<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Stats</div><div class="spoiler_body">Reputation: <del>30</del>  <strong>15</strong><br/></div></div><br/>Yolande had plenty of time - far too much time - on her return journey to think about what the hobgoblins had done.  What they had gained - an enormous ransom, which would have to be recovered from the rest of the kingdom of course - and some female playthings, and probably an improved reputation among their peers... worse than that, an example for others to follow, perhaps.  And the damage they had done - to the village of course, having killed the bravest of the men and broken &/or abducted the most beautiful of the women.  But also to the kingdom, in lost wealth, and to morale in other villages - how would they react, seeing what could happen to them, and how powerless the kingdom had been to protect them, or even to punish those responsible?  There would be fear... more willingness to strike bargains, perhaps, to avoid facing the same fate.  Anger, dissatisfaction ... all terrible things for the security of the realm.  This wouldn't do at all.<br/><br/>All the more reason for the academy to operate - yes, Yolande had been caught this time, but these students would be better prepared, one day, and would have each other to rely on, too.  It was the one positive things she could look forward to, as she trudged back.  And she felt that everyone she passed was surely whispering about her, telling and re-telling what had happened... no doubt that's why her own very recognizable equipment was returned, so there could be no doubt this was Yolande, that it had been her who suffered that shameful defeat.  Having to keep to herself, instead of "reluctantly" enjoying the admiration of those she passed, deepened her feelings of failure.<br/><br/>It would have been far worse, had she known that some of her students were now having Yolande's defeat incorporated into their own training.  For some of them it was spontaneous, accidental - of course their thoughts were on Yolande's fate, and as their bodies were stimulated, it just so happened that it shaped their dreams, combining the awful imagery with the pleasure forced on them by the vibrating eggs.  For others it was deliberate, as the incubus ensured that they were groomed to respond to those very specific scenes - to hobgoblins, to stocks, to helpless, ongoing abuse, so their bodies and minds softened to those possibilities, to seeing others used like this, and to imagining it for themselves.<br/><br/>And Anders - Yolande dreaded having to see the curious faces of her friends and students, but far worse was what Anders would think.  She didn't know how he would react - she certainly had no suspicion of the little bit of jealousy that was a hidden part of his torment.  But she knew it would be ... difficult.<br/><br/><br/>Fortunately it was the competent, calm Kabuno who met her first.  "Kabuno... thank you, I'm glad to be back alive too."  She even managed a ghost of a smile at that... it was certainly true, and his demeanour helped her calm down a little.  She wanted to great right back into everything, to work, to forget... but of course Kabuno was more sensible.  That could wait until she had seen to her husband.<br/><br/>"Yes... yes, of course, you're right.  I'll go to him right away.  But ... I am eager to get back to work.  You don't have to ... shelter me, the best thing for me is to get back into training as soon as I can."  She had dismounted, and started to hand over the reins to Kabuno so she could hurry to Anders, but the thought of training made her pause for a moment.  "One thing to mention to Callea... and to the Priestess too.  We should make sure the students are taught about charms... we need to see if we can't increase their willpower a little, give them additional defenses against such things.  Callea, especially, should work on that.  Please... see to it, Kabuno.  I'll go to Anders now."<br/><br/>And she hurried to find her husband - he'd be at the forge of course, and the sound of it would be obvious.  She longed to give him a great hug, to just stay together for a time - and she'd prefer not to give him details about what had happened.  He probably didn't want to hear it, she assured herself.