Girls' Talk

'Errm…hi…errm…I didn't expect to see you so soon…errm…it's good to see you all,' their old colleague stutters.

A young female voice can be heard from within the room:

'Who is it, honey? Come back to bed'

'Just a minute, poppsykins. I'll be with you in a second' replies Corrow, somewhat embarrassed.

The others are starting to smile now, pleased to see that Corrow is all right. Corrow doesn't open the door any more than a crack, but they can see his naked, scrawny, pigeon-chest through the gap. Although they cannot see much of the contents of the room, they can see an empty bottle of Zleen wine and two glasses, along with a couple of dirty plates.

'So…errrm…so, you're all right then?' continues Corrow. 'No one is hurt, I hope …erm… I've been really worrying about you all a lot.'

'Corrow baby, come back here' the female voice says, with some impatience now. 'Show me that trick again where you make it really big. You big, powerful wizard, you!'

'Just...just…I won't be long…Errm …I mean…I'll be coming…I mean…errm…I'll be back with you in a second, sugarlips' stumbles Corrow, whose face has now gone the color of a beetroot.

The others are all starting to giggle now.

'P'raps we should give you a few minutes to finish of what you're doin'' says Boris, trying to stop himself from laughing out loud.

'Th-that, would be most appreciated, Boris' replies Corrow. 'I do have a little…errm…unfinished business to attend to.'

With that, Corrow closes the door with a bang and Boris leads the others back to the lounge.

'So, you can see that Corrow's stay with us 'as been far from a hardship, I 'ope' says Boris, laughing heartily.

They drink the spirits offered to them and plates of food get brought out by the serving girls. After about twenty minutes, Corrow emerges. Accompanying him is a beautiful young girl in her late teens, with long black hair. Corrow is red faced and sweating, his hair all tussled.

'Errm, I'd like you all to meet Sonya' he says, presenting the girl to them. 'She's been …errm…helping me to deal with the grief and worry that I've…errm…been suffering from, not knowing what's been happening to you all.'

Sonya comes round them all, shaking them all by the hand while smiling:

'It's so nice to meet you all, Corrow's always talking about his bodyguards. I feel like I know you already.'

Corrow smiles weakly, his face going redder again by the second.

'Oh, yes, that reminds me' says Corrow, and he disappears from the room for a second. He comes back carrying a sword and a small bag.

He gives the sword to Winnacer. The knight is delighted to see that it is 'Old Bohavia.'

'Errm…I borrowed this. I didn't want the Nyemetz to get it. Errm…I hope you don't mind.'

He then gives the small bag to Heimlin. The gnome opens it to find that it contains about 100 gold pieces and a couple of gems. Heimlin holds the gems up to the light.

'The two of them together are worth about 600 gold pieces. It's not a lot, but at least we're solvent again. Thanks, Corrow.'

Sonya, having finished her round of introductions, sits on Corrow's lap and starts playing with his hair.

'I took as much as I dared from the Nyemetz' adds Corrow. 'I couldn't take any more, as I thought that they might be testing me, replies the illusionist. 'So, what have you been getting up to while I've been held hostage?'

Upon taking ‘Old Bohavia’ from Corrow, Winnacer looks at the sword, mouth agape with astonishment. As the ancient blade returns to his hands, a smile breaks out over his face. Winnacer is obviously overjoyed, and even starts speaking to the sword as his hands and eyes move from the blade to the hilt.

"Old Bohavia, I had feared you lost. It seems that She who dictates Justice has ordained that we keep our oath together. My oath is my bond..."

Winnacer snaps out of his revere, noticing the others look at him curiously as he spoke aloud to his sword. He quickly turns to Corrow:

"My friend, I cannot express the depth of my gratitude to you. Not only have you returned the sword of my oath, you have preserved my honor. In my family, it is a great dishonor to have your weapon sullied by your enemy. I thought the good blade was hanging from the hip of some orcish sargeant, it's magnificence being perverted. Your actions have preserved my honor and probably kept me from a fool's errand to recover my lost blade. My debt to you is great, ask of me what you want and I shall try to bring it into being. Thank you."

Corrow is, once more, embarrassed at receiving Winnacer’s heartfelt thanks:

‘Please, don’t mention it. Were it not for your actions in the past, then I would have most surely have perished on numerous occasions. Please, just consider it as returning favors that were already owed to you.’

Faewen'il arches an eyebrow at being called a bodyguard and is directing her green gaze towards Corrow in a not so friendly fashion. She digs into her bag and produces a leather-bound tome that the others recognize as being Corrow’s spellbook. Corrow’s eyes light up in the same fashion that Winnacer’s did upon seeing ‘Old Bohavia’.

But then Faewen’il speaks:

"Well now...iffin ye be as mighty as ye say ta tha lass, then I suppose ye won't be wantin this back then..." Faewen'il says in a somewhat silky tone, as she fingered the cover of the tome.

"After all... us guards should be learnin ta read our letters an such..."

Corrow smiles weakly again, his face turning an even more peculiar hue of purple and red:

‘Errm…well…errm. Sonya, I wonder whether you could get me something to drink, I feel a little thirsty,’

‘Of course I can, snuggle bunny!’ she replies, kissing Corrow on his forehead before disappearing off to the kitchen.’

As soon as Sonya is out of the room, Corrow replies to Faewen’il:

‘Faewen’il, forgive the girl, she’s a lovely woman, but she does tend to get the wrong end of the stick at times. She tends to exaggerate. Ha! Ha! Ha!’ he titters, weakly.

He reaches out to take the book from the lass, his hands shaking a little.

Faewen'il simply gives Corrow a shrewd look and nods her head.

 "Ye should be a bit more careful in yar words... for iffin I be findin out that she thinks o me as yar apprentice, I will be havin a talk with her.... a woman ta woman talk...."

Corrow's face looks exactly the same as it did when Winnacer asked him to drag an unconscious Darius out from under the jaws of ferocious worgs.

'Ha! Ha!' Corrow laughs, more weakly, trying to appear relaxed, but failing. 'Faewen'il, what do you take me for? As if I would do such a thing.'

Sonya then returns with a glass of wine in her hand, which she places next to the illusionist. She then goes straight up to Faewen'il. All can see that there is just a touch of jealousy on her face.

'So, Corrow tells me that you were the best apprentice that he ever had.'

Corrow almost explodes in terror. Before Faewen'il has a chance to answer, Corrow gives a wildly exaggerated and unconvincing show of being tired.

'YAWN, YAWN. Is that really the time, goodness gracious me, I really had no idea that it was so late. Come, Sonya, fluffyhoneykins, it's time for us to go to bed.'

With that, he practically hurls himself across the room and grabs a very confused Sonya by the arm and drags her towards the bedroom.

A couple of minutes later, a purple faced Corrow, practically in tears, rushes in and kneels before Faewen'il.

'Please, Faewen'il' he blurts. 'OK., I admit it all, I made myself out to be a lot more impressive than I really am. It's been a long time since I walked out on my wife, and I never thought that I would find love again. But I really like Sonya, but what would she see in a pathetic old man like me, unless I made myself out to be a little bit more impressive that I really am? Please, Faewen'il, I'll do anything that you ask of me to try and make amends. I didn't mean you any harm, I just didn't want to lose this one chance to find love again. Please, I ask you, please show mercy on me and keep quiet about the truth.'

Corrow simply carries on kneeling before Faewen'il, looking even more pathetic than he normally does. His head is bowed, waiting for an answer.

"Corrow Boad!!!" Faewen'il says quite loudly as she waggles a finger at him menacingly.

"That ye use yar magic in tha bedroom.... well... that be a rather less than tasteful use o such powers.... but that ye LIED in order ta gain tha favor o a woman.... THAT truly be distasteful!!"

Faewen'il heaves a heavy sigh as she bends over so as to look him in the eye, very unconscious of the fact that he now has a most enticing view of her own charms.

"Canna ye see man.... love be love... an it not be true love unless each parson be acceptin tha other for what they truly be. Iffin that lass loved ye true, she would na care that ye not be a mighty wizard; she wouldst love ye for just being Corrow Boad. Ye needs ta be careful that ye not confuse love for yer manly drives."

Faewen'il then straightens up and taps her foot for a moment before her decision was made.

"Now then, I be goin in that room ta talk with yer lass. THAT be yar amends; that ye have ta face her after I am done."

Corrow remains knelt on the floor. As Faewen'il vacates her seat, Corrow collapses onto it. Holding his head in his hands as he hears Faewen'il's footsteps heading off.

Meanwhile, Bennett has been staring at the serving girls lustily, like a hungry dog looking at a plate of meat. Boris sees Bennett’s actions and immediately guesses what’s on his mind:

‘Ha! Ha! Ha!’ he laughs, heartily. ‘So, you’d like to sample a little more of Boris’ hospitality. Well, all you need to do is ask. Tell me what you want, and it’s yours.’

‘We’ve got….’ and Boris starts to reel off a list of all that he has to offer.

Bennett's eyes light up as he hears a list of all that Boris has to offer and asks for all of them. Laughing, Boris shakes his head and tells him that he is allowed a maximum of three, as there are paying customers that also need to be attended two in the city. Bennett is a little disappointed, but orders his three girls. Boris sends a runner to summon the girls.

Once things calm down a little, Winnacer recounts the tale of the party’s escape from prison, their meeting with Viktor and the assault upon the Witchfinder Building including their escape from Dvur. He tells the tale by a breaking into a rather good and certainly unrehearsed chanson, his speaking voice clear as a bell.

The evening is a pleasant one. Boris’s girls are very attentive and keep bringing more and more food out to them , replenishing their glasses whenever they are more than half empty.

Having pronounced the sentence of doom for her fellow mage, Faewen'il strode purposefully to the room and asked its occupant to be let in.

'Is that you Corrow, honeykins?' says Sonya's singsong voice. 'I'm all ready and waiting for you!' she giggles.

As she sees that it is not Corrow entering, but the lass, she pulls the covers up high, so as to cover her assets from view.

As Faewen'il faced the young woman, her face softened a bit from the scowl that she had presented to Corrow.

"I be needin ta talk to ye about Corrow.... it be very important."

"I guess what I need ta know is if ye truly like tha old coot.... even iffin he not be tha mighty wizard he claims ta be."

'He's not an old coot' Sonya says, with some anger in her voice. 'He's lovely. He's clever, and kind, and funny, and nice, and sweet, and caring. He's nothing at all like most of the men I come across. He's a real gentleman. He's the first person that I can remember coming across that didn't just treat me like a piece of meat, there just for their entertainment. I don't care what he is. He's a very special person, and I LOVE HIM!'

Faewen'il smiles at Sonya, her eyes sparkling green with something other than anger for the first time in the past few days.

"Good... then can ye all do us a favor and tell him that? He thought he be needin ta impress ye or ye would na have thought twice about him. In me own way I care for him too, an I never want ta be standin in tha way o his heart bein happy... too few people these days can be sayin it.... I just want ta be sure his heart be happy for tha right reasons an that it be truth that bind tha two of ye together...."

"An for good measure... in order ta be teachin him a lesson... might I be sittin here a spell so that he be thinkin on his little lies for a bit a'fore ye make him tha happiest man o tha bunch o us?"

".... an mebbe ye can answer a question I has about menfolk....."

Sonya matches Faewen’il’s smile as she sees the lass change her reactions:

‘So, he made himself out to be more powerful just to impress me?’ she asks, smiling. ‘Oh, isn’t that cute of him, the big silly! That just tells me how special he really is. The usual men that I meet don’t bother to tell me anything about themselves at all. I just think it cute that he was so keen on me that he tried to impress me. He was so shy when we first met and I know that shyness does strange things to a man’s mind.’

Sonya is a bit nervous at Faewen’il’s mention of casting a spell:

‘What is it that you want to do? You don’t want to hurt my Corry do you, I hope?’

Faewen’il assures her that this is far from being the case:

‘So what is it that you want to know about men? I can’t say that I’m an expert on them. I see them in a very different from most women. Most of them are pigs in my experience.’

Faewen'il plops herself down on the corner of the bed, her hands fidgeting nervously with one of the strings of her belt pouches.

"I...well....I guess I really don't know anything about them ....or how ta go about attracting one... I not be fair like yeself.... an I...."

Faewen'il screws up her face in a gesture of helplessness before she simply gives up and blurts out what she is trying to say.

"I find meself attracted ta one o them... an I donna know what ta do about it. A'fore two days ago, I never even wore anythin but a proper dress that be covering things up. I know nary a thin about how a woman is ta wield her charms...by all tha gods I canna even make me hair do anythin other than just lay there..."

There. She had said it. Tears glisten in her eyes as she looks at woman, hoping she would be able to help her.

All of Sonya’s initial feelings of jealousy have now gone as she sees how vulnerable the young lass is. Oblivious to her nakedness, Sonya quickly gets out of bed and sits besides Faewen’il. As she sees the lass crying, she puts her arm around her and offers her a corner of the bedsheet to dry her eyes. She then gently combs back a stray lock of Faewen’il’s hair from her face with her fingers. She turns Faewen’il’s shoulder so that the two young women are looking at each other.

‘Faewen’il, I can’t even guess at your background, but it seems obvious to me that you’ve spent no time around girls of your own age, nor eligible young men either. You are very wrong in thinking yourself plain. You are far from it. I can see that you are beautiful, but you obviously have no idea as to how to show off your beauty. You have beautiful bone structure and lovely long hair. All you need are a few tips on how to show your beauty.’

‘What you need is a makeover!’

Sonya leads her over to sit before a small table in front of a mirror on the wall. She pulls out a drawer to reveal a vast assortment of powders, liquids and other sundry cosmetic items.

Sonya then starts work on her makeover of Faewen’il, describing exactly what she is doing, and why she is doing it as she does. Firstly, she gently applies a fine powder over much of Faewen’il’s face, choosing a tone that matches her light skin color perfectly. Then she applies a little blusher to her cheeks in order to bring back a little color.

She then brings out a small brush and begins painting Faewen’il's lips with a deep red gloss color, until they look full and voluptuous. She then starts to work upon her eyes, lightly dabbing pale color that matches the shade of her eyes perfectly. She then takes another small brush, this time containing a thick black liquid, and gently applies a thin layer around her eyes. She then coats her eye lashes with the same liquid.

Sonya looks at Faewen’il’s reflection in the mirror:

‘Dear, dear’ Sonya tuts. ‘We’ll have to do something about your eyebrows or they’ll be mistaking you for a werewolf in a few years time!’

With that, she takes a small pair of tweezers and starts to pluck at Faewen’il’s eyebrows until they take on a narrow, arching form.

‘Now for your hair’ Sonya continues. ‘To look really elegant and appealing, I always think that it is best to wear it up for that sophisticated look. Then, when you want to let that someone know that you’re really ready to take things a step further, you simply need to look him in the eye, remove your hairpin and let your long locks fall to your shoulders. Believe me, they ALWAYS fall for that one!’ she giggles.

Sonya piles Faewen’il’s hair on top of her head and secures the arrangement with a jewelled hair pin.

‘So, that’s just about it’ Sonya says. ‘So what do you think?’

Faewen’il is startled as she looks at her reflection in the mirror. Instead of the naive young girl that she was used to seeing looking back at her, she sees the face of an elegant young woman. If she didn’t know that it was her, Faewen’il would have sworn that she was looking at a picture of a beautiful noblewoman.

Faewen’il is silent for a moment, finding it difficult to take her eyes off the sight in front of her, but finally she speaks:

‘Ye’ve done a grand job, but it’s taken ye nigh on an hour, an ye’s used to performin’ such work. If I am to do this every morn, then I’d nae have time to be learnin’ ma spells!’

Sonya giggles:

‘You really have been spending too much time in the company of men! Don’t worry about it. Once you’ve captured their hearts, then they soon learn that they just have to wait as long as it takes!’

‘We’re still not finished yet, we simply must do something about those clothes of yours, or else they will spoil all of our hard work. Get out of those clothes of yours and I’ll find you something much more suitable.’

A little embarrased at undressing in company, Faewen’il does as she is instructed. Sonya goes to a wardrobe and holds out a short and simple black dress for her to see.

‘You’re a few sizes smaller than me, but I need to wear them short in my profession. Slip it on and let’s see how it looks on you.’

Faewen’il slips the dress on and Sonya fastens the hooks and eyes behind her. Although the dress reaches to just above Faewen’il’s knee and is far from tight, it’s a very different garment from those that she is used to wearing.

‘I could nae go out dressed like this,’ she replies. ‘All the men will be starin’ at me!’

‘Now you’re learning!’ giggles Sonya. ‘Just a few final touches, and then we’re finished.’

With that, she fastens a thin gold chain around Faewen’il’s tapered neck and then takes a small file and gives her a manicure before applying gloss to her nails, the same red tone as she wears upon her lips. She brings out a pair of glossy leather shoes, with two inch stiletto heels, and tells her to put them on.

‘Finished!’ says Sonya, beaming with excitement. ‘Now take a look at yourself.’

Faewen’il stand upright in front of the mirror. Again she can hardly believe that it is her reflection that she is looking at. She is a girl no longer. She now looks like an elegant woman, a far cry from the girl that she used to be, but in a totally different way from the floozies that Bennett is currently entertaining.

‘I told you so!’ says Sonya, ‘reading Faewen’il’s mind.’

‘But the looks are only part of the battle. You’ve got to learn the rules. You need to remain calm at all times. If the man is at all interested and, looking like that I’d be really worried if he wasn’t, he’s bound to look at you sooner or later. When he does, look deeply into his eyes for the briefest of moments while showing no emotion. Then, immediately look away and start to smile. Hiding your mouth with your hand is another useful tip. It works really well if you have another woman with you. If this is the case, start whispering to her while giggling. She should then look at the man too, and repeat the looking, giggling and whispering manuever. You should then keep repeating the cycle for as long as it takes. But, believe me, it doesn’t usually take very long. Men are such simple predictable creatures!’ she giggles.

‘If you haven’t got a female friend to work the double act. Then don’t worry, just go through the routine on your own. It will still work, it just takes a little longer. If you’re after a real shy one, then you can tell because they keep looking at you, but pretend that it is just an accident. They then usually start to go a little red and start looking at the floor. In this case you’ll have to be a bit more persistent and do a little bit more of the work yourself. If you smoke, then go over and ask him for a light. Look deeply into his eyes while smiling shyly as he gives you the light. If you don’t smoke, then you need to use a little more trickery. Go over to him and pretend that you thought you recognized him. Ask him if he is Martin Cherny from Pardubitze, anyone. When he says no, look really embarassed and apologize for the mistake. He will then probably ask you why you thought so, or something else, but if you’ve got a REALLY shy one, then you’ll have to follow up with some questions of your own. If it’s STILL not going anywhere after that, then it’s simply time to give up, as the only reason for refusing you must be that he’s gay!’

‘So, have you got all that?’ Sonya asks. ‘Do you want to give it a try now? I’ll help you with it. Don’t be shy. There’s no time like the present.’

Faewen'il still gawked at herself in the mirror and then stumbled a bit as she tried to walk in the shoes. There was simply no graceful way to walk in them at all!

Faewen'il gave Sonya a doubting look, her voice still quite meek.

"I canna walk in these thins...even if they do make me look tha height o a normal woman... these thins... they be all nice for when I be in a town... but what about tha woods? What could I be wearin in tha wilds when we go travellin, as assuredly we must needs doin ta get from place ta place.... an ta think if I had ta be ridin a horse in such finery... they all would be able ta see up me dress!"

‘Don’t be writing off the heels before you’ve given them a proper try’ replies Sonya. ‘Everyone finds them a little difficult to walk in at first, but it’s just a matter of practice. Here, hold my hand and we’ll walk together. See, you want long, slow strides. No, no, has no one ever told you about posture? You should always keep your shoulders back, keep your spine at a right angle to the ground. That’s it, now long, slow strides. Look straight ahead. There, you’re getting the hang of it now.’

To Faewen’il, the correct way of walking seems slightly less easy to remember than a spell.

‘Now, you’re right in thinking that you need a few more additions to your wardrobe before you’re fully equipped. You’re right in thinking that this dress is not the appropriate attire for riding a horse. It would give that certain someone quite a thrill were you to try it though!’ Sonya giggles.

‘Let’s see what else I have for you.’

Sonya opens her wardrobe in and Faewen’il looks in it for the first time. She sees that it is a huge wardrobe, completely full of clothes.

‘What d’ye be needin’ all those clothes for?’ Faewen’il asks, astounded at seeing that Sonya has more clothes than an average shop. ‘Surely ye can only be wearin’ one set at a time?’

Sonya starts laughing out loud.

‘Really, Faewen’il, sometimes I think that you’re really a man who has changed his appearance to a woman through spellcraft! A woman can never have enough clothes. The first time that you go out in new clothes is a wonderful feeling. After then, the magick wears off very quickly. If I had sufficient money, then I would never wear the same outfit twice.’

‘No, for the countryside and for riding, I’d recommend a combination like this.’

She pulls out a long, wide green skirt, with a long slit down the front and back, a lacey white blouse and a matching green jacket, finished with gold embroidery. To finish off the outfit, she adds a pair of thigh length soft black leather boots and a small black hat with black lace providing a half-veil.

‘That’s going to look lovely on you, I’m sure. It’ll need taking in, but I can do that tomorrow. Of course a lady shouldn’t really ride a horse like a man. It’s not very lady-like when mounting and dismounting. You should definitely make sure that you get a side-saddle to go with your mount.’

Still, Faewen’il couldn't help but look at herself in the mirror and admire the woman she saw staring back at her; even though her legs were scandalously shown as was her neckline. Tentatively, she ran her hands down her sides and the budding curves the black dress contained and wondered what Jihan would think when he saw her.

"Do ye think.... do ye think that even an elf lad would find me pretty?" she asked squeakily as her face began to redden at the very thought that someone else would know of her affection for the elf.

"They have such a love o tha outdoors and natural thins...."

‘An elf lad’s a lad first and an elf second. I’ve come into contact with all of the races in my line of work and there is very little difference between the most of them under the skin. There’s a little bit of orc in all of them, if you ask me!’ Sonya giggles.

‘No, as long as you look your best, I don’t think it matters what style of outfit you go for. At the end of the day, it’s you that’s important, not the clothes. They are just there to bring out the best in you.’

The thought never enters Faewen’il’s mind that Corrow is still waiting without the room, probably thinking the worst.

Faewen'il looks at the woman and all of her clothes, her mind not quite comprehending the job she keeps talking about, though she fully well knows what such nice things must cost.

"I have nothin to be payin ye for this finery... all me coin was taken by tha Nyemetz who be holdin us prisoner back in Dvur..." she says sadly as she hands the green dress and things back to her.

Sonya pushes the outfit back towards Faewen’il, shaking her head:

‘Please, I insist that you take the outfits, both of them, and I’m going to give you a good supply of make up to go with it. I’ve worn both of these outfits on several occasions already and so the chances are that I won’t wear them again. Please, take them.’

Then Sonya looks deeply into Faewen’il’s eyes and smiles:

‘It’s not often that I have someone as interesting as you to talk with. I’m really enjoying this. I hope that you’re not going to rush off too soon.’

Suddenly, Faewen’il remembers Corrow and the others, her hand flying to her mouth and her eyes widening as big as saucers.

"Ummm... methinks ye should be lettin Corrow in now.." she whispered.

"He must be thinkin tha worst far certain!"

Sonya puts her hands to her face in shock:

‘Oh no, you’re absolutely right. He must be going crazy out there. Quick, we’d better check that he’s alright.’

With that, Sonya throws the first long dress that she finds over her naked body and the two of them rush out to see what has happened to Corrow:

He is in a pretty desperate state when they find him. He is slumped over a table, with an empty brandy bottle in front of him, sobbing his eyes out.

‘Sh-she won’t love me any more’ Corrow bawls in his drunken state. ‘I found the most wonderful girl and the world and I’ve messed everything up. Why am I such a total disaster?’

He slumps back over the table, collapsing in a flood of tears.

Sonya rushes over to him and gives him a big hug and a kiss.

‘Don’t be so silly, Corry honey. Of course I still love you. I don’t care what you are. I love you for you, not because you’re some mighty wizard.’

Corrow stops crying immediately and is silent, his face breaking out into a big, stupid smile. He then goes to give Sonya a huge kiss. However, as he does so, he passes out, his head hitting the table with a loud bang.

‘Men!’ Sonya says, shaking her head as she observes the unconscious form of Corrow lying on the table. ‘Come on, Faewen’il, help me to get him into bed.’

The two young woman put their shoulders under the illusionist’s arms and drag him back to Sonya’s room. They then lay him on the bed.

‘I better get him undressed’ says Sonya, as she starts tugging off his clothes.

As Sonya does so, Faewen’il’s face starts to glow a bright crimson color, and she turns away modestly while Sonya finishes undressing him and tucks him into bed. She then gives him a goodnight kiss on the forehead.

Having finished, she looks again towards Faewen’il.

‘Well, I guess that’s my entertainment for the rest of the evening down the drain’ she sighs.

Faewen'il went over to the corner in which she had dropped the dress and other things Sonya had insisted she have; her hands smoothing out the wrinkles and folding them nicely.

"Sorry ta have ruined yar evenin... iffin I had even half tha inklin of a regular girl me own age... ye would na have had ta explain thins ta me far so long. But I be raised by a wizard, as mighty as Corrow was tryin ta play hisself off as, in tha elven woods. He tried ta raise me proper... an methinks he did a good job..."

‘I think so too’ adds Sonya, smiling. ‘It has been a long time since I had the luck of speaking with a woman as well educated as you are. And so naïve too - it’s a charming combination, I think.’

Faewen'il sighs a bit, a soft sound lost amidst the quiet snoring of Corrow.

"Sometimes I wonder though... thar not be many girls me own age that be wearin matronly dresses as I be tought ta wear. I was rightly shocked a bit in Mynesto when I saw young lasses wearin skirts that showed their legs. An now here an in Dvur... I be seein it all tha time. Either tha whole country be havin na morals... or I be taught wrong." she adds sadly.

Sonya laughs out loud as Faewen’il finishes speaking:

‘I don’t think that the length of one’s dress has any bearing upon ones morals or lack of them. Come on, this is the 60’s. What was right for our grandmothers doesn’t have to be the right way today. There’s nothing immoral about making the best of yourself and showing off a little, to my mind. The menfolk appreciate it and you’ll be surprised at how much their reactions change to an attractive woman. With a smile and a glimpse of leg, you can wrap them around your little finger. You can get them to do almost anything for you. Men might call us the weaker sex, but it’s just a sign of their own stupidity. They don’t realize how easy they are to be manipulated!’

Sonya then yawns a little.

‘It must be quite late. I’m getting a little tired now. How about you?’

Faewen’il nods her reply. It has indeed been a long day, what with the long walk to start it, the problems of getting through the gate and more recently the long conversation with Sonya.

‘With the state that Corry’s in now, I don’t think that I’ll get a wink of sleep if I spend the night with him. His snoring is pretty bad normally, but he will be restless as well with all of that drink inside him. However, there are no more spare rooms in the building since your friends are taking them all. Do you mind if I spend the night in your room?’

Faewen’il blushes a little, but then agrees. The two young women walk to one of the vacant rooms and close the door behind them, locking it securely.