Another stiff nod, good - respectable. More importantly, easy to how to phrase as respectable. Because she's right, it is a lot of questions that she has every right to worry about. Though Lakshmi's intentions are hardly awful, Beth had already proven suspicious.

They get to the tent, and she holds up her hand briefly to halt Beth and her words and questions beside her. Means she'll answer, at least in a second.

She turns to the guard at the front of the tent, and her shoulders roll, her gaze is direct and up at the ( always, here ) taller man. "I wish an audience, immediately, with the Countess." It brooks no argument, an art to looking down at those taller than her - but she does it well.

See it in the guard's face, only nobles talk like that and she pushes hard on it. Waiting for him to decide that it's above his level, stubborn as they all were before he nods and disappears into the tent. She watches him go before she turns back, lowering her head that little bit so she can talk quick and quiet.

"I need you to listen to me, I can tell you've never... dealt with these sort of systems before. But this is a matter of how to keep you alive, do you understand? It will seem a game, but it's the kind that men have lost their heads over."