Daybreak was approaching, the birds were becoming more active around the woods, and he could no longer see stars above him in the breaks between the trees. Rising from his lean against a tree he stepped to the pathway and started towards the camp of Gracus. Even this time of year the trees provided enough overhead cover that it was still quite dark along the path, and that was fine. He moved to within a stones throw of the encampment, within easy sight once anyone decided to move around to this side of the large tent in the center of the grouping. He could just make out one of the men around the side of it still sitting by the low fire.

The noise of the birds was making it a bit harder to pick up individual sounds as they drifted from the camp, and he was slightly upwind now. He could still hear some heavy breathing coming from the area of the main tent, and the sound of some labored breathing came to him as well, causing him to scowl every so slightly. He closed his eyes a moment, taking a deep breath....then opened his eyes.

There he stood, in the middle of the trail, his arms folded across his chest and his gaze falling on the center of the encampment, and waited.

Voices.

Not hushed, but quiet, from within the largest of the tents. He could hear them, one male, one female. Not clear enough to know what was said, but well enough to know the female one was not her. Not S'jira.

But he knew she was in there as well.

The voices conversed for a minute, two at the most as he stood there, motionless at the edge of the camp, yet in full view, until he saw the flap of the tent thrust open.

His gaze darted past the man for the briefest of moments, catching sight of her inside in the tent, but he did not react. Instead he looked back to Gracus.

'I've come for what is mine.' His voice was steady, no emotion, right now it was all business.

Gracus nearly laughed at this. 'Yours!" What claim do you have"'

'I found her wandering the city after the death of her previous master and claimed her.' It was closer to the truth than a lie, and he was sure an outright lie such as claiming he bought her would only complicate things.

Gracus turned his head and spat in the fire. 'She was my brothers. Now she is mine.'

The fur along his shoulders bristled, and a slight snarl escaped his lips. 'Your brother is dead, and if I had wished, you would be as well. Along with the rest of your camp. You still have a chance to get out of this, maybe even profit. But you will give her to me.'

He watched as Gracus shifted the knife about in his hand. 'Profit you say?'

This was the opening he was looking for. The bluster was expected and had to be returned. And by appearing at his camp before Gracus even awoke he proved he could likely back those words.

His fingers brushed across his forearm and with a flick of a wrist one of the spikes was slid from his bracer and stuck to a tree off to the right. A tree the one called Hurs was trying to use as cover, thinking the cat would be to preoccupied to notice his movement. His eyes never left their lock with Gracus.

'Two pounds. Gold.'

He was not a bad when it came to haggling, but in this case he knew too little about the one he was haggling with. How much greed could he play off of before he made himself look desperate.

His gaze swept about the area, falling briefly on each man, checking their movements.

"Three pounds, and she walks away with me. Untouched. Three more if you break camp and reach the Vulgar Unicorn south of here before nightfall."

His eyes narrowed at the site of S'jira needing to be helped out of the tent.

"Send them to the road..." he motioned towards the two women. "and I will fetch your gold."

He could see Gracus was about to speak in protest, and was quick to cut him off.

"One does not walk in to the wolf's den with a steak hanging from his neck." He made sure to emphasise the next word...."Your gold is near. Have your men follow them if you wish, the girl will have the gold in hand before reaching the main road. Do this little thing, and we will both walk away from here with more than we came."

He waited a few moments, watching as the two woman moved past him. He could feel S'jira look to him, but did not, could not turn his head at the moment. His gaze remained locked on Gracus until they were on their way down the path to the road before he turned and slipped in to the brush, heading north and west from the encampment.

He was out of direct view when he turned to his right towards where he had left the gold. It was just a few hours ago, but already it seemed like days. He crossed his own trail from earlier, from when he approached the camp from up-wind. The breeze had shifted slightly with the rising sun, but he could still smell the fire burning, and faint voice of Gracus barking out orders still reached him.

Half a dozen times or more he had paused in his trek to see if he was being followed. It didn't matter if they were watching him, but he was not about to be caught unaware at this point.

In short order the gold was found and he turned south again. He angled further eastward now, finally turning back to approach the camp from the opposite side from which he left. Edging around a large pine he was actually surprised to find all the men still in the camp. He had expected Gracus to send a pair to follow the women.

Moving further in to the wood and out of sight he broke in to an easy run, skirting the down-wind side of the camp and towards the main road. He was there and waiting for just a few minutes when the women came into view coming down the path. He walked up to meet them, holding out the bound sack of gold.

'Give this to him, and remind him the rest will be waiting at the Unicorn. Someone will find him.'

The girl, whose gaze remained cast down nodded as he handed her the gold and reached out for S'jira, supporting her.

'And tell him this time it was business. Next time it will be personal.'

The girl said nothing as she turned and hurried back down the path. He stood there, S'jira leaning into him as his arm about her waist supported her until she rounded the first bend in the trail before looking down to meet S'jira gaze. She started to speak....but he cut her off.

'Shh. We can talk later. For now let's just get you home.'

The arm about her waist slid up under her arms, the other hooked behind her knees as he lifted her into his arms. As he turned back towards the road S'jira wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her head into his shoulder. Her breath was arm against his neck, but it was raspy to his ears. She was hurt....so he moved as quickly as he dare as to keep from jostling her too much. With a brief glance to the sky he figured it would be close to mid-day by the time they reached the Dragon once again.