“They’re called breasts. Everyone has a pair,” Ssskah the tuxedo colored were-cat said, as she covered the partial nude figure of My-re with a blanket as she laid on her side on the deck of the Nightie. The Grey Wand gripped tight in her right hand.
“We’re just concerned she’s all right,” Rao said from the crowd of Lord Protectors surrounding them.
“Be concerned over there. Back up and give the woman some air. It wouldn’t make for a fitting end if she survived drowning just to be smothered back on deck,” Ssskah said. “Now, you’ve all stared long enough and have work to do. We need to get the Nightie off the sand barge and underway just in case that thing decides to attack.”
“I finished it,” My-re said weakly as her eyes fluttered opened.
“Ah, there she is,” Ssskah said. “Thank the great goddess Gheal. You gave us a scare when we pulled you from the water. You looked as pale as a ghost. We thought we’d lost you. You were down there a long time.”
Ssskah watched as My-re sat up and began to stand. She looked upward towards the morning sun, but without her normal sneezing at bright lights. “Careful. You were in and out of consciousness for some time and coughed up a lot of water,” Ssskah said helping her to her feet as the blanket fell from My-re’s shoulders. She noticed many of the male Lord Protectors stop what they were doing and glancing their way. What remained of My-re’s attire left little to the imagination. “What are you all thirteen? Rao, get My-re some new clothes.”
“Yes, a change of clothes will feel nice,” My-re said and began to remove the tattered remains of her torn, wet garments.
“Not one for modesty, I see,” Ssskah said clearing her throat as she rolled over a miniature hogs-head barrel and had My-re sit. She picked up the fallen blanket and wrapped it around her again. “The morning air is a little chilly.”
A few minutes later, Rao approached Ssskah and My-re and said, “This is the best I could find, but at least they’re dry and clean.”
The simple cloth pants and shirt were a few sizes too big. As My-re dressed, she rolled up the sleeves and the excess in the legs, tying the shirttails around her midsection and used some rope as a belt.
“Rao, you have things to do?” Ssskah implied thinking he had loitered long enough.
He hesitated, nodded, and left barking orders, “Get some of the oars up on deck to try and push the ship off the sand barge.”
Dusting her hands free of the situation, Ssskah questioned, “You said you finished off the creature. How?”
“The Grey Wand,“ My-re replied as she raised it slightly. “It was no easy task, but a bolt of lightning from the wand finished it off. As fortune had it, it was susceptible to that element. The creature from the Black Lagoon will trouble the Isle of the Eye no more.”
“What are you talking about? You mean the Lake of Mist Monster?” Ssskah questioned.
My-re’s face scrunched in what appeared to be discomfort and irritation as she rubbed her temples. “Of course, the Lake of Mist Monster will trouble us no more.”
“Headache?” Ssskah asked.
“Yes, one you wouldn’t believe. This one is particularly annoying,” My-re replied.
“By the nine hells! We’re imbedded in this sand barge,” Rao bellowed throwing down an oar to the deck in frustration. “Even if she was here, I don’t think even Lady Greywand could get us un--“
A plume of smoke burst in front of them and Lady Sheila Greywand and Tim the Enchanter of the Knights of Ni stable emerged from the cloud on the deck of the Nightie. Instead of her form fitting black leather armor and silk attire, Sheila was dressed in the robes of Tim the Enchanter. Tim only wore his leather cap, complete with curved rams horns, and white cloth wrapping covering his modesty. All over his body were what appeared to be deep indentions and his face red with embarrassment.
“Follow,” Sheila said curtly to Tim as she walked past them.
Ssskah began to ask before being cut off, “Why is Tim only wearing a loin—“
“He knows what he did,” Sheila said turning her head and glared at the enchanter. She raised a portion of the robes she wore off the deck, so she could walk more freely.
“I warned you. Things can get mixed up. I’ve never teleported two people at—“ Tim began before being cut-off by a stern narrow stare from Sheila.
“Where is Captain Phetmolge?” Shelia asked.
“Unconscious in his quarters?” Ssskah answered. “He dove after My-re when the Grey Wand went overboard. They are both lucky to be alive.”
“Where is My-re?”
“Here,” My-re said from behind Ssskah as she rose from her seat and held her baggy pants up to keep them from falling.
“I see I am not the only one having a wardrobe malfunction today,” Sheila commented.
“Lady Greywand, the Nightie is stuck. We’ll have to use the dingy to row everyone to shore,” Rao said.
Waiving a dismissive hand, Sheila said, “An issue easily resolved. However, the pressing concern is the Lake of Mist monster?”
“My-re killed it,” Ssskah said.
“Really,” Sheila said as her eyebrows rose in amazement.
“Yes, she used the Grey Wand,” Ssskah said. “When it went overboard she dove after it, retrieved it, and apparently used its powers to defeat the monster.”
“The Grey Wand?” Sheila asked, but she seemed surprised by her own question. “An impressive feat.”
“Yes, she kept the wand safe for you,” Ssskah said beaming with pride and gave a pleased nod of satisfaction towards My-re. “Go ahead and give it back to Sheila.”
My-re did not move and if anything seemed to grip the wand tighter.
Ssskah locked eyes with her. “Give the Grey Wand back to Lady Greywand.”
Several heartbeats of silence passed between the two women.
“The wand is safe for the moment,” Sheila said passing between the two women. “Besides, it will be easier with my hands free for my next course of action.”
“What are you going to do?” Ssskah asked.
“Free the ship from this sand barge.”
“You’re not going to have us all dig the Nightie out with our hands are you?” Rao questioned.
“Of course not,” Sheila scoffed. “No call for the indignity of getting saturated with water.”
“How then?”
“Simple, I am going to summon Grumpy.”