Payment

When the guards turn up, you are once again sitting on that damned uncomfortable chair with your hands tied behind your back. There are only four of them, you notice with surprise- don't they consider the man who defeated the sorcerers even a little bit dangerous? But never mind; the captain of troop goes up to your 'captor', eyes her up and down with a grin, and speaks.

"You captured him, I guess?"

"I did. Where's my payment?"

The captain motions for two of his men to go to you and escort you out. You stand up as they approach, as though to go with them. Amazingly, the captain is stupid enough to have the money on him, in a large jingling moneypouch, rather than paying the woman down at the guardhouse, and you watch with some joy as he hands it over to her.

"It's all there," he says gruffly, apparently unhappy to be parting with so much money.

It's time to make your move- in a moment you've freed yourself and, with two simple strikes, have laid both the guards in arms reach ****. The two remaining are so stunned by this that they don't even make a move as you dash at them. The man by the door goes down with a quick strike to the temple, and the captain, last man standing, takes a blow to the throat as he reaches for his sword, then gets knocked out by an elbow to the face. Easy.

You turn to the woman, who's watched all of this as though not at all impressed. "No problem," you say, as she saunters over to inspect your handiwork with the man by the door. "Now, I'll take my money, if you don't mind. I think we agreed on half."

"Ah... yes..." she murmers with a smile. "Erm, I don't think so honey. It's been nice meeting you and all, but I've got MY money and now its time to be going. Bye!"

She leaps at the doorway- only to bounce off the air over the threshold with a cry of astonishment. "What the hell?"

"I put a spell on you to stop you from leaving this room," you say dryly. "You were in post-orgasmic bliss at the time, so you didn't notice. Forgive me for not trusting you. Now, my money, if you please."

She laughs at your craftiness, strolls over, and puts half the coins from the bag into your outstretched hand. "I guess you win again," she says as you pick up your sword and your own moneybag. You walk to the door. "Hey!" she calls after you. "Aren't you going to take the spell off me?"

You turn in the doorway. "Only if you tell me your name."

She pauses. "Bryn," she says. "My name is Bryn." A tingle runs through your left arm, telling you she's lying- that was the other spell you put on her. Every time she lies, you'll know it.

"Your real name."

"Arolin."

"You're still lying."

She sighs. "Fine. Doe. My name's Doe."

No tingle- she's not lying. You turn to leave. "The spell should wear off in an hour or so," you call over your shoulder as you walk away. "You'll just have to sit tight till then!"