...and find her tied up in other business

The trip back to the Eel's base of operations was uneventful. Teysa found herself favoring her right leg-- that last impact had badly bruised her left, but nothing felt broken or sprained. Aliara had escaped with minor cuts.

At the door, a pair of drow guards in leather armor barred the way. When Aliara explained their business, they withdrew for a hurried conference. Returning, one spoke solemnly. "You may enter. You will have to wait. Mistress is indisposed for the moment."

Inside, the atmosphere was considerably more subdued than last time. There were small pockets of drow sitting on the benches, sipping from stone cups and speaking quietly. The throne was unoccupied, but a pavilion tent had been pitched behind it, from which emanated a faint noise. "So, uh, should we have a seat?" she asked. Aliara shrugged. "This is kind of unfamiliar ground to me too. I don't think we want to offend anyone." They sat on the edge of the one of the benches and waited patiently for a few minutes, heads down, before one of the drow guards approached.

"Mistress will see you now. Please follow me." He hesitated. "She is pleased with you. Do not... pass comment." With that cryptic instruction he led them to the pavilion and bowed, holding up the flap. Teysa and Aliara entered.

Inside, the tent was filled with a hazy smoke emanating from a massive hookah sitting on the middle of a rug. All around, cushions were piled up against the walls, forming the only furniture. The Eel sprawled in one corner, laying horizontally across several cushions. She was completely naked except for her enormous hat.

Her nipples were both pierced with fat barbells, from which dangled little strings of pearls. Each nipple was surrounded by a circle of a dozen stud piercings: amethyst on one side, sapphire on the other. Her belly-button carried a massive diamond in a lacy silver setting, surrounded by silver rings. Both of her sides were stitched up with corset piercings, with purple ribbons pulled taut between rings of gold. Each of her labia had more than a dozen rings running all the way along their length, and her clit hood bore a ruby stud. In one beringed hand she carried the hookah's mouthpiece, while the other held the end of a pair of leather cords. These led to metal collars worn by a pair of youths, both elven, one male, one female. The female slept at the Eel's feet with a contented grin, while the male lay across her legs like a housecat. Both were naked; fine physical specimens, they glowed with health. The Eel looked up and grinned, blowing a massive smoke ring that gradually expanded and dissipated as it crossed the room.

Teysa wasn't sure what to say. Aliara paused a moment, then knelt and bowed her head. Teysa followed suit moments later. "Milady," began the half-elf, "we have returned. We have done as you commanded."

The Eel waved her hand and giggled. "Thtop. You'll give me a big head. I athked a favor, nothing more." She tugged on the leash. "We are pleathed to thee that you cooked thothe thnaketh in their own hovel. Aren't we, Jared?" The male elf perked up his head and nodded. His eyes were glassy and unfocused. "Yes, mistress. Very pleased." His gaze fixed on Teysa, and he gave a vacant grin. "Very pleased. You're pretty."

The Eel frowned. "Don't be rude, Jared, they're guethth." She looked up. "I apologithe for thith one. No mannerth at all. Thall I punith him for you?"

Teysa waved her arms frantically. "No need, milady! No need!" Aliara shot her a look, but the Eel merely smiled.
"You thee, Jared? Thome people know how to be grathiouth. Now be off with you, I have buthineth to take care of. Take Lireen with you." She dropped the lead and smacked the elf on the bottom. "Go on! Get!"

The young man stretched, then slowly got to his feet. He shook his female companion awake and the two of them trudged out of the back of the pavilion, muttering. Teysa noticed that they each had a single ear pierced. She repressed a shudder. This drow was as hedonistic and debauched as Aliara had always warned.

"Tho. You took care of my lithard problem. Thomething not even my own worthleth captainth could do. I thuppothe I thould offer you their jobth, hm?"

Aliara bowed. "Milady, you are most generous, but there is no need. We merely ask for help meeting Mish'li in the Temple Precinct."

The Eel sighed, then took a deep puff on the hookah. Her inhalation lasted longer than seemed possible; finally, her eyes rolled back into her head, and she sank into the cushions. Smoke cascaded out of her mouth and nose and billowed into a cloud that wreathed her head. "Can I tempt you at leatht? Thith ith motht fine thtuff. Amberhathe, they call it." She gestured to a hose coiled around one of the hookah's offshoots. "Thample it and tell me what you think."

With a glance at Teysa, Aliara reached forward and took the mouthpiece. She held it like a wild animal that could bite at any second and gingerly put it to her lips. Screwing her eyes shut, she took a puff, held it for a moment, then breathed out, coughing. The Eel's laughter tinkled like a carillion.

"Hah! Hath more of a kick than you thought, huh? What do you thay?"

Aliara took a couple of deep breaths, then blinked. When she spoke it was slowly and deliberately, as though each word was being carefully dragged in to her mouth from far away.
"It's... quite something."

"It ith indeed! Quite thomething. Anywayth, ath I wath thaying, yeth. I can help you. In fact, I'd like to offer you a choithe. I never do thith, but you were tho helpful. And Jared ith right, you are very pretty, Mith Teytha." Her eyes roved lecherously across Teysa's body. Next to her, she could feel the anger simmering off Aliara, and laid a calming hand on her knee. Be cool, she thought. We're almost done here.

"I can bring Mith'li to you, here. I'll hotht your little meeting. Make thure nobody layth up any trapth, eh? Or, if you want, I can thmuggle you into the Temple Prethinct. Box you up in a crate and, whoopth, off you go. Delivered right to the Chapel. Of courth, what happenth there ith not my rethponthibility, ith it?" She reclined, one hand idly playing with the strings of pearls that cascaded down from her left nipple piercing. She wiggled the piercing back and forth, making Teysa wince. The Eel noticed her discomfort and winked saucily. "Tho what'll it be?"