<span style="font-weight: bold">The Elf shot a glare at the woman and nodded to the man. "An inn sounds good right about now." She had been traveling for nearly a week to get here, and her first impression was not a good one.</span><br/><br/>Fredrick nodded in relief. â€œGood, good,â€ he said. He had expected the elf woman to come along; or at least it seemed to be a reasonable way out of getting beaten to a pulp, while still saving face. While one never knew what an elf might do next, he had traded with them enough to know that they liked to avoid conflict if possible. Then the human woman spoke, and his doubts about a peaceful resolution were renewed.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Looking to the human fellow she inclined her head to him. â€œThank you for your offer my friend, but I fear that I must decline.â€ Looking toward the elf, she said in a straight face with just the hint of a smirk quirking at the corners of her lips, â€œNothing against you, but I dare say that my stomach could not stand food. Not while having to be in the presence of such an abomination as that creature beside you.â€</span><br/><br/>The friendly smile that had heretofore been on Fredrickâ€™s face shattered twitchily into nervous laughter. â€œEhhehâ€¦yes, wellâ€¦hrmâ€¦yes.â€ His eyes darted to the elf, then back to the woman on the bull, then to the city guard who were now conscious of the situation, their hands on the hilts and hafts of their weapons. Technically speaking, Fredrick could just back out of the way and let whatever was going to happen, happen. It wasnâ€™t as if his already considerable reputation would be impacted to one way or the other by his inability to stave off a street quarrel. He was a perfectionist, however. He had always had an ideal in his mind of the perfect patrician, wise and benevolent both in business and in civil matters, a pillar of the community, nay, of civilization itself. If there werenâ€™t men like that for others to look up to, then what would become of the fragile order that trade, among other things, depended on? This bull-riding woman, while strangely attractive, had been incorrigibly rude for no good reason. The fact that the victim was a flea-bitten half-breed barbarian made no difference. Courtesy should not only be extended to oneâ€™s friends and equals. This is the moment of truth, he thought to himself. What do you really want out of life, eh?<br/><br/>He cleared his throat and addressed the woman on the bull politely but firmly. â€œYes, well, I daresay I canâ€™t blame you, and you may do as you please - but there was no need to insult the elf. Itâ€™s hard enough for folk around here to keep the Kingâ€™s peace what with enmity between man and man. If I didnâ€™t know any better, Iâ€™d say you were spoiling for a fight. As it is, though, I know a reasonable person such as yourself would never be so bold as to turn out the city guard just to make sport of an unwanted stranger.â€ Yes, thatâ€™s it, he thought. Just the right amount of authority to let everyone know youâ€™re just trying to do the right thing by your fellow men. His smile returned, confident. â€œNow, if youâ€™ll excuse us, madamâ€¦â€ He bowed to her and then nodded at the elf to follow him, turning and following his feet calmly but hastily towards the nearest inn, praying that the ox-rider wouldnâ€™t say anything that would make him have to turn around, and that the guards would go back to their rounds.