A caravan as expected

It was a caravan, five covered wagons, and a dozen more people on horses. As they approached, Arlstor stepped on the road, waving to get the attention of the driver of the first vehicle.

"Excuse me! I know It's unusual to ask this, this late, but can we buy a place in your caravan?"

The man, in his forties, a brown bear with few strands of white hairs, looked at him and then at Niel. Immediately, a rictus of disgust showed on his face, something the two were used to. The elf wasn't dressed like a lady, so it only meant one of two things, she was a whore, or she was an eromagus, both weren't looked as disgusting way of living.

"Why didn't you asked that at the door of the city, like everyone else?" He asked to Arlstor, ignoring the elf.

"Because we didn't stop in town, we're from the East and made camp a little further in the forest." The giant lied.

It seemed to be enough to convince the driver. "Anyway, we're already full. I'm sorry."

"We can pay extra." Niel stepped in.

The man froze a moment. "Well, I guess we can find some place for you..."

Arlstor gave the man a few coins, and he shouted behind him.

"Find a place for those two!"

The giant and the elf walked to the back of the caravan and got a haughty look as they go from the drivers of the wagons.

"You used a charm spell on the man, isn't it?" Arlstor whispered to Niel.

"He would have never let us in, if I didn't."

"That was a big risk, that spell is illegal."

"It worked, that's what's matter."

The driver of the fourth wagon gave a dirty look at Niel and told them. "There's space in the back..."

"Thank you." Arlstor told him.

The both of them got in, squeezed between the millet's bags and the back of the vehicle. Then the convoy took the road again.

"Let's hope it's enough to shake off our tail." The giant commented.

"You may hope, but I have my doubts." Niel commented.

"Running from someone?" A voice said, making the both of them tense.

And the tension became even tangible when they looked further in the wagon and saw a woman with purple skin, long pointy ears, red eyes and a crown of small horns sprouting from her forehead and the side of her head. She was a demon.

Seeing their worried look, she added. "Don't panic, I'm here to help with the preparation for the fight against the empress of the last night. I'm not interested in runaways."

It calmed down the two, but still, demons were usually enemies, not allies, so it was a strange feeling to be talking instead of fighting.

"Then don't ask a question we don't want to answer." Arlstor told her.

"Ok ok, big guy... I asked partly to present myself. I'm Missandra."

Arlstor hesitated to answer, but there was no point of not saying their name. "I'm Arlstor."

"Niel."