"Listen, friend," says the soldier who had been circling Tuo's wagon like a wolf. He comes to stand beside his comrade, all friendly smiles with just that edge of too much teeth to them, and fishes a few copper coins out of his pocket. When he offers them out to Lorne, he looks rather like he's tipping a footman rather than engaging in a bit of bribery.

He smiles. "We're just having a bit of fun, is all. Why don't you go down to the pub and have a drink?" He shrugs, feigning harmlessness. "Just forget you even saw us, eh?"

The other two soldiers are paying close attention to Lorne now, watching his reaction carefully. And without their attention on him, Tuo's attention is not on his rescuer, but on the door to his wagon not fifteen feet away; he masks it well, but he's clearly afraid, though not of a beating.