"They understood you, damn them!" ven Klaeden snapped. "They know the Intermedia."
The elders continued to sit stonily on the boulder without acknowledging that they had heard. One of them sighed deeply and spoke a few words to the others. They nodded sadly, answered with polite monosyllables.
"No!" Letha yelped, suddenly whirling, looking at the elders.
One of them smiled and murmured a few words to her. Then the three of them slid down from the boulder. The guard who stood at port arms a few feet away stirred restlessly.
The elders walked casually toward a path leading away from the glade. The guard looked questioningly at the officers.
"Where are they going?" ven Klaeden demanded.
"Well, Letha?" Meikl muttered.
"I—I don't know—"
"You're lying, girl," the baron grunted, then to the guards: "Tell them to halt."
"Party, halt!" snapped the guard.