The starlight was enough for Tash's sensitive eyes to trace a network of scars that crisscrossed Kneecap's face. An impressive number of dagger hilts protruded from his clothing at calf, thigh, belt, arms, chest, and, if her eyes did not deceive her, one stuck in the band of his tophat. He's a rogue, like me. Maybe even a Guildsman.

The old human and the Halfling attempted to reminisce about "old times at the Sign of the Sea Hag." After a minute, the attempt bogged down in mutual fits of yawns.

Kneecap waved goodbye. He retired to the interior of one of the crypts, apparently intending to sleep there. Tash was mostly sure it was some kind of gag.

As they trudged back to the inn, Séa said, "What a jester. Is he a wizard, too?"

Ghomarck said, "Not primarily, but he knows a few spells. Years ago, he and I travelled together in the same band of hotheads. He knew his locks and traps, and toward the end he learned how to turn invisible."

Tash blinked. "Oh, I need that trick."

The wizard yawned again, then grumbled, "Just to set the record straight, he's older than I am, and if you saw him in daylight you might lose your lunch."

"You're in your prime," Séa said.

"Very kind of you, Lady Séa."

How many more days is this quest going to take? I'm not sure I can stand this goody-goody pair for long. It's like travelling with unemployed bards. Ones that can't sing. Ones whose jokes can't get a laugh even when their audience is drunk.

Back inside the inn, Ghomarck disappeared into his room. In the darkness, Séa fumbled for the latch to the women's room and led the way in.

The air is wrong. Tash caught Séa's elbow. "Something's off," she whispered.

A scent tickled her nostrils. Something animal and wild, but pleasant. Oothra, the quick moon, had risen, and weak silvery light streamed through the window. The shape of the left-hand sack-of-straw bed had altered. As they watched, it changed shape to the accompaniment of a low-pitched moan.

Séa and Tash froze.

From the bed crooned a drowsy feminine voice, "You're back? I fell asleep."

Séa sounded as though her lips had gone numb. "Renna? Whew! You gave us a start."

The bed returned to a bag of straw and half-imagined monsters evaporated, leaving behind bland ordinariness. It's just Renna. That's twice she's spooked me tonight.

"Why are you," Tash started out fast, but her speech slowed down as if mired in tar. "... in ... here?" Don't be thick, Tash. Renna told us why. She just failed to specify exactly what form thanking us would take.

The shape on the bed folded and rolled, then stood upright and flowed forward. The dim moonlight gleamed on her hair and outlined smooth hips, concave waist, and bare shoulders. No hint of clothing interrupted her moonlit outline. "Why?" Renna lowered her soprano to a teasing alto. "I had hoped it would be obvious."

The nude woman pressed herself against the Séa's full plate. "Can we get you out of this armor?"

Séa inhaled deeply. On exhale, she gushed, "Absolutely!"

Tash said, "But." The exotic bouquet that hung in the air suddenly resolved into clear meaning. As if the invisible vapors had coalesced into a pugilistic djinn who made a fist and smashed the word into Tash's brain, she stood stunned by it. Sex.

"Close the door, my friend!" burbled Séa as she hastily unbuckled her weapon belt and let it drop to the floor. She sounded happy as a morning lark.

Tash latched the door shut, then immediately wondered how wise that action might have been. Renna didn't give her a lot of time to mull it over. Soft fingers trailed along the rogue's jawline. "At least a massage," the naked woman crooned. "Surely your limbs ache, and your back."

Chunks of metal armor rained from Séa to the floor. The paladin hummed a peppy, albeit rather tuneless, ditty.

The warmth of Renna's nearness heated Tash's face. The earthy musk pervading the room spoke of gushes of arousal, echoes of which awoke in the half-elf's loins. The fingers trailing along Tash's skin sent tingles racing through her body. Her heart accelerated until she could hear pulses of blood swishing in her ears. The shaky intake of her breath probably betrayed her fervent want, but at least her voice sounded steady when she airily replied, "I think I'll just nap, thanks."

"Aww, Tash!" Séa whined. "Well, you're the boss, but you can always change your mind and, you know, jump on the pile."

For a moment, Renna's mane of hair blocked the light from the window, and soft lips left a light imprint on Tash's cheek. The maiden's voice dropped even lower in pitch. "Too bad I can't do more for you, m'lady. But I do appreciate you rescuing me."

The warm shadow left. In the sudden chill, Tash reined in a vivid urge to give chase. She pinched herself and summoned sunny tones. "Have a ball. Don't worry if you get loud. I'll be fast asleep." Mechanically, she directed her hands to unbuckle her own leathers, stowing the pieces at the head of her straw mattress. A body length away, the rain of metal had ceased. Renna's voice murmured from time to time, low and indistinct, but Séa maintained a delighted stream of commentary.

"This is a really good idea, Renna. Unexpected, you know, but really perfect. I had no idea you might be open to cuddles with other women. Oh! Yes, those are mine. Yours are bigger, and so soft. Oh, that's nice. Keep doing that. It makes my stomach flutter."

Tash kept her linens on. She made a pillow of her knife belt and coin purse, and pulled the blanket up to her chin.

The sunny monologue continued over rustles of straw and wet mouth sounds. "You've got me all hot and bothered, now. Your tongue's so swirly. Come down here. Yes, that's good. No, don't do that quite yet. I just want to touch you for a little while. I never felt anything — anyone — so soft, before. You're amazing."

Tash squeezed her eyes shut. But sex is with men. Men like Daireth. The happy noises continued, and her eyelids sprang open again. Moonlight spilled carelessly on the limbs and torsos of the couple on the other bed. Renna's sinuous curves could inspire the most callous artist. Her hypnotic way of movement only added to the eroticism of her body. There was less of Séa than Tash would have guessed from seeing her only in full armor, but her strong shoulders rippled in the silvery light, and long muscles danced under the skin of her thighs. Tash squirmed as her own desire squishily blossomed between her thighs.

But sex is with Daireth. Was. Poor Daireth. Sex is a mixture of pain and pleasure. Sex is soon over. But the two women in the next bed seemed unaware of these truths. They entwined without hurry as if their coupling would last forever. No urgent grunts of lust hurried their pleasures. No half-suppressed yelps of pain interrupted their long moans.

Confusion clicked into clarity. They are having a ball. Pure fun. A merry smile flitted over her face, unseen in the darkness. I want in on this.

She squirmed under her blanket, moist-crotched and hammer-hearted. But her lubricated state didn't reach her knees or elbows. The smells of arousal and the gentle waves of delighted coos surrounded her like ocean rollers. Why won't I jump on the pile? How lame am I when a fecking paladin outdoes me?

Because something isn't right.

The rogue gazed for a long time, but nothing occurred besides steamy sex. Puzzlement chased surges of desire through Tash's mind again and again, until her weariness made itself felt. By the time Séa's wordy babble ceased, replaced by excited breathing and coos of pure pleasure, Tash's eyelids drooped. Wrapped in breathy songs of ecstasy and breathing air redolent with the spice of sex, she slid into slumber.

Her pleasant dreams darkened. Something was wrong. But she was engulfed by warm, sticky tar that glued her eyes shut and sewed her lips together. The tar dragged Tash into whispering darkness. A sleep that was more than mere sleep covered her like earth over a fresh grave, and there she found an incorrect, unnatural stillness. Every thought slowed to a stop.

Pain lanced her neck. The searing intrusion of reality shattered the evil dream. Sluggishly, she awakened. A heavy, warm weight pressed her body down and a hand of ironlike flesh clamped over her mouth. Her eyes flew open. Smugly, Renna regarded her over the heel of the silencing hand, but the maiden's eyes glowed red. Her eyebrows slanted upward, and she had grown fangs and horns. If anything, her transformation made her more beautiful than before: regal, exotic, and flawless. Tash struggled to move, but that which had been Renna possessed strength beyond that of a human. Claws tipped the fingers that stifled her mouth.

"Quiet, pet," whispered the transformed creature. "Let the poison flow."