facing me. Alisandra stood and touched the bare shoulder of the man nearest to her. “This is Josa. He has unusual endurance in performing methods of pleasure.” He bowed to me and I nodded in return. She moved to the guy in the middle. “This is Elis . Perhaps you have noticed his size?” She wasn’t talking about the majority of his body and I must admit what stuck out from the bottom of his toga was impressive. “And finally, this is Tam. He is an expert masseur.” She clapped her hands and the men shuffled back out of the room. This woman was seriously creeping me out. She treated her husbands as prize pets. If I tried that with either of my wives they’d feed me my testicles. What’s more, I’d help them. “In Malevon culture the natural superiority of the female sex, especially in the magical arts, has long been acknowledged, but it does make our men compliant. I cannot tell you how good it is to meet a wizard like yourself who comes from a world where men still consider themselves to be leaders.” She lifted her toga over her head, throwing it into a corner and sat naked. “You are married to barbarian women. Would my Lord Wizard care to sample the pleasures a woman of truly superior intellect and refinement can deliver?” Now let me say that as a piece of sculpture this woman was ace. Flawless skin, breasts that were full, but needed no support, and legs that went up forever. Unusually for me, she left me completely unmoved. Her husbands had seen to that. I could taste the magic she was using to induce lust bounce off the shield I’d created between us. I wondered if she knew how to create a similar shield. The thought is parent to the deed and I flooded her with the desire magic I’d been using unconsciously only a few hours before. Because I thought she might try to shield herself, I threw a ginormous amount of it at her. She gasped as it hit her. Apparently she didn’t know how to make a shield. She oozed off the cushion onto the carpet beneath. Alisandra slid towards me, her hands outstretched in silent appeal. I stood up to avoid her and she clasped her hands onto my ankles. “Please take me, Lord Wizard. Fill me with your seed.” That would have really done it for me if circumstances were different, but I was cold as ice. I shook a leg free. “I might consent if you were to tell me your plan.” I saw her try to get control of the emotions flooding her. This woman was used to being in charge and proud of it. I ruthlessly applied more magical desire. It wasn’t quite mind control, but it had the same taste and I felt disgusted with myself even as I pushed it further. Tears fell. Her hand got to my knee and I pulled it off me and flung her down at my feet. “You were to marry me. You cannot possibly be doing this to me.” “Barbarian wizard, falls hopelessly in love with you after the application of a little lust magic? How does it feel when I’m doing it to you?” Alisandra writhed on the floor. Her tears had turned to hopeless sobs and her eyes were red. She couldn’t get her breathing under control. I remorselessly turned up the magical heat. “Please, please stop it. I can’t think. It hurts.” “Marrying me would not have given you control of me.” She pulled herself together enough to snarl. “You fool. As my husband you would be disqualified from the Conference by conflict of interest. We would have won without having to kill you.” I cut the magic off and she collapsed onto the floor. [Jake, where are you? What is going on?] “Just coming, Fluffy. You wouldn’t like it here. We’re leaving.” [Why have you got me wrapped up in enough magic to protect a planet?] Ignoring my friend’s questions I turned to Alisandra. “You are the least attractive woman I have ever met. I pity your husbands.” While she absorbed that I shouted to my dragon. “I’ll be right out. I need to get the taste of these people from my mouth.” I was expecting her