It was not turning out to be the best of days for the bandit group who had come storming out of the Circle of Nine to raid and pillage the farms of Jenli.

First of all, the people here didn't seem to have anything worth taking. They lived off the land, there was nothing prosperous about their homes or their clothing that made this trip worth the effort. Then there had been that little incident with a passing wizard. Three of their number dead, and another who seemed utterly convinced that he could talk to chickens. He was being kept towards the back of the group, under supervision until they could find another wizard who could take the spell off him.

The latest farm seemed populated with people who did what they were told quietly, not a decent bit of spirit among the lot of them. The leader, who had been looking forward to a good fight to take his mind off the fowl deeds of his incapacitated follower, was seething at the lack of resistance. And then, just to cap off what was turning out to be the worst mistake of his criminal career, some bloody great flying lizard had come swooping down from Mount Yasuo and set fire to his wagon, scaring off the horses and setting his group into a fit of terror. It was gone, for now, but he had a feeling it would be coming back. Not a good day.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. I don't think you're going to want to fight on from here."

He spun around, scowling. A small woman was walking towards them from the shelter of the farm houses. She was young, dressed in the type of flowing robes he associated with the nobility who lived in RhyDin city, though a suspicious shape under those robes suggested she carried a sword. But still, one woman against fifteen desperate and angry men - they were good odds.

"And what are you supposed to be?" the leader snarled, ignoring the squawked greeting from behind him. There was a chorus of 'shh's' as the unfortunate chicken linguist was pushed away again. "Some great hero, come to rescue these pathetic idiots?"

He spat at the huddled group of farmers, who jumped and huddled in together closer. At a word from him, his men drew their weapons, moving to flank him, facing up to the woman. She sighed wearily, watching the bandits with a resigned sort of patience.

"Is this really necessary?" she asked, looking them over as she undid her robe, revealing a bejewelled hilt at her hip. The clothing beneath the robe was hardly armour, consisting of a soft green shirt and brown leather breeches. The boots looked rather well lived-in, though. "Wouldn't you rather just walk away now, while you still can?"

"One girl ain't a threat to us," the bandit leader snarled, swinging his sabre threateningly. "What's your name, girlie, so's I know what name to bury you under?"

She rolled her eyes with that same resigned look on her face, glancing skywards seemingly absently. "My name is Natalya, although I don't think that's what you'll be remembering me for," she told him with a faint shrug. She glanced at the farmers with an apologetic look. "I am sorry for the delay, he does like to make a dramatic entrance."

The farmers nodded, and the bandits spied one or two smiles of amusement at the small woman's words, even as the huddled group's eyes turned skywards. The leader scowled again, his grip flexing on the hilt of his sword. "Who's this 'he'?" he demanded. "Little girl's got a big man to do her fighting for her, eh' Where is he?"

"He's coming." Natalya smiled suddenly, her eyes on the sky above and behind the bandit group. "He's here, in fact. If you would all care to turn your eyes upwards" I give you my word, I will not move against you."

It wasn't her generous offer that had the men's eyes turning up. No, it was the rush of warm air, the acrid smell of chlorine, and the near to deafening bellow of some vast creature. The leader felt his leg suddenly grow very wet and warm as the huge lizard from before came swooping back over them, roaring down out of the sky to pass bare feet from the top of his head. For a moment, he could almost have counted the emerald-coloured scales that covered it's belly as it skimmed over them. It circled, and obsidian eyes quite clearly focused on the bandits. Weapons fell to the ground in a sudden crescendo of sound.

"That, gentlemen, is Auden, and in case you hadn't noticed, he's a dragon," Natalya's voice cut through the terror holding them all in place, quiet and pleasant as she walked towards them. "And I feel I should warn you that he's not all that pleased to be here. He was in the middle of his lunch when we got word of your arrival."

"So ....he's hungry, then?" quavered one of the men, only to be cuffed hard by the leader.

"Could be," the small woman nodded with a smile. "More put out than anything, though. I wouldn't make any sudden movements towards me or the farmers, he takes his job very seriously." She walked up to them. "Now, then ....you'll be leaving peacefully, won't you? No acts of stupidity or attempts to raid any other farms while you're within the Circle of Nine?"

There comes a time in a man's life when he has to make a decision. In this case, it was go along with the woman with the strange smile's suggestion, or be fried to a crisp and eaten for lunch. The bandit leader nodded quickly. Natalya's smile grew, and she patted him on the shoulder.

"Off you go, then," she told him. He didn't need telling twice. The men took to their heels, heading back towards the Barrier as fast as they could, with their squawking, clucking companion close behind them. She turned to the farmers, who were watching her with awe and no little amusement. "Somehow I don't think they'll be back."

"Many thanks, lady Natalya," the head farmer thanked her profusely. "And to lord Auden. Please give him our gratitude."

Natalya's strange smile softened into a genuine expression of cheer. "I will, Nam'ho," she nodded, patting his shoulder companionably. "I'll leave you to your work."

And with that, she set off back through the farm in the direction she had come. The dragon, Auden, circled above her, flying bare feet from the ground. And if the farmers were listening, they would have heard one side of an interesting conversation.

"You took your time getting back," the small woman was saying as she walked away. "Well, no, certainly, but ....Alright, we'll go back to the valley." She laughed suddenly, reaching up to pat Auden's clawed foot affectionately. "Do you ever think of anything but your stomach?"

The dragon rumbled in what could have been a laugh, the sound rolling around the little valley as he escorted his rider back to the meal he had been interrupted in having.

And in the other direction, a group of bandits was still running, terrified at the thought of a small woman's strangely friendly smile, and swooping green-scaled death flying over them on massive wings.