Arvis trembled, evidently trying to figure out a way to rescue himself.

"Stay," the forest warrior commanded. He pressed the scimitar against the younger man's throat meaningfully.

"If he's meaning to kill us," Tethys grated, "then we're better off working together. He can't get us all."

The forest warrior turned his dark green eyes on the mercenary leader. "Count up after the dust has settled."

No one moved.

Tethys swore black oaths, but he stayed where he was.

For all his mercenary experience, Druz knew that Tethys wasn't an overly courageous man. He was smart on a battlefield, and that made him a successful sellsword.

Making a decision, knowing no one else in the party knew for sure what the forest warrior was or whom he represented, Druz sheathed her sword then unbuckled the belt. She dropped it on the ground, then stepped forward with her empty hands held up before her.

The forest warrior watched her approach but said nothing.

"Clear a path to him, girl," Forras said. "You're blocking whatever chance one of us might have to get to him should it come to that."

Druz ignored the command. Part of the reason the forest warrior allowed her to move in was because she would serve as a human shield.

"Who are you?" Druz asked.

The forest warrior regarded her silently.

"What do you want?" Druz tried again.

"No more wolf hunting," the forest warrior replied, "and I want the scalps you've collected so far. Those that died will not be desecrated further."

"No," Tethys disagreed, placing a hand on the bag at his waist where the wolf scalps were stored. "We're keeping the scalps."

Druz spoke to the mercenaries without turning around or taking her eyes from the forest warrior. "You're going to have to give him the scalps."