<div class="floatleft">(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/54/21/19/542119af27b86b5be1e565be2cf2a8ad.jpg)<div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><strong>Asher Bray</strong></span></div></div><strong>Outskirts of Ashburne - Heading home to Amberthorne</strong><br/><br/>For those who didn’t know the land to the extent that House Ellery did, it would be a challenge to navigate effectively through the forest. There were so many variables working against a person, hidden dangers taking the form of poisonous plants and insects, pools of thick mud capable of pulling a man to his death, and the occasional large predator searching for an adequate meal. Not to mention the uneven terrain and twisted, gnarled trees that tangled together due to their closeness. One would argue that it was not the most welcoming of places. It was admirable that the woman had made it so far; it made Asher all the more curious.<br/><br/>Graham and Grimsby were the first to the scene, stopping right in front of her to accost the situation. Once they saw that the two men were armed, with Graham being the reigning Lord of the land, the pursuers stopped a fair distance away so they would not be perceived as a threat to anyone else. Asher and Roland brought up the rear, melting out of the forest like two forbidding fae creatures ready to protect their territory. The two kept an adequate amount of space between them and the men — all five of them. They had no detectable livery from Asher’s angle, and he liked to think he knew all the houses in their Duchy, as well as the others in the kingdom. It was his responsibility to know in case something like this happened. Mercenaries, then. They had no loyalties other than to the one with the fattest purse, so it would not be to anyone’s surprise to learn that Asher loved to despise those types of men above many others.<br/><br/>He listened to the exchange in silence, watching Graham’s features closely as the woman stated her convincing case. It was not his place to decide if she was guilty or not, nor was it his place to let the Wicked Sisters taste first blood. He was helpless to do anything until Graham made a decision.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, someone’s hand would be forced before his Lord was able to render a verdict, as one of the hounds — who had not stopped snarling and fighting against the rope lead — was able to wrench out of his master’s grip and head straight for the intended prey. Asher felt helpless to stop the catastrophe waiting to happen, and the tension was compressed into a few stuttering heartbeats as actions became swift. He had taken two long strides out of instinct, when the beast was thrown off his trajectory by an arrow which was suddenly buried deep in its neck. The animal barely had time to whimper its last breath before it perished… not five feet from the woman.<br/><br/>Grimsby relaxed his arm and set his bow across his lap, tossing an apologetic look toward Graham, but didn’t offer any type of condolence toward the man who went to gather up the dog.<br/><br/>Asher stopped him by grabbing the scruff of his cloak, and hauled him back, then pressed the tip of his blade under the man’s jaw for good measure. He was taller than the man, and his anger fed his strength, which was used to subdue the 'leader' of the pack of men, quite easily.<br/><br/>“I believe my Lord has asked you a question,” he all but growled, and when the man tried to struggle in his rage, he found it necessary to add a bit more pressure to the fluttering artery. “Might I remind you that all he has to do is give the word, and your life is forfeit. You’ve wasted our time and you’ve trespassed. Now, either explain to him,” Asher twisted the man, none too gently, so he would be forced to look at Graham, “or you can explain to whatever heathen Gods you worship.”<br/><br/>Roland put a sword against the spine of a man who would have gone to the other's rescue, and kicked his feet out from under him. Grimsby notched another arrow, daring any of the remaining men to reach for their weapons or let their control on the dogs slip.