You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog [EM, Thoroughfare]

[Aydi al-Qais]

"That's one way to put it." He chuckled. "Here's my trick: before being men and women, nobles and beggars, Dahabi and Ra'shari, we're all humans. I choose to see the person first, layers second."

[Kezia]

"You should try starting a religion. That's substantially less crazy than a lot of the things they profess."

[Aydi al-Qais]

"But religion is about crazy. If it's not outlandish enough people won't believe or practise it. My sermons of basic compassion, fairness and common sense wouldn't have following." Aydi laughed.

[Kezia]

"Maybe if you had your dog stand on your head while you did it... Or we could come up with some suitably garish garb for you..."

[Aydi al-Qais]

"I wouldn't diminish my dog so. Neither would I part with my fez. Let's just say a career in priesthood is not for me. But at least my prophecies check out!"

[Kezia]

"Hm, you know, I dabble in divination myself, if you want those prophecies checked out..."

[Aydi al-Qais]

"Then I'll let you know when the next one comes up to me."

[Kezia]

"I wait with bated breath..."

[Aydi al-Qais]

"Well, I can't let you asphyxiate, can I? The next time we meet I'll get my hunch about your fate ready. As long as it's under the stars, because it's them who speak to me."

[Kezia]

"Hm, I do my work on a more... personal level. The stars, after all, are so far away..."