“I’m sorry, milady, but those things have been banned from the city,” said one guard.

Aurelia scoffed at the two guards as if they were children.

“I don’t know how, since I, and they, have never been here before.”

“Only human blood is allowed entrance,” said the other. “I suggest you leave them outside during your stay.”

“I most certainly will not,” Aurelia huffed. “You don’t expect a frail thing such as myself to carry these bags on my own, do you?”

“I’m sure you could hire…”

She interrupted him by snapping her fingers in front of his nose.

“I have already hired my servants. And if I recall, you have banned elves, not orcs.”

“Milady, we may turn away any we wish. I am telling you, those things behind you are not coming inside, servants or otherwise.”

Qurrah put a hand on Harruq’s arm, which was shaking with slowly building rage.

“Calm, brother,” he whispered. “Save your anger for when it may do good.”

Aurelia untied a coin purse from her sash, hoping neither of the gate guards heard Qurrah’s words.

“Now then,” she said, her mood brightening, “you say I can hire new servants? Well, how about I hire you two?”

The guards exchanged glances, and did so a second time with much wider eyes when the disguised elf opened the purse to reveal a pile of shiny gold coins.

“I’d say three a piece is fair, don’t you?” she asked.

“More than fair,” the first guard said.

“Oh yes,” said the second.

“Good,” she said, dropping the thick coins into each outstretched hand. She tied the purse back to her sash. A flick of her finger, and Harruq picked up the bags.