Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 171: To Break an Ambush...

Zuzia cautiously watches the soldiers holding Wulfsten, Halkadon, and Verbert hostage against her, each with two separate daggers pressed to their throats. She is powerful, but she can't move quickly enough to rescue all three of them before the soldiers holding them captive can move.

And, facing her from behind is an officer that matches what she would envision as a mid-ranking fantasy noble in military armor. He has the posture and good looks of a long line of good breeding and stern upbringing. She wonders if she could capture him alone and strong-arm the others into cooperating, but given the strategy seems to have been employed explicitly against her, they're likely prepared for that possibility.

"We need to have a brief discussion, Otherworlder Summon," states the man in the Japanese-that-isn't-Japanese of this world, and after a brief pondering, Zuzia replies, "You have me at a disadvantage, Sir...?"

She's fishing for his name, but she isn't expecting what he says next.

"So, your people are capable of human speech, are you, Zuzia?"

She is nearly fooled, twitching when her heart begins to race. Her instincts scream that she should be terrified and angry, but she realizes there's one more person not in her immediate field of view; the merchant they were travelling with. Since they know 'Zuzia' and not 'Zuzanna', he didn't magically discern her name. He simply questioned the merchant right after launching the ambush.

"That was the problem," retorts the Polish woman dryly. "If your guys spoke human speech when I was kidnapped to another world, I probably wouldn't have panicked." She knows she's being extremely rude. There are lots of non-humans capable of speech on this world, and she speaks Polish and a fair amount of English, with phrases of other languages she's picked up from her travels. But, this guy started it, and she's trying to bide her time for an opening to save her travelling companions and escape.

Her retort upsets some of the soldiers, but the commandant holds his hand up, silencing the complaints with a definitive loyalty to his authority.

"Perhaps... I was mistaken..." counters the officer with an eye roll, which prompts his solders to snicker. Wulfsten tries to urge Zuzia to do something, but his mouth is gagged, so it only comes out as an urgent series of hums.

"Idioci..." grumbles Zuzia sourly, still studying her enemies for any weak points. "Ale dupki..." She has an even greater appreciation for her mother tongue of Polish at times like this, since it means she can voice her thoughts out loud without her enemies understanding. Though, if she was able to learn their language through magic, it's probable they can learn Polish as well. She'll need to be mindful and keep her grumblings in private. Or, at most, in conversation with Amalaskae.

She keeps mentioning restrictions... I wonder if she can help me here.

Amalaskae clenches her fists, doing her best to stay calm. "I didn't catch your name yet. I don't mind calling you Idioto z Dupkowa, but..."

The man finally introduces himself, speaking in a tone that is condescending and a bit perturbed. "I am Burgrave Nesparu pel Contarro, lord of Contarro and Commander of the Imperial Grand Army's Fourth Battalion. And, I have come for you, Zuzia of the Otherworld."

"Ah, right, my turn." Zuzia makes the most sarcastic curtsy she can manage, which is further emphasized by the fact that she's wearing denim hiking shorts, hiking boots with crew socks peeking out, and a sweat-stained pink tank top. "I am Zuzia z Polski...a. Zuzia z Polskia, Ronin of the Highlands and Grand Odkrywca of the Plains of Fire." She says this proudly with her hands on her hips, blending a mix of proper and improper Polish into her illustrious-sounding gibberish titles to mock him.