[Freezair]

"Yeah, hon, sure. They'd send a human to seduce a Paragon."

"The Enemy has much intelligence on me. They know my tastes are... broad."

"Wait, what? Eww!" She backed up sharply.

"Don't worry..." Lohe groaned.

[136]

[Freezair]

"Either way, we accept."

"Do not claim to speak for me, Lohe," Kaimana said.

"If I try anything, you have permission to flame me or whatever," the merchant said.

[137]

[Freezair]

"Don't make that offer," Lohe grumbled. "You don't know how paranoid he is..."

"Nor do you," Kaimana said. "You barely know the half of it, my good man."

[138]

[Freezair]

"He seems like a wonderful traveling partner. You wanna tell me how you ended up with someone like him?"

"Family," Lohe said. "Mostly. He's a relative of my mistress. Let's walk and talk."

"Hey!" Kai boomed. "I never said I accept!"

[139]

[Freezair]

"If you want to leave, you haven't a choice!" Lohe boomed back.

Kaimana snarled, but he paced behind them as Lohe explained to the merchant about his family. Kaimana spent his time looking suspiciously at passerby.

[140]

[Freezair]

The merchant took Lohe and Kaimana off the main thoroughfare into an alleyway. Kaimana looked suspciously behind him, his shoulders cagey. Lohe could raise his head almosy high enough to see over the buildings. He didn't fear much.

[141]

[Freezair]

The merchant woman squeezed around a stack of crates. She looked awkwardly back and Lohe and Kaimana, though. Kaimana gave Lohe a steely look and began to clamber over the pile. He slipped and brought a crate down on himself. Lohe groaned, and hopped over them.

[142]

[Freezair]

The woman laughed. "Well, it's kind of cute that he's clumsy, anyway. I've always liked Rockbeaks. They have such sweetly dopey expressions."

Kaimana was too busy getting himself out of the crate to hear. Lohe seemed to swerve between looking amused and looking horrified. "Ma'am..." he began, but didn't finish.

[143]

[Freezair]

"Come on, you two," she urged them. "The wizard's just back this way. She knows me, so c'mon."

Lohe started after her, but a loud noise held them back. Kaimana had made another unsuccessful attempt to surmount the crate stack.

[144]

[Freezair]

Finally, Kaimana got over the "block tower." Lohe gave him a claw to help him on. The merchant lead them down the back streets.

A vibrant purple, glittery awning greeted them. Even Kaimana looked a bit taken aback. There was no building, thankfully--how would they even get inside?

The merchant stepped into the shade. They peeped after her.

[145]

[Freezair]

A tiny figure, wrapped up in many yards of cloth, ambled out from the deepest shade. A cooling cloth covered their face.

"How may I help you, my child?" it asked. Its voice was old and hollow, and too worn to be obviously male or female. Lohe and Kaimana swapped glances.

[146]

[Freezair]

"Hey, Mems," the merchant said. "These here are my buddies, uh--"

"Kaimana."

"Lohe."

"Right. They're in trouble. They need some help."

The wizard nodded.

[147]

[Freezair]

Lohe explained the situation, as he always did. Kaimana hung back, with his wings in a defensive pose. He looked wary at the explanation. The wizard's pose changed as it listened.

[148]

[Freezair]

"These are strange traveler's you've found, Dresha..." the wizard said, eventually.

"Well, you must understand why we really must get home," Lohe said. "It's been a long, strange day."

"You know," Kaimana mused, "the more I hear that story, the more I wonder if it wasn't a trap..."

[149]

[Freezair]

"Oooh yes. Enemies everywhere, there are..." the wizard agreed.

Kaimana's eyes bugged out. "You mean... you... you know them as well?"

"Oooh, very well, my child..."

Lohe's jaw gaped.

[150]