<br/>lol yeah, we can double level. One more 'til epic!<br/><br/><br/>Aria agreed heartily with Kass's plan, sure she herself would have little trouble sleeping early after such an active day (and even if not, her own circadian rhythm would've been an ancillary concern to spell preparation during such a quest). The sorcerous youth Thucides seemed inclined to go visit the hire-wizard and name-drop Kass and Aria, and was sure he'd be coming back around the temple soon (if nothing else, he was starting to notice the several pretty lasses about). He mentioned knowing about the shield they'd spoken of in the square, the 'Shield of Aechilles', and marked it on the book-map Aria had taken. Apparently the primary temple of Ares in the city was built into the city wall near one of the gates, and doubled as a sort of garrison, but the shield was located at a second, somewhat smaller and more remote temple a few miles outside the city, located upon a hilltop.<br/><br/>In turn giving Thucides directions to the hire-wizard from the temple front gates, Kass and Aria asked around about a meal and lodgings. They snaked upon dates and figs and goat-meat and grapes, and, it seemed, had the run of one of the nicer quarters of a priestess currently traveling (or shacked up with some wealthy man of the town, depending on the rumor).  It had a gauzy-curtained balcony much like Rana's quarters, overlooking cultivated date-trees and the open desert beyond. The bed was canopied with its own matching set of deep scarlet gauzy curtains, and flanked by a modest amount of delicately crafted furniture.<br/><br/>Once situated, Aria drank almost a gallon of water in one go; she'd sweat quite a bit in the Mulhorandi climate and, somewhat to her own chagrin, when she sweated profusely enough it took on a faint but unusual wood-and-charcoal fire type scent, like someone nearby roasting meat over a fire.<br/><br/>Due to he same heat, she was quite happy enough like Kass to sleep utterly nude, the pink-red tones of her lips, nipples and tail vivid against the rest of her pale skin. Several times in sleep she would turn or roll while dreaming, and an arm, leg or tail would snake around or retract from Kass's body.<br/><br/>At the appointed time, near to midnight, the serving girls had been told to wake their guests to serve and feed, Acenith and Arsinoe padded in wearing their usual cotton skirts and bosom-webbing necklaces, bearing platters of the same foodstuffs as the adventurer's afternoon meal. They gently woke them, and Aria gestured for Arsinoe to rub her down bodily with palm oil while she ate. The serving girl mentioned also, "Rana is up and quite well now, and I know is quite inclined to properly meet her rescuers if they are so inclined, and to receive any information or suggestion on you on spells to pray for before she does so."<br/>d e