Deaton was prepared to calm the woman down. If it wasn’t bad enough that she’d been abducted from her home by a magical tree stump it also seemed that he’d caught her off-guard with his presence. His smile took on a comforting quality. Anything he could do that would ease up the situation he would do.
“The tree?” He raised his eyebrows slightly. Not many people picked up immediately on the Nemeton’s power. Deaton wondered if this woman was familiar with magic. “It’s called the Nemeton. It’s charged with magic.” That was the easiest way to phrase it even if it wasn’t the most believable. If Deaton’s hunch was correct, though, and this woman was familiar with magic then she might have believed him.
“We should really get you back to an apartment. A safe place for you to stay until you’re sent back to your home.” He nodded, hoping she’d comply. That was the goal, wasn’t it? To get the newcomers to a safe place and explain things from there.
Deaton took a step closer to the woman, not too far or too fast because that might have frightened her. He was still a stranger, albeit a friendly and helpful one, and most people didn’t like strangers getting too close to them.
“The apartments are this way.” He nodded with his head in the direction of town.