The tea was very sweet and creamy and had a ever so slight taste that Izusa couldn't identify.  But her throat didn't seize up, and she didn't feel her eyes bulging from her socket, so she guessed that it wasn't poisoned.  She started talking and missed the way Esszie startled when she said the name Shoni, for if she had she probably wouldn't have continued on.  Still she got to the end of her statement and took another sip of tea as the Naga shifted slightly in her seat and took a deep breath.<strong> "Well, I'll tell you the first thing you should do if you want to survive on this side of the river.  It's fine to tell people you're a priestess, but if you value your life, your freedom, your very soul, don't mention the name of your goddess ever again in these lands.  Say you serve your goddess and everyone will assume you mean Pandora, for hers is the only worship allowed."</strong><br/><br/>She took a sip of her tea and sighed,<strong>"Admittedly while I served in Pandora's armies during the invasion,"</strong>Izusa had to startle at that, the war had been over four and a half centuries ago!<strong>"after the peace treaty I was allowed to 'retire' of sorts.  I was allowed this bit of land, with the understanding that it would be good to have one of the goddesses's commanders this close to the river.  But over four centuries of peace has changed my viewpoint.  Military check - ins became less and less frequent following the peace treaty, and I haven't even sent a report in to Eden'del in over a century, and no one seems to care.  I guess the world just moved on.  You're young, maybe you don't understand the bitter war that lasted for so long, and the hatred that hung on for generations.  But certainly, and without a doubt...."</strong><br/><br/>She held her teacup in her hands and her gaze pierced Izusa as she spoke slowly and carefully,<strong> "During the war, there was one thing that Pandora wanted more than conquest, and that was domination, corruption, and absolute destruction of the worshipers of any faith other than her.  So I say again, don't mention the name Shoni to anyone."</strong><br/><br/>She raised her cup to her lips and went to take another sip, draining it and then looking at the empty cup as if it had somehow betrayed her by being empty.<strong>"Another cup?" </strong>she asked politely as she began to raise from her seat and slither towards the coffee table to pour more tea from the teapot into her cup.  She continued talking even as she again removed her breast and squeezed it, pinching the nipple again to deftly spray more milk into the tea,<strong>"As for gaining knowledge, I think that's a good thing.  If you are truly exiled here, knowledge can keep you alive.  I could probably answer many of your questions, but I'll expect a little something in return of course.  But before we get to that, before you make grand plans to go out into the wild unknown, let me ask you a question." </strong>She gestured to Izusa's cup, offering to refill it, with tea and apparently her own cream as well if the kitsune wanted.<br/><br/>She settled back into her seat and sighed, took a sip, and then asked,<strong>"If you are any good with your hands, I could find a place for you here in the village.  There's almost never any excitement, but we're quiet, out of the way, rarely get travelers or any of Pandora's army patrols come through.  You look corrupted so people wouldn't think twice about you living here.  You could have a nice quiet life if you don't mind swinging a hoe and becoming a part of our community." </strong>She paused and looked Izusa in the eyes and shook her head,<strong>"But you probably aren't ready to give up yet, settle down, eh?  Too young, the fire of youth burns too bright in you, doesn't it?"</strong><br/><br/>She shook her head,<strong>"Well, I'm willing to let you spend the night here, answer any questions you have that I can, and in return you'll agree to take the place of whichever villager is set to warm my bed  for the night, and also give me a lock of your hair as a .... memento."</strong>For a moment Izusa was thrown by how casually the matronly naga mentioned bed warming, but then she realized that the naga meant in fact sex.  So casually had it been said that it was almost off-putting.  And that a villager was scheduled to do so that night?  Was this also a part of the community, someone to service the naga every night?  So many questions!