The villagers had already been driven away. The three farmers in hemp clothing looked as though they had been granted a pardon, leaving at almost a jog without daring to look back.
Several knight squires went deeper into the wheat fields to finish their search. Their figures appeared and disappeared among the golden waves, with the occasional rustle of boots trampling wheat stalks.
The female dragonborn nestled behind Renato like a shy young girl, her head lowered. Her long purple hair hid half her face, leaving only one golden, slit-pupiled eye to timidly survey her surroundings.
Klauthsura's acting was undeniably good-so good that Renato had to fight with all his might to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching.
"My deepest apologies, Sir Renato."
Novak lifted his visor, making the two curled ends of his handlebar mustache quiver, and offered Renato a sincere apology.
"One bad thing after another has happened lately, with no end in sight. And with military orders admitting no exceptions, I'm afraid I behaved discourteously." The old knight sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "After all, it's very easy to hide in a wheat field. I thought an evil drow was lurking there, never imagining it was your servant..."
"I understand. I bear some responsibility as well. But Klauthsura is a lady, and out of consideration for her reputation, I didn't reveal that immediately..."
Outwardly, Renato chatted amiably with Novak in a relaxed tone, while inwardly he let out a long breath of relief.
When Klauthsura had said "Master," Renato had almost thought they were done for.
From a mind flayer's perspective, slavery existed in virtually every civilization in the Underdark. Assuming the role of a slave to appropriately hand control of the conversation to Renato, a human, seemed perfectly reasonable.
But none