When Niko told Russell that it would be better if she went into the town on her own the Marine nodded, brown hair ruffled in the morning breeze.<em>"All right, then. I trust your judgement,"</em>he told the elf girl gently. Forcing a smile on his face he patted her reassuringly on the shoulder before watching her depart. He'd learned the hard way in Iraq that when a native guide gave advice it was best to listen rather than just bulldoze through. And her uncle was the mayor of the town they had just left, so it wasn't like there was a risk of her coming to harm. Still, the idea of leaving Niko unescorted made Russell uneasy, and he watched her all the way to the gates of the town.<br/><br/>* * * * * * * * *<br/><br/>Russell had been getting Lev's equipment stowed in the Humvee in which he and Niko were travelling when Delaney came running up to him. "The elf girl's coming back, Corporal Davis," he reported. "And she's running like her ass is on fire."<br/><br/>"Decorum, Delaney - give it a try," Russell told the Army soldier reprovingly, but his attention had turned towards the town and the petite figure running from it. His lips tightened in frustration.<em>Dammit, I should have gone with her!</em>Turning back to the soldiers near him he began snapping commands. "Udianak, grab your rifle," he told Lev harshly. "Keep your scope on the town. If there's anyone chasing after Niko then I want to know right now. Do<em>not</em>shoot, but let me know. Delaney, get the lieutenant here right now." With those words Russell turned back to the rapidly-approaching elf and moved towards her, M-249 hanging from his shoulder with his hand near the pistol grip.<em>"What happened, Niko? Are you all right?"</em>the lean young Marine asked urgently.<br/><br/>When Niko told her story Russell blinked in shock.<em>Saying we used vehicles and weapons to kill the orcs was harder for the locals to believe than that we had a wizard? What the hell? And even now she still looks scared.</em>Reaching out, Russell gripped Niko's slender shoulders in his hands and gave her a reassuring shake. The way that the elfmaid clung to his muscular body was arousing, but right now he had to focus on other matters.<em>"It's all right,"</em>he told her reassuringly.<em>"We were just about to leave anyway. You're safe with us."</em>Looking back into the small campsite the recon group had set up he suddenly called out, "Lieutenant! Niko says we need to move out pronto if we're gonna avoid trouble with the locals!"<br/><br/>