Chapter 6: Stand Off and Stand Down

An intense silence permeated the air as the House of Willowpaw and the Goblin dog stared each other down for several interminable seconds. With a frightened whimper, the Kobold slowly backpedaled towards the open door, keeping her eyes on the wizard and his crew. Frelic suspected that there were more Kobolds or worse waiting out in the hall, and this one was most likely retreating to report her findings now that she knew what they faced.

Frelic's heart almost stopped when the diminutive monster's retreat was unexpectedly blocked. A black-furred paw gently gripped the Kobold's shoulder. The monster turned around and looked up to meet the liquid-emerald gaze of Makae.

"Are you okay?" the Mephit girl asked. She then turned her gaze to the quintet poised near the hearth, with their weapons drawn.

Makae put her paw to her mouth and gave a soft, startled gasp, "Oh my! Master Willowpaw, why do you and your party stand so, as if you have just encountered a monster?"

Frelic quietly gestured towards the Kobold the Skunkette maid was standing behind. Makae followed the Elf's gaze and cocked her head cutely to one side. After another long moment of intense silence, the golden-eyed creature broke out in a fit of loud, barking laughter. Frelic scowled, trying to guess at what this Kobold was scheming.

Hansen drew the string of his bow back tighter and craned his neck, trying to peer behind Makae, looking for the other Kobolds, Goblins, or Trolls that surely must be lurking out in the hallway.

Thissle, keeping her eyes focused on the laughing intruder, whispered to Frelic, "By Paramour's fangs," she swore, "the Goblin dog has lost her mind."

"She's probably signaling to her comrades for an assault. Keep alert," he warned. "Makae! Get your lovely ass away from here! Do you not know danger when you see it, girl?"

Makae looked up and down the empty corridor, then back to the wizard, whose staff glowed brighter. She shrugged her dainty shoulders, "I see no danger, unless there is some unseen evil lurking out here that only adventurers can see."

The Kobold stopped laughing and an impish smile crossed her muzzle, "The only dangerous monsters here," she growled, her voice soft, low, and bearing a thick accent, is you five louts. Now put those toys away before I take you over my knee one at a time and paddle your asses until they catch fire!"

Now it was Makae's turn to laugh, while Frelic, Thissle, Karma, Hansen, and Shaasta exchanged puzzled looks,

"You better do as she says," she advised them, "When Ms. Kez threatens a spanking, you better believe her bite is much worse than her bark." She rubbed her own licorice and whipped cream-furred bottom and gave Frelic an earnest and pleading look that told him the young maid was speaking from considerable personal experience.

The blue-white aura around Frelic's cypress staff vanished, and he gave first, the Furling Skunkette and then, the smirking lady Kobold a quizzical gaze. "Ms. Kez?" he repeated, "So you are Sharani Kez, Ashton's mate?"

"In the fur," she replied, performing a graceful curtsy, "and at your service, Master Willowpaw."

Frelic relaxed, looking quite embarrassed over the potentially deadly misunderstanding. He turned to his companions and ordered them to stand down. Weapons were secured once more in the rack beside the fireplace. The wizard stepped forward and ushered the ladies inside. They accompanied him over to the couch, sitting primly on either side of him. "Ms. Kez, I am truly mortified by our rash behavior," he apologized, placing a hand on the Kobold's paw.

"Oh please, honey," she said, laughing softly and patting the Elf's bare thigh, "call me Sharani. And I must admit, you did give me quite a startle. I take it Ashie neglected to tell you about me?"

"Well, Ashton did say that his mate was one of a kind," Frelic replied, "but talk about the understatement of the ages; I most certainly did not expect you to be a Kobold, Sharani."

Sharani laughed again, "Travelers do tend to do double and triple takes when they see me for the first time downstairs. But you and your friends are the only guests the Hightail has had who have ever greeted me with blades and bows. I haven't had a reception like that since I was a member of War Wizard Yanrik's horde."

"Well, I still feel bad about..."

"Don't," she cut him off, "I'm the one to take the blame. I should have properly announced myself before entering."

"Or even better," Makae suggested, "I should have come in first to introduce Ms. Kez to you."

"Well, no matter now," Sharani continued, "Nobody got hurt, and we all had a bit of amusement. Now why don't you introduce me to your charming little entourage, Mister Willowpaw?"

"You can call me Frelic," he said, then began the introductions. "First, this long-eared lady is Karma," he gestured to the Furling Rabbit.

Sharani looked her over and gave her a welcoming hug. Karma was rather surprised at how strong the lady's grip was, "My, such a lovely example of Furling beauty," she complimented her, then motioned for her to bend down so she could plant a kiss on her cheek.

"Thank-you, Ms. Kez," Karma replied, returning the peck on the cheek, "I'm Frelic's personal aide.

The Kobold gave a friendly smile and nodded, then stepped over to Thissle, "And this striking beauty?"

"Thissle, I'm one of Master Frelic's apprentices."

Sharani repeated her welcoming embrace and kiss, "Oh, such lovely eyes, dear, they sparkle with magick. You are really a Dragon, shapeshifted into a Human form, I presume, a Copper Dragon to be precise?"

"Why yes, I am," Thissle replied, impressed at their hostess' perceptiveness, "Was it the eyes that were the giveaway?"

"That and your hair, as well as that sweet lightning storm scent," Sharani sniffed at the air, "But that strong hint of cinnamon mixed in, I noticed that Karma also smells of cinnamon. Are you by chance a mixed breed, perhaps the Furling's half sister?"

Thissle laughed and put an arm around Karma, "As wonderful a thought that is, Ms. Kez, I really am a full-blooded Dragon. The cinnamon is naught more than an uptail perfume we purchased today."

Frelic reached down and picked up the bottle of spice oil, its phallic applicator still attached to the rectal insertion tube. He almost managed to suppress an amused grin; he noticed a hint of delicious muskiness in the air as Makae quietly squirmed next to him, "All of them have taken a dose of this up their butts as part of their preparations for their night out."

"Oh, expecting some deep south activity tonight?" Sharani asked. She gave Karma and Thissle a sly wink, slipped her paws under their ultra-short buckskin minidresses, and stole a playful pat and squeeze on their bare bottoms. Leaving the Rabbit and Dragon girls blushing at her brashness, she turned her attention to Hansen.