Miscalculations [Open]
Salem’s eyes darted toward the bushes lining the path, partially hiding the young woman at the base of one of the trees. Though her face was unusually pale (unusual, perhaps, had she not just been caught beneath a storm of arrows), her voice commanded such authority that Salem almost didn’t notice the arrow she had nocked and aimed at him.
“Very well.” He lowered slowly and placed his staff on the ground at his feet, not taking his eyes from the stranger as he did so. Then he displayed his hands, palms up, as sign of peace, and took two steps back as she directed.
“I wish you no harm,” he tried to placate her, at least to have her lower her weapon. Though the underbrush obscured much of her body, he couldn’t find any insignia or sign that she was associated with the caravan that Perne had hoped to ambush. A hapless traveler, and one who was fortunate to even still be alive. Half a dozen arrows launched at once were not easy to dodge.
“I feared that you may have been struck down by this assault so I came to check. Worry not, I come alone.” His voice remained calm and even. He was not afraid of her, but few things could frighten him now.
“Have you been hit?”
The man backed away as instructed, and Mitama allowed a small amount of relief to flood through her. Simply a small amount though. She knew better than to be overtrusting and presume that the man would be travelling without any companions at his side.
“You wish me no harm, yet you emerge from the same direction as the shortly passed assault. You do not pose yourself as a very nonthreatening figure.” Her eyes narrowed as his words seem to confirm it. “If you expected me struck down, then you anticipated the assault. What reason have you to venture here if not to finish what you have started?”
His question posed her little interest. Her eyes dropped once again to the staff at his feet. Mages preferred tomes, and she knew few healers who did not travel with a staff at their side, but the laws of a new land did not come with the guarantee of any similarities. “You know healing magic?” She asked instead, eyes darting back up to the stranger’s.