And so, Selas played the waiting game. It wasn't like she hadn't done this before, of course. She just hated having to recharge; although she still had plenty of magical whatever left, Selas didn't quite have enough to thaw the ice on a whole road at the moment. In a few minutes, though, that would all change. In fact, why not change the situation now?
I've had enough of waiting. Quick, teleport here, she thought to her brother.
On it, Shardas replied, materializing next to Selas.
"So, do we just show up with pointy lethal weapons and say that if they don't give us the spirit elf, somebody dies?" Shardas asked in a whisper, interested by this idea Selas was having. Of course, Selas turned out to have a different plan.
"We have to give them incentive from both ends," she said, looking at the group on the ice.
"Like, if we offer them money for something, they're more likely to give us Zeia. And if they don't, we thaw the road," Selas finished with a smile. Of course, Shardas had already taken off towards the party of three.
"Hello, everyone," he said casually.
"This is going to sound strange, seeing as I froze this road just to talk to you. But I am in dire need of a young girl with blonde hair. It's for a play." Selas, watching from a distance, couldn't help but admire her brother's acting skills. He didn't deny covering the road with ice - even though she did that! - and he seemed reasonable enough.
"We can pay you all very well," Shardas continued, clearly on a roll.
"Think about it - she gets to see the world!"
Selas stepped forward.
"That's right," she chimed in. Suddenly, she unsheathed her knife and pointed it at the neck of the girl's male guard, with a firm hold on his shirt.
"And if you refuse," Selas continued, clearly meaning business,
"my brother and I will slit this man's throat, and let the rest of you fall through thin ice. How does that sound?"