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That was certainly... not what Ceolfric expected. On any level, really. There was no short engagement where he handedly slaughtered two wayward drow, nor shaky accord with fellow servants of the fell powers. His drow weren't even drow, judging by their strange eyes and the fact that one of them was [i]glowing[/i]. The fact that the glowing one had chosen to grovel wasn't too outlandish, but Ceolfric expected appeals for mercy well before an offer of money after a plea of innocence. Was that how bribery worked around here? Freckles seemed genuine, but the spineless were often decent liars. It'd be safer to just force an answer out of him, but that might not be possible if a man of his aetheric density actively resisted.

And then there was the matter of the woman. Ceolfric didn't miss her subtly protective step forward - probably her little brother blubbering behind her, then. He'd make a good hostage if she got too uppity. Unlike Freckles, though, she was too calm. Not dismissively enough for him to assume she did indeed have a hand in whatever had occurred last night, but enough that she had to be either completely assured of her innocence or confident that she knew something he didn't and that whatever aetheric gift she had would prevent him from prying it out of her. Ceolfric narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously, internally debating whether he should try his luck with a spell or take her words at face value. Neither of them looked particularly threatening, but there were still two of them and one of him. If anything was amiss, he'd break her face first.

Unfortunately, a cursory sweep of his eyes over the cemetary revealed nothing that suggested infernalist activity. No half-destroyed summoning circles, no grimoires bound in human flesh, not even a damn candle. Unless their pet had made such a mess that all the evidence had been immediately destroyed, they looked to be telling at least a partial truth. How convenient, then, that she mentioned their destination. 

[color=AA4A44]"The Bounty House,"[/color] Ceolfric repeated flatly as he lowered his sword, [color=AA4A44]"I presume that means you also aren't from around here."[/color] That and the part where they evidently slept on the ground. In a graveyard, no less. There was definitely something suspicious going on with these two, but the question was whether he really wanted to get involved in the first place. They could tear up dirt all they wanted, he just didn't appreciate threats. 

[color=AA4A44]"Either way, that's coincidentally the exact same place I was headed before I woke up to some monster's poor attempt at intimidation. You two wouldn't mind showing me the way, would you?"[/color] Ceolfric made no effort to hide his contempt as he spoke. He fully expected them to make up some trifling excuse and expose themselves as liars that weren't bound for the Bounty House at all, but if they didn't, he'd at least have more witnesses to validate his story when he mentioned the incident from the night prior. 

[hr][@McMolly][@Obscene Symphony]