The Tour: Chapter 19

Salmoneus looked Unhappy when he descended the stairs into the dining room. He looked, in fact, positively grouchy. Izzy looked at Oriena, who was tucking into her breakfast with real enthusiasm. Penho smiled idly at the humor in the situation. "What's with him?" Izzy asked the blonde Amazon, "Didn't. . ."

Oriena paused in her eating to grab the mug, take a swig, and swallow. She wiped her lips casually with the back of her hand. Then she looked seriously at Izzy, "Melosa didn't want to be a hypocrite."

The puzzled look on Izzy's face was unmistakable, "What?" Then she blinked and set her mug down abruptly. The juice sloshed on the smooth wooden surface, "Oh By 'Temis' Tits." Oriena looked startled. Izzy ignored her and cast another sidelong glance in Salmoneus' direction, watching as his expression turned grimmer with each step. "I can see he took it real well."

Melosa's lover smiled mirthlessly, "Well, considering the circumstances, he. . ."

The gold chain rattled on the wood surface as it slid in front of Izzy's empty plate. Salmoneus, who, not only looked grumpy, but also looked like he had a headache of immense proportions, groused out, "Here! Looks like I didn't need it after all." His teeth were clenched. Then, quite manfully, he turned away and stalked off to the other side of the inn's restaurant.

Penho raised her silver eyebrows, and lightly tapped on the table with her finger. "Oh. He has it bad, doesn't he?" She licked her teeth lightly.

Izzy picked up the chain and let it dangle in the air a bit, "Some get that way." She didn't smile, "I'm going to have to talk to Melosa about that. It's not . . .," she smiled an evilly toothy smile, "kind to make one like him suffer when they're that bad off." She folded the gold into her hand, then brought it to her hip. Oriena didn't see where she put it.

Izzy smiled politely, "If you'll excuse me," and started to move away from the table.

"Oh let me," said the blue demon, "You've been at it all night, I'm sure you don't need more."

Izzy smiled slightly, "I don't think he's gonna make it through the day. It'll be something nice and quick."

"Then *I'll* make it nice and quick." Penho laughed, then stood up quickly. "Besides, you've got to save your strength. I hear you've got a lover that can wear you out." Izzy looked up, smirked and blushed enough that her friend could see the change in color. Penho adjusted her kilt and moved her tail a bit, "You just leave him to me. I'll have him fixed up in a jiffy." She practically purred that last bit out.

"What about Melosa?" Izzy inquired, but she was already settling back into her chair. She'd gained a healthy respect for the Amazon Queen. She'd just have to tell the tribe leader it was an emergency, which was true enough. These things could get mighty ugly very quickly. If Sal was already experiencing the headache. . .well.

Penho grinned and brought her fingers to her chest, "Why, I'm practically family now, what with all the talking we did last night" She looked wounded when Izzy snorted. "No, really, we got along great."

"Yeah, well, if she told Salmoneus, "No," and he stopped. . ."Izzy said meaningfully. Then she shook her head ruefully and pointed at the trihorned Tartaran, "She's gonna kick your blue tail my friend." Izzy hid the worry she was feeling with the tease. They were gonna have to find someone for Sal on a more permanent basis, at least for as long as he was going be here. She glanced with concern over at the bearded man. He was looking somewhat grey. Yep, she'd have to talk with Melosa. That man did not look good, "Better go get him Pen. I don't want him traveling like that."

"Aw, you'll work it out. You always do," Penho reassured her friend. The blue Tartaran narrowed her eyes and dropped her voice, "Besides, we can always say he couldn't resist a more. . .powerful force." For a moment she exuded pure, stunning sexuality.

"Pen," Izzy cautioned as she picked up her mug. She smiled slightly at Oriena, who had started coughing at the beginning of the conversation and had been unable to quit, "Be Gentle."

"*I* am always gentle with the humans. Unlike some I could mention,"

"Hey!"

"Not you."

"Oh. . ." Izzy took a sip, then swallowed abruptly, "Oh, and you'd better not waste time." She grinned evilly up at her friend, "I'd hate for Melosa to catch you out. I hear she's a great hide tanner."

The trihorned demoness stuck out a blue tongue, "You just watch me." Her tail swayed with her hips.

"ooh, an invite?" Izzy waggled her eyebrows and leaned forward seductively.

"You have Dirty mind." Izzy quirked her lips and angled her tail naughtily. Penho, made her own rude motion, "But, you know I love it." The blue woman set a tip down on the table. Izzy raised her brows at the amount and Penho shrugged, "He was cute." Izzy laughed and nodded.

They grinned at each other in mutual understanding. The blue Tartaran started making her way past the Amazon. Oriena was in the last stages of clearing her throat. Penho, however, was gone and standing in front of Salmoneus before she could say anything. The man turned to look at Izzy and the red demoness waved him on encouragingly. He looked up, and up, at Penho, who now extended her hand. Then he was led silently upstairs.

Oriena started to stand up, her hand at her knife, but the Izzy grabbed her arm roughly, "Sit down." The command in the demoness' voice, combined with a fine row of sharp teeth, was all it took, The blonde sat down abruptly. Izzy smiled unreassuringly at the Amazon, "Don't worry," said the Tartaran, "He'll be fine." Then she nodded at the Amazon's plate, "Are you going to finish that?"