ready to go."

Naila comes up next to her. 

"I can confirm it," she says. "The guards are armed and ready to move."

"Then let's go, people. Sothis isn't getting any closer."

Layla mounts up onto her camel, and the caravan moves. 

Baqir walks, slow and steady. His gaze scans the dunes. 

It seems he's less talkative when he's on the job.

Oh good. She doesn't have to listen to Baqir talk all the way to Sothis. 

It's a small mercy, but she'll take it.

Rana settles in next to Baqir, a patient minder.

She brought him on board, so it's on her head if he harms the caravan.

For now they move together in silence.

Eventually it's time to make camp for lunch. Layla has a few things she needs to attend to.

First of all, she's been given Detect Evil this morning by Kofusachi, and she needs to cast it to confirm her suspicions about Baqir.

Secondly, there's a question she never got an answer to from Rana earlier, which is becoming decidedly more pressing. 

"Naila," Layla says to her sister. "You're with Baqir on guard duty. I'll see to getting you two some food. Rana, you're with me to help unload cookware."

She falls back down the line with her sister, leaving Naila to shepherd Baqir.

Baqir doesn't even turn to look. He stares out at the desert sands as if he could summon more gnolls with sheer force of will.

Naila watches with him, similarly focused.

Layla unloads a camel further down the line, out of Baqir's earshot. 

"I really should have asked this earlier," she whispers to Rana. "But - what's Baqir using for contraception? I thought you said he used Alter Self but the only thing I can think of him doing with that is turn himself into a girl during sex, and he really does not seem the type."

"He has a permanent curse for infertility. He's testified to me that it exists and is reliable under truth magic."

Layla's eyebrows rise. "A curse of infertility? Don't those usually...?"

Bestow Curse was a fairly blunt tool, last she checked. She can't imagine that Baqir would have willingly chosen to destroy his own sex life.

Rana shakes her head. "Not if you get them cast by a practiced Calistrian cleric they don't."

Layla frowns. "He really must have gone to some lengths. That's - uncharacteristic of what I've seen of him -"

Rana shrugs. 

"The point is it exists. I'm not going to fall pregnant by him any time soon, if that's your concern."

Layla unloads a heavy cooking pot from the back of the camel and passes it to Fayruz.

"That's not all I called you over for, though. I received Detect Evil this morning from Kofusachi. I think he's trying to tell us something about our bodyguard. Can you distract Baqir while I cast it discreetly?"

"Of course." Rana smiles slightly. 

She goes back down the line towards Baqir, this time with a little sashay in her step. 

That would be effective on Baqir, wouldn't it.

She ducks behind the camel and casts Detect Evil as quietly as she can. Then, still maintaining concentration, she goes and looks at Baqir.