The Fate Of Master Tsu, Episode 1

"Urgh," he groaned as he came into consciousness.  He opened his eyes and found himself lying in an alley.  There was a familiar smell next to him.  He looked and saw a pool of vomit there.  It was his.  That was the case every morning after he'd spent the previous night drinking until he blacked out.

He reached down deep and dug up the strength to sit up.  How long had it been since he last saw her?  How was her defense art training going?  Had she taken his advice and gone to Tzezhange Island to continue that training?  "Xiang..."

Tears began to well up in his eyes as he thought about her.  Xiang Wenling.  His most devoted and final student.  She was so bright-eyed and innocent.  He could never forgive himself for the way he betrayed her.  He could never forgive himself for being...overcome.  He would never take on another pupil.  He was a teacher who could no longer teach.  A man who no longer had a purpose.  "I'm sorry...Xiang."

Her innocent face haunted him multiple times every day.  That's the reason he turned to heavy drinking and passed out in alleys.  He figured it would help wash any the pain.  As of yet, it hadn't proved effective.  Would it ever work?  Well, he did enjoy the taste, so maybe he'd try it until it did.  With that thought, he needed a drink.

He grumbled and groaned as he worked his way up to his feet.  Then he stumbled his way out of the alley and onto the main road.  Things were quite busy, as they tended to be at high sun in any town he would drunkenly wander into.

He noticed a little girl walking with her mother.  The sight of her reminded him of Xiang when he first met her.  It wasn't that she looked like her, for this girl was of a different origin.  No.  It was the innocence she projected.  She was just a little girl, living her best life, sheltered from all the garbage children shouldn't have to think about.

He was reminded of his own childhood.  Days filled with playing outside and getting dirty.  Learning defense arts from Master Zhe Chou.  Running home for dinner.  Those were the good old days.

Now, here he stood, a middle-aged wreck with no hope, drinking his way through life.  Where did it all go wrong?  Stupid question.  He knew.  It was that dreadful day.  The day he betrayed Xiang.

The girl looked over and noticed him looking at her.  She broke from her mother and ran over.  "Hey, mister."

She was just like Xiang when he first met her.

The mother wasn't far behind.  She grabbed her daughter's hand and yanked her back violently.  "What did mommy say about going near maggots, honey?"

"But he's not a maggot, mommy."

"Yes he is.  The stench of liquor is all over him.  That's how maggots smell."  She turned and stormed off, yanking her daughter behind her.

"No, little girl, your mother is right," he said to himself.  "I am a maggot."  His days consisted of drinking himself into a stupor, then falling asleep in a puddle of his own vomit and sometimes piss.  If he was motivated, he would wander around looking for the next place to get drunk.  If that wasn't a maggot, then what was?

He walked down the street a bit more and found himself right outside the bar.  The sweet nectar of the heavens was just on the other side of the door.  Another day of passing out drunk and vomiting awaited him.

Suddenly, two men emerged.  One bumped into him and sent him stumbling to the ground.  The two stopped and stared him down.  "You piece of garbage," the man who bumped into him growled.  "Get up so we can teach you a lesson."

Was this it?  Was this the day he would die?  Were these the two men who would kill him?  Would these men free him from his life of guilt?  He stood and got into his fighting stance.  "Show no mercy.  Make sure you kill me."

The two men gave each other a puzzled look.  "Must have brain damage," one said.

"No point in beating on an idiot," the other said.  "He won't learn nothin'."  The two of them walked away.

He relaxed his stance and sighed.  His pointless existence continued.  When would that day come?  Until it did, he would drink, vomit, and wander.

Entering the bar, he saw the same faces he always did.  The people were starting to look too familiar.  He would have to leave to town soon, lest he start a connection and infect someone else with his worthlessness.  He staggered his way to a barstool near the bartender.

"You back, huh?" the bartender asked.  "So how many will it be tonight?"

He had twelve last night.  "Thirteen sounds good."

The bartender shook his head.  "Don't know how you ain't dead yet, but if you keep payin', I'll keep servin' 'em up."

Yeah.  That's how he liked it.

*

"Urgh..."  It was dark as Tsu stirred back to life.  He was back in the alley.  How long had he been there?  Was it the same day?  Had he paid the bartender for all those drinks?  Only one way to find out.  Off to the bar...or at least that's where he'd be going if he had the strength to do so.

Great.  The only thing worse than living in reality was not being able to drink away his problems.  What was he supposed to do now?  Sit back and think about how big of a failure he was?

Then, a shadowy figure stopped in front of the alley.  The figure came down and emerged from the shadows to reveal it was a woman.  She, like him, was of Tzezhange origin, wearing an elegant black dress and a black shawl.  She was average height and didn't appear to be armed.  She was looking down at him and while she had a face of stone, there was a sadness in her eyes.  Why would a woman like that come wandering down a random alley to stare down a random drunk guy at night.  Was she real?

"Your life is forfeit," she said in a monotone voice.

Was she a personification of the death he'd been craving for the last several years?  Would this woman be the one to kill him?  He was so drunk he couldn't move.  He couldn't stop her even if he wanted to.  "I've been waiting for you.  Make sure you finish the job."

"You are a sad, pathetic man," she said in the same monotone voice.  "You are a blight on society and you must be remedied."

He closed his eyes and waited for death.  "Yes..."

"You hurt someone close to you," the woman said.  "The relationship has been irreparably damaged.  This has lead to you losing your purpose in life.  Now you feel that life is not living."

He was getting annoyed.  "You're not going to kill me, are you?"

She shook her head.  "That is not my job.  I was not sent to kill or save you.  I was sent to inform you that even though you may have done something unthinkable, there is still hope.  There is a path to redemption, even for you.  Will you take the path to redemption and make up for your past sins or will you wander aimlessly down the path of despair and shame.  Ultimately, that is a choice only you can make."

Redemption?  "Xiang will forgive me?"

"I do not know.  I have no knowledge of the individual you speak of, only the situation you are in."

She was sent?  "Who sent you?"

She turned away.  "I cannot say.  I was simply sent to present the choices to a man on the verge of death.  I have done all I can do for now.  If you choose right, we will meet again."  She started walking.

"Wait...why me?"

"I cannot say.  If I had to guess, I would say you have been chosen for some purpose by the one who sent me.  Naturally, I cannot say what that purpose might be, for I am not privy to such information.  Perhaps, I will know more during our next meeting."  Her voice faded as she said the last bit and she vanished out of the alley.

"Redemption, huh?"  Did he really deserve redemption?  He was a maggot.  He was a failure.  He betrayed his best student.  He deserved death.

But death would not come.  He'd been chasing it for several years now.  He was still alive for a reason.  He might as well try to make it up to Xiang, even if he never saw her again.  If only he had the strength to move.  Maybe he'd be ready after a few hours rest.

Sexy Warriors, Episode 28

Shallista was in the Entertainment District, taking a break from the work of restoring a building.  She couldn't help but feel like someone was staring at her.  Being an irresistible vixen and a Sexy Warrior, that was nothing new.  Still, it was always nice to see who was staring, so she looked around.  It was Rixson.  It had been a while since he looked at her.  Maybe she'd ask him about it later.

Vilka came over and sat next to her.  "Things are weird with Wendy, Cordelia, and Penelope gone, huh?"

"It can't be helped," Shallista said.  "Wendy and Cordelia are out on assignment and Penelope is...it can't be helped.  At least we have Lady Raven to help ease the burden."

"Oww, I got a splinter in my armpit!" she heard Lady Raven say.  "Stupid sexy armor!"

Shallista shrugged.  "At least she's trying."

*

Lady Victoria had just awoke when she heard somebody walk in.  It was Lady Grizelda, wearing sexy armor.  "L-lady Grizelda!  Y-you're wearing sexy armor?"

"Yep," Lady Grizelda said.  "Heavens, this stuff is embarrassing to wear.  A-anyway...I'm sorry for getting angry at you.  If you want to come back to the guild, you can.  I'll even allow you to wear sexy armor if you want."

She didn't know whether or not to be happy.  "What happened?"

"Shallista did," Lady Grizelda said.  "She beat us and stripped us of our weapons and armor.  Then, me and the girls got into a big fight, but it was for the best.  I realized that I don't have to hate you just because you wore sexy armor.  What we had was bigger than what we're wearing.  So, I'll give you the honor...no, wait."  She knelt down.  "I need you.  Please, consider rejoining my guild."

Lady Victoria felt embarrassment starting to creep in.  "N-now, there's no need for bowing.  I-I'd be glad to rejoin."

Lady Grizelda breathed a sigh of relief and stood.  "Welcome back."  Then, as if she was ashamed, she briefly looked at Penelope before looking away.  "So...how's your friend doing?"

"She's alive, but that's all I can say with any certainty," Lady Victoria answered.  "She hasn't tossed, turned, or shown any signs of waking up."  A terrible thought entered her mind.  "What if she never wakes up again?  What are we going to do if that's the case?"

"She will," Lady Grizelda said.  "People don't just stay knocked out."

"But it's been two days."  Lady Victoria sniffled.  "I can't get it out of my head.  The beating you and the others gave her.  The beating I lead her to.  It been replaying in my head this whole time."

"That why me and the girls are going to make up for it," Lady Grizelda said.  "No matter how long it takes."

Then, Epsley walked in and grumbled upon seeing Lady Grizelda.  "Why are you here?" he growled.  "Did you come to finish the job?"  He ran in between her and brandished his hammer.  "Over my dead body!  I'll cave your head in with my hammer before I let you lay another finger on her!"

"I didn't come for a fight," Lady Grizelda said.

"Shut up!" Epsley roared.  "Shut the hell up!"

Lady Grizelda sighed.  "Okay, I'll leave."

*

Shallista was finishing her time in the Entertainment District.  Rixson walked up to her, which saved her the trouble of trying to find him.  "Just who I was looking for.  I couldn't help but notice how hard you were staring at me today.  Is there something you want to say to me?"

"Yeah," Rixson said.  "I been thinking about you since you arrived in town.  I mean, obviously, you're an attractive woman, wearing that skimpy armor and all.  But I've been wondering, what would you look like wearing other things."

She didn't know what to think.  "Eww, clothes.  You want me to wear clothes?"  She spread out her arms and turned a full circle.  "You want me to cover this in clothes?"

He scratched the back of his head.  "I'm just a little curious about how it would look.  Of course, I'd pay, so you can consider it a job.  So, what do you say?"

"If it's for a job, I'll w-wear clothes."  She hadn't worn clothes in fourteen years.  She'd been a Sexy Warrior this whole time.  Could she readjust to it?  "When should we do this?"

"Tomorrow if it doesn't clash with your schedule."

She nodded.  "That's fine."

*

Minerva sat in the town center, grumbling as she watched people walk by.  The thing she hated more than anything was those scantily-clad female warriors.  And now there were more of them.  But her misery would end soon.  It was only a matter of time before help came to run them out of town.  The thought of it made her laugh maniacally.

A passing citizen asked, "You okay over there, Minerva?"

"I'm fine.  Just thinking about how glorious it will be when those Sexy Whore-iors leave our town.  Sit and share a laugh with me."

"I have to admit, I'm not a fan of their outfits, but they don't seem particularly harmful," the citizen said.  "As a matter of fact, they seem to have been nothing but helpful.  Anyway, I'm off to make dinner.  See you later."

Darn.  They were starting to win the people over.  The plan needed to be carried out before they became fixtures around town.  They needed to be stopped.  "Sluts can't be allowed to reign."

Sexy Warriors, Episode 27

"Urgh...," Lady Grizelda groaned as she came to.  She hadn't opened her eyes yet, but she knew three things simply from her sense of touch; her head was resting on a table, her butt was sitting in a seat, and...her armor.  It was gone.  She sat bolt upright and opened her eyes.

She saw Shallista seated across from her at the table.  Then she looked down at her body.  "Sexy armor?"  She looked at Shallista again.  "You!  What did you do to my armor?"

"I've put it in a place for safe keeping," Shallista said.  "Welcome to the Sexy Warriors headquarters."

Another female voice said, "We're sorry, milady."

A sad female voice said, "We got our asses kicked."

She looked around.  It was her guild members, all wearing sexy armor and looking thoroughly embarrassed.  "Lady Raven?  Lady Vivian?  Lady Milicent?"  She shot an angry look at Shallista.  "What is the meaning of this?"

"This is your punishment for attacking Penelope," Shallista answered.  "She's currently in the hospital because of your actions.  You will make it up to her.  You will pay her bill in full.  Until you do, I'm absorbing your guild and making you all Sexy Warriors."

Lady Grizelda shot up to her feet and pounded the table with her fist.  "Absurd!  You think we'll go along with this?"

"I'll stomp the life out of you if you don't," Shallista said, the most eerie smile on her face.

Lady Grizelda looked around at her guild members, who all looked scared.  She grumbled, then sat.  "This is bull."

"It was bull when you attacked my guild member for no reason," Shallista said.  "It's only right that you make it up to her.  Starting tomorrow, you'll be doing busywork around the village."

"No..." Lady Milicent said.  "You expect us to go out in public like this?"

Lady Vivian looked down at herself sadly.  "Hmm..."

Lady Raven looked down at herself as well.  "I do feel a little bad about what we did to your friend.  I guess if this is what we have to do..."

"That's a bunch of garbage," Lady Milicent said.  "You really want to wear it, don't you?"

"Hey, this is hard for me, too," Lady Raven said.  "But we're in it now.  The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can stop wearing this humiliating stuff."

Lady Grizelda looked at Shallista.  "How do you wear this everyday?  It's embarrassing just sitting in this room wearing it.  How do you wear this out in public?"

Shallista slid her chair back from the table and stood.  "You'll learn soon enough.  Anyway, I'm off to bed.  I'm an earlier riser.  You're free to do whatever you want until then."

After Shallista walked off, Lady Grizelda grumbled.  "This is crap.  We don't have to do this."

"Yeah," Lady Milicent said.  "This is crap."

"But what do we do to get out of it?" Lady Vivian said.  "She's too strong to fight and we can't very well bolt to the next town like this."

"It's simple," Lady Grizelda said.  "We'll walk into town, buy some armor and weapons, and then we'll beat her into submission.  I gave her a good run for her money by myself.  She can't beat us all."

"But she won't be alone his time," Lady Vivian said.  "We'll have to fight her entire guild and I believe they outnumber us by quite a margin."

"Besides, we'd have to actually go into town in this embarrassing armor to get real armor," Lady Milicent said.  "I-I...can't..."

They were right.  "Damn it," Lady Grizelda said.  "If only I had my chess set, I'd have never made such a miscalculation.  But she's going to force us to go into town like this tomorrow anyway.  We have to figure something out by then."  She sat for a moment in thought.  "Ah, I've got it.  Lady Raven, you can go get us some armor or at least some decent clothes.  Then we can all make a run for it."

"No."

Lady Grizelda looked at her in shock.  "What?"

"I s-said no," Lady Raven said.  "I'm staying."

"You're defying me?" Lady Grizelda asked.  "After all I've done for you?"

"I'm s-sorry, milady.  I want to make it up to that woman we beat on.  I think we all should do it.  After all, we all participated."

"I knew it," Lady Milicent shot.  "You want to be a slut and you're trying to guilt us into being sluts, too.  Well, that's not going to happen.  We don't need you.  Right, guys?"

Lady Vivian looked down at herself and groaned as if her stomach her hurt.  Then she said, "I-I'm staying, too."

Lady Grizelda couldn't believe this was happening.  "My guild...she destroyed my guild."  She pounded the table and stood up.  "You're all fired!"  She hurried for the door as tears stung her eyes.  She couldn't let them see her like this.

As she ran out into the darkness of the night, she thought about everything they had been through.  The battles they fought.  The times they shared.  They had become like little sisters to her and that redhaired whore took them all away.  And she was powerless to stop it.  She stopped running and dropped to her knees.  "I'm a maggot.  A worthless, filthy maggot."

She was about to let it all spill out but heard footsteps behind her.  She stopped her tears, looked back over her shoulder, and growled, "Who dares approach me?"  It was Lady Raven, Lady Vivian, and Lady Milicent with tears in their eyes.

"We're f-fired?" Lady Milicent asked.  "Y-you don't really mean that, d-do you?"

"I failed you," Lady Grizelda said.  "I have no right to be your guild leader anymore, so I'm letting you all go."

"You have every right," Lady Raven said.  "I don't want to be a part of her guild.  I just want to make it up to Penelope.  Make no mistake, you are my leader."

"Same here," Lady Vivian said.

"You mean it?" she asked them all.

They all nodded.

"Okay, no one is fired.  We'll all wear sexy armor and suffer together."

Lady Milicent put her hand on Lady Raven's shoulder.  "I'm sorry I said those horrible things to you.  I didn't mean any of it."

"I know," Lady Raven said.  "We were all just a little stressed out.  In times like that, sometimes crap just slips out."

Lady Grizelda stood up and dusted herself off.  "Hey, what do you say we go into town and get some drinks?"

"What?" Lady Milicent asked.  "Like this?  Are you serious?"

"It's not like we can avoid it at this rate," Lady Grizelda said.  "We might as well reintroduce ourselves to the town and apologize to the watchmen while we're at it."

Her guild members looked unsure about it but all said, "Yes, milady."

*

Harmon and the watchmen were at the bar having a meeting.  There would be no drinking.  The last time they did that, they wound up short a member.  Penelope, their seventh member, was laid out in the hospital, all because they decided to let their guard down and cut lose.

"I'm sure ya know why we're all here, boys," he said to his fellow watchmen.  "We have it pretty easy in this town.  Ain't too many things that threaten us out here in the middle of nowhere.  But as we learned earlier today, maybe we have it too easy.  Seein' Penelope tied to that bench all motionless...well, it did something ta me.  So, startin' today, I'm swearing off drinking.  I hope you'll all join me in this endeavor to be a better watchman."

One of the watchmen raise his hand.  "If those women hadn't used their charms on us, Penelope wouldn't be in the hospital right now.  So, I'm swearing off women.  As a matter of fact, starting today, I'm officially gay."

Another watchmen scratched the back of his head.  "I don't know if I'd go that far, but you do you."

That's when Lady Grizelda and her ladies walked in.  They all looked quite embarrassed .  "Umm...hi, everyone."

Harmon could only stare in shock.  "L-lady Grizelda...t-trying out a new outfit, I see."

One of the watchmen nudged the one who swore off women.  "You still gay?"

He shook his head.  "Nope."

"We just wanted to say w-we're sorry for what we did," Lady Grizelda said.  "So if you wanted to start over with some drinks, we'd be happy to join you...if you don't hate us."

"Well, I'm not drinking, but feel free to enjoy some with my boys," Harmon said.

"Oh, yes!" another watchmen said.  "We'd love to ogle...I mean have drinks with you."

The other watchmen went along with it.

"Okay, you enjoy your drinks," Harmon said.  "I'm headed out to the main gate.  One of us has ta watch for wolves or something.  Take care of my boys, ladies."

As he headed for the door, Lady Grizelda grabbed his hand.  "Hey.  Can I come with you?"

"It's just boring watch duty," he said.  "Ya sure ya want to?"

With a twinkle in her eyes, she said, "I would like nothing more."

Did it really mean that much to her?  Well, he wasn't going to argue if a beautiful woman wanted to do watch duty with him, especially if she was truly sorry for what she did to Penelope.  "All right, come with me."

Sexy Warriors, Episode 26

Shallista approached the inn with Harmon in tow.  Why had Lady Grizelda did what she did to Penelope?  That's what she intended to find out.

"You're not going to fight her, are ya?"Harmon asked.

"That depends on her," Shallista said.  "Either way, I will get justice for Penelope."

"L-let me talk to her first," Harmon said.  "As the head watchman, I have ta try and maintain order."

Suddenly, three of Lady Grizelda's people walked out.  "Wasn't it fun beating the crap out of that slut last night?" one as the other two.

"Yeah," another one answered.  "That'll teach her to wear sexy armor.  Freaking whore."

"Maybe she'll change her slutty ways," the third laughed.

Shallista clenched her fist and grumbled.  "How dare you..."

They looked at her.  "Well look who it is," one said.  "If it isn't the lead slut herself.  Come to get revenge?"

Harmon stepped in Shallista's way before she could move.  "You ladies wouldn't happen ta know where Lady Grizelda is, would ya?"

"I don't know," one said.  "Maybe she's in your bedroom."

"Ha, in your dreams," another said.

"W-what happened to those sweet ladies me and my boys were talking to last night?" he asked.

The third laughed.  "Just the means to an end."

"Penelope's laid out in the hospital," Harmon said.  "Don't ya care?"

One looked at the other two.  "Hey, she's in the hospital.  We really cleaned up, huh?"

Shallista had heard enough.  She shoved Harmon out of the way, then ran up and punched one of them in the face, knocking her down.

"Lady Raven," one said.  Then, she looked angrily at Shallista.  "You'll pay dearly for that.  Let's get her, Lady Vivian."  She took a swing at Shallista.

Shallista blocked and kicked her back.  She then blocked an attack from Lady Vivian and flipped her to the ground.  Lady Raven had gotten to her feet by now but was kicked back down as Shallista delivered a spinning back kick to her torso.  The third recovered and charged her, but Shallista grabbed her and whipped her into Lady Vivian as she was getting up, sending them both crashing to the ground in a pile of hair and armor.

"Hey!" Harmon shouted.  "Everyone stop it!"

Lady Raven delivered a blindside tackle to him, knocking the wind out of him.  As she stood and looked at Shallista, she said, "You're next, whore."

"Oh, you're so tough, knocking out someone who wasn't expecting it," Shallista said sarcastically.

Lady Raven attempted to draw her sword, but Shallista staggered her with a punch to the face and drew it herself, safely tossing it aside.  Then, she blocked a few punches from Lady Raven before capturing her arm and delivering a number of her own brutal punches until she was knocked out and fell to the ground.

She turned her attention to the other two, who groaned as they started to stir.  She ran up and kicked Lady Vivian, knocking her on her back.  Then, she stomped on her head, knocking her out before she could do anything else.

The third woman could only cower in fear and wet herself.  "P-please...don't kill us."

Shallista huffed.  "Where's all that tough talk now?  I bet you didn't expect to lose to a slut, huh?"

"S-sorry..."

Shallista grabbed her by the hair and stood her up.  "When you do people wrong, you pay the price.  You look down on me.  You beat on my subordinates.  You threaten innocent people.  You toy with men's hearts.  You've run up quite a tab and now the bill is due."

"Please," the woman begged.  "It's going to hurt."

"I'll bet Penelope said something similar before you laid your filthy hands on her," Shallista said.  "And I'll bet you laughed the night away as you beat on her.  Then, the fun continued as you stripped off her armor and painted curses on her body.  And I know damn well you didn't feel a bit of remorse as you dragged her into the middle of town and tied her to a bench naked.  So, excuse me if I don't feel a single bit of remorse for what I'm going to do to you."  Then, she delivered a number of vicious elbow strikes until the woman was knocked out before flinging her aside like a toy she'd grown bored of.

"What do you think you're doing?" a familiar voice asked.

She looked.  It was Lady Grizelda.  "Oh, you're just who I was looking for.  I can't wait to get my hands on you."

"Same here," Lady Grizelda said.  "If you think you're going to get away with beating on my girls, you've got another thing coming."  She drew her sword.  "It's the last mistake you'll ever make."

They charged each other.  Shallista ducked a slash, then grabbed her arm and whipped her to the ground.  After a brief struggle for the sword, Shallista won out and threw it aside.  They both scrambled to their feet and stared each other down.

Shallista rushed in and delivered a vicious punch that knocked her down.  Then she picked her up by the hair.  "I'm not done with you yet."

Lady Grizelda fought free of her gripped and delivered a headbutt.  Shallista retaliated with a headbutt of her own.  The two of them exchanged a few more headbutts until they both fell to their knees.  Lady Grizelda took the opportunity to grab a handful of dirt and throw it in her eyes.

"Argh!" Shallista cried out as the dirt stung her eyes.  Then, she felt blow after blow as she was struck, unable to see where the attack was coming from.  Eventually, she found herself on her stomach.  With the attacks seeming to relent, she removed one of her gloves and cleared her eyes.

As her sight came back, she saw Lady Grizelda approaching with a 2x4.  She hurried to her feet, but Lady Grizelda was already in mid-swing by the time she was standing.  She guarded high, but the attack hit her on the side of her left knee.  "Urgh!" she cried as she was forced to down to her hands and knees.  She wiggled her foot to test whether or not it was broken.

"Heh, if only you'd worn proper armor, you probably still be on your feet," Lady Grizelda laughed.  "But no, you chose to be a slut and look at you now, on your hands and knees.  Right where you belong."  She prodded her with the 2x4.  "So much exposed skin.  So many vulnerable spots.  Where should I strike next?  Shall I break your back?  Perhaps I should break that leg I just softened up.  Or maybe I should just finish the job and break your head."

"Right now, the only thing you're breaking is my eardrums," Shallista shot.

Lady Grizelda struck her in the back several times until she was lying on her stomach again.  "You're tough, I'll give you that.  But you can't win."

"You're right about one thing," Shallista said, as she worked her way back to her knees.  "I am tough.  And I've fought people a lot tougher than you."  She spat out some blood, then rose to her feet.  "I'm a mountain girl.  This body doesn't break so easily."

A look of incredulity came across Lady Grizelda.  "What?  How are you able to stand?"

"Because I haven't lost yet.  And I won't lose until I make you grovel at Penelope's feet and beg for forgiveness."  She caught an incoming 2x4 strike and ripped it out of Lady Grizelda's hand.  Then she sent Lady Grizelda stumbling back with a punch to the chest.

Lady Grizelda looked down at her breastplate and saw it was dented.  "Huh?  With her bare hands?"

Shallista hit her in the chest again, making the dent bigger.

"W-what kind of monster are you?" Lady Grizelda stammered.

"Surely you didn't think this body was just for looks, did you?"  She threw a punch, which Lady Grizelda blocked but still made her stumble.  Then she threw a kick, catching her in the side.

"Oww!" Lady Grizelda said.  "How did I feel that through my armor?"  Then, she grumbled.  "I won't lose to you!"  She charged and tackled Shallista.

Shallista rolled through and flung her into a bench, which broke from the impact.

Lady Grizelda was conveniently next to the sword Shallista had tossed away.  She picked it up and said, "I'm going to do what I should have done before."

Shallista ran in and disarmed her before she could swing it.  Then, she picked up Lady Grizelda and slammed her down on her head.  She scooped her up from the ground and ran her into the side of a building before picking her up and slamming her down on her head again.

"Ungh!" Lady Grizelda groaned as she tried to crawl for the nearest weapon she could find.

"Nope," Shallista said, grabbed her by the hair and standing her up.

Lady Grizelda fought free and they traded punches.  After about twenty punches, Lady Grizelda stumbled back and dropped to her knees.  "This can't be happening."

"You aren't going to beat me," Shallista said.  "Just give up."

"No..." Lady Grizelda grumbled.  "I can't accept that.  I won't lose to a slut!"  She hopped up to her feet and tried to rip off Shallista's top.

Shallista stifled laughter.  "What do you think you're doing?"  She punched her in the face until she let go and fell.  Shallista then mounted her and rained down punches until she cried out for her mother.  Shallista stopped, her fist raised and shaking as she did everything she could to restrain herself.

Lady Grizelda looked up, a look of fear on her bloodstained face.  "Y-you win...damn it..."  Then, she passed out.

Shallista stood and noticed a number of people, including the watchmen, looking on in shock.  She raised up an arm in triumph and roared, "Sexy Warriors!"

The crowd broke out into applause and cheers.

Harmon walked over, a heartbroken look on his face as he looked down at Lady Grizelda.

"You really fell for her, didn't you?" Shallista asked.

"I thought she and her girls were better people than that.  I mean, I'm kind of a lonely man and here she was, this woman around my age with a bright smile.  I just thought...I don't know what ta think anymore."

"I'm sorry...but I had to do it for Penelope."

"Yeah...I know..."

"So, what are you going to do about her and her group?  I mean, for punishment?"

"I don't know."

"Lady Victoria has agreed to stay and pay Penelope's hospital bill," Shallista said.  "Maybe we should force the others to join her.  At the very least, we can't let them leave until they've groveled at Penelope's feet and begged for forgiveness."

"That sounds like a plan ta me.  What's ta stop 'em from runnin' at the first opportunity, though?"

"Leave that to me.  I'll take custody of them and if they try to run, I'll simply beat the crap out of them again."  She forced a smile.  "And maybe there will be something in it for you, too."

"Hmm...I'll trust ya if ya say so," he said, turning and waving back over his shoulder.  "Well, I'm gonna tell Epsley the good news.  I'll see ya soon."  

Sexy Warriors, Episode 25

Shallista was sitting in her guild hall, getting a quick drink of water before tending to her garden.  Then, suddenly, the door opened and in stumble Velpanie with a panicked look on her face.  "What are you doing here?  You're too young to join my guild."

"It's Penelope!" Velpanie said.  "She's hurt really bad!"

A chill rippled through her body as she almost choked on her water.  "What?  Take me there!"

She followed the girl into town and to the city center, where a crowd was murmuring, whispering, and gasping.  Once she worked her way through the crowd, she saw a grisly scene.  Penelope was sitting unconscious, naked, and tied to a bench.  She was covered in bruises, smeared with blood and dirt, and curses written all over her body.  "Penelope!  No!"

She ran over and checked her pulse.  Still alive.  She looked around angrily at the crowd.  "What are you all waiting for?  Someone get a doctor!"

Everyone looked too scared to move.  After a moment, Velpanie said, "right," and ran off.

A familiar voice asked, "What's going on?  What's everyone looking at?"  Eventually, Epsley emerged from the from the crowd and his face immediately changed from curious to devastated.  "What the hell?  Is that Penelope?  T-this is some kind of joke...r-right?  Is she..."

"She's still alive...but is seriously injured," Shallista said.

"Where's Wendy?  She could heal her right up, couldn't she?"

A chill coursed through her body.  "She's out on assignment."  She's the one who recommended Wendy take the job.  "It's all my fault."

Epsley took off his shirt and covered Penelope.  Then, he embraced her and cried.  "No!  This can't be real!  Damn it!"

She couldn't take it anymore.  She ran away until she got to the town's rear entrance.  That's when she tripped and fell.  She didn't bother getting up.  She simply laid there and cried.  "Penelope..."

*

Shallista staggered back to the town center.  The crowd was mostly gone, as was Penelope.  Velpanie was standing next to the bench where Penelope had been tied up.  "Hi..."

"Penelope is at the hospital," Velpanie said.  "She's still out, but she's going to live.  I can take you there if you want."

"Yeah...sure."

She followed Velpanie to the hospital.  There, she saw Penelope lying in bed with Epsley sitting on one side and Harmon sitting on the other.  "Hey, guys."

Epsley looked over at her.  "Hey.  I take it Velpanie told you the good news?"

"Yeah.  I'm glad to hear it.  Any idea on who did it?"

Harmon shook his head.  "No.  I can't help but feel like I let her down.  I view her like a little sister, ya know.  I don't know if I can ever forgive myself for lettin' this happen to her."

Shallista plopped down on a seat at the foot of the bed.  "Yeah.  Me, too.  After all, it's my fault for sending Wendy out on that job."  She was quiet for a moment.  "Hey Epsley, you can hit me if you want."

"No," Eplsey said.  "I don't blame you.  There's no way you could have known something like this would happen.  Heck, if anything, it's because of you that Penelope and I have gotten so close.  We were just kind of playing footsies until you came around.  Ever since then, she's been a lot more assertive.  And you've been doing so much to help out me and the other builders.  It wouldn't be good for us to turn on each other."  He said the next bit through clenched teeth.  "I'm just so damned frustrated.  I couldn't do anything to keep this from happening to the woman I love."

"Nah, this is on the watchmen," Harmon said.  "This never woulda happened if me and the boys hadn't been drinkin' all night with those female knights."

Female knights?  "You mean Lady Grizelda and her group?"

"Yep," Harmon said.  "Charmin' ladies, really.  The boys couldn't get enough of 'em.  We just sorta let down our guard and got drunk.  Seemed kinda strange that the ladies weren't drinkin', though.  I guess even female knights are still ladies."

Shallista felt the presence of someone looking in from outside.  She looked back at the door but saw no one.  Still, she had to check it out.  "I'm going to take a quick piss," she said to Epsley and Harmon before getting up and heading out.

Upon exiting the room, she saw one of the female knights halfway down the hall, walking away.  She followed her and said, "Hey, you.  Did you come to see Penelope?"

The female knight turned around.  It was the one who attacked her at the guild headquarters.  "Yeah, I guess.  I was hoping no one would be there.  I'll come back later."

"Actually, I have some questions to ask you," Shallista said.  "Penelope got attacked at some point either last night or this morning.  Do you have any information on who could have done it?"

"You have to understand," the female knight said.  "Penelope is a friend of mine, but I was in a difficult position."

"What are you talking about?" Shallista asked.

"I wanted Lady Grizelda to view me in a favorable light before I resigned from her guild," the female knight said.

"Will you just tell me what you know," Shallista said impatiently.

"I-I so freaking sorry," the female knight said.  "Penelope and I met up last night.  You see, we usually get together at night and hang out.  But last night was different.  When we met up last night...I set her up to take an ass whuppin'."

Shallista processed what she had just heard, then started laughing as she slowly got closer.  "Penelope is your friend...and you set her up to take a beating?  That's what I just heard.  Did I mishear?"

The female knight backed away.  "Why are you getting so close?"

"No reason," Shallista said.  "All I want to do is strangle the life out of you.  No big deal, really."

The female knight turned and bolted.

"No you don't," Shallista said, giving chase.

The chase spilled out of the hospital and onto the road.  Eventually, they got to the town center where Shallista caught up and tackled her down.  She then, wrapped her hands around her neck and squeezed.  "I'm going to squeeze your guts out like toothpaste!"

"I...can't...breath..." the female knight said, trying to prying Shallista's hands off of her.

"That's the point," Shallista said.  "You're supposed to be Penelope's friend!  She trusted you and you pulled this kind of crap?  You lousy maggot!"

Suddenly, Vilka and Audrixia ran over and pulled Shallista off of her.  "Calm down, milady," Vilka said.

"No!"  She fought to get loose, but Vilka and Audrixia managed to keep their grip.  She stared down at the female knight, who was coughing and hacking trying to catch her breath.  "I hate you!  I'm gonna kill you!"

Vilka and Audrixia gasped.  "N-now, milady," Audrixa said.  "Remember, Sexy Warriors don't kill humans."

"They do now!  She the reason why Penelope is in the hospital!  Some friend, huh?"  Vilka and Audrixia let her go, allowing her to resume her attack.

"N-n-n-no!" the female knight screeched, fear in her eyes.

She picked up the by the hair.  "Get the hell up."

"P-please!  I-I'm sorry!"  The female knight turned her head and closed her eyes.  Then, there was a pungent smell as a yellow liquid seeped through her armor and dripped onto the ground.

"You should have thought of that before you did what you did," Shallista said.  She grumbled.  "Penelope is the one you need to apologize to."

She yanked her all way back to the hospital and brought her to Penelope's room.  Epsley and Harmon were still there.  "Look at all the people you hurt, you piece of garbage."

Espley and Harmon looked at them.  "What's going on?"

Shallista shoved her in, causing her to stumble at the foot of the bed.  "Your new girlfirends are the ones who put Penelope here, Harmon."

"This is one of the maggots who did this to the woman I love?" Epsley asked.

"I'm s-sorry," the female knight said.

"Shut up!" Epsely shouted.  "Apologies aren't getting Penelope out of this bed."  His hand trembling, he said, "You're going to cover the bill.  And you're going to sit here until Penelope wakes up and you're going to apologize to her face."

The female knight sat down.  "Yes.  I owe it to Penelope."

"Shut up!" Epsley exploded.  "Shut the hell up!"

With that order of business taken care of, Shallista knew what was next.

Harmon stood.  "You're going to see Lady Grizelda aren't you?"

"It can't be avoided.  Sexy Warriors do a lot of things.  One of those things is to make things right."  She turned and headed down the hall.  "I will make this right.  I swear it."

Sexy Warriors, Episode 24

Natalie sat in the guild hall, three plates of food set on the table before her.  They weren't for her.  She wasn't hungry.  She was eagerly awaiting the return of Shallista, Penelope, and Vilka.

The trio entered.  Shallista sniffed the air.  "Smells pretty good."

"Welcome back," Natalie said.  "I've prepared a dinner of grilled lamb, corn biscuits, and cabbage.  I hope you enjoy it."

"You didn't have to do that," Penelope said.  "Thanks for the meal."

Shallista plopped down at the table.  "What's the occasion?"

"I just want to be useful," Natalie said.

"What do you mean?" Shallista asked.

"I can't fight...and the other women seem wary of me because of...my preferences," Natalie said.  "I figured I could do some of the little things, like preparing meals and other chores to keep this place tidy.  I'll never be a competent warrior, but I want to be more the just 'that girl who looks at everyone else's butts'.  It's the least I can do."

Vilka shrugged her shoulders and sat.  "I could go for a meal before I hunt down Audrixia for a workout.  Thanks for the grub."

Shallista gave the meal a look.  "It appears you may have found your niche.  Thanks may very well be in order.  But we are going to continue to work on those fighting skills.  After all, we are the Sexy Warriors, not the Sexy Chefs."

Natalie chuckled.  "Yes, milady."

She watched as the three of them seemed to enjoy her meal.  It gave her joy to see them doing so.  This was a meal she made.  Her contribution to the guild.  And they were cute, too.

Each of them had a unique beauty about them.  Vilka was a muscular, almost masculine woman.  Penelope was a typical beauty, like the next-door neighbor you don't have the guts to speak to.  Shallista was that otherworldly beauty whose grounded, laid-back personality is the only thing that made her seem more human than goddess.  She sighed, "Shallista..."

Shallista looked up from her meal.  "What's going on?"

They already knew she was gay.  No need to hide her true feelings.  "I want to lick all that sweat off your delicious-looking body.  Duh!"

Shallista gave her that same serene look she gave her when she invited her into the guild.  "Stop saying stuff like that.  I'm trying to eat."

Natalie felt her butt clench.  In her short time here, she had received that look enough times to know that Shallista was hiding her anger.  "S-sorry," she whimpered.  "A-anyway, I can do other things, l-like laundry.  Anybody have any dirty clothes?"

Shallista shook her head.  "I don't wear clothes.  Hate the stuff."

"I have a practice gi that's starting to get pretty rancid," Vilka said.  "It's at my home, so I can bring it in tomorrow if that's okay."

Natalie nodded.  "That's fine.  What about you, Penelope?"

"I do my own laundry, but thanks anyway," Penelope said.

Natalie nodded.  "Okay.  I'll be waiting to wash one smelly gi tomorrow."

Shallista nudged Vilka and whispered, "You sure you want to do this?"

"I'm starting to wonder now," Vilka whispered back.

*

Lady Victoria was in the town center, sitting on a bench eating ice cream.  The weather was nice and the ice cream was good, but she couldn't enjoy it.  Last night, Lady Grizelda asked her to do something she didn't want to do.  She agreed to do it, but should she have?  It bothered her so much that she hadn't been able to sleep since.

Then, a teenage girl came over and sat next to her, also eating ice cream.  "You seem pretty glum.  What's up?"

"What does a kid like you want from me?"

"Nothing in particular," the girl answered.  "I'm just wondering how someone can be so sad when the weather is so sunny."

Should she talk to the girl?  It might help her relax a little.  "I know I'm supposed to be the adult, but could I ask you for some advice?"

"I suppose it can't hurt," the girl said.  "Fire away."

"Let's say you had a friend and she asked you to do something you don't want to do," Lady Victoria said.  "Would you do it because she's your friend or would you not do it because it doesn't feel right?"

The girl shrugged.  "Depends on how bad it is.  Is your friend asking you to do something relatively harmless, like running naked in the field or are they asking you to kill someone?"

Lady Victoria looked up and thought.  "No, it's not as bad as killing someone.  Nothing good will come of it."

The girl was silent.  Then, she asked, "Is it something dangerous, like hunting a dragon?"

"I...I don't know."

"I'm not sure what you want me to say," the girl said.  "I'm probably too young for you to talk to about this.  Maybe someone else can help.  We have a really cool watchperson around your age.  Her name's Penelope.  She's not that hard to find because she's the only female watchperson.  Just look for the shapely woman with the sword."

Her butt clenched upon hearing Penelope's name.

"Is something wrong?" the girl asked.  "You suddenly turned pale."

"I-I'm sorry," Lady Victoria, shooting up to her feet and running away.  "I have to go."

*

Lady Grizelda and her guildmates were at the tavern having a good time with the town watchmen.  She was engaged in a deep conversation with the head watchman, a thirty-something man called Harmon.  "This town seems like a nice place.  It's a wonder why watchmen are even needed."

"Yeah, it's pretty quiet," Harmon said, taking a big swig of beer afterward.  "Nothing really goes down around here, but better safe than sorry.  After all, you never know when a pack of wolves'll roam into town.  It does seem like things have gotten a little more lively since that group of scantily clad women came into town.  Man, that Shallista is something else."

Lady Grizelda grumbled.  "What have they been doing?"

"They've been doing a lot," he said.  "They're helping rebuild the Entertainment district.  They said they will help people out with their problems.  And of course, they make for good eye candy.  Lord knows me and the boys could've used some."

"Pig," Lady Grizelda muttered.

"But I guess the biggest change is in our lone watchwoman, Penelope," he said.  "Ya see, she used to be really cold and distant.  Ever since she joined Shallista and her group, she's really opened up.  Makes it a lot easier for me and the boys to deal with her."

Lady Grizelda grumbled again.  "So, what do you think of me and my ladies?  Surely, we are better to look at than that bunch of floozies, right?"

He looked over at the next table, where the other five watchmen were seated with her three remaining guild members.  They were having a good time.  "What can I say?  It's been a while since I've seen the boys so comfortable with a group of women.  I could have sworn there were five of ya, though.  Maybe the other is with Penelope.  She seems to have taken quite a likin' to her."

"Yes...I am aware," she said.

"Ya know, since we're on the topic of eye candy, why don't you go grab some of the armor from Shallista," he said.  "Ya got a pretty face, but I could go for a little more skin."

Lady Grizelda grumbled once more.  "I am not a slut."

He laughed and slapped her shoulder.  "I only kid.  Ya know, I can't help but notice ya like to grumble a lot.  Ya could learn to relax.  A few hours with Shallista should fix ya right up."

Lady Grizelda rolled her eyes.  "Don't make me vomit."

*

It was late when Penelope met Lady Victoria in their usual spot.  Thing were different this time, though.  She was seated, her knees up, and her head resting between her legs.  She was still wearing her full armor and sniffling.

"Huh?  Are you crying?  What's wrong, Lady Victoria?"

Lady Victoria looked at her sadly.  "I'm sorry, Penelope.  I'm so freaking sorry.  Damn it..."

"What is it?"

That's when her guildmates emerged from the shadows.  "It's time to pay, whore."

"What's going on?"

She found herself quickly surrounded and disarmed.  She struggled in vain as she was grabbed and carried into the shadows.  "Hey!  Let me go! Somebody help!"

Sexy Warriors, Episode 23

It was very late at night as Penelope and Lady Victoria stepped back through the city gate.  "Well, I guess I'll see you again soon," Penelope said.

"Yeah," Lady Victoria said.  "I just wish we could hang out more often.  With our guild masters, though..."

"I don't know about your guild master, but mine wouldn't have a problem with it," Penelope said.  "She's pretty welcoming."

Lady Victoria snarled.  "That redhaired wench..."

Penelope was confused.  "Did something happen between you and Shallista?"

Lady Victoria only grumbled in her response.  Then, she suddenly started looking around.

Penelope looked around, too.  "Is something wrong?"

Lady Victoria looked around a bit more.  "I thought someone was watching us.  I can't be too careless.  If Lady Grizelda knew we were hanging out, it'd be the end of me."

Penelope frowned.  "That is quite ashamed.  Maybe we can openly be friends one day.  I guess I'll head home now.  I wouldn't want to get you in trouble.  See you around."

*

Lady Victoria was almost at the inn.  Thoughts of Penelope filled her head.  If only she weren't a Sexy Warrior, Lady Grizelda wouldn't have a problem with them hanging out.

They hadn't known each other long, but she felt as if Penelope was her best friend.  Her guildmates were decent, but her connection with Penelope felt more genuine.  Maybe she could steal her from that redhaired wench and bring her into Lady Grizelda's fold.

That was unlikely.  Simply by wearing sexy armor, Lady Grizelda would view her as tainted.  She looked down at the bag in her hand, which held the sexy armor Penelope gave her.  She could never find out what was in this bag.

When she entered the inn, she saw Lady Grizelda playing chess with another woman from her guild, Lady Milicent.  It was strange because only strangers played chess with Lady Grizelda.  Then again, Lady Milicent had recently been reading a book about chess strategies.  Maybe she finally decided to give it a try.

Lady Grizelda looked up from her game.  "Coming in late again?"

"Yes," she said.  "The nights are beautiful around here.  Can't let good weather go to waste."  It wasn't a total lie.  It really was beautiful out.

Lady Grizelda looked back at the chess board and made a move.  "Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"Lady Milicent says she saw you entering town with one of those whores."

Lady Victoria felt her butt clench.

Lady Milicent looked at her, disappointment on her face.

"I wondered why you were really going out so late, because you've never done things like that before," Lady Grizelda said.  "And what's in that bag?  You say it's candy, but it never seems to get any emptier and you never share.  You know I like candy, you won't share, and you're not eating it.  You aren't transporting something illegal for that whore, are you?"

She knew what she had to do.  "I thank you for allowing me to travel with you.  It seems like we must part ways, so I am resigning from the guild."

"Is it really that bad?" Lady Grizelda asked.  "I'd be willing to forgive you if it really is candy and you share some with me."

She turned away.  "I...can't.  I've already decided to resign, so..."

Before she knew it, Lady Milicent hopped out of her chair, ran over, and got a grip on the bag.  "What could possibly be in there?"

She and Lady Milicent had a tugging match with the bag until it ripped and the contents spilled out onto the floor.  "No..."

"Huh?" Lady Milicent said as she looked down at it.  Upon realizing what it was, she screamed and ran back to her seat.  "S-sexy armor...keep it away from me..."

"How could you?" Lady Grizelda asked, heartbreak forming on her face.  "You lied right to my face and said it was candy."  After a brief silence, she asked the question Lady Victoria feared most.  "Have you worn it yet?"

Lady Victoria looked at the ground and remained silent.

"How many times?"

Lady Victoria stayed silent.

"How many times have you worn that slutty armor?"

Lady Victoria gave no response.

Lady Grizelda drew her hand back and slapped her.

"I'm sorry..." Lady Victoria said sadly.

Lady Grizelda grumbled.  "I'll except your resignation, but you have to do something to make up for your betrayal first."

"Anything, milady.  After all, I would not have had the courage to even leave my hometown if I hadn't met you.  Because of you, I've seen things I never could have seen and gone places I never would have gone.  You broke me out of my shell and allowed me to reach heights I wouldn't have otherwise reached."  Lady Victoria sighed.  "So as long as it means you'll no longer view me in a bad light, I will do it, whatever it is."

Lady Grizelda put her hand on her shoulder.  "That's what I like to hear."

*

Shallista was sitting in the guild hall when Wendy and Cordelia came wandering in.  "Hey, you two.  Just who I was looking for."

"Yes, Milady?" Wendy and Cordelia said at the same time.

"We just got a job and I immediately thought of you."  She pointed to a sheet of paper on the table.  "It's an escort mission.  You're free to refuse, but because you have a history in escorting cargo, I thought I'd give you the first right of refusal."

Wendy and Cordelia looked at each other and lit up.  "We got a job!" Wendy said.

"We're getting paid!" Cordelia said.  They high-fived.

Shallista smiled.  "I take it that means you'll accept it.  The client wants to meet by the edge of the fields by sunset.  He says he's willing to pay up to three people, so you can invite another to join you."

"Want to invite Penelope?" Wendy asked Cordelia.

"I'd love to, but this might be a chance to get to know one of the others," Cordelia said.  "We haven't really gotten a chance to know anyone else.  It'd be good to make another friend."

"What about Telsie?" Wendy said.

Cordelia shook her head.  "Probably wants to go to her husband after work."

"Pilar?" Wendy suggested.

"Too much dancing."

"How about Natalie?" Wendy asked.

"The gay chick?" Cordelia said.  "I don't think I want to have another woman drooling over me for days on end.  No."

"Jelena?"

"She might steal some of the cargo," Cordelia said.  "She is a thief, after all."

Wendy looked up, a frown on her face.  "This is hard."

"Why don't we bring somebody to balance out our group?" Cordelia asked.  "You're a healer, so you don't fight.  I'm an archer, so I'm best suited for long range combat.  Let's add a close-range fighter."

They both looked at each other and gasped.  "Shallista!"

"I thought you were looking for a new friend," Shallista said.  "As in someone you don't know very well.  I mean, I'd be willing to go if you want, but I don't think I fit the criteria."

Then, Nicolotte entered, tugging at her outfit.  "I'm still not quite used to wearing such scant clothing, milady.  You sure I can't wear just a tiny bit more."

Wendy and Cordelia looked at her.

"Looks like you've found your third," Shallista said.

Nicolotte looked around at all of them.  "Have I done something wrong?"

Wendy shook her head.  "Not at all.  Cordelia and I were just wondering if you'd be interested in taking a job with us.  We'll be transporting some cargo.  We'd love to have you."

"You sure you want me?" Nicolotte asked.  "I figured you'd prefer Penelope."

"We're also trying to expand our circle of friends," Cordelia said.  "We're already great friends with her, so we figured we'd reach out to someone else."

Nicolotte smiled.  "Then I'd be glad to join you."  She looked down at herself.  "I think I'd like to buy a cloak first.  I'd like just a little more coverage before going on a journey."

"Sure," Wendy said.  "Maybe we all should buy cloaks, just in case it gets chilly while we're out."

As the three of them left, Shallista stretched and yawned.  Another day of work awaited.  She stood.  "Off to the garden."