Burrowing ahead

[Anastasia]

"It's both," Sanzha answers, "Why not both? Why not live in luxury while learning?"

[Corwin]

"Why not indeed," Seira agrees, following her.

[Anastasia]

Thus you enter. None bar your way, perhaps none dare. The doors open into luxury, into gold and refinement. The interior walls are lined with wood, rich woods deep and darkly stained. There's no water in here, instead it's dry within. It's tastefully lit with crystalline chandeliers and little light torches made of wrought glass. Beautiful marid women in miniature carvings hold those torches.

"No deathtrap," Lady Sanzha remarks aloud, "You've gotten smarter."

[Corwin]

"Hmm?" Seira muses, drying them with her will.

[Anastasia]

'Welcome, friends and those I tolerate,' A man's voice is heard, 'Be content you are one I would prefer to call a friend.'

"The last time I was here, it was an entire squad of war trained dire sharks," Lady Sanzha declares with a note of mild pique, "With three heads each."

[Corwin]

"Maybe I'm just better liked?" Seira asks with a grin, before raising her voice. "Thank you for the kind welcome!"

[Anastasia]

"You even got the blood out," Sanzha concurs aloud.

'What does this goddess wish to know, Sanzha?' Is the answer back.

[Corwin]

Well, knowing who this is might be nice. But Seira lets Sanzha handle the introductions, as she's clearly in her element.

[Anastasia]

"Tamzar," Sanzha answers, "Get to the point of this instead of picking at us for answers." Her voice is firm, mirth leaving it.

The response is for a portal of water to rise, to which Sanzha enters without hesitation.

[Corwin]

Once more, Seira merrily follows along!

[Anastasia]

You appear on an elevated platform well above an open gymnasium. Here dozens of marid fight - from bare handed to swords to tridents to nets to many other weapons. Overlooking them all is one marid - ancient, weathered, tired. Small, he seems to swim in his fine pearl and gold colored robes, hood down. He sits on a cushioned chair as a beautiful marid female fans him, wearing only strategic strips of cloth to cover herself.

Sanzha looks out over the battle, "Are any of them promising?"

"They aren't dead yet," the old marid retorts, "Two and a half weeks in."

"Not bad," Sanzha concurs as she watches them fight, skilled warriors for certain, even on a glance. "Anyone noteworthy?"

"Hardly anyone of social rank, it's all heroes," Is the old marid's dismissive reply. "If a better group than usual."

[Corwin]

"Heroes are the most noteworthy candidates," Seira notes. "Especially if they are driven by a tragic past!"

[Anastasia]

With an arch look the old man says, "And you look like someone's tragic past. Several someones. Marrying a woman!" He declares, "A loss for all men. Well, an elf. Close enough."

[Corwin]

"Those men who couldn't find any other suitor in a whole Creation of them after being deprived of my glorious self can take a long walk off a short pier," Seira tells him cheerfully. "How about you? Broken any hearts in the distant, distant past?"

[Anastasia]

With an open look of amusement, Sanzha sits. Her throne from before reforms and she rests on it, looking out over the battles.

"Oh, I was wooing princesses and dating noblewomen before your world was even an idea," The marid retorts right back, "I'd have romanced you."