A cloud giantess, a centauress, and a faun-girl.

"Captives? Who?" Janno asked Corvus.

Corvus lowered his voice and leaned closer. "Ones I've never seen, nor would 'spect to see in these parts," he said. "There was a young woman of great stature -- a giantess, even -- her skin light blue as a winter sky, and her hair dark midnight with streaks of lightning-blue. She was manacled and hobbled, and sitting on the floor. There was a centauress -- what she'd be doing this side of the Elfwood, I know not. Hobbled again, so she couldn't kick. And there was a female faun, a wild goat-girl, with horns, hooves, and tail, but human elsewise. It put me to some pause, since it would be beyond simple bandits to capture such. The bandits must be holding them for summat else, or else they had quite a stroke of luck to catch them by surprise."

Janno felt his imagination stir at the thought of such exotic women. But he held himself back. "Let me sleep on this," Janno said. "We will talk again at noon. I think I may be able to find a woods-wise person who might help with the captives."

Corvus nodded. "Then I'll spend the rest of the night not wisely, but too well, and sleep the morning," he said. He clinked some coin and smirked at Janno. "And Miss Bella and Miss Ariel's unmentionables?" he asked.

"Return them quietly," Janno said. "It was a rash trick to steal them, though it speaks to your skill."

Corvus chuckled. "Your wish is my command," he said.

"Good night, then, jack," Janno said.

"Good night, warrior," Corvus said. He swept up Bella's under-skirt holy symbol of Lacella and Ariel's ivory phallus inscribed with the symbol of Arallia, and slipped out the door.

Janno shot the bolt behind Corvus and proceeded to apply the final soft rub to his sword. He wondered if he could trust Corvus on such a risky venture. Of course Corvus would have little to gain by betraying Janno to any foes. He would bear watching when it came to treasure, though. Though he could hardly put a lightning-haired blue giantess in his pocket. Janno laughed. He wondered what might be in the antique treasure hoard, and how it might have survived the ruin of the manor.

Tomorrow morning he would talk to Bella and Ariel, and look for his woods-wise friend, who would surely not want to miss meeting a centauress or a faun-girl. But he would also ask around about Corvus, to see if anyone knew his reputation.