Esszie chuckled,<strong>"No not too much, just a little lock is fine, just don't run off tomorrow morning without leaving it please.  Speaking of which, I must say, I don't believe you've even told me your name yet.  What should I call you little foxling?"</strong><br/><br/>After Izusa introduced herself the matronly naga continued,<strong> "Well since you'll be staying the night, I should let you know that I tend to eat my meals a touch on the 'raw' side but I'd be happy to cook some for you for dinner."</strong>She must have noticed a look on Izusa's face and she laughed,<strong>"Just a bit of pig I have hanging in my cool cellar don't worry.  I don't know what stories they tell over in the mortal realms but we don't devour babies or anything of the sort."</strong><br/><br/>She chuckled and 'stood' up slithering back towards the kitchen, stoking the fire in the iron stove again.<strong>"I suppose I should start by telling you a bit about myself.  Well I was, and I suppose technically still am, a commander in Pandora's invasion army.  Not a bad life, though I think I was someone else before..." </strong>She looked away for a moment,<strong>"I think I was a human woman in Eden'del when Pandora broke through.  But I can't remember that, any of that.  My first memories that I can recall are of this form, of being told that I now served the goddess in her great army.  Years of war, many victories, many..."</strong>She shook her head, frowned,<strong>"...atrocities.  When the peace treaty came about for a few years my regiment was set not but a few miles from here patrolling our side of the river.  Over time the forces were re-deployed and scattered, and finally I was given leave to set up a little farm for myself here, with the idea that as long as a powerful commander was nearby, my regiment could be reformed.  But there's been no need for it in centuries, and I admit now, I hope there never is.  I like my peaceful little life.  I like my peaceful little community.  I like the people that live here.  I like the women that come to share my bed every night, they are my lovers and my family.  They come and they go, as is their wont, and some of them are grand children of those who came before."</strong><br/><br/>She judged that the oven was hot and held up a finger asking Izusa to wait before disappearing around a corner out of her sight.  A door opened and the sound of her moving in the house, then down stairs could be heard.  A few moments later back up and a door closing.  A haunch of pig in her hands as she set it down on the table in the kitchen and began carving it with a sharp but well used knife.  She carved up and set ham steaks in a pan even as she spoke,<strong>"That's the long and the short of who I am at least.  You seem harmless and so I'd like to help you.  I can't offer much, but information I have in spades.  So what is it that you'd like to know?  How can I help you discover your role in life little one?"</strong>