"This is absurd," Neil said, striding up to the big men with the poise of a man of authority. He had masqueraded as a courtier once at the Kalx Molaris Temple of Baelyr. Long story, he would tell it another time. As it was, he looked into the eyes of the man up front and held his gaze, and said nothing for so long it got extremely awkward for the Banian's, who looked away and back at Neil confused, and then looked away again. It was a power move they hadn't expected, and once they had lost momentum Neil spoke again. "My lady and I have traveled here half naked, bruised, and tired. Why would a necromancer come here in such ragged sha-DON'T INTERRUPT ME!" 

The big man at the vanguard shrank back, eyebrow raised as if Neil were insane. "We did naut say anyving." 

"Good, and you will not speak any further on this matter either. The Boyina is tired, and has been given leave by the gate captain to enter. Unless you want to fight here and now in Yigas' home I suggest you get out." 

They looked less sure than they had been coming in, but their superstition, as plausible as it was, couldn't be deterred so readily. The one on his left pushed the front one to get him to regain his dignity, and stepped forward brusquely. He had the arms of a bear, and they were near as heavy. Neil could see his teeth gleam out of his beard, despite their yellowing. 

"You haf no rights here, Suka!" He growled, and attempted to shove Neil out of his way. Neil lowered himself and lifted himself on the left of the man's arm, almost like he was running water morphing around the hard surface of a falling rock. He didn't attack the man though, merely sticking his leg out between the fellow's beefy legs so he tripped up, giving a grunt of surprise before he caught himself on the couch, his mouth hitting the back of the couch's wooden frame. Blood dribbled out of his mouth, and he shakily stood up. 

Neil nor Calliope were in any condition to fight. Calliope less so, true. But Neil felt sore as hell and he was so hungry he doubted a punch from him would have anything beyond momentum behind it. Neil bluffed instead, taking out his knife and holding the blade against the neck of the burly man he had tripped, who had just started to rise. The men who had begun to move behind them stopped cold. The chilled iron bit at his neck, though it didn't draw blood. Honestly, it had not been sharped recently. He doubted it was effective beyond cutting bread or a quick stab. Either way, the bearish banian serf froze in the long gallery, tensed from the feel of the weapon. 

"You are in the presence of Lady Grigori Dragoslava, daughter of the great boyar of Sebrovna and herald of the stars." He said, spouting complete bullshit. "You will afford her the respect of her station." 

"Shust let Andrei goh," the third said. He had a loud gaptooth Neil could spot in the dead of night. 

"We will leafe, but the priests vill vant to test har!" The man who was apparently Andrei warned. 

"Then ve'll do it tomorrow, vhen I ahm ved and reested." Calliope said, betraying no emotion except a wintry disinterest in the whole affair. "Zere are streltsies just outside, and your town guard. I caun't go anyvhere or vlee, and even iff I do, you'll know my guilt. No leafe bevore I tell me mahn to keell you." 

There was a long pause by all three, and gap-tooth said. "We'll go." 

They left hesitantly, but they left all the same. Just as they marched down the stairs, Yiga appeared with hot soup of beef, potatoes, and vegetables, along with two mugs of beer. She looked at the departing men, and shook her head. Neil could not tell if she was embarrassed or worried. "Here, and I hop yor stay is vrestful." 

Neil thanked her, and closed the door. He let out a long breath and opened his eyes wide to display his feelings of 'that was close' and walked over to set the food on the table in front of Calliope. She hadn't dressed yet except with a small towel, and it barely held her together. Somehow it made her look even better, and the land he had thought too cold was now a bit hot for his tastes. He took his mug and his soup and sat on the couch she was on, a few feet away. 

"Good thing we have nothing to worry about tomorrow..." Neil started as she began to eat, and then he looked at her quizzically. "We have nothing to worry about right?" 

"Depends on the test. I'm not a necromancer but..." He wiped a bit of her mouth with her fingers. "If they find what I'm good at, I doubt they'll be happy." 

"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we uh...tomorrow." Neil deadpanned. 

"Why are you still here?" She asked Neil suddenly. Neil put his spoon down and looked at her. She looked at him, and if he didn't know any better, he would have called it suspicious. She continued. "You didn't have to defend me, you could have just thrown me to the wolves. Why are you sitting here and fretting over tomorrow? You can just eat and go find fortune. I am currently a liability and so far you've had little gain." 

Neil cleared his throat and crossed his arms as if he were about to impart some great wisdom. "I'm a fucking idiot." He said lightly, shamelessly. He smiled at her, and it was clear he was smiling at his own manner. He held an open hand out, placing his off-hand's finger on his other hand's fingers as he counted. "Look, I like danger, hot women, and dangerous hot women. Secondly, you're the only person I know in almost four hundred leagues, and thirdly... So far I've died for you, kept you from dying, I've been your guard, your thief, your pack mule, and I've bought you two dinners. If you think I'm going anywhere before you pay up somehow you're more insane than I am."