Esther wanted to go directly to the party, but Gromphy insisted they go shopping first to get her new clothes. When she asked what was wrong with her current attire, the goblin advised that she couldn’t wear shadow-scale armor to a banquet. She needed something with more elegance and less cleavage. Esther’s mind returned to Ella and how the beautiful woman had been dressed. She had grace and beauty yet remained mysterious and out of reach. Esther was used to a more “In-Your-Face” sex appeal and realized the crafter had a point.

They found a clothing shop on the southwestern edge of Therasphue. They had to cut through the southern portion of the town to head west toward Imani’s estate. The invitation crystals gave magical leading to the pair, letting them know where they had to go. The store wasn’t busy, and after one look at the odd couple, both attendants gave them their full attention. One was an older gentleman, likely the owner, while the other was a young man about the same age as Draya. After one look at Esther, the youth insisted to his employer that he could handle the pair. The older man laughed at his obvious intentions and let them be.

“My name is Thomas,” the boy said. “Thomas Klawk. You can call me Thom.”

“Nice to meet you, Thom,” Esther said, seduction dripping off her voice as she fell into a familiar role.

“The pleasure is all mine,” he replied, color rising to his cheeks.

Gromphy stepped between them and cleared his throat. “We requireth a new dress for the lady,” Gromphy said.

“What’s wrong with what she has on?” Thom asked, taking an opportunity to let his eyes drink up her attire from head to toe.

“Tis that she barely hath it on at all!” Gromphy retorted, trying to drag the boy's attention off Esther. “Tis hardly befitting for a gala of high esteem.”

“You’re going to a party?” Thom asked absent-mindedly, his thoughts still on the skimpy outfit Esther wore. Then his mind made a connection. “Wait, are you going to Imani Pistri’s estate? That gala? Wow. I mean, I can sense power in you, but I never thought. . .” his voice drifted, and his eyes half closed.

“What thee be about?” Gromphy asked, reaching into his cloak for a potion if needed.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Thom said, shaking his head clear. “I’m studying to be a priest. I can sense powerful magical auras but have been trained not to pry. But if you are going where I think you are, you must be special.” He looked again at Esther, trying hard to keep his eyes above her shoulders. “I sense angelic power within you, but something dark as well. It is a strange mix.”

Esther said nothing about his observation, not wishing to bare her soul to him, and changed topics. “You know about this party? Who is Imani? What kind of people will be there?”

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“All kinds,” Thom said. “I’ve studied up on all of the local shamans, sorcerers, demon mages, and other powerful people, and they will all be there. Imani is a druid merman. His estate is on the shore, and I hear he can turn into a shark. Just incredible. My sister was hired to serve food. Man, I wish I could go. I would learn so much.”

Gromphy cleared his throat again. “A dress?” he repeated.

“Right,” Thom snapped back to the present. His eyes took another trip up and down Esther’s form, and he managed to register something other than infatuation. “Yes, okay, I understand. Something more . . .”

He let the thought hang as he turned and led them deeper into the shop between shelves of folded shirts and pants to a back wall where formal clothes hung. He moved toward several long gowns, estimated Esther’s height, and pulled three options from the hangars.

“We have a changing room around the corner,” Thom offered as he handed the clothes to Esther.

The woman didn’t bother, moved her current attire into her inventory, and tried each dress individually. With her memorized outfits, she could use her Quick Change ability to swap them instantly, but these gowns were new, and she stood in her underwear for six full seconds between each one. Although, with the second two, her skimpy halter top didn’t work with the open backs, so that also disappeared.

After trying them all on, she cycled through them again, posing in a nearby mirror. “I don’t know, Gromphy; what do you think?”

“I think Thomas doth need a healer,” the goblin said. “He hath not taken a breath in nye over a minute.”

Esther glanced at the young man, whose face was pale, and he needed a nearby shelf to support himself. She laughed inwardly. “No, I mean about the gowns. Which one do you like?”

“We hath achieved elegance, but thy cleavage hath not varied,” he reported.

“I think that is just something you are going to have to live with,” Esther said, holding back a smile.

“Bah,” Gromphy snorted. “I know thy skills. Thou art altering each as thy don them.”

“Ah, ahem,” Thom tried to talk, but his throat was dry. “If you want something a bit more modest, I can . . .” his voice cracked.

“No,” Esther cut him off. “I think this one will do.” She settled on a black gown that hung off her shoulders with a plunging neckline trimmed in gold. It was gathered high on her waist with a gold belt, and the skirt dropped to the floor. The back was open down to the swell of her backside. Esther used her fashion design skill to play with a slit up the left leg, and Thom watched in awe as the gown split as if a zipper was sewn into the bottom half. The woman revealed her entire leg and then hid it again, finally settling on the more formal look.

She turned to Thom and produced the unwanted gowns from her inventory. “Thank you very much. How much is it?”

Thom was willing to give it away for free after the show she had given him but knew his boss wouldn’t like that. He named a price, and Esther produced the gold. She turned to Gromphy. “I suppose you will get by with your normal clothes?”

The crafter was smartly dressed, with a top hat, suitcoat, and colored vest, but he shook his head. “I shall not be in attendance with thee.”

“What?” she cried. “You have to go. That is the whole point. I can’t cast the spell you need.”

“Nay,” the goblin agreed. “Thou canst. Thou wilt find me another entrance point into the subfloor. I can’t mingle with the attendees thusly described.”

“Well, I can’t go alone,” Esther argued. “That will look more out of place than if I had a goblin on my arm.”

“Then thou shalt have to woo a fool to attend with thee,” Gromphy said.

Esther thought for a moment and then turned around. “Thomas,” she said, actively withholding her charm spell. She didn’t need it. “Are you busy for the next few hours?”