You almost give up, but...

Four more days. You started to doubt the reputation of the inquisitors. Although you didn't foresee any problems with them showing up you chose to keep delaying the birth of Sandra's babies. Nothing like an extremely pregnant catgirl going into labor to throw a spanner in the mix. But now you're starting to regret that decision. Her belly is tight, her other organs at the limit of supporting so many children.

You could push it even further, and your red-furred pregnophile would love to carry her babies even longer. She's got to be the only woman you've ever met who sees pregnancy as an endurance race. Last night you finally caved after some sweet whispers and an expert blowjob. You reduced the size of her placenta, just enough to give the babies a bit more space. It will wear out more quickly, but that's not a concern - it's not like it's going to stick around for the next bellyful of children you give her.

You've just finished helping Patrick and Lady Emira feed the final few prisoners and double check their security when your wards and alarms go wild. Racing upstairs you see dozens of knights, a few hundred archers and footmen. In the lead you see not one, but three inquisitors. A fourth is striding up to your door. 'Should have known,' you think to yourself, 'they were waiting to collect some troops. Looks like they take me seriously.' A further quick check reveals deadening fields, enchanted arrowheads, spellbreaker swords and a few other nasty items that would be trouble even for you.

Just as the inquisitor is about to knock you open the door in front of him. No - her! One of the very rare female inquisitors. She takes it in stride and says, formally "Lord John, I am high inquisitor Melona. May I come in?"

'Oh, a high inquisitor. They really take me seriously' you think.

"Yes, we do."

"Ah. And you can read minds... well, pleasure to meet you, I hope. Please, do come in." She can almost certainly detect lies too, both through some magical means and by being incredibly perceptive. You have to do your best just to keep up.

"I wish to ask you a few questions. To start with, where were you on the twenty second of last month?"

"I was right here, at home."

"That day a group of seven nuns who were traveling to Malstern were kidnapped while on the road. What do you know of this?"

Tricky - you can't just say, 'I don't know anything about that,' as you most certainly do. You weren't worried about a mind reader, but you did worry about lie detection and planed to distract the inquisitor in any case. You reply, "Wait, the twenty second?" Her eyes are piercing and cold, but there is at least a little curiosity. Those being questioned rarely volunteer much.

"Yes."

"Sorry, it's a new but important date for me." You hold up your hand and tap your wedding ring. "That is the day I got married."

As if on cue Lessia skids to a stop at the top of the balcony, dressed in little more than a nightshirt and robe. "John, is everything alright?" She comes down the stairs a bit quickly, but still slowly enough for one of her station. Renee, who must have been near her, catches up by the time she reaches the bottom of the stairs.

Melona looks as if she's about to continue. Then you have the pleasure of seeing a high inquisitor be startled. As Lessia reaches the last few steps she must finally be close enough for the inquisitor to recognize her as a princess of the realm.

"That was a busy day," you say quietly, almost to yourself, as Lessia comes to you and puts an arm around your shoulder.

"What's this about?" asks Lessia.

"Princess, my apologies, but there is a matter which, possibly, involves your husband."

You feel Lessia's fingers clench in a **** grip on your shoulder. You give her hand a pat to comfort her and it seems to help. Then you look at Melona. "The wedding was not well known, but it was well attended." You name off some of the people who were there, starting with the king and adding a few important mages and dukes, finishing it off with "If you can think of a way I could defeat all the magics involved in protecting those people, then kidnap some nuns... well you missed your calling as a spymaster."

"We were busy all day," says Lessia. "From sunrise until well after sunset."

"Yeah," says Renee from behind you both. "There were so many people."

Melona looks back and forth, probably finding it somewhat difficult to stay focused. Finally she says "Yes... I had not heard of the wedding." Her posture relaxes quite a bit and she looks deep in thought. "The trace was not a perfect match, just very close. The tracks, the direction... hmmm." She snaps her fingers. "You're being framed. Rather well, I would say. They must have two, no, three wands or other items you created or aided in creating."

"Every mage has enemies," you say, leaving out the fact that you've managed to bury most of yours. "Who have I angered recently?" You name a few lords and a couple of mages, then shake your head. "No, none of them fit. And I'm reasonably sure Lord Falin and I have buried the hatchet."

"Wait, what about Count Velcorrin?" asks Lessia. "He would have reason."

"Oh yes." You're careful not to say 'I'd forgotten him' as that would probably trip a lie detector spell. "He might be the type."

"What happened?" the inquisitor asks.

You describe what happened near the king's chambers. As you do you can feel more than see the outright murderous look Lessia is developing. She's normally so shy, so loving. She's not even angry at anyone here, yet her rage is almost a living thing. You underline a mental note you made some time ago - 'Never piss off my wife'.

At a nearby intersection Yvonne has been listening quietly and leaning against the wall right near a stand that holds a brace of spears. She's developing a similar glower and you start to wonder what would happen to Count Velcorrin if he were left in a room alone with these two.

"My apologies," says Melona. "I assure you that we will be... rigorous. Deceiving the inquisition is a crime in its own right."

"Do you need food and fodder?"

"Yes," she says, looking a little surprised. You smile on the inside - it's a rare mage that's willing to let inquisitors and their people stay anywhere close to them. They generally do the bare minimum and they do that only when asked.

"I thought as much. I'll make preparations. Princess, do you mind having dinner guests on short notice?"

"No, especially if it help catch him."

The inquisitor thanks you and heads back out to deliver the odd news to her fellow inquisitors, the knights and the troops. A mage giving supplies freely is strange. A mage holding a banquet for inquisitors has to be rare as hen's teeth.

As she walks away you tell Lessia "I think things like this might help our catgirls become more used to people." Your princess collapses against your side as soon as the door closes and hugs you tight. "That's my John, always finding a way to make the best of a bad situation."

You have time to kiss her forehead before Renee hugs you both from behind. "Do you know how much work this is going to be?" she asks. "We're going to have to get everyone into their clothes. Oh, do we even have enough clothes?"

"Oh, I have to dress!" says Lessia, going slightly red.

"Why don't you just let everyone do what they want?" asks Alice, leaning on the balustrade. "Maybe people should get used to naked catgirls?"

Lessia sputters at Alice and starts to move into action. There surely won't be any naked catgirls in front of the guests on her watch. Not publicly.