Esme was relieved that Tara had not given a measure to the soldier, his life, saving him from his wounds was more than enough and held firm Tara did in the confrontation; a strong woman she was, and Esme admired that. With wariness, Esme watched the soldier leave, depart their company, and it was then that the young sorceress realized that she had been holding her breath during the confrontation.<br/><br/>As the two women weaved their way through the brush and forest, a thought occurred to Esme, and she wrinkled up her nose in disgust at her own absent-mindedness.  “We should have taken his money. No coin either of us have, Tara, and if we enter a city,” Esme's words momentarily fell silent as she saw smoke pipe up into the sky in the distance.  “we may need coin.” The words, the thought, was finished rather flatly, and she knew that the pair of them must be cautious.<br/><br/>“A village or hamlet perhaps?” Emse said, looking questionably at Tara.  “We should be cautious.” She smiled.  “And you look a little out of place with a sword and shield, I hate to say.”