"So, the queen of Zillagol herself is after our Dana?" Marule asked and dipped her zisgnumo - bread gag , a small ball of white bread - into a bowl with brown sauce.
"Yes, but why Penelapaj wants to get her the captives didnt know." Tashmal answered, alternately biting into a tomato and a zisgnumo. 
Last night, after the operation, they had sex interrogated the whip mistresses. The leadress was the High Whip of Labuggio, the capital, herself, the leadress of all of them in the city and first among the council of the whip for the entire country. It was disturbing that the highest ranking slave hunter of Zillagol herself had come here to capture Dana, but the blonde felt not afraid by that.  She was getting used to this, after a fashion.
What was so special about her, the Zillagolas, like Donna Jalatti, didnt know.
Dana eyed her cucumber - she liked those, her mothers grew them in the garden behind their small house in the village -and bit into it. Another question was what to do with the whip mistresses.
The 40 soldiers were just that - soldiers - being sent by the queen of Zillagoll to assist the slave hunters. Dana had objected to enslaving them. So they would be sent back on a river ship to their home country, to be released at the border. But the mistresses? They had decided it was best to keep them as captives for a while, and they had been brought to the order house of the black blades, like the Donna Jalatti. This "house" - Dana had seen it from the outside - was more a small fortress.
Megan, her hair today in a tower above her head, eating from her gruel bowl, said:
"Maybe we will learn more soon. I have received a letter from the Ambassador. Witch Lovell-bet-Sheld will return day after tomorrow."
"Thats good news," Tashmal  beamed, taking a piece of apple and tunking it into a bowl of whipped cream.
The friends were sitting at breakfast, which was always a big happening in Tashmals house, lovingly prepared by Ugumbe.
"What are your plans for the day, Tashmal?" Marule asked, taking yet another zisgnumo and choosing a black sauce this time.
"I will introduce Dana to Tennis. Though I am afraid she will learn it just as quickly as everything else and soon beat me."
"Its played in a hall?"
"Yes, we have several halls in the city. Naturally, you cant play it outside now."
It was snowing outside, the visible part of the garden already under a very thick layer of snow.
"Ugumbe will build a snow woman in the garden!" the slave announced happily. She was sitting at the table with the others, always the case at breakfast. 
Dana had to smile. The Mambaka was really cute. And in Moravan it was said all black women were evil and bad. She couldnt think of any woman more harmless than Ugumbe.
"I must be back at the embassy soon," Megan said," my duties."
She send a quick look to Tashmal and sighed. Dana felt sympathetic for her. It had been petty and shallow to hate her because she loved Tashmal.
"What will you do, Zusha?" Dana asked her friend.
"I will go with Jashelle to a gym."
Jashelle was the player of the Vixens, Vimajas, the young artists, lover. 
"I am growing fat, lazy and weak in this city. Time to do something about it."
"And you, Marule?"
Marule drank from her Kaff and explained:
"I will be at the Musician Academy again. I have still much to learn. And there is a cute achaian teacher there. We will go to a ballet tonight, and later - well, you can guess."
Tashmal took Danas hand and looked her into the eyes:
"Still afraid about what the ambassador may tell you?"
"Yes, but I think I must learn about it."
"My brave blonde."
They kissed softly. Tashmals eyes seemed moist. Dana stroke her hair.
Megan rose and said:
"Well, it was a fantastic breakfast as always, but I must be on my way now."
Dana felt sorry for her. Why had love between people always to be so complicated?
***
"I am glad we finally meet. Dont be nervous, I dont bite."
Witch Lovell-bet-Sheld, Ambassador of the Witchdom of Albor to the Achaian Republic, smiled at Dana like a friendly aunt. She seemed to be in her forties, but Dana knew from Tashmal she was over 60 - the result of her work with the magical powers, no youth-spell. 
The witch wore a yellow long dress of silk with the red lion over the bossom, her light blonde hair was in a knot at the back of her head, and she wore the conical, pointed hat typical of the alboran witches. She had fine make up, blue for the eyes, red for the lips. Her fingers had very long nails, which were painted red like her lips. Her con-fy-deth, a grey, astonishingly fat cat, was in her lap, she stroking its back.
"Please, relax young Lady. Smoke a cigarette. "
"Thank you, Lady Ambassador."
Dana gulped and lit a Laxago, with sligthly shaking hands. Her outfit, a short dress, long boots and gloves, was the black one today, and she carried her sword. Her hair was in a ponytail.
"You are surely eager to know why I wanted to meet you, and why so many powerful women of Arankalor are trying to get their hands on you."
Dana nodded, took another drag, blew out smoke, dragged yet again.
"The witches of Albor are, like the Zorald priestresses, strong dream wanderers. Since some time now, many witches have dreamed about a great, grave danger for Matria. All of Matria. For all of womankind. And they started to dream about a young blonde girl from Dorania, a Moravan, an inn maid. At first, it seemed unclear how this girl fitted into the picture only that she had to do with the danger somehow. 
Later, we saw that the girl would be fundamental in repelling and defeating the great danger. We learned that she is a natural born warrior, what the Rondakas call a "Krosa" and the Mambakas a "Zaxuma".  I got the order of the Consell-en-Witch, the ruling council of Albor, to bring you into safety, as we saw that others would try to abduct you and use you for their own sinister puposes.
Madamelle Tashmal, my trusted employee for such missions, was sent out, and succeeded in bringing you here, but it seems there is no safety for you. 
On the journey, and in your days in the city of the rainbow, your powers have emerged, showing you are not only a Krosa, but a very strong one at that. And we have learned from the happenings that the enemy is powerful and has many faces."
Dana was already finished with her cigarette and lit a new one.
"Lady Danadeva, it has been decided by the Consell-en-Witch that you must be brought to Thy-Web-Rell, capitol of Albor and seat of the Consell. The witches must determine the exact nature of your powers and why you are so important for defeating the great danger. The dream wanderers must take you with them, that you see for yourself."
Dana nodded slowly, calming down. 
"What about my friends?"
"Dont fear, you will not go alone. I have offered  Madamelle Tashmal a new contract, a mission to accompany  you and look further to your safety. I dont know if she accepted because of the incredible sum I offered her or because she is so much in love with you.
The Tra Ka Dar who calls herself Zusha will go wherever you go. Ejrvrou Marule will want to accompany you too, she has started writing a song saga about your adventures.
Finally, you need guidance by an Alboran to find your way around in yet another new country. Therefore, my young assistant, Witch Brith-orl-Meo and Osh, her con-fy-deth, will go with you too."
Dana had to smile. It would be great to visit yet another country. She was really seeing the big wide world, as she had always dreamed. She turned sober again:
"What is this great danger?"
"I cant tell you - you will learn more in Thy-web-Rell and see it in the dreams then."
Dana had to accept that. The Ambassador rose, the cat sprang to the ground an yawned dull.
Dana rose too, quickly killed her smoke.
"We witches deny the existence of the goddesses, as you already have learned, but as you believe in them, and I have heard from Madamelle Tashmal she is your favorite goddess - may Benit be with you, young Danadeva."

Tashmal and Zusha had waited in another chamber of the embassy, and the three left the building, and took a coach back to Tashmals home.
On reaching it the saw a dozen dark blades, armed with heavy crossbows and short spears standing guard before the house and in the garden.
"A security measure?" Dana asked, not concerned.
"No," Tashmal said, " something must have happened."
They left the coach. Dana could see two horses before the house, big, strong mounts, warrior mounts. Her sharp eyes noticed on the white blankets under the saddles black death heads, the symbol of the death  knightresses. Her heart skipped a beat - was that fear?
The leadress of the blades approached them.
"Mistress Tashmal, you have guests."
"I see. Have you packaged them?"
"No. But we took their weapons. They were not very happy about that."
"Too bad. I mean that you didnt  package them. Only a bound and gagged death knightress is a good death knightress."
Dana had learned much in the past weeks, but the death knightresses of Kerke were still somehow her heroines. To think of them as helpless packages like all the others she had already seen seemed somehow very wrong.
"Well, lets go inside and ask our uninvited guests what has brought them to my house."
"Thats not hard to tell." Zusha growled. There was hate in her voice and in her eyes, and Dana suddenly remembered that Rondakas and death knightresses were deadly enemies.
They entered the house.
The Daughters of Kerke - another name for them - were sitting on a couch in the living room. No less than six dark blades were there, swords and tiny crossbows drawn and aimed. Marule sat opposite of the knightresses and chatted with them. That is, she was speaking, while the two doranian women just sat there with cold, arrogant faces. On the table before them cups of Kaff and pieces of apple cake, both obviously not having been touched by them.
On seeing the womens faces, Dana immediately disliked both. Bitches if she ever saw one.
They wore long black shiny boots and gloves, white trousers and blouses, and a heavy body armor painted in white with a large black death head on it.
Both had the fair skin of Doranians, both were tall and seemed strong, the muscles of their arms under the gloves well defined. One had blonde hair and blue eyes, her hair in a long plait. The second one  had mouse brown hair in a pony tail and a fringe. Both lipstick and eye makeup was black.
They rose as Tashmal and the others entered. Danas lover starred at them a moment, then beamed:
"How pretty you two are. Are you a present from the First Mother of the Order of Kerke for me?"
The two women totally ignored her and starred at Dana. The Blonde said:
"Kerke with you and your weapons, Lady Danadeva. I am Sister in Kerke Lurave of Medrast, and this is sister in Kerke Koxath von Webelem.  We have been sent to you by GreatKonnetabel Wutrit Kerkelove of Storgast, ruler of the Kerkemark to you with an invitation and an offer."
Dana tried to keep cool. She breathed deply.
"Very well. I am listening."
"The GreatKonetabel invites you to our realm, and offers you a squireship among the Sisters of Kerke. She knows about your great powers and your strength. So, come with us and become one of us, sister. A great future awaits you. There is a great danger coming, and only the sisters of Kerke can save the world."
Dana was totally surprised by her Luraves words. A death knightress, everything she ever wanted to be,  and they offered it to her, to a simple inn maid.
Tashmal grabbed Dana by the arm and exclaimed:
"No Dana, dont go with them. They are tricking you. And they are evil, they are all evil killers and tortures. They burn people alive and have slain thousands upon thousands of innocent Rondakas, children, old women. And they are crazy, they want to take over the empire and conquer the whole world, making it a hell like their Kerkemark."
Only after the elve had feeded upon Dana she had seen Tashmal so agitated. She tried to think clearly. Tashmal wasnt lying to her. So the death knightresses were only simple mass murderers and torturers, like if he worshipped Agazut muh more so than the dark blades. Furthermore, she didnt like these two. She could smell something cold and cruel about them.
And leaving her friends and Tashmal was totally out of the question. So it was decided. It had been easy. She said:
"Well, I have to think about this offer. Why dont we have a smoke as a welcome?"
She offered the two Kerke sisters her cigarettes. Both took them and mouthed their sticks. Fine. You look good thusly. You will look better even in a few moments. Quickly she signaled in the sign language of the blades.
Six swords pointed at the two women at point blank range, two of them at their throats.
Lurave blurted:
"What is the meaning of this outrage?"
"Size them, strip them save for boots and gloves and tie them up strictly."
The blades immediately went to work. Tashmal beamed at Dana. Marule laughed and clapsed her hands. Finally, Zusha showed a grim smile.
Lurave screamed:
"You sinner! Paramour of an achaian whore! You will burn for that!"
"As I see, you two are lusting for a gag. No problem at all. Silence them."
Both women, already naked save for boots and gloves, struggling in the arms of the blades, were gagged thoroughly with three parts white latexa gags.
"There should be black death heads in the center of the white gag bands, that would be a nice touch." Dana suggested.
"What a slpendid idea, Dana. I will go to a latexa artisan with that." Tashmal exclaimed delighted.
Quickly, the two death knightresses were tightly bound. Both screamed into the squeaking gags.
The packages shook their heads, the brunette Koxath seemed to be even in fear. 
Lurave struggled mightily in the bonds, but to no avail. Koxath looked at her comrade, groaned into her gag and shivered. 
So, the brunette was hot about blonde Lurave. That made her a bit more human. Dana decided she liked her a bit better than the blonde.
"I think their heads need to be shaved too. Do we have white latexa caps to sheet them?"
"Surely, Dana!" Tashmal beamed.
And so, the hair of both death knightresses fell and their heads were sheeted in white latexa, leaving only their gagged faces free. These faces were now of a bright red color, both were struggling and screaming in the gags.
"So, I have thought about the offer. Take your treatment as the answer. When you get back to the Kerkemark, the GreatKonnetabel will probably understand this message. We will release you tomorrow. I wish you much pleasure in the bonds."
Dana sat down on a couch and asked:
"Whats for dinner?"

***
"Are you afraid?"
"No, Tashmal, I just didnt know they are so huge."
"They are impressive, you are right, my blonde."
Dana looked up to the giant green animal. The dragon had its wings folded, it had to be even much larger when they were spread. On its back was a sort of house, a long, rectangular structure out of hardlatexa in black, fastened to the beasts body by numerous very broad, very thick leather belts.
A rope ladder led up to the cabin. Megan, Marule and Zusha had already climbed it. Their gear a and clothes had been stored in great baskets under the dragons stomach. 
"Its your turn, blonde beauty!"
"Dont be afraid, Lady, he is completely harmless. He eats plants. And he would never harm a human in any way." one of the two flyers, clad in thick leather clothing and wearing a fur-lined leather mask and hood, assured Dana.
She nodded and gripped the rope ladder. Tashmal followed her. The blonde climbed the ladder with ease and entered the cabin. Her friends had already sat down cross-legged on the ground and were fastening belts around their waists. They were necessary only during takeoff, she had been explained.
They were in the air a few minutes later. The friends had opened the securing belts and were starring out the thick glass windows of the cabin. Dana was fascinated. The land under them was very far away and everything there was tiny. The clouds were near, very big.
"How wonderful", she exclaimed.
"Have you flown before, Zusha? What ails you? Zusha?"
The Rondaka was still sitting, not looking out. She had pressed her hands on her stomach, groaned and had a strange face color, somehow pale, as far as her red skin could be pale. Suddenly, she vomited on to the floor.
"Zusha! Megan, what ails her? You must help her!"
"Oh. That. Well, its harmless. Over there are paper bags for this purpose. Give one to her.  She will be fine again once we land again. Probably..."