Albali's scowl hadn't turned any less sour in the last few minutes, soon it would be in danger of curdling any milk in the room, or at least turning the honey dripping from Miria's expressions rancid. Her eyes found Xarithe's, then glanced about the room at the others. "Don't you see a problem with tying up a -shapeshifter- with nothing more than rope? What's to keep her from shifting right out of your loving knots? It's why I put the knife to that ruined elf back in the forest. You might as well just ask her to give you her solemn promise to remain in the room and see how far that gets you.  Nor, do I think, you would be doing yourself any favors waddling into the next room like a swollen pumpkin fit to burst and in danger of rolling over onto your belly if you trip. How you hinder yourself, Xarithe, for the sake of an illusion to flatter your senses! And by extension us! Don't you even think that by handicapping yourself, you might be putting the lives of those children in danger? Why don't you ask her for a taste of what she really looks like, so the fire in your veins can douse itself!"<br/><br/>She shot a glance at the entourage they'd collected, and here eyes softened slightly at Miria before she glanced back at the ophidian druid. "Another time, Xarithe, and I would hardly begrudge you your dalliances. But you could not have chosen a worse time to abandon reason. Where, anyway, is your fair love of not five minutes ago? Weren't you swooning for that giant of a naga, who was so eager to help us as well? She seems to have made her escape. Now -she- was an ally worth having."<br/><br/>She turned then, looking over the others in the party, and waved the healing wand offhandedly. "Anyone else before I put this away? Then we must be on - or go all out and simply camp outside that door until the illusions fade, and hope all the children are still in good health when we proceed."