So, the bird shows his true colors. Not surprising at all. It was slightly disappointing, though, since he seemed like an amusing person, but that's how life went. Laeth's eyes gleamed in darkness and she smirked, "Your loss, but suit yourself. I'm not going to stick around, though." If he wanted to try and keep up with her, he was welcome to try, but even drow's eyes could see only so much. And even he managed to, he'd get more than he had bargained for. A lot more. She spun around, her fingers sliding into the pouch at her belt and grasping a small stone, a pebble even.

But Blue Eyes had reacted to her exclamation, by... Attempting to sound like a woman and lead the guards in her direction? The way he mutilated priestesses' voice trying to do that made Marwo laugh, but the action on its own angered her and her fingers let the stone go, grabbing a small orb, smaller than marble. Moments later it shattered against his cloak, but it didn't hurt, only the wind picked up suddenly for brief moment. After all, the magic stored in it, wasn't meant for him, but others. While he'd turn around and perhaps aim at her, Laeth was already gone. Her little gifts remained with drow, however, but that he wouldn't find it out until later.

Much to her surprise, the guards actually listened to the parody of female's voice that Blue Eyes had made. It cut off one of her routes, but then again, she wasn't planning to take any safe passage. No, Laeth headed right for the edge of forest, towards the town. Shadows still hid her well enough although dawn was approaching. The woman paused at times, so the guards that rushed towards town would keep ahead most of the time, besides one smaller group that were arguing among themselves, apparently not convinced by command. Those two guards were no match for her and soon, they were laying on the forest floor, at first withering in pain until unconsciousness took them.

Then she changed tactics, speeding up and by guards, only stopping at the last trees. There were only one man at the horses, apparently the other had went back in the forest, most likely heading south, to help 'priestess'. Marwo didn't exit forest's cover immediately, setting her eyes on the lonely guard and minute later, he swayed and fell. Pushing her speed to maximum, she ran for the horses. Few slashes at the ropes and bunch of them were free from ties. She tried approaching one of the most beautiful steeds, but that nearly kicked her in unexpected fury and the woman climbed on the back of another that happened to be nearest. By now, a patrolling guard had noticed something and was running this way, so she moved onto next part - spooking the horses.

It was really too easy, the sense of their blood nearly literally boiling in their bloods, scared and enraged the animals and moments later, they began running or trashing, trying to get rid of manacles. Although her horse was not affected, the anxiety of others wore off to him especially since he had unfamiliar rider and with nervous neigh, he fled. "I promise I won't give it back!" she called over her shoulder to the guards that were now trying to calm their mounts to follow her, but animals didn't let them anywhere near.

Swiftly, she rode towards the next forest massive. No one would find her there - it was thick, filled with good deal of danger and reached far into the mainland and if she kept to the edge, she could easily visit some cities and then return into safety woods provided. Of course, what she called safety could be death for others, but Marwo didn't take refuge there for the first time. To top it all off, priestesses' direct control area ended and she'd be more limited, too. It was as perfect as this wretched world could offer. Only one regret remained - that she didn't get to see how Blue Eyes got caught and most likely killed. If he was spared, then he better hope they never meet again after that lame, but low back-stab with fake voice. It really was too bad she hadn't had more time to leave him with stronger gift...

---

"Guards, guards! I've found them!" rung through the forest, startling Lacrimae and the two guards. The voice sounded squeaky and slightly broke at the end, but was slightly similar to that of female's. Priestess frowned. Was someone.... trying to imitate her? No one would fall for this, however. It was poorly executed, after all. Or at least she hoped so. Quickly, she tried to figure the reason behind such a ploy. It couldn't be the thief calling, her voice would actually be that of female so it could only be her partner... Was he luring the guards away from crimson-haired woman? Most likely.

Moments later, the fake voice called out again: "Guards, guards! Head south! She's heading south. After her, quick!" After quick visualization, that left only one place that the thief could run towards. Right to safety, too! Elf grit her teeth and began pushing onward in that direction, guards following her closely. "Stupid, incompetent fools... They better pray to Sun Herself to forgive them for their failure if I lose the criminals because of them because I might not be as merciful!" she thought.

Moving through the forest with dawn approaching became easier, at least for her. Woman ducked and moved directions right in time to not run into any branches or trees nearly intuitively, having spent a good deal of time in woods and getting used to the twisted labyrinth, but the men didn't have as easy time, so soon she was ahead of them by good deal. Good thing, too, since she made a lot less noise than them and could slow down to sneaking when the possible destination of robber and her accomplice came close.

And good thing, too, or else she wouldn't have caught something moving and settling down in a tree nearby the bridge. It could be an animal or wind, of course, as the foliage barely moved, but the air was still this morning. No, Mae wasn't going to pass up a chance like this. If she caught something else than expected, she could let it go. Carefully, woman moved even closer, eyes fixed on that tree.

By now, if not earlier, Saith would start to feel the effect of one of Marwolaeth's gifts - his blood seemed to become thicker, moving through his veins slower and strength began to leave him. It got harder to move and suddenly, he had become very aware of the fact world was spinning. So, when his vision was suddenly filled with light, so much of it that it could blind, and he felt pulled, dragged out of the tree, there wasn't much he could do. In fact, sick or not, was there anything he could do at all against this cage of light with no breaks that felt like a sun heated metal?

This mobile box that had ensnared him dropped on ground in front of Mae and her eyes widened. The thing in it didn't look like the thief... or the drow, more like a mix of both, disfigured and wrong. She rose her hand and glow enveloped the form for brief moment. When it cleared out, she saw dark skinned male and internally, let out a frustrating groan. Someone had used illusion magic on him to make him look like the thief, not too strong, so the power of cage had already dispelled part of it and purifying did the rest.

At this moment, the guards finally arrived on scene. "Milady!" one of them gasped out, short of breath. "Go! Search the nearby area!" she ordered them. The one they needed could be nearby, but in truth, Mae doubted it. Even she had fallen for the lure-away trick so masterfully set up by the duo. Most likely, he was supposed to disguise as the woman and get anyone who wasn't heading in the directions set by fake voice away from the thief who could be anywhere now.

Her attention turned to the drow as she came closer to the cage. If he'd try to hit the walls, they would be nearly scorching hot, but the heat that radiated off of it didn't seem to bother her. "Where is the woman? Were you helping her escape now, luring others away? I know you aided her, at the inn. It is a punishable crime, to help a thief, even if you are not one yourself." Her voice was calm, there was no rush anymore - if the other criminal had slipped through her fingers, then she was already far ahead -, but also somehow dominating. "If you lie to me, it will only worsen your sentence and I will know if you do."

Mae wasn't making it up, lying to High Priestess was indeed a crime as well and would not look good in a court. In truth, she had rights to execute him without any additional trial with two witnesses if she found him guilty of stealing from temple's vaults, or helping the one who did. But she wasn't bloodthirsty and he could turn out to be helpful.

__________________