As a bonus for visiting their sauna, I got my equipment back shining clean.

After dressing myself, I went back to find Spartacius, the Lynx, Tina, and Alice sitting on some logs in a corner, talking.

“A women’s village. Only women. So many beautiful women. Even the old ones are looking so beautiful!”

Hearing her talking, I looked at Tina, surprised. It seemed she had overcome the shock of my confession. Poor girl, how can I tell her now that I plan to send her back? I need to find a way to explain it to her so that she understands.

Spartacius wondered:

“Can’t we stay here for tonight?” - as I raised a brow, he hastily added - “It is such a peaceful, quiet place, with good food and friendly people! What better place to rest for the night could we find?"

I guess it is the dream of a pubescent boy come true, to be the only man in a town of beautiful women. The Lynx tried immediately to disturb the pretty picture:

“Are you not afraid the harpies will find the settlement and attack it? We might look a bit old after the attack if that happens?”

Alice, however, seemed to find a lot of merit to the proposition:

“That is not such a bad idea. You two should stay several nights here just to make sure!”

Hey, Alice made a joke! Improved merc! The Lynx grinned, but Spartacius did not seem to appreciate the fun too much. I interrupted their chatter:

“You know we have to leave soon. I want to pay the queen a short visit before, so enjoy the next twenty minutes before we go.”

Then I turned to Tina:

“Look, I intend to ask for an escort for you. I know your family has an estate not far away. The amazons will improve their standing with the local administration if they bring you to your family...”

She did not let me finish:

“But I don't want to go! I am not going! Why do you think you can do what you want with me!?”

I took a deep breath. I expected this, but not the vehemence of her protest.

“Look, you are not even a low-level mage. You cannot do anything for your own protection. Where we go now, we might need to fight...”

She did cut me short again:

“I am a mage! I can fight if needed! I can defend myself!”

"You are not a mage. I have skills; I can easily see if people are mages or not."

"I am a mage!!"

Screaming louder does not make it true. This behaviour needs a hard setback. She needs to understand reality. Dreaming about seeing other lands is one thing, but the life of an adventurer, and this is all she would get with us, is an entirely different thing. Here is no place for petulant young girls who can act only as one fraction of a second meat shield; plus, I had no intention of getting this appendage to hinder me in the future.

That she is not a mage? I can prove it so damn easy!

“Give me your ring. Give it!”

She hesitated but finally, she handed it to me. See? Problem solved!

“You say you are a fire mage? Now conjure some fire!”

She watched me, stunned, her lower lip starting to tremble. I spoke very calmly:

“If you can conjure fire, then you can come with us.” - I watched her in the eyes - “Any low-level fire mage would be able to do it. You can't, can't you? Without the ring, it does not work. Don't lie; just do it, or else you'll do what I say!”

I sighed, watching her pouting. Yeah, I could be proud of myself. I found a fantastic way to explain to her the reasons, isn't it? Well, I was never good at explanations, but at least I hope she understands now that she cannot come. I turned towards Alice:

“So, twenty minutes it is, then we go. Please have the horses prepared for when I am back!”

Typically, I would have asked her to get some food too, but it did not make sense; the amazons had limited resources at their disposal whereas, with Spartacius' bag, we had all we wanted.

I turned and left them to deal with the pouting Tina. We lost enough time with this detour to no avail. Even if the queen could spare some of her warriors, these would not make a difference in a fight with a monster like Grackack. Old ladies and undisciplined, turbo grown-up toddlers? No chance in hell!

My only chance was if White Flower could remove the curse. I would feel better with a real amazon warrior's guard; they would help with some sharp-pointed arguments during my coming altercation with the gnome.

As I arrived at the queen's tent, the young amazon on guard confirmed that the queen was ready to receive me.

Her tent was not distinguishable from the rest; only the guard in front made the difference. I entered. The queen smiled when she saw me.

I love this straightforward protocol the amazons have! In many human kingdoms, you have a hell of a hurdle race to get to the king or queen, not to talk of the elves. Maybe orcs are a similarly easy-going folk from this point of view.

She was sitting on a fur-covered throne. It was a huge feline's fur.

The setup did surprise me a little. Waiting for me as a brave NPC would?

Seeing the fur, I just thought: good that the Lynx was not with me; maybe he knew the previous owner. Who knows how he would react seeing that...

“Cala. Thank you! We had so many wounded, weakened and sick; what you did was of great help to us! We are deeply indebted to you! Let me first apologize for Hua'Lena and Bar’Etta's behaviour. You need to know that your master, the gnome, attacked us. This was even before the night of the harpies when our warriors were at full strengths! For whatever reason, he wanted to kill me, maybe just to line my head to his list of trophies. I escaped, but only through the sacrifice of many of my guards. He is immune to our arrows. His companions are also very strong but not immune. He must be wearing a very strong charm. I want to warn you if you want to fight for your freedom. His raid in our village had left twenty-one dead. My guard sacrificed themselves to give us enough time to flee. This is why the girls were afraid of you; please apologize.”

I was a bit disappointed: she did not behave like the typical NPC as I expected after entering the tent but as any person in that role would.

I could not point to anything to say: 'see, this is scripted'. It was not an isolated case, but perfection goes everywhere. Disappointed now that they are so perfect? It just confirmed my observations so far.

Maybe only the fact that she seemed to have guessed my thought. I haven't even asked for support, and she already said no. 'He is immune to our arrows'. But any rational person might have done that.

Well, anyhow, I might try my last ace; there was still hope that I could get that help in the end. I said:

“Queen, if you allow, I'd like to introduce a friend of mine!”