"As she wishes," Qito said flatly. He unfolded his arms and looked to the increasingly uneasy soldiers behind him. [i]"Stand down! All of you!"[/i]

[i]"Sir? We're surrounded..."[/i]

[i]"He said stand down!"[/i] Qito bellowed, [i]"We are leaving. Get dressed and start breaking camp. You have ten minutes!"[/i]

[i]"Yes sir!"[/i] All of the soldiers said in unison. They all discarded their arms and got to work quickly, though somehow they still managed to make themselves look reluctant in the process. This was obviously a new experience for all of them.

Qito himself wasted no time in donning his own armour and helping to pack things away. He did not give Meesei another word.

While the tents were being packed away, Gallus looked to a couple of the warriors that he had talked to earlier that morning. Gallus stuck his thumb and forefinger in his mouth and whistled them down, giving a beckoning wave. The warriors nodded and brought out a few small skins of water and some pouches that smelled like preserved food. The soldiers took the supplies carefully once Qito ordered them to.

Within ten minutes, all of the soldiers were as they were when they arrived; armed with shields and lances, armoured in pale golden bands, and astride their horses, rearing to move. Qito gave some parting words to Meesei, reiterating what he had warned. "Meesei and tribe are criminal now. Bear choice as you believe best. Farewell, and thank you for men spared."

Qito was about to order his soldiers to move out, but there was a moment for a final comment.

After all was said and done, Gallus walked up beside Meesei to watch the riders disappear in a cloud of beating hooves. "Well," Gallus put his weapons away, "That went as well as could be expected, didn't it? Hm?"