ToT: bandit camp

scene from www.fanfiction.net/s/9374269/1…

~where Sajantha is interrupted in the midst of making a deal with the Red Wizard working with the bandits who hold her friends captive.
or
~where Edwin is interrupted in the midst of coercing the naive bounty into his schemes (since this excerpt is from his POV ).

_{I went to great, convoluted lengths to establish a way for my goody-goody party to believably accept (albeit with much begrudgment) a Red Wizard who may or may not be intending to kill one of them. (I dunno if any of you were waiting to start reading til he joined the party, but ALMOST THERE! )}

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"What's going on?" Tazok's pet mage had slithered in once more, looking from the cooling brazier up to the charred ceiling. "Some of the men saw a fire. Couldn't handle your little prisoners?"

The sorceress stepped forward, hands on hips. "Everything's under control."

As if the two wished to compete for being the greater annoyance! Edwin granted her a disparaging look before sneering at the man, "Indeed, mageling: your continued interference is not appreciated."

The mage did not move, though his eyes roamed between them. "No one else wanted to deal with you. They all hoped you'd been burned alive."

And, lacking the wherewithal to see their desires through themselves, they sent this fool in substitute. "I do hope you've a better reason to test my patience, or we may very well find someone burned alive, after all."