Luciel continued in double pace, refusing to look back and even assuming a hunched stance with the hope of either escaping the area of aiming to deflect a blow with a bag of vegetables before the woman spoke. It wasn't a greeting, but instead an acknowledgement of his destination which stopped him dead in his tracks in mid stride. The faint glint of reflections of shadows caught with sharpening pupils looking into the untouched snow knew the motion the woman made after her feet landed behind him. [color=8882be]"I only have produce..."[/color] he replied to her question voiced as a statement, acknowledging her question and explaining himself in the same instant. [color=8882be]"...To trade"[/color] his explanation continued, hoping his status was apparent. He dared not draw the bent dagger to offer an example for fear of it being taken the wrong way after hearing the click of bow and arrow.
Humans in such a position would call his charity 'indentured servitude' or 'protection pay'. Without having ever met a representative of the town, Luciel simply hoped his actions would let himself be known enough to actually enter the city...maybe even have audience with the king. For what reason was his thoughts alone, but all of these thoughts raced through his mind along with the notion to run if it weren't for the woman's assertion to walk with him.

Unsure how to react at first, Luciel simply walked on in step with the woman. His demeanor appeared meek, though his free hand gripped the small silver cross. Softly, shapeless words whispered from the mutt who turned his head enough to observe the guards at the gate nearby. [color=8882be]"Luciel...Luciel Lumiere"[/color] he simply said, assuming the woman had no interest in his story or any kind of chat by her tone. She was there because she needed to be there. Still, nervousness broke his composure for a brief moment as he neared the front gate.
"What do you believe?" his whispered with a flicker of a forked tongue between fangs as he tilted his head down to let the bear skull obscure most of his face.
____________________________________________________________

"Oh, just in time" One of the guards sighed, sniffling a bit as their eyes went from the cloaked figure to Brielle and then the bulging sacks the cloaked figure carried like a beast of burden. Though the demonic blood fueled a nightmare of muscular strength, it was wasted on toting what would take almost three fully grown men a day to haul. The gesture was beyond the two men at the gate who had been tormented by the smells rising from the mess hall for the last few hours of their shift. Even the archers along the wall were on edge upon seeing the prospect of food, a few even knocking arrows in impatient anticipation to be relieved by the next shift to have at breakfast. Freshly cooked produce mixed with leftovers?

"[i]Goooood[/i] morning, Brie" One of the guards at the gate chirped, going so far as to offer a casual bow. Derrick...rotated to the gates from his night shift. He was skilled with a sword and held duty to paramount, he knew all about Luciel and the disguise like most of the guard did. "I guess your hunt was successful!" he chuckled, one hand on his sword as he lowered himself to Luciel's level. Luciel, meanwhile, turned away just slightly enough to earn a glare from the veteran. "And let me guess, you think a few packs of goods will get you something. Aye, mutt?" Derrick cooed, tilting his head while Luci shifted the weight on his shoulders. [color=8882be]"I...I need a new trowel"[/color] Luciel whispered, edging a step forward and falling to a knee to open the flap of his game bag and reveal the prime produce.

Derrick looked back to the guards of the walls who tensed their bows while he leaned in to rifle through the potatoes. Luciel kept his head lowered and turned until the man abruptly stopped, lifting a hand caked in a squished potato. It was soft, one of the ones on the top in the crate. Crushing it let out a small wisp of steam and Luciel's blood ran cold as he looked up after hearing the sound, eyes accidentally making contact with Derrick's

They were [i]baked[/i].
He'd put yesterdays leftovers into the crate to keep them fresh for lunch with just a bit of heat and fat. Some crushed spices and it was...nothing, it didn't matter anymore once he saw the look in the guard's eyes. He hadn't expected to break his tools and had gotten caught up in emotion to the point of forgetting what he threw in the pack.
It didn't matter, since it was enough of an excuse that Derrick finally had fuel.

"You need to know your [i]place[/i], mutt! Look at this [i]shit![/i]" Derrick exclaimed in spite of Luciel reaching and offering a confused and panicked [color=8882be]"No! Please, it was an accident, I-"[/color]
But Derrick shouted over the halfbreed, "Offerings of peace!? And you bring us-" he started, reaching into the bag for the next slightly steaming potato and lifting it high before crushing it, "-[i]rotten[/i] garbage? Who do you think you are, you accident!? It's [i]steaming[/i] with bacteria, for fuck sake!"

[color=8882be]"They-...they're baked..."[/color] Luciel offered in disbelief that this was happening, growing pale as snow until Derrick took ahold of the straps and planted a boot to his chest to peel the packs from them and kicking them a ways down the small slope. "Baked with parasites at this point..." Derrick spat, quickly being interrupted by Luciel who shrieked, [color=8882be]"I just need tools! I will bring you anything you want!"[/color]

Derrick looked back, a pack in each hand. "I have a lot to sort...Brielle?" he commented with a wink before dropping a bag to lift a hand. "Archers!!" he barked, Luciel only able to watch in horror as four...six...eight?
Archers drew their bows waiting for the command to fire and execute the 'sabatour'. They looked unsure, wondering which of them would be the first to loose an arrow and give them a reason to. A few even looked to Brielle, aware of who she was and hopeful that she could shed some light on the issue since it was no secret that Derrick was a bit of a dick even to his fellow man.

[@LadyinInk]