Max couldn’t believe his luck. Girls were never this friendly with him back home, and Jenna was not just friendly but beautiful too. Her tanned skin was soft, her round eyes deep and dark, and her lips were full and coming closer by the minute. She moved a little closer and leaned in, studying Max. It was very flattering to be getting so much attention from one so attractive.
He glanced around the camp to check on his companions. Elderon was talking with a big man who had huge arms, a bushy moustache, and a bald head. He wore loose pants, soft boots, and a huge leather belt around his waist that held a curved sword. His upper body rippled under a tight vest. Copper-covered leather forearm guards sparkled, reflecting the flames of the central fire.
“He’s the boss,” Jenna said, her lips almost touching Max’s ear.
Max tried to hear what they were talking about. It appeared to be a good-natured conversation. Elderon always looked stern, and next to the large, jolly traveler leader, he appeared even more so.
Anita was standing at a makeshift store flanked by a pair of young men who could not take their eyes off her. One twirled his thin moustaches, the other had his hands on his hips, puffing up his chest. Max felt a little jealous and protective. Anita was his friend. Who were these guys? He was happy to see that Anita was clearly more interested in the collection of items, trinkets, and some small potion bottles on display at the back of an open wagon than these handsome young men.
Jenna took hold of Max’s hand and stood up. She drew him to his feet and away from the fire and led him by the hand, glancing back over her shoulder. She stopped and turned to Max with a coy, smoldering expression. Her eyes sparkled there at the dark edge of the circle of wagons. Max opened his mouth to speak, but she pressed her finger to her full lips. She took his staff in her hand and set it down on the grass and then led him into the back of a covered wagon.
The interior of the wagon was lit by the large fire outside, glowing and flickering over the thick canvas covering. It was too dark to see anything except the outline of his beautiful temptress. All was shadow. The floor of the wagon was covered in soft furs and large pillows. Somewhere, incense was burning, releasing vapor and perfumed smoke into the covered wagon. Jenna laid Max down on the pillows, kneeled in front of him, and took her loose baggy top up over her head, a silhouette in the flickering orange glow on the canvas-covered wagon. Max let her unclip his belt. Jenna tossed it aside together with his sword, his scabbard, and his satchel. She dragged her long fingernails down his chest.
Max saw a dark spot in the corner of the wagon, a deeper black than Jenna’s curvaceous shadowy outline. It grew deeper and darker. And then, in the center of the dark spot, he saw the white, glowing image of Janet.
“Max, you are in danger,” Janet warned urgently.
Max ignored the warning, knowing the only danger was being taken to the lands of ecstasy by this beautiful traveler maid! He ignored Janet hovering there, glowing brightly now with red hair floating around her. He willed her to go away and used the trick Elderon had been teaching him, to reach out with his mind like he had done with the nut in the shell. He tried to dismiss Janet, to send her back into the darkness, at least for now while he was getting to know this traveler maid.
Jenna smiled down at him and kissed him lightly on the side of the neck. Max reached out with his arms and touched her soft skin. Janet was closer now, right in his face.
“Don’t you ignore me, Max. I’m telling you she’s not what she appears to be. You are in danger. This is not what it seems. If you could see this for real, you wouldn’t be so excited. She is using some kind of illusion to trick you.”
Max had seen Elderon casting spells, and he’d seen Anita use some wilderness magic. There was an energy to it, and Max could see it when he looked, so he looked for it now, checking out the space around Jenna even as her subtle movements invited Max to succumb to her touch. Then he saw it, the light blue glow around her. He studied her closely and saw it was emanating from the large ring she was wearing on the little finger of her left hand.
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“Yes, that’s it,” Janet said. “There is some kind of camouflage field being generated by that item. I’m telling you, she’s not what she seems.”
Max reached up with his hands, palms open. Jenna lifted her arms high above her head, playing with her hair and letting it tumble down over her naked shoulders. Max took hold of her arms and drew her hands down to him. He laid her hands on his chest, smiled at her, and he took hold of her left hand and tried to grab the ring on her finger.
Jenna pulled her hands away and leaned over him, seducing him with all her allure. She held her hands behind her back and dangled her long hair over his chest.
Max was feeling lightheaded, giddy, and excited. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation of her skin on his. When he opened his eyes, Janet was staring right at him. “For goodness’ sake, Max. Snap out of it. You are in danger. Find those people you are with and get out of here.”
Max was enjoying himself far too much, but there was something about that ring, something hidden, something not quite right. Max reached up with his hands and grabbed Jenna by the shoulders. He laid her down on the soft furs. She smiled up at him, her hands above her head, toying with her hair, keeping that ring out of Max’s reach.
Max started crawling backward toward the open back of the wagon. Jenna was up in a flash, her arms around his neck, showering him with kisses and hot breath.
“Don’t go, Max! You’re so exciting and so interesting. I have traveled all over the continent of Awen, from the far west of the Kingdom of Ragewind through the Hinge and the Kingdom of Breamor. Do you believe in love at first sight?” Max could feel her shapely body pressed against his naked back.
“Sure. I believe in love at first sight,” Max said, “but I also think I should let my friends know where I am. I’ll only be a minute.” Max shrugged off Jenna. He grabbed his shirt, fumbled around in the dark, and found his belt, scabbard, and satchel. He leapt out of the back of the covered wagon.
The air outside was cold, and he could feel the excitement in his blood slowly coming down. He pulled on his shirt, slung his satchel and belt over his shoulder, and grabbed his staff from where Jenna had dropped it. He crossed back to the fire and went over to Elderon, who was still talking to the boss.
The boss looked at Max as he approached, a stern expression that suddenly changed to friendly and welcoming.
“Elderon,” Max said.
“Young Mage, I will be with you shortly. Enjoy the camp. We will rest here tonight.”
“Yes,” the boss said with a smile, his gold jewelry jangling. As he smiled, Max saw a gold tooth glittering in the corner of his mouth. “Rest, young Mage. Look, here comes Jenna. She will take you somewhere to rest.”
Max smiled and nodded but took hold of Elderon’s robe. “We have a long journey ahead of us. Let’s not take advantage of these good people, and let’s be on our way.”
Elderon frowned at Max and then at the boss. Something appeared to occur to Elderon, and he cast a spell.
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> Elderon casts Detect Magic.
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Max could see the fine strands of white lightning flickering over the camp. It seemed to light up jewelry on lots of the travelers. Creeping out from under the wagons, Max saw a number of hideous little beasts scurrying to the edge of the shadows, small scaly creatures with sharp teeth and red eyes. Elderon turned away from the boss and walked toward Anita, who was still looking at the wares for sale.
Max was aware that the music had stopped, the laughter had stopped, and all eyes were on them now. Anita came away from the table of wares, but she was glazed over as if hypnotized by these simple trinkets. The Detect Magic spell still flickered, and there was something holding her attention beyond these cheap ornaments and trinkets.
“Anita, we must be on our way.” Max spoke with as much calm authority as he could muster. He looked down to fasten his belt. When he looked up a fraction of a second later, they were already surrounded, and the travelers’ disguises fell away. They were in the middle of a party of Bandits, a dozen of them, and with a pack of vicious little reptiles at their heels.
“Stay together,” Max shouted.
“We have you now, Max.” The Bandit Leader said, standing there, arms folded, laughing. He drew his curved sword. “We have been searching for you. We have found you, and we will deliver you. Your friends we can take dead or alive. The decision is yours.”
Max saw Jenna stepping down from the back of the wagon, not nearly as pretty as she had been just moments before, the magic having worn off. And she was twirling a sling.
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> Jenna attacks Max.
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She shot the bullet at Max. His reflexes took over, and he ducked out of the way of the bullet. It fizzed through the air as it sailed overhead.
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> Attack dodged; no damage done.
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“I guess that means we’ve broken up,” he said to Jenna as she loaded another bullet.
And then the Bandits closed in on all sides.