 Retaining the cover of invisibility Mordred summoned a steady funnel of air to lift himself up off the ground and into the branches of the oak tree. They were not far from one of the tributaries; he could hear it trickling a little way to his left. What he could here however was far less interesting than what he could see. From his vantage point Mordred could see each of the bandits, and he could see Gaiane on the floor at the feet of the largest Outlaw. He took the opportunity to study each of the figures below him; working out what he could from how they stood, what they wore and what weapons they carried about their particular talents. He quickly identified the leader, and had her pegged as both observant and clever. She was the one to keep an eye on.
Spider appeared and, as predicted, locked eyes with the leader and tipped her off. Mordred sighed; it was so disappointing when they proved him right. Slowing his descent with another air current, he dropped off his branch, lowered his invisibility, and landed elegantly on the ground below, first one foot, and then the other.
“Understatement” he smiled at them, looking around at their stunned faces with concealed satisfaction. Mordred watched the outlaws exchange glances. He could see them trying to figure out if they could take out one pampered Lord between them, or whether they should cut their losses and run. He was a generous man, he’d make it easier for them and remove and option. Mordred clapped his hands together once and a circle of fire snaked its way around the clearing, fencing them in.
“All I want is the girl,” Mordred explained in a reasonable voice, “you give her to me, we walk out of here and we forget all about this little...accident.” No one spoke, no one even move, they just stared at him. He sighed. They really were dull creatures. Mordred tried again.
“I am Lord Mordred, brother of King Arthur, son of the Sun God, Mallos and I demand you hand over the girl. Does that make it easier for you?” One of them was going to attack him soon, he could feel it in the air. The tension in the clearing was growing by the minute and it would have to give eventually. Gaiane’s presence was making his magic crackle, some of his powers magnifying more and more in strength the longer he stood there. They didn’t know what a prize they had taken.
Mordred knew what was going through their minds. He had spent enough time around people like them, unseen or in disguise. His privilege offended them as much as their smell and idiocy offended him. They were bitter and they were greedy. They wanted what they could not have, and they didn’t have the wit to work out how to get it for themselves. If Mordred had been inclined to pity then he might have pitied them. They were no better than cows.
“Let’s get this over with,” he pressed, smiling again, “your move.”
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