[i]“This could be a problem”[/i]

Liaena thought as she peered under Rithrynn’s arm to survey the scene before them. At least twenty, probably more trained fighters, plus whatever they could salvage from the extremely nervous looking storeworkers. Skilled though the Night Elves were, it had the potential to get extremely messy.

“….”

Coming out of her reverie, Liaena realised that a couple of Night Elves, Rithrynn in particular, were giving her an expectant look. “What? I don’t know what you expect [i]me[/i] to do!”

The girl hissed, before holding up her hands to display their emptiness to the world. “See? It’s back with Sherpa, if you want to try scrape the stuff off the floor”

“I think I could get a clear shot on their leader” Lithriell mused as she angled her bow to aim between two large boxes. “So stupid…why do they even wear those boxes on their heads?”

“They’re not cultists” Kathlin observed quietly in the rear of the group. Liam squeezed her hand, before taking a half step forward.

“She’s right….they might have no idea what’s really going on here. You can’t just kill them!”

“I [b]could[/b]!” Lithriell retorted immediately, looking affronted that any mere human would dare doubt her competence. “I’ll show you. Just watch me”

“……”

“Okay. Okay. Fine” Liaena muttered as she turned back to the rest of their group. Grabbing a hand to tug Kathlin forward, the smaller girl licked a finger to scrub away some notably dirty marks on her face, and smoothed her hair to hide the large welt left by the battle-mages staff.

“What…? Stop that!”

Liam squirmed as he received similar beautification treatment from the little girl, as Liaena turned quickly to Rithrynn. “Hold for now, okay? If the distraction fails, or if Sherpa shows up – open fire”

“Huh?”

“Glad to know we’re on the same page. Come on Kitty” Liaena muttered as she turned to stride out into the middle of the room, Kathlin immediately on her heels. After a momentarily lag where he glanced imploringly at Rithrynn as if requesting alternative orders, Liam trailed after them both. 

“What the-!? Hey you! Stop!”

One of the storeworkers cried out as he was first to notice Liaena, flanked by Kathlin and Liam, strode into the room. 

[b]“The name would be ‘Ma’am’, not ‘you’! Mind your tongue, young man!”[/b] Liaena snapped back in a passable impression of Priestess Thea without breaking stride.  The first to notice them had only drawn additional attention, and there were several guards with drawn swords headed in their direction, as she added in a far more hushed tone. “Special effects, Kitty, please”

“Not to rain on your parade, but this did [b]not[/b] work for me” Kathlin mumbled back as she waved a hand, and a soft, very distinctive glow of Light emanated from her hands to surround the three as Liaena stalked into the centre of the group of White Hand…now very much the centre of attention. The girl spared the former a glance. 

“Yes, but I’m better”

“You’re [i]both[/i] idiots” Liam muttered under his breath.

“[b]Eh-hem[/b]. So…..Captain. I understand that is your rank?” Liaena enquired loudly as that officer turned to face them with a clear ‘wtf’ expression on his face, the trio now having at least five swords pointed at them. The girl looked around the room, to survey the shield wall and the guards. “Good to see you have maintained some order, at least. That does you credit as a private company”

“Who the hell are you?”

“Priestess Rune. Priestess Lennox. Priest Gray” Liaena pointed at each of her companions in turn, before turning sharply back to the Captain. “It has come to the Church’s attention that you have experienced an attack on your premises tonight. Consider us an envoy here for your assistance. What do you have to report?”