Aelus kept his crossbow lowered but ready, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He was coiled like a viper, fangs bared and ready to lash out with his lethal bite. Peschek and his men wrote off Aelus as a noncombatant, giving him the time he needed to line up the perfect shot. He scanned Peschek's armor, looking for the perfect point to pin his bolt. The neck was vulnerable but didn't guarantee an instant kill, the head would leave the slaver dead as a day old corpse, but it moved too much, even in conversation the target swayed and swiveled. A shot to the side of the knee would incapacitate him, but leave him alive and his men's morale intact. In the end Aelus decided the neck was the best, even if it didn't kill Peschek, the gruesome scene would likely shatter his remaining men. His hand tightened around the trigger, the time was drawing closer. Peschek had the magician in his grip, his men were distracted by the eastern soldiers. Aelus leveled the crossbow, preparing to take the shot, but found his aid unnecessary. Peschek was strangled by his own whip, animated by the sorcerer.<br/><br/>He grinned, that was a creative way to kill, he appreciated creativity. Aelus approached the formation, shrugging off the soldiers' insults like arrows from a shield. He approached Baichu, flashing a disarming smile and bowing.<br/><br/>"Lady Khan, your nobility and beauty exceed the rumors."<br/><br/>Aelus' smile turned sinister.<br/><br/>"They are only outstripped by your arrogance and childlike ignorance. Have you no mind for tactical thought? The art of deception in warfare? You're supposed to be a leader among your people, I would expect such naivete from a man like Peschek, even your footsoldiers, but Khanate nobility? I would have never believed you to fall for such a simple scheme. I spent every day in my captivity actively sabotaging Peschek and his men, even attempting to assassinate him while he slept. The simple fact is that Peschek and his guards would have cut you down from a distance, you had no cover, no shields and no way to close the gap. The most effective strategy would have been the assassination of their leader. You got lucky, you had the sorcerer to save you. I don't rely on so fickle a master as fortune."<br/><br/>Turning away from Baichu, he faced the witch Katarina. His false smile faded.<br/><br/>"You jump to conclusions as quickly as your new found servants. Sorcerer or not, you have a lot to learn. I owe no loyalty to someone so young and rash. I played my part, and perhaps our paths will cross again. Hopefully when you've grown to see the advantage of subterfuge. Kill me if you must, or if you can. After such a display I'd be surprised if you can muster another lethal spell."<br/><br/>He glanced at Baichu and the Khanate soldiers.<br/><br/>"Or have your.... associates cut me down. The choice is yours."<br/><br/>Aelus turned away, shaking his head at the harlot that gave him away to the guards.<br/><br/>"Red Ram would be more fitting."<br/><br/>He spoke while walking into the plains, half to himself, while heading to the next town on his own route.<br/><br/>"Scorpions are arachnids."