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When dawn comes, I say, "Ladies, you have truly inspired me! I'm delaying your choice for a week, and in those seven days, I will attempt to deal with this dragon. If you will bear with me, and help me, you may have an entirely different choice available to you at the end of this trial."
The ladies look at each other, and at me in a confused fashion. I laugh, and kiss them lightly. "You don't know it, but last night you were truly extraordinary. You have inspired me to change your destinies. Now, we must see if I can act out that inspiration."
I let the ladies have run of the place, and I spend the day in "mediation" from their perspective. In reality I am Plane Traveling to get advice and muster resources for dealing with the Dragon. The Xorn returns, and reports that the cave complex is large, labarynthian and well defended -- so well defended that if there are eggs, the Xorn can't find them. This means that a simple "egg kidnapping" by an Earth Elemental is not a viable tactic. The Xorn reports that cave entrance is only one way into the lair. There is also an underground river, and about half the cave complex is water filled. In fact, the cave system is so convoluted that getting in as an Earth Elemental was somewhat difficult, the Xorn complained, and the Dragon did spot it, and chased it away.
I send a messenger to Chancellor Napier tasking him with finding out what is bothering the villages so much, for it was certainly within the dragon's ability to cause the villages grief, if she so desired. Is she taking an interest in "local affairs"?
I consult with others, as well, and by the end of this first day of this special week, I'm nearly groggy with all the conferring and researching I've done. I return to the main room, and my ladies have been waiting patiently. They have cleaned the place, cleaned themselves and partly prepared a meal. "But before you eat." orders Paltrice, "you must be cleaned, as well." Paltrice and Anna, remove my work clothes, and lead me to the tub area. In the tub I'm rubbed and scrubbed, and afterwards I'm treated to a fine massage with scented oils. I'm presented with a simple but elegant linen robe to wear for dinner.
Chasta has been busy with pots and pans, and the dinner is a fine prime rib repast. After the dinner we lounge around the fireplace. I talk about my day while Chasta and Anna write glyphs on my arms and back. It is most soothing...
The girls seem unusually interested in my efforts... for girls, that is. I like this.... I'm getting to like these women more every day. They try to help, so I answer many of their questions
"Have you sought a champion?" asks Chasta as I tell about what I'm doing.
"I have not, as yet. Any champion willing to go into her lair will be a foolhardy one. He will just cause trouble, not solve the problem."
"What will a dragon leave it's lair for?" asks Anna. She is cuddling more closely.
"Food and treasure, mostly. I think you ladies fall in the food category."
"Are you sure?" Anna asks as her fingers brush the nape of my neck.
"You know.... I'm not. That's worth investigating further. Make a note of that for me, will you, Chasta?" and she does. "Maybe cutting off the dragon's 'maiden supply' means more than just the loss of some tasty dessert."
"Can you leave treasure outside with a champion guarding it?" asks Paltrice. She is writing glyphs on my wrist. The glyphs themselves are meaningless, but the delicate touching involved in their writing is so soothing, it's a most delicate form of massage.
"The dragon would notice, but they are very crafty creatures. If she detected the champion was weak, she would finish him in a heartbeat and take the treasure in. If she thought he was strong, she would bide her time. If she didn't know, she would wait until she could find out."
"What of the treasure itself?" asked Chasta, "Soldiers who were friends of my father have told me the tale of the Trojan Horse."
"The treasure will be examined carefully, many times, by the dragon. They enjoy being greedy... but the idea has merit."
The discussion did not go on much longer, I was dead beat. We slept as a foursome again that night, but about four hours into the sleep I was up again for a couple hours, making plans and scribbling notes. These women fired me, and it felt very good. After a couple hours I return to bed, and we all wake at dawn and do some more cuddling.
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