"Ride into the camp unannounced?" Tolan began, but shut his mouth quickly. These guards had their orders, and if their duties kept them from riding with him to the Captain's tent, he would not question it. But though he had business to conduct there, he had some serious misgivings about riding into the mercenary camp with a trunk full of silver and no one to explain his presence. It was conceivable that the Drow could mistake him for an intruder and attack, and all his explanations would come to nothing. Even if only one of the perimeter guards had come with him, that man's presence would have diffused the possibility.
What other choice did he have? He couldn't turn back now. "Thank you, sirs, I shall return here for my weapons," Tolan replied, nudging his horse forward. Scanning the camp intently as his stomach began to knot up, he realized that, worse that anything, this was one of those dreaded situations where Kirriam turned out to be right.
The Shadow Riders took immediate notice of him. Bracing himself, he told them simply, "I am Lord Tolan, High Councillor of Yarfell. I have business with Captain Irzen. Please let me pass."
