Malequs hesitates, seeming to have been braced for a confrontation rather than an offer like that.<br/><br/>"Such a thing is not possible. We would not still be here if we could not fight off petty bandits and beastmen." he says. "But the leader was....strong. Those who attacked him fell down dead on the spot, and....we were not strong enough to fight him off, even with the admonitions of the honoured ancestors."<br/><br/>The admission, especially to outsiders, seems to be a bitter one, and he slumps a little.<br/><br/>"You will surely die in turn if--"<br/><br/>"Let me show them, Father." interrupts a younger man, dressed in similar robes to Malequis, but without the striking headgear. "What have we to lose? If these slavers yet have need for food and water, they will likely have made camp by the waterfall. They may still be there!"<br/><br/>"Absurd! Even if you find them, what chance do you think these strangers will have against them? Well? Where our warriors could not prevail?"