The first thing one noticed about situation was the smell. Stenches of unwashed bodies, animals, excrement, urine, smoke, meat, and several stenches that Aedan did not care to name. Nonetheless, he was at least fortunate enough to be heading for a camp towards the edge of the forest he normally dwelt in. A normal settlement smelled worse, though it provided more coin, trade, and entertainment. He was curious about what the other men were planning. He had heard that some big-shot was planning on a raid on a caravan. A caravan belong to Women, carrying Women's goods, and guarded by Women warriors. Aedan smiled slightly in anticipation. He had fought women before and they were intriguing creatures, rather like Men, but different: less hair, cleaner, spell-bindingly beautiful, and, most importantly, incredible and plentiful treasures. The risk was high, but the prize... He could only begin to imagine what his share of the loot was, assuming no one tried to cheat him.
He glanced around the encampment, somewhat approvingly. There were plenty of tents made from animal furs and skins, a huge firepit in the middle of the encampment, the horses coral led in a corner away both from the forest and the fire, but with plenty of grass and water troughs, and a large amount of men. Good. They would need numbers if they wanted to get the women's goods The camp tents were huddled together and stakes of wood surrounded the encampment with guards at the only entrance, making it defensible. It was over to these men that Aedan swaggered over to, an easy grin on his face.
"Who are you supposed to be?" one asked, more burly and therefore dumber looking than the other. Aedan grinned slightly.
"I'm a women disguised of a man through sorcery and potions. I'm here to devour your children, poison your crops, and enslave you with my witchcraft," Aedan said sarcastically, causing both to grip their swords. Alright, either they weren't too bright or they had no sense of humor.
"What do you think, you pignuts? I was invited here by your boss. Callous or something. Got to get my share of the plunder, aye?" he told them with a shrug. The thinner one sneered.
"Who are you calling a pignut? Besides, how do we know you're not really a woman?" he asked mockingly.
"Why, my dear friend. If I were a woman, I'd be charmed by your good looks," he told him, patting him on the shoulder before slipping between them faster than they could react, "Now, if you excuse me, I have some herbs to sell, dice games to win, and a tent mate to find."
He never bothered with tents himself, being able to find caves quite easily and possessing a small treehouse towards the middle of the forest, but it was good to plan for contingencies, even if he had to part with a little gold or a small piece of the goods he was to pillage.