Chapter 5: Nimble Fingers

Thanks to b0b for beta reading this!

Chaun – The Free City of Raratha

I smiled as I glanced at the seven halfling wives roaming the riverboat named The Halfling’s Harem. The memory of each one of the gasping and heaving beneath me, thinking I was their husband, made my dick throb in my leather pants. Captain Natan had no idea I cuckold him with each of his wives.

I hoped at least one of the halfling females were pregnant with my child. All seven would be amazing, but I doubted I was that lucky. My eyes flicked to each of them as they waved goodbye from the ships railing to our partner. I pictured each one of their bellies growing round as my child grew in them.

Natan would raise my bastards. No one would know my sons were changelings until they hit puberty. By then, Natan would have no idea who the changeling was that had cuckold him. My dick ached so badly. I wanted to find another married woman, take on her husband’s appearance, and breed her, too.

It was addictive.

“Chaun,” Angela called. “Chaun, we’re leaving.”

“Hmm?” I asked, blinking out of my thoughts.

“We have business to be about, remember?” Angela arched her eyebrow. She stood holding the reins to her massive warhorse Midnight, the knight dressed in her armor.

Sophia giggled, “What are you thinking about, Chaun?”

“That groom you had a crush on as a girl,” I answered Sophia. “What was his name? Eric?”

Sophia’s cheeks went crimson. The lesbian acolyte hated being reminded she once had lusts for a handsome, young man. She raised her head and answered, “I really don’t remember. That was so many years ago.”

“I could refresh you,” I shrugged as I stared at her. I could see Eric in her mind. My body yearned to become him, but I fought against it. I maintained my disguise as a Thosian human. It was close to the appearance I had before I hit puberty and I learned I was a changeling.

I usually adopted it when I hid my true nature. Humans, and other races, did not like changeling. We had a well-deserved reputation of cuckolding men and making them raise our bastard children. It was dangerous to use my real appearance in such a large city.

“Let me become Eric and you can act out those girlhood fantasies.”

Sophia stuck her tongue out at me.

Thrak laughed. The crowd on the docks kept a wide berth around the orc barbarian. Raratha was a cosmopolitan city, and an assortment of races from the known world passed through its ports. But an orc was not one of them. His hulking height would make him stand out without his brown-red, scarred skin and bone piercings adorning his face.

With them, they made people flinch.

“Yes, let’s get to the inn,” Faoril said. “Everyone is watching. We stand out. We need to get out of sight before rumors spread. Then Sophia can cast her divination spell so we can find the thief.”

“It would be wise,” the naked Xera said. Beside Thrak, she garnered the most attention with her tall, willowy body, green hair, and pointed ears. No one else on the docks stood naked and unabashed. “It would be ill-advised for the Doge to learn we traveled together.”

My eyes flicked up to the Saltspray Palace sitting on the bluff overlooking the city. I had not stepped into a court or place of power since the prince of Kivnar found me abed with his wife, and my lover, Princess Adelaide. The Bardic College of Az stripped me of my right to perform to appease the prince. But if I appeared with Angela and Sophia, they would call on me to perform.

It would be wonderful to use my talents on those who could fully appreciate the beauty then the low inns and common taverns I had frequented since my disgrace. Excitement bubbled through me. Lady Delilah had promised me a court to perform in if I aided Angela.

I closed my eyes as I held tight to the reins of my horse Maiden. I imagined the splendor of the court, the wealthy merchants of Raratha clapping politely as I took to the stage then the hush silence would settle over them as I sang one of the High Songs. There would be no drunken laborers laughing or whores blandishing their wares.

My audience would respect my craft.

“Chaun?” Sophia asked. “You’re doing it again.”

“Yes, yes, sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “Just thinking about performing.” A smile crossed my lips. “Raratha is one of the richest cities in the world. The Doge may only rule a city and the land surrounding it, but he is as powerful as the King of Valya or Secare. And he will demand my talents when we present ourselves.”

“Not if we stand here forever while you daydream,” Sophia said. She mounted Purity, her white mare. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Yes, yes,” I nodded, excitement bubbling through me. I turned to mount my horse when a street urchin bumped into me. “My pardon.”

The child didn’t answer, but scampered off and vanished into the press of the crowd. I blinked and shook my head. I went to mount my horse when Xera rushed past me, her green hair flowing behind her.

“Xera?” Angela asked.

“The halfling stole Chaun’s coin purse,” the elf shouted, “when she bumped into him.”

I blinked. “What?”

Xera melted into the crowd, weaving after the child that had bumped into me. My hand slid down to my belt. Instead of finding my coin purse hanging from my side, I felt nothing. The cords tying it to my belt had been severed.

“Las’s cum,” I gaped.

“The thief,” Sophia giggled. “I think it was a female.”

Faoril let out a mournful sigh. “Xera knows the directions to the inn?”

Angela nodded. “Yes, let’s get out of the street and wait for her to return. Perhaps we won’t need Sophia’s spell.”

“I didn’t even realize it,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief as I stroked the cut ends of the string. “She bumped into me for a heartbeat. How did she cut it so fast?”

Xerathalasia

My heart beat with excitement as I raced into the crowd after the halfling. She dressed like the other children playing on the docks, using her short stature to blend in with them. She kept her hood up to hide the metallic bronze of her skin. The local humans were mostly Valyan stock, with bluish skin. But in the dense crowd, it would be hard to tell her apart from the human children.

Smart.

“Move, move,” I said to the humans who gaped at my naked body. Humans were lusty creatures, yet they kept themselves clothed. It made little sense to me. “Out of the way.”

The thief had spotted me chasing her. Already she wove through the crowd, her small stature allowing her to slip around the humans bustling through the crowd with ease. But not me. I had to push and press through them, my naked body rubbing across robed men and women.

It was hard to follow the thief’s progress through the crowd. It appeared that she made her way towards an alley. I had hunted in the dense underbrush of my home forest. I was skilled at spotting my pray through gaps in leaves and foliage.

This was no different.

I twisted my body and pressed between a pair of humans, jostling them. They yelled at me as I broke into a momentary hold in the traffic allowing me to take several running steps before I crashed into the flood of pedestrians. I caught glimpses of the halfling. She had gained distance on me and had almost reached the alley.

This would not do.

The alley lead between wooden buildings. They looked as easy to climb as the trees in my home. I could race across the roof and avoided the crowd. It was the only way I could catch her. I may even be able to get ahead of her.

“Please move,” I shouted. “I need to get through.”

“Where are your clothes?” a scandalized woman of middle years gasped as she stepped aside for me.

I grit my teeth as I twisted around a man pushing a wheelbarrow and went right into the path of a stout man wrapped into a robe. I crashed into him. His bulk almost threw me off my feet, but I snagged the cowl of his robe to hold myself up right.

“Now, really, miss,” the fat man groaned as he knocked away my hand.

“Sorry,” I answered. “I’m chasing a thief.”

The man’s face glowered and he straightened his cowl. “Quite all right. I suggest handing the miscreant over to the guard and letting them hang the ruffian.”

For theft? I didn’t inquire more. I had to get to the building. The halfling had vanished down the alley. She ran fast on her tiny legs. I would lose her if I didn’t make the rooftops right now. I elbowed a slim man out of the way as I raced for the side of the wall. The man screamed profanities at me as I leaped.

My fingers caught the eaves. I swung my naked body onto the tiled roof with ease. The tiles made the footing uneven, but my bare feet had little trouble traversing the treacherous ground. I let my legs stretch and ran at full speed.

The thief darted around a corner, throwing a look over her shoulder, searching for me in the crowd. She didn’t spot me on the rooftop. I smiled and leaped to the roof on the other side of the alley and ran across it diagonally, hoping to cut off the thief.

I reached the other side of the roof. The buildings here were built close together, the streets narrow. A maze of turns and twists stretched out before me. The halfling was nowhere to be seen. I swallowed, my heart thudding. She must have turned down another street when she was out of sight.

“Matar’s cock,” I groaned and leaped across the street, running fast. My ears twitched. I strained for the sound of her footsteps.

There were hundreds of footsteps echoing through the air. The warren of side streets around the buildings bustled, too. Boots thudded on the cobblestone. The slap of bare feet echoed. Soft-soled slippers whisked. Even wooden shoes clattered. I strained for the thief’s bare feet running. The quick slap-slap.

Rising out of the cacophony, my ears identified a pair of slapping steps to my right. I changed my direction of running. I leaped over another short street onto the opposite rooftop. People shouted from below as I raced across the roofs, honing in on the slapping footsteps. They slowed, the thief relaxing, thinking she had eluded me. The steps grew to a confident strut.

I had her.

I raced across a narrow rope stretched between two buildings across a wider street. Clothing hung from it. The rope swayed as my feet danced across it to the other side. People applauded below. Why? It didn’t matter. I had to reach the thief.

Her footsteps took her around the corner of the roof I was on. I crouched, moving slower as I scampered across the roof. I reached the edge and peered down, spotting her holding Chaun’s purse. She leaned against the wall right below me and opened it up.

I dropped down, twisting around to face her as I landed.

The halfling betrayed only the smallest amount of surprise. The coin purse jingled in her hand. Her sapphire eyes widened. And then she darted to the right. My hand latched out, seizing the roughspun robe she wore.

Laughing, the thief slithered out of the robe and darted away from me, exposing her slim body in tight leather britches and a band about her small breasts. Without the robe on, she would be hard to mistake for a child with her womanly curves.

But I was swifter. My other hand lashed out and seized a fistful of her short, metallic-red hair. The thief let out a gasp of pain as I hauled her back. She spun and dropped the coin purse before drawing a pair of knives.

“I don’t want to harm you,” I said as I let go of her hair and dodged the first swing of her knife.

“Oh, then what do you want to do with me, elf?” the thief asked as she pivoted on the balls of her feet. Her blades gleamed in the sunlight streaming between the buildings.

“Hire you,” I answered. “You are very skilled. I almost didn’t notice your theft. I most certainly didn’t hear you approach my friend.”

Excitement gleamed in her eyes. “So, what, that purse was a job interview? The best thief that can steal it you want to hire.”

I decided not to admit the whole truth. “We need to find the best thief to help us,” I told her. “Is that you?”

The halfling grinned, flashing her teeth. “Why, yes it is.” She sheathed her knives and moved towards me. She shoved her foot beneath Chaun’s coin purse, rolling it onto the top of her foot, and kicked it up into the air at me. “I am the best.”

I caught the coin purse as she closed the distance and, to my shock, kissed me right on my clit.

Electricity shot right through my body. “What?”

“I love elves,” she moaned and kissed my clit again. “I’d love to work with you.”

Minx

I had been so worried that I had lost the elf in the crowd. Adel’s plan hinged on me getting caught without making it look like I wanted to be caught. The whole con was predicated on it. So when I realized I ran a little too well, I feared I had bungled the entire plan. When Xera had found me, I had been contemplating what to do next.

I really hadn’t wanted to go back to Adel and tell her what happened. And then the elf dropped from the sky, her large breasts bouncing as she landed before me. My eyes couldn’t help but shoot between her thighs, hoping her dick would sprout.

Women with dicks were so hot. Maybe instead of retiring in Baraconia like I planned with my wealth from selling the High King’s sword, I should settle in Orcona, the nixie city. They were all hermaphrodites, their cocks always sprouted unlike elves.

In the meantime, I couldn’t resist Xera’s cock. Plus, it was amusing as the elf squirmed while I kissed and nibbled on her clit. Her pussy had a flowery taste, different from Adel’s. Xera reminded me of marigolds.

“What are you doing?” Xera panted.

“Just getting to know you,” I giggled. “If we’re going to be working together. I’m Minx.” I leaned in and kissed her clit again. Like Adel, Xera’s height put her pussy right at mouth level.

“Xerathalasia,” the elf moaned, her large breasts heaving. “But you can call me Xera.”

“Pretty name,” I said, pretending I didn’t know. I licked my sticky lips before adding, “Mmm, you have such a pretty clit.”

“Thanks,” she moaned as I latched my lips on it and sucked again. My tongue swirled about her bud. I couldn’t wait to stimulate her enough for her dick to sprout just like Adel’s would. Racing through the streets had made my blood pump.

That always made me horny for Spray’s dick. And Xera’s elf-cock would be just as wonderful as my nixie lover’s shaft.

Xera made such sweet moans as I licked and sucked on her clit. The fingers of my left hand dug into her butt while my other digits stroked her wet, hot pussy lips. My tongue explored her clit. It throbbed hard from its cute sheath.

“Minx,” Xera sighed and trembled.

People passed us. Some paused to watch. That made it even kinkier. My pussy itched. My hips shifted in my leather britches. I couldn’t wait to have my small hole stretched out by the elf’s big cock. It would be amazing.

My teeth nipped her clit while my fingers caressed her pussy lips. She bucked and moaned. Her juices flooded out, dripping down my fingers to my hand. I loved the sticky feel. I latched my lips around her clit and sucked hard as I shoved a pair of fingers deep into her pussy.

“You are so affectionate,” gasped Xera. “Oh, wow, Sophia will love you.”

It was hard not to mention I knew exactly why Sophia would love me. Adel had briefed me on all the party members. They all sounded fun to play with—dominating Angela, Sophia the lesbian priestess, Faoril and her naughty magic, the massive Thrak, and the beautiful Chaun. But Xera excited me the most.

She could sprout a dick.

I sucked even harder. I wanted her dick to appear. My cheeks hollowed as I sucked. I loved the obscene sounds my mouth made as my two fingers probed in and out of the elf’s hot, juicy cunt. She shuddered and writhed on my fingers, gasping for all the streets to hear.

“Right on the streets,” a woman disapproved. “I had heard elves were immoral creatures.”

“I know,” another woman said with a sniff.

I lifted my lips from her cunt and glared at the pair of women walking by. “And you two don’t lick each other’s cunts while your husbands are fishing the bay?”

The women’s blue cheeks darkened. “We don’t do it in public,” the first woman said. “Harlot.”

“Sorry,” Xera moaned. “My friend is a little too—”

I cut off her words by sucking hard on her clit again. Xera’s squeal echoed down the street. The two women walked away, their hips shifting. I bet they were off to frig each other. Probably while watching us from a window.

Hypocrites.

“Minx,” Xera panted. “Oh, wow, yes. Keep tonguing me. Mmm, you love my clit.”

“Uh-huh,” I panted and slipped a third finger into her pussy.

Her flesh clenched on my fingers as she shuddered. Her hands seized her heavy breasts. Her fingers dug into her pillowy mounds as she threw back her head. Her hips undulated and humped against my lips as she brought herself closer and closer to exploding.

I wanted her cock to swell and explode down my throat. She had to be close to sprouting. Adel’s dick would already be growing by now. I couldn’t wait for the elf’s dick to expand into my mouth, stretching my jaws until she was too big for me to swallow.

Maybe Xera needed more stimulation for that.

I curled my fingers and made a fist, then fucked my hand deep into her cunt. Xera gasped and her hips bucked. Her moans echoed through the streets. I hoped everyone enjoyed the show. I wanted them all to jerk off and rub their clits watching us.

That made me so hot.

I reamed my fist over and over into the hot, sucking depths of Xera’s cunt. She cried out in her musical language. She had to be close to sprouting now. The heat swelled in her pussy. Her flesh clenched down on me.

“Matar’s cock,” she screamed.

Juices gushed around my arm in a fountain, soaking me to my elbow. Her pussy spasmed about my fist. She thrashed and moaned as her orgasm seized her. I pulled my lips away and stared up at her in shock.

Where was her cock?

“Oh, yes, Minx,” Xera moaned as she shuddered through her orgasm. Her ears twitched as they poked through her green hair. Her face contorted with bliss. “Yes, yes, yes. Sophia will love you.”

“Why didn’t your cock sprout?” I demanded. “I need to be fucked so hard by it.”

“Huh?” Xera moaned as another shudder wracked her body.

“Your cock. Where is it?” I pulled my drenched fist from her pussy.

“I’m not in heat.” Xera sucked in a deep breath. “It’s over a week away.”

“But I stimulated your clit. That can make it sprout early.”

Xera laughed. “I don’t know where you learned that from. The hermaphroditic races are all different.”

My forehead furrowed. Then how had Adel’s cock sprouted when I stimulated her? She lied to me. It didn’t surprise me. Adel would try and betray me and keep the sword for herself, but that was down the road.

Did that mean Adel wasn’t an elf?

“And there’s not different elf races?” I frowned. “Are you from the Ten-It Forest?”

“No, the Deorc,” Xera answered. “But our cousins in the Ten-It Forest are no different than us. Elves are elves. Why do you ask?”

“I guess I shouldn’t listen to stories,” I laughed before licking at her fingers. So what made Adel different? Was she actually an elf? “Mmm, I made you cum hard.”

Xera nodded. “You did. We should get going though. My companions are waiting.”

I squeezed my thighs together. My horniness remained, but Xera couldn’t sprout her cock right now. “Okay. Companions, huh? Like that idiot who let me steal his purse.”

“There is a reason we need a thief.”

I glanced at Xera. “Why? You’re pretty nimble. You caught me. I thought I had lost you entirely. How did you find me?”

“I listened.”

Thrak

The private room we rented at the Maiden’s Dew had small chairs. It creaked beneath me every time I shifted as I sat at the table. It felt flimsy made. I feared it would collapse into kindling beneath my size at any moment.

We sat around the table explaining everything to Minx. The halfling thief stood on her chair to meet our eye level, an excited glint in her eyes. She hadn’t batted an eye at the prophecy or fighting a dragon, but when we told her we needed to break into the Great Vault, she almost came.

“That is amazing,” Minx said, bouncing on her chair. “Of course I’ll help you out. I’ve dreamed of getting into the doge’s vault.”

“That easy, huh?” Sophia asked as she stared with open interest at Minx.

“Yep,” the thief said. “I am tired of picking pockets. This is exciting.” She clapped her hands together. “I dreamed of breaking into the vault with Fox.”

“Fox?” Faoril asked. “A pet.”

“My sister.” Minx’s excitement slipped, replaced by pain. Grief.

“Oh, would she be able to help?” Sophia asked.

Angela placed a hand on Sophia’s arm. “I don’t think she can.”

Minx shook her head and then her smile came back. “No, no. She can’t. She’s ... well...”

“Sorry for your loss,” Sophia said.

“Anyways,” continued Minx, “I can help you. I’ve wanted to break into the Vault forever.”

“What will you need?” I asked.

“Well, I’ll need to see the Vault first, inspect the lock and all. So you’ll have to smuggle me in to the palace somehow.”

“The Doge does love giving tours of it to his guests,” Sophia said. “I bet we can figure out a way to bring you in with us. Perhaps you could be a serving girl.”

Minx shook her head. “I would never pass. Not tall enough. Too halfling. You know, bronze skin. It makes me stand out from the locals.”

“We all stand out from the locals,” giggled Sophia. “Though the women are beautiful.”

“I bet you could hide beneath Sophia’s robes. You’re short enough.”

“That won’t work,” Faoril objected. “It’ll be so obvious. You’ll be walking bowlegged. Both our robes hang to flush to our hips and waist.”

“It’ll have to be you, Angela,” Sophia grinned.

The knight frowned. “How? There is no way she can hide beneath my loincloth.”

I nodded in agreement. “Yes, if Sophia or Faoril’s robes will not work, neither will that strip of metal.”

Chaun strummed a note on his lyre. “Well, I think I know exactly what Sophia is planning. Angela, how much do you know of the local fashion?”

“Not much.”

“The ladies where hoop skirts,” grinned Sophia. “It makes them have wide hips. Plenty of room to hide Minx beneath your skirt.”

“You want me to wear a dress?” Angela asked, wincing.

“Have you ever worn one?” I asked, leaning forward. My chair creaked dangerously beneath me.

“Not in a long time,” Angela muttered. “I never liked them.”

“Well, I need to inspect the vault,” Minx insisted. “I can’t go in blind. I need to know what tools I’ll need and obstacles to overcome. The Doge prides himself on the impenetrability of the Great Vault.”

“What of a spell?” I asked Faoril.

“You did turn our horses invisible,” added Chaun. He leaned back in his chair, clearly not afraid of it splintering beneath him. His boot went up on the table. He sat relaxed. “What if you turned her invisible. Then she would have free rein to roam the palace.”

“It doesn’t work well if a person moves,” Faoril explained. “It is too obvious that the spell is compensating to bend the light around the subject. And I’m no shadowmancer. The horses did not move when I hid them. So unless Minx wants to stay stationary, my magic will not work.”

“There’s probably spells warding the Vault,” added Minx.

“And you can deal with spells?” Faoril asked with a frown.

“Well, I may need your assistance,” Minx shrugged. “But I know the signs. Many of the wealthy hire mages to ward their property. Many red robes come down from Esh-Esh to make a living. The merchants are always wasting their money on frivolities.”

“When we present ourselves to the Doge,” Sophia said, “we merely have to inquire about a tour. We set it up and then Angela can wear one of the dresses the Doge will lend her and smuggle in Minx.”

“The Doge will lend me a dress?” frowned Angela.

“Of course he will,” Sophia laughed. She shook her head. “You’re a count’s daughter, Mistress. You should know that.”

“My father didn’t have spare dresses to lend to visiting nobles,” Angela muttered, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not sure I like your impertinence, Sophia.”

“Sorry, Mistress,” smirked Sophia, “I guess you’ll just have to spank me.”

“Can I watch?” grinned Minx.

“Ooh, yes, you can,” Sophia nodded. “I like her, Mistress.”

“You like any woman,” Angela sighed. She closed her eyes. “And, I assume you and Faoril can’t wear the dresses because of your occupations.”

“Yes,” Faoril nodded.

“Uh-huh.” Sophia slid her chair closer to Angela’s. “But don’t worry, you’ll look gorgeous in it.”

I shifted in my chair. I had no place in the plan. I stood out too much. I would have to lounge in the inn, finding ways to amuse myself as my companions took the risk of breaking into the Vault. My hand clenched.

I would almost prefer assaulting the Doge’s palace. But we were in civilized lands. Angela was uncomfortable enough breaking into the vault. She would never lead a charge on the palace to take what we needed.

Pity. It would save time.

Faoril patted my arm. “I know. Waiting can be hard. But we are in Raratha. There are book merchants. Imagine what you can find.”

A smile crossed my lips. “That is one way to pass the hours.”

“Well,” Chaun said, strumming his lyre again, “we should present ourselves to the Doge. It’s nearing sunset.”

“And I have to attend to some business,” Minx added.

“Such as?” Chaun asked.

Minx only grinned at him and hopped off her chair. “How do we communicate?”

“I will go shopping in the morning,” Faoril said. “We can stroll through the market near the inn and speak with you. We’ll try and schedule an appointment to inspect the Vault tomorrow afternoon. I assume you can break into the guest apartments without being spotted.”

“Yes,” Minx nodded.

Faoril leaned over and kissed me. “I expect you to find interesting books. We’ll have plenty of time to read as we sail to the Isle of Birds.”

“What?” Minx asked.

“That’s where the next piece of the sword is,” Angela answered. “Hidden on Mount Peritito. I hope you understand that breaking into the Vault is not the end of our quest.”

“I understand,” Minx nodded, her eyes greedy. “We’ll need a boat. I have just the idea.” Her eyes flashed to me, a grin spreading on her lips. “Yes, yes, you’ll be perfect, Orc. Pirates will be scared of you.”

“Pirates?” spluttered Sophia.

Acolyte Sophia

“I can’t believe pirates are getting involved now,” Angela groaned as we rode up the paved street that wound up the bluff, passing the palatial estates of the rich and powerful of Raratha on our way to the Saltspray Palace.

“Well, they won’t care that we’re thieves,” I shrugged. “Come on, Angela, we’re on a quest.”

“It definitely will make your tale even more exciting,” agreed Chaun.

“See,” I beamed. “An exciting tale.”

“I don’t want an exciting tale,” Angela groaned. “I just want to kill the dragon and come home so I can be a full knight. I don’t want any of you to get hurt.”

“Thrak will make sure they won’t betray us,” grinned Faoril. “He’ll keep them in line.”

Chaun chortled.

“So relax, Mistress.” I smiled at Angela. “Now straighten your back. We need to look grand and impressive. We are on a quest to rid Mount Peritito of imps. It is a noble quest. The avians need our help.”

Angela nodded her head as the foamy-blue walls of the Saltspray Palace grew closer and closer. Memories of my youth when I visited with mother flashed through my mind. It had been such an adventure to visit the Doge and his palace. I had been awed by the first sight of the sea stretching out for eternity from my bedroom window. The waves crashed into the cliff below the window, forming a spraying mist that drifted up the cliffs and cooled the palace.

“You look excited,” Angela said.

“I am,” I nodded. “The palace is amazing. Wait until you see the view from our bedroom, Mistress. You’ll love it. It’s so romantic.”

A grin crossed Angela’s face. “I bet it is.”

The palace dominated the cliff ahead. The grounds before it were well maintained, the grass shorn short by the gardeners and decorated with flowering plants and bushes. Stately trees provided shade for marble reading benches and statues of beautiful maidens and handsome youths dotted the ground, carved from marble or alabaster. Fountains sported, the water jetting from the mouths of fish and monsters, or from the nipples of busty women and the cocks of hung men.

I found that more than distasteful. It was like the statue peed into the pool.

Servants paused to watch our party approach the large entrance to the palace, but none moved to interfere with us. They all appeared to be gardeners, carrying sheers, rakes, hoes, and other implements as they tended to the grounds.