He gave her a small smile that had a vicious edge to it. "Then we politely decline, and point out that we are not interested in secrets and they could buy our silence to the other nations. And if they refuse, then we blast our way out. Besides, do you REALLY see me as being a country bumpkin and scraping to some slobbering, inbred noble's spawn? Believe me, this will be less painful all around, and if they want to escort us in, we can easily slip away and take new identities. Magic is so helpful that way, I am told."