Chapter Seven, Escort; part one

Alicea approached the gates of the town before her. The sign five miles back had indicated that this town belonged to the searing heart clan. It meant nothing to her, but she suspected at some point in time they had an ancestor who was a pyromancer.
Her thought was cut short as a quarrel was loosed from the gatehouse. She slowed it and caught it, it was somewhat of a novelty, she could have dodged it without magic but the arrow-catch trick always made a good first impression. She held it up over her head and called out to the guards, "Excuse me sir. You seem to have dropped this." It was a classic trick, but it usually worked.
Not as much today.
"Are you the one who's been attacking merchants?"
"No, have you been having problems with bandits?"
"Why would you think we meant bandits? Don't come any closer."
"Please, if I meant to harm you I'd not have spent magic catching an arrow that I could just as easily spent it killing you and your three friends in there."

It wasn't as much foresight as it was a keen eye and the ability to see color. While the Ga-Vok could make out color they couldn't make out more than three shades of each one. Their idea of camouflage, a combination of dark brown, light green and black, actually conflicted with the solid grey stone behind them; the fire light didn't help them either, shadows cast at odd angles just made them more obvious.

"Fireblood witch, you'll pay for our brothers!"
A pair of additional quarrels closed the gap between her and the gatehouse. She didn't even bother with these two, a simple motion and they deflected off one another.
"If it will bring you to your senses assemble a convoy with as many of your warriors and merchants as you see fit and I shall guide them safely to the next town."
She had dropped her normal courtesy and subtly combed their thoughts for information. A quick glance showed that they really didn't want to either try and fight her, or to let her stay. So a slight mental nudge and she could get supplies for the next week, and at the same time help to resolve their difficulties also.
Her suggestion was as well taken as it could be without causing suspicion.
"We don't want you here, but if it will get rid of you we'll send a wagon and four of our warriors out to the next town with you. But you'll stay in front of them or our men will spill that cursed blood of yours upon the road and return here at once."

She wasn't entirely disappointed. While they seemed quite desperate, it was unlikely they'd be offering her any recompense for her work. Just as well, she was a traveller, not a mercenary. Perhaps if she ever returned this way they'd remember her better and there'd be a space for her in a stable or shed somewhere. She waited patiently for the promised wagon to arrive.

To be continued...