On a 7-9 with Lolo and Fay, choose one and apply MIND MELD

Alone at last, or quit of the Warden's presence behind the NON PERTURBARE ward she had left to discourage House Leontes staff from barging in on the miniature orgy she had supervised and then left to wind down, unsupervised, trusting to the good intentions of Golondrina and the good sense of Fay and yourself.

On a 7-9, choose an option from WHEN YOU HAVE SEX, and also apply your House Sex Move:

• You have a pretty good time. Use MIND MELD to learn Golondrina's feelings about Barbara Torch.

Sensual is a word you've heard said, for when the luxury of touch and breath and low, wordless sounds deep in the throat are all that needs said and done. Golondrina radiates warmth from her fiery core, and you bask in her heat and rock in her strong arms. Even Fay, so often urgent, demonstrative, seeking climax and intensity, even Fay clings and bends, rocks and kisses, murmuring and making soft little laughs.

Somewhere in all the touching and kissing you get a flicker of memory from Golondrina. She's bent over a well-thumbed reference nook, trying to absorb it by force of will. The window is a distraction, bringing thoughts of transforming and flying far away. A whistle comes from the entrance of the room. It's Emily Leopard, the Warden's favorite. "Dueling practice, Redmoor, come on." A flicker of irritation is replaced by an anticipation of challenge and the memory fades.

You breathe quietly, the three of you, holding close together.

Fay laughs. "Cuddle puddle," she says. "I quite enjoyed that. But our time has run out." She stretches out her arms and yawns open-mouthed, her pink tongue lifted. Fay looks like a Persian cat, moon-faced, pale and plump and self-indulgent.

"When shall we three meet again?" you say.

"In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" Lolo says.

"When the hurly-burly's done," Fay adds with a laugh. "Which would seem to be now. So when it starts up again."

You bid goodbye to Golondrina and return to your House.

"Window seat," you tell Fay, once you're back in House Minerval. She raises her ice-pale eyebrows. There's a nook close to the House commons with long sight lines so no one can easily eavesdrop or surprise you. It's under an arch crowned with a carved rose bloom, a rare indulgence in House Minerval's stark stone and plain wood. There was an enchantment to quiet any words spoken under the arch. Sub rosa indeed.

"Torch," you say.

"Yes?' Fay says.

"She's a disgraced Outside Warder, and her year and a day penance made her worse rather than better."

You share the memory you caught from Barbara Torch, of her demotion, penance and all but defrocking for a sexually linked fetish for dueling, compounded by an unhealthy obsession with junior mages nurtured during her penance when her only sexual solace was furtive couplings with the newest Outside Warders.

"Eh," Fay says. "About par for our House too. Hawk. Whiplash. Perving on the junior scholars. Different obsessions. Is Torch a jealous bitch on top of the rest?"

"Can't say. Vindictive."

"I suppose it doesn't change the picture," Fay says. "We still want to get Lolo into our House without getting anyone banished, punished, what have you. Kiss and let's have tea."

Fay's full lips are warm and soft.

You have a FAVOR from Pipistrelle Clawson, Minerval Prefect.
Your roommate Fay in House Minerval is your FRIEND.
Golondrina Redmoor of House Leontes, is your FRIEND and owes you a FAVOR.
Barbara Torch, Warden of Leontes, is your voyeuristic HANGER-ON.

You have a GOAL (-2 to AMBITION) to get Golondrina Redmoor into House Minerval.

You have 0 XP, Ambition +2, Bravery -1, Cunning +2, Diligence +0