The carriage quickly trundled along a well-worn dirt road on its way to Colen, winding its way past fields that dominated the landscape for miles. It was a sight that the local farmhands weren't likely to forget for years; a vehicle constructed entirely out of aluminum from the roof to the wheels, decorated by solid gold embroidery and gemstones that looked more valuable than the combined wealth of their entire kingdom. In the sunlight, it was serving as an incandescent beacon that mercilessly blinded every peasant foolish enough to gaze its way.<br/><br/>Mathis was leaning against the window with an amused grin on his face. So many years spent living in opulence had given him a deep appreciation for unique, priceless things, and his effectively limitless supply of material wealth meant nothing without an audience to appreciate it. One of the peasants looked so shocked and furious by this foreign stranger's ostentatious display that he almost seemed ready to explode. Mathis merely burst out laughing at the sight, though he was kind enough to do so out of sight of the poor farmer. The man's face alone was worth every second he had spent building their transport. When he regained control of himself, he turned to look at Kenneth, who seemed less entertained and more impatient.<br/><br/>"Too long without a good combustion, friend?" he asked, trying and failing to suppress a chuckle. "I dare say these folk don't need your help, for once."<br/><br/>"Oh not quite yet, no. Besides, I'm quite fond of my appearance this time around; lord knows I don't want to be a red-head again! The guard captain could hardly take me seriously." Kenneth replied, "But of course, my dear friend, you needn't worry; if rulers of these people think they can intrude upon our lands with their petty taxes, they will burn."<br/><br/>The threat, while not directed at him, made Mathis sigh and shake his head. He never did understand his partner's sense of compassion, even if it only extended to those serving under him. The lord of Colen, or perhaps lords, for he truly had no idea of who lived there, apparently felt entitled to the wealth of Kenneth's wholly independent fiefdom. He had almost offered to make up the difference himself just to save time, but reducing the relative worth of his own holdings by making another man richer would have made boasting about them that much less satisfying. That, and it would have set a very bad example if either of them were to give in to the demands of someone who thought himself above the two traveling rulers. Mathis worked hard to remind the masses that they were beneath him in every conceivable way, and the thought of some ignorant foreign king not paying him the proper respects irritated him enough that he felt obligated to accompany Kenneth and cause trouble away from their home.<br/><br/>Looking out over the fields again reminded him that he was hungry. He always was. It was a ravenous emptiness that he had known since his very first breath, back before he had learned that he didn't need to breathe. Nothing was capable of satisfying it, but still it compelled him to consume everything in sight. In some ways, he was grateful to the hunger for keeping him alive when so many of his other senses failed him, but he longed for a way to lessen it. Entertainment was one of the few things he was capable of appreciating that could sufficiently distract him from the feeling, and that was a rare and fleeting thing that threatened depletion at a moment's notice. If not for any other reason, moving to a distant city yet again would likely do him some good.<br/><br/>Mathis removed the glove on his right hand and touched the side of his cart, converting the dust clinging to it into a thin cloud of burning magnesium flakes. The resulting flash of light sent several peasants reeling backwards with their hands covering their faces. He stared unblinkingly through the entire flare, grinning.<br/><br/>Something dreadful was coming to Colen, and it was very hungry indeed.