The scene shown in green fog hovered in the air before Dink. He didn’t pay it any attention. Instead, his focus was on Lady Estra. She was watching the image intently with barely controlled rage seeping through their bond. Dink was about to speak but he was unexpectedly interrupted by someone grabbing his arm.

“Huh?” Dink asked.

He turned to investigate what was pressed against him. It was Riva, she was mashing her breasts against his arm in an exaggerated fashion. The bodice of her dress pulled low to show off her impressive cleavage. Before Dink could react, something pulled at his other arm. Tahlea hugged him tightly with eyes clenched closed as if afraid he would run away. Riva let go with one hand to reach over and tug at the buttons of Tahlea’s blouse. She deftly unbuttoned the top three to expose a significant portion of her chest.

“We hope our husband is satisfied with our results,” Riva seductively said, leaning forward to allow him a better view.

Dink’s gaze was drawn downward. He gulped back drool at what he saw, causing Riva to smirk in satisfaction. The surrounding members of the Women’s Council nodded in silent appreciation of her actions. Estra’s eyes narrowed in irritation as she followed her hand movements.

“Hmmph,” Estra snorted in disapproval with lips firmly pressed together.

Dink reluctantly looked away from their tantalising flesh back to Estra. She subtly smiled in victory, adjusting her bodice to better display her own cleavage. Riva sharply hissed, reaching up to roughly turn Dink’s gaze back to her. He slapped her hand away in annoyance.

“Enough. I’m not partial to Halfling women. Regardless of your true age, your faces look like you’ve barely left puberty. Although… your heights are comparable to my own. No, not even if you’re both well endowed,” Dink said, attempting to prevent his gaze from drifting back to their tempting breasts, His goblin instincts taking hold. He shook his head while disengaging himself from the pair. After breaking himself free from their grasp, he reached down to retrieve his sword, resheathing it in one fluid motion. He stepped away from the group to face them all. “I don’t know what your goal is, but I’m not looking to be shacked up with a Halfling wife-pair.”

“Sister-Mother Tavia says you’re our best hope of defeating the expanding woods. She is regarded as the best living analyst on the Women’s Council. We were chosen to be your wives to assist you in that task. Tahlea was selected for her ability in scrying magic while I was picked for my ability in tracking. She’s said to be a prodigy unseen at the Arcane Academy in generations. My talents are much more mundane in comparison,” Riva replied.

“We were paired together to complement each other and guide you into the expanding woods,” Tahlea helpfully added. She stood meekly to the side with her hands overlapping each other. When Dink looked toward her, she lowered her eyes while shyly blushing.

“Too bad we don’t need you. We already know where to go,” Estra snapped.

“Hold on. Don’t the expanding woods shift every night?” Dink interjected, holding up his hand.

“Uh, yes…” Estra hesitantly answered.

“We can benefit from their guidance, both of their skills will be extremely useful in finding our destination,” Dink said, thoughtfully gripping his chin.

“Then it’s settled! The House of Worldly Delight is no place for the husband of a Halfling wife-pair. Time for you to be gone from here. Ladies help me form the escort for my new miscreant son-in-law,” A white-haired halfling woman said from among the Women’s Council.

Before Dink realised what was happening, he had been surrounded by the group of women. Dink caught only a brief glimpse of Estra and Murkuk off to the side before he was separated. The women formed a tight circle two layers deep, shielding him from view and stopping him from seeing between their heads. With practised efficiency, they began marching him toward the door.

I can’t move my arms, they’re pressed up against my sides by all their bodies. I’ve got no choice but to go with them. Now, I know how helpless Halfling men feel when they’re marched out from here. It would only take two or three times at the most before they learn their lesson. I can’t even see a thing past their heads. Where are they ushering me?

The final door to the building swung open, letting in a gust of wind. The escort towed him through the exit. Immediately afterwards, the women disengaged to regroup behind him. He turned to discover they had interlocked their arms together across the entrance to prevent him from reentering the House of Worldly Delight. Dink’s ears jerked as he heard a deep belly laugh nearby.

Axion stepped out of the shadows, a dishevelled woman emerging from behind him. She was dressed in the local commoner fashion. After seeing the gathered crowd, she quickly adjusted her skirt before hurrying away. Axion playfully slapped her ass when she passed. She cast a long glance over her shoulder toward him as she escaped. Her face was completely flushed while she seductively bit her lip, clearly recalling their quick romp.

Dink watched her departure with a cocked eyebrow until she disappeared among the passing foot traffic. Pedestrians planning on entering the House of Worldly Delight changed directions and quickly fled upon seeing the Women’s Council guarding the door. Dink bemusedly shook his head at their behaviour.

“Sorry to interrupt. It looks like you were having fun,” Dink said.

“Don’t worry about it. I was just keeping myself busy while you were inside. I’m all ready to go when you are. The sun will be clearing the rooftops any minute now. It’s best to leave now before traffic leaving the city clogs up the roads,” Axion replied with a dramatic cat stretch.

“Where’s everyone else?” Dink asked. Axion looked past his shoulder toward the building in response.

“Right here. We had to collect our things,” Estra replied from behind.

Dink turned to see an annoyed Estra with a triumphant Riva at her side. They were at the foot of the stairs while Tahlea and Murkuk stood behind them. Murkuk was indifferent to his surroundings as he shoved a clawed finger deep inside his nose. He pulled out a large booger which he casually wiped on the clothes of a member of the Woman’s Council. She turned to investigate. Seeing the snot on her shirt, her face turned pale as she fainted, her companions on each side supporting her slumped body with their interlocked arms.