Sina did not flinch when he called her [i]m’lady[/i]. She had never personally disliked orcs, finding their blunt honesty refreshing. Years of pretense made it difficult, but she tried to adopt a similar mindset. It was far better than the elven way- if someone didn’t like you, you would never be told. Everything was done behind your back. You knew about it, of course, but not directly.

“My name is Sina. Why do they call you Vick if your name is Seth?”

It was not the most important question (she called the elf Élan when his name was Éledan, after all), but it bought her time and, more importantly, substance to decide what she thought of them.

She looked over at the man. “No, I am not lost, nor am I one of [i]them[/i]. I know you are not one of the [i]Others[/i] because you would have shot me by now if you were. This is the fourth one they have sent.”

She gestured in the direction of the farm house. “If you are intending to improve your way in the world by raiding us, I would suggest you leave now. I’ve been in the woods to keep watch for any threats. I don’t know if you are one or not.”

If he was one and managed to get to the house, Élan would take care of it, or one of the orcs would. If not, maybe this was a sign that it was time to move. The [i]Silencers[/i] had known where they were for some time now (Sina figured they must have known, or else they wouldn’t keep sending them); it was only a matter of when they would send more than they could handle here.