Kayla inched slowly forward, staying to the covering shadows in the area before the hard packed dirt of the alley opened up. This wasn't difficult in the deepening gloom as the whole area was simply a wash of shadows thrown by two torches high on the buildings either side. her eyes widened even as her heart sank as she glimpsed the target of this mob between thronging bodies. A foreign elf as her magic had warned, very definitely female, and very definitely throwing blows around an already maddened swarm. Kayla's mind swam a moment, wondering how in the Sightless One's name she had made her way all the way here?? She pondered what to do, no question that she should stop this, but how best to go about it? She started forward, tattoos tingling once more as some kind of defensive magic was worked before her. Water Clan then maybe? And then a shimmer of a shield throwing bodies away from the girl. And for the second time Kayla's jaw went slack. A Light Elf? Thought lost? Wasn't it just her luck that the piece of evidence she had been so desperate for was dropped into her lap, and it was about to be destroyed by her own people! Even without whatever information she may have, this would be a diplomatic nightmare. From the looks of the pretty face she was quite close to exhaustion... there... a flicker of the shield, obviously drawing away the last of the girl's strength. Well it was now or never then...<br/><br/>As the faint glow of the shield finally vanished and a triumphant howl emerged from the mob, Kayla strode into the dim circle of torchlight. She quickly fed power into Maelstrom, watching satisfied as the arms length of curved bluesteel suddenly developed menacing blue threads emanating from its single razor sharp edge. Several of the men turned toward her at the strange glow, and the attention of rest was soon grabbed as she sent a bolt into one of the torches in a shower of sparks, deepening the shadows. Of the dozen or so rough looking figures, three or four recognized her instantly and disappeared toward the exit at the far end of the alley. She sighed to herself inwardly. Only a third? She had hoped for at least half to melt away. At least their bowman had gone. Oh well... She spoke clearly, her words ringing into the still evening without needing to shout, "This is council business! This woman is under my protection as council adviser, you men would be well advised to leave now!". Grumbles from the crowd in front, and another handful leaving at the back with the rest looking doubtful. The biggest elf remaining strode forward, his face almost entirely purple with the slightly overenthusiastic application of war paint, or possibly some kind of excessive tattoo, it was difficult to tell in this light. The others clustered behind, watching the outcome. "We don't answer to you, council bitch" He spat "This Other is ours, to kill or take as we will. It is our right! She is in our territory, in our city, in our alley. This is our place!". Wouldn't Joff be interested to know that...? "You leave, or maybe we will share you too before sending you back to your council!". "It seems we have a dispute..." Kayla dropped into a crouch and moved forward to engage.<br/><br/>The male elf grinned, his eyes on her body briefly and then to her glowing sword. That's it big boy, watch the pretty lights... Closing almost within engaging range, Kayla closed her eyes. In that instant she allowed power to surge through her sword, the blue flaring to bright white she saw against the inside of her eyelids. She dropped the magical feed altogether and opened her eyes to find the men staggering and almost blind in the dimness which remained. Her first blow came around in a wide arc which the male elf barely managed to get his sword up to despite her deliberate slowness. With his weapon engaged high and her opponent still blinking blotches from his vision, it was almost too easy to spin inside his guard, her free hand whipping the curved dagger from her belt and whipping it across his body in a precise blur. He howled as the steel sliced cleanly through muscle and tendon inside his sword arm, sword clanging to dully to the dirt, and stumbled as his belt dropped around his ankles. Her last slice across his cheek poured blood, but it was more a blow to his pride than any danger to him. Kayla stepped back, watching him on the ground. "You are fortunate your ankles are tangled in your belt and not your guts. Now... leave". His pain narrowed eyes glanced at his sword, which she deliberately planted one foot on. One of his friends helped pick him up with muffled yelps and curses, and the sorry crowd made their way beyond what remained of the torchlight.<br/><br/>Kayla remained watchful until she heard them well away from her. Finally relaxing she turned to the girl she had saved. Now what have I gotten myself into here? She wondered. She picked up the unconscious form in her arms, swore and put her down. Relieved of several bundles of arrows, and the weightier of the weapons, the much lighter elf was again lifted and carried away into the darkness.<br/><br/>Two hours later found the two of them in a small room several streets away. It was the home of a friend of hers, a healer she had been to several times. She needed a place to clean up the stranger, and a place to think. Simeon's home/sickroom offered both. Kayla turned away from the moon now risen high above the rooftops, and back to her charge lying on a bench. Cleaned up the girl was even prettier than she had supposed in that first hurried assessment. Her stained and bloodied clothing was lying in a pile against the wall, along with her remaining weapons and her unopened pack. Her bare shoulder was bandaged and packed with a poultice of Simeon's own devising. The other wounds were mostly superficial once the blood and dirt were wiped away by the healer. At some point the unconscious state of the girl had turned simply to sleep, and though troubled, it was clear that this was the best remedy for the exhausted state she was in. Kayla used a damp strip of cloth to wipe away a last smudge of soot from the smooth flesh of her collarbone, wondering for the tenth time what story had brought her to her current circumstance. What would she reveal when she awoke?<br/><br/>Simeon entered, finding Kayla examining the naked upper body of the sleeping elf. "Really Kayla, could you not at least take the girl to your home before molesting her?" Despite herself she blushed even as she gave an irritated sigh. "Thankyou Simeon, I'll bear your advice in mind. Though we are not all base creatures like yourself. I was in fact searching for a heart rune. Some other tribes carry them as we do and it could be useful to know more about her". Kayla gently pulled the cover back across the breasts of the girl, feeling suddenly warm and a little confused regardless of her words. Simeon nodded with a raise of one eyebrow "Whatever you say, but I myself find it expedient simply to ask the patient..." He inclined his head toward the elf, and Kayla turned to find the eyes beginning to flicker awake...