Tom followed Diavla and Varga downstairs. Sheema and Kevin had not yet emerged, though his lovers informed him that it had gotten quiet in there. It was a surprise, however, that when they reached the common area, neither Kervan nor Summer Daring were around.

Tom was not fond of surprises during a crisis. "Where did they go? Were they taken?" He took one step towards the door before both of the women grabbed him, and patted his arms in reassurance.

"They have sex," Diavla whispered.

Tom boggled. Summer and Kervan? Didn't they just meet today? I mean, I'm not one to criticize, and I suppose we kind of left them in an odd situation when the rest of us went upstairs for sex—and what were we thinking anyway, doing that now?

"Should I—?"

"Kervan did hear you, Tom," Diavla told him. "They come soon."

Tom stared at her for a moment, then snorted a quiet laugh. "I'll bet."

"What is very happy, Tom?"

"I will say later. Not now," he clarified when Diavla's expression clouded, and she nodded. A moment later he jumped a bit, startled, when Varga groped his butt. "Minx," he called her, and the redhead simply smiled.

A minute or so after that, Sheema and Kevin emerged from the room they used and descended the stairs. Kevin looked rather rumpled, but Sheema seemed as fresh as a new flower blooming. She wore a smug smile that looked all too familiar to Tom; he saw it on his lovers' faces, and expected he would see it if he looked in a water barrel too.

Sheema patted Kevin's arm and gestured for him to wait, then left the group and walked down the hall. She stopped at one closed door, and called loudly, "Summer? Please. You...give...clothes? Please?"

I'm surprised Sheema picked up that much Western already, Tom mused. Maybe Varga or Orvan learned more than they let on, and taught her on the way here?

Summer's muffled voice called back, "Ah...one minute! Wait, please!" She sounded a bit harried, as well she might.

Soon, the door opened a bit. Summer's face appeared, and her hand clutched a blue dress. She looked Sheema up and down a moment, and said, "Um, no. Wait." The door closed again, and shortly after, a red dress came flying out at Sheema.

"Thank you!" Sheema called. Then, the violet-eyed elf proceeded to shuck nearly all her clothing right there in the hall, keeping only the under wrap for her loins. Topless, she looked their way with an impish smile, orienting the red dress in her hands.

Great Gods. Tom's breath caught. Sheema's body was lusciously and bountifully curved, but that was only part of her appeal. She was also stunningly beautiful, artistically so. Further, something about her attitude, or her expression, inflamed his blood more than it should. He couldn't help but imagining laying his hands on that body, and—

Diavla brushed past him with a slight shove, and marched over to Sheema, blocking Tom's view somewhat. She proceeded to help Sheema squeeze herself into the red dress, but since he couldn't really see the healer, he blinked and came back to his senses.

Oh, Gods, why was I such a simpleton just now? By all that's good, I just had a wonderful time with two amazing women at once! Why am I ogling yet another woman like a boy whose blood is heating for the first time?

Tom turned away, mad at himself. Diavla's insecure around Sheema, I've picked up that much. And now I've gone and shown interest in Sheema, and hurt Diavla's feelings. I am such an oaf! What's gotten into me?

He glanced at Varga, expecting condemnation, but she just patted his arm, staring down the hall herself. "Zadda zadda,"she muttered, then looked at Tom's worried expression and smiled faintly. "Give Diavla kiss. You see Diavla. You see and see. Do you understand?" The last phrase came out smoothly, as they used it to each other nigh constantly.

Tom nodded. Pay her attention, show her I prefer her to Sheema.

"Saa. And you see me," she demanded, looking pretend hurt and tapping her chest. Tom leaned in closer and gave the redheaded elf a smoldering look. Do you need a reminder of what I just did with you—to you? he thought at her. Varga twisted her lips in an odd smile, and pointed at his face. "That. You give that Diavla, Diavla see, Diavla happy."

"Thank you, Varga."

Varga was looking down the hall again and heaved a wistful sigh. She tapped his arm again. "We no see now."

Tom turned, and Sheema had put on her cloak over the red dress, hiding her figure. Diavla walked back over to Tom. He met her gaze. "I love you," he told her quietly. For emphasis, he repeated slowly, "I...love...you." He stared into her eyes until her smile returned.

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Diavla sighed. "Sheema is...Sheema," she said, sounding mostly resigned. She went up on her toes, seeking a kiss, and he gave her a good one. "That's better," the amber-eyed elf sighed finally. A slightly embarrassed silence ensued as everyone stood around, all deeply aware of what they had all been doing not long ago.

At that point, Summer and Kervan came out and joined them. Kervan was back in his armor, and Summer...Tom blinked. Summer was wearing black leather armor, and he noticed a couple of rents where it had been damaged. No, it can't be.The woman walked right up to Tom. It is.

"Kervan says you are trustworthy." At that, she colored slightly with embarrassment. "I keep your secrets, and you keep mine," she declared firmly.

Tom nodded. "Of course. Thank you. And thank you for the rescue."

"I told you I might show you why I'm called Daring," she reminded him. Then she smirked. "And don't worry about thanks. I was well-paid."

Tom rapidly reassessed what little he knew of the woman, combining it with her fighting skill. He was impressed. This is a formidable woman.

"Are you healed up?" he asked politely.

The woman nodded. "Yes. Some of my gear is a bit worse for wear. I'll do my best."

"Your best is very good."

"Yes, it is."

They both grinned. I can see why Kervan took the opportunity when it presented itself, he thought, then pried his thoughts away from that direction. What is wrong with me today?

Varga tensed suddenly, then spoke in Elvish too rapidly for Tom to understand. She moved swiftly and quietly towards the first floor hallway, as if braced for battle. Summer seemed to glide after her. Tom shifted his weight, wondering if a fight was about to break out. But then, Varga stopped and relaxed. "It is Piper."

The blonde child trudged in the back door at the end of the hall. She stopped and took a breath, looked up, saw everyone, and ran over. "There you are, Mr. Walker! I've been all over the place looking for you!"

"Piper? What happened?" Tom asked.

The girl's eyes got round. "I went to the Temple but I had to go the long way because of the guards and then I had to go back and then I had to wait and then I ran into Mr. Grangus and then he told me things and I headed south only I couldn't go that way so I had to sneak back and it took forever and Bill Guard almost caught me twice and I had to run so far and I had no idea where you were and finally I gave up and came here and here you are and I—"

"Piper!" Summer Daring ordered. "Slow breath, then tell us calmly."

Piper impatiently took a dramatically deep breath, and took a long time exhaling it.

"That's better. Now, kindly explain."

Piper did.

∘ ⛥ ⛯ ⛥ ∘

Tom hated this plan. He absolutely hated it.

"Why can't I do it?" he pleaded by way of Eubexa, hoping to find some fault in Diavla's reasoning.

"Because they know you, Tom; Quazulin already infected you once. You'd never get close enough."

"Then have Sheema do it."

"She says that she's too powerful and they won't let her get close. They can sense her, and they will be on alert."

"One of the Temple Priests, then!"

"Forester knows them all; Quazulin won't fall for it. Tom, it has to be a spell caster, it can't be one from the town, and it can't be you or Sheema. That leaves me."

"There's got to be something...!" Tom trailed off, having failed to come up with an alternative.

"Tom," Diavla switched to Western, "I am not die today. I can not. I have...great happy when I come back." She pressed one palm against his chest with a smile.

"She has too much to live for, I think she means," Eubexa commented. "My, you really do have a strong bond, don't you?"

"Piper, how fast can you get to the others and tell them the plan is set?" Summer asked.

The girl heaved a dramatic sigh, then stared off into space. "Half an hour, so long as everybody's where they're supposed to be." Tom was amused that the child still seemed so annoyed with him for not being at the Temple when she got there.

"All right, then hop to it."

"Yes, Miss Daring." The girl ran out the back door of the tavern.

"Does everyone have what they need?" he asked. Everyone nodded. "Then we go in ten minutes."

This had better work, Tom thought worriedly, looking at Diavla.

∘ ⛥ ⛯ ⛥ ∘

They left the Wandering Ax and turned onto Temple Road. They had to walk a few blocks up to the plaza in front of the Temple, and they could already see people in the distance. They had only gone a short distance before Sheema called out something. Tom turned, and she was frowning, her chest heaving slightly.

A moment later, Kervan said, "Kevin. Sheema ask you, she go on you back?"

"Of course, my love," Kevin answered at once, and crouched down. Sheema awkwardly climbed up on his back, and he hoisted her into the air, then looked at Tom and nodded.

The elf on his back grumbled something in Elvish; Tom thought he caught the words"stupid body" somewhere in there. But she kissed the man's head, and murmured, "Thank you, good Kevin," in Western.

Makes sense that they worked a bit of a language lesson in there during their activities, Tom thought. He turned his attention back to their march, which could move more quickly now. Another glance back confirmed that Kevin was able to keep up.

With each side street they passed, the tension increased like a tightening bowstring. They watched their little formation as they approached the Temple. Diavla was on Tom's right, Varga on his left. Kevin carrying Sheema was next, and Kervan and Summer brought up the rear.

Tom carried spear and sword, while his lovers wielded spears. Summer—Daring--carried two batons in an easy grip, and he could see at least one dagger at her belt. She'd put on her mask before they left the tavern. Kervan had his two daggers at the ready.

They reached the plaza and started working around to the left, away from the south wall of the town and its demon ward. The crowd of possessed guards and townsfolk spotted them, and several started to move closer. In reaction, they picked up their own pace, and tried to get past.

Tom stumbled on a cobblestone, almost twisting an ankle. Diavla gave him a push to keep him upright, but ended up falling over herself onto the ground. Her amulet went flying—its cord was broken.

It landed on the ground, making several of Quazulin's copies flinch and dodge it. Two of them darted forward and seized Diavla by her hair and arms. She let out a yell of pain. Tom's way to her was quickly blocked by guards armed with truncheons, and he could do nothing about it. The possessed dragged Diavla off towards the center of the crowd—towards Quazulin.

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