The raging inferno enveloped the environment around him, with Arastoph's cover being the only thing that prevented him from being swallowed by the the flames. The heat was intense, and the trader curled into his own body to hide his face from the flames and to keep his ammunition from going off in his hands. When the flames of died, he gasped and swallowed for a lung-full of air. Did he not kill the pyromancer? No matter, he had to reload quickly. He undid the bow-tie to his blunderbuss and poured the ammunition down the barrels. He made another quick breath in order to calm his hand. Arastoph was about ready to jump up and take another shot when he heard the conversation being had after his assassination attempt.

"If he's one of yours call him off, if not our deal still stands and we'll continue our battle after we deal with this one."  Said the swordsman.

To Arastoph's surprise, the knight agreed. "I know him not. Let's talk to him, and then get back to killing each other like civilized people."

He heard the sarcasm in the knight's voice, but was all the same annoyed by the knight's chivalry. He did not take advantage of the moment? What a fool! He doubted that the looters were eager to talk through this encounter after taking a potshot at one of their men. Damn! Still, there may be a chance to ferret his way out of this hole. All he had to do was flex the silver tongue.

"Talk?" Arastoph called out from behind his cover in inquiry. His voice sounded deceptively innocent. "Ah! Forgive me! I am a survivor of the raid, I feared you lot were among the remaining attackers."

Arastoph gripped the pouch of ammunition in his hand, attempting to make his ruse as believable as he could. He just hoped he could convince them of it.

"I was only trying to survive, you see! Have mercy!"

He didn't budge an inch from his hiding place, though. He doubted that the looters would actually have mercy, and would shoot him with the crossbows at a moment's notice. While his pleas sounded remorseful and desperate, Arastoph said them with but a look of annoyance on his face, and was fingering the ammunition pouch in his hands. If anything, perhaps he could play the knight's code of chivalry into his hands and receive protection under him. If the knight decided to take responsibility for the actions of a "frightened and desperate survivor", then he had an opportunity. To either escape or stay alive long enough.

But there was no guaranteeing that. Neither was there any guaranteeing that the knight could defeat the swordsman. If worst comes to best - in that the knight fails to defeat the swordsman after agreeing to protect Arastoph - than he could toss this pouch of ammunition among their ranks. If he could shoot it in mid-air, the explosion and pellet spread would undoubtedly be destructive. If he missed, well... there were still the pellets in his gun that could potentially hit the swordsman or his allies.

At this point, all Arastoph could do was account for every variable that he could.