The first to react to the question from the elf elder was Rikilda.
"What is your business with him?" She asked, with a sneer that made clear the question was less a request for information than a warning.
"I didn't mean to offend the young red dragon lady," the elder said, bowing again. "I was merely curious. The aura he exudes is unusual."
"And what's your business with his aura?" Rikilda asked, already losing interest, her eyes moving past the elves to the tree line beyond them. She turned to Bethan. "Are you staying? I want to leave and find something worth doing."
Bethan ignored her and addressed the elder. "We didn't mean to disturb you. We were passing through. The young man is a friend of ours." She let a brief pause follow that before continuing. "I trust that's not a problem."
The two elders exchanged a glance. Then both bowed, lower this time.
