“Come to think of it,” Elphron grumbled with a sour expression. “Word of your ‘prayer’ is likely to spread through town faster than a winter wind… which means a lot of our citizens will be tempted to try and spy on you… which means they’ll be stumbling around in the forest in the dark, and likely hurt themselves… so, I’m not sure I can allow you to perform your dance nude, for the safety of the community.’ “I understand… and it is not my intention to cause any mayhem,” Taenya sighed regretfully, then continued in a brighter tone as an alternative occurred to her; “I can perform the Circle Dance clothed if you insist… but there is another option… rather than hiding away and having your citizens seek me out, I could perform the dance in the open here in town, that way anyone who wants to witness it may with endangering themselves.” “You mean you would dance… naked… in front of the whole town?” the war watcher questioned in shock. “In front of whoever chose to witness my prayer… yes,” Taenya replied as if it was the most natural thing in the world for her to expose her delectable body in all its naked glory to anyone who wished to see it. “It wouldn’t be the first time,” Coran snarked with a sly smile, remembering the reaction she got from the militiamen in Treesedge when they arrived in Mistledale. Trying to ignore the new round of muttered remarks from the men behind him, Elphron weighted the logic of the drow’s suggestion; he knew the spectacle would draw a crowd as it would undoubtedly be the most exciting thing to happen in Hap since the wizard’s attack, but if there wasn’t any risk to the citizens and obviously the prospect didn’t bother her in the least, what ground did he have to deny her. So, he agreed; “Alright, if you don’t care that most of the town will be there gawking at you, I have no objection. You may perform your ‘prayer’ in the market field by the well… I’m sure everyone in town will have heard about it within the hour… but when do you intend to do it.” “I must wait for moonrise,” the drow priestess advised, casting a knowing glance to the men-at-arms with a coy smile. True to her word, just after moonrise, Taenya lead Coran and Mistale into the market field in front of the inn, covered by a weather cloak that concealed her from neck to ankle, and, just as predicted, nearly every adult man in the tiny hamlet, and a good number of women, were gathered waiting, including Elphron and his full contingent of a dozen warriors. Without hesitation, the drow priestess proceeded to the center of the open space, and produced her sword, shrunken to dagger size, from inside the cloak, which instantly resumed its full size, drawing a gasp of awe from the crowd, before she planted it, tip down, into the ground. Then she took a step back and cast off the cloak, revealing her magnificent, petite but delightfully feminine body to the moonlight… and the eyes of the on-lookers. The gasp that erupted for the assembled townspeople dwarfed their previous reaction but seemed to have no effect on the dark elf, as she turned her eyes skyward and began her wordless melody, staring to circle the sword as she twirled, twisted and turned in the most sensual way imaginable. Increasing in speed and wantonness with every orbit, both her song and dance reached a fevered pitch in no time, as she seemed to reach a state of frenzied delirium. Then, suddenly she halted, collapsing to her knees in supplication for several long minutes, her only movement the rapid rising and falling of her chest as she gasped for breath, before looking skyward with a blissful expression. Slowly rising on unsteady legs, she took up her sword, shrinking it back to its dagger size, then retrieved her cloak, before returning to the inn, followed by Coran and Mistale, with no apparent concern for her continued nudity; leaving the assembly of locals in awestruck silence. Elphron, who had been just as mesmerized by the display as anyone else, realized that he hadn’t heard a single word, not one bawdy remark or erotic taunt, during the entire performance.