The horn was what she'd waited for all night. This sort of sign, this kind of gathering that could happen from just a sound. Vedette wanted to abandon the soldier here in the snow, he would understand as there were more important things than babysitting someone, but when Vedette turned round to leave she came face to face with a good group of soldiers. Her bow was out, the arrow drawn as she stared at all of them hard. She was lowering it before the man spoke, but she was still somewhat angry. They were delaying her. She had a mission to complete before returning to the castle. It may take her days or even a week, but there wasn't time to delay such things. She finally put the arrow back in her quiver. Resigned to the fact that she could not follow the sound any longer. She turned toward the man who had spoken and called her a friend.
She knew what he meant of course. She was one of them, not a friend by the actual meaning of the word. Vedette returned the salutes she was given with the traditional one she was taught. Humans and their odd traditions. Vedette shouldered her bow, for the moment they were as well protected as they could be. She thought first of holding out her hand to shake, but thought better of it. He announced himself as a fellow captain and Vedette damned her luck. Couldn't she have run into a stray soldier of Faustben who were looking for their Captain instead so she could be excused?
She did her best to not look troubled by this new development.
"I thank you for the same. I am Captain Vedette Uthral." She said plainly, without flourish or naming of anyone she was related to. She wondered why they announced such things. She was looking at him for a long time. She recognized him from somewhere, probably something official.
"You must forgive me, but I wasn't aware there were any of your men out here dealing with the bandits." She might have shot one of them if she hadn't still been unaware. Now she had to look at the men she was killing closer. Another bother. Vedette was staring off into the distance again, listening, hoping to hear that horn again. She dusted some of the snow from her hair and looked back at him.
No questions. She didn't want to be asked any questions. But humans, oh how she loved them, liked to ask a lot. And out here alone, and a woman - captain or not, she would be asked something. The answer was short and simple, she was here on a mission. But the problem was who gave her the assignment and why was much longer and something she didn't feel like explaining. Perhaps she could lie and say she was simply traveling, but without any equipment? Her pack was not with her, in fact, it wasn't anywhere near here. She didn't think she'd need to appear like she was well prepared for the conditions or for traveling. Covering her steps.
Ithunvel would probably find this amusing. A test. The King had a unique sense of humor, though, he might actually have been angry that she'd ran into anyone too. She wouldn't know until later.