Shael blinked in surprise as the newcomer casually brushed away her hand. He must have had some training, she thought. And then she heard it. the howling.<br/><br/>"Did you think the order to stay on the path was an optional suggestion?" the blacksmith yelled.<br/><br/>"No," she yelled back. "I thought if we were going to be followed for the next 50 miles by, uh, I don't know, a kingsguard, we should get a look at him before he had a mind to stab us all in our sleep."<br/><br/>Turning back to the newcomer, she cautiously gestured for him to follow her. "I don't know who you are or what you're doing here," she said gruffly, "But maybe you should come with us and we'll sort the rest out later. Unless you fancy being a wolf snack."<br/><br/>Shoulders hunched, she ran as quickly as she could back for the safety of the path.