Aftermath

Only after the three women entered the bedroom did Abner realize Fanny was there too. After a moment's thought, he guessed she had heard the commotion on the third floor and come up to investigate.

Abner did not ask her to leave. The monster that had attacked Xio was very likely Baron Kangwa from seven hundred years ago, and Miss Fanny, who had helped him excavate the baron's tomb, was involved in the matter, if only loosely. There was no need to hide it from her.

Besides, if she had not come to tell him what had happened at the Dragon Tooth bar earlier, he might not have taken Xio's urgent assignment so seriously.

Meanwhile, Fors hurried to Xio's side and looked her up and down several times. Only when she saw that Xio really was all right did she breathe a sigh of relief. She could not help hugging her, then gripped her shoulders and said sternly:

"Xio, how could you go on such a dangerous assignment without telling me anything?

"If you'd told me and let me come along, we would at least have had a fairly safe way out."

Xio blinked. "But I'm fine... Fors, you're freezing!"

At that, Xio seemed to notice something. She turned to Abner and changed the subject. "Abner, could you find us some clean clothes?"

Abner froze, then understood.

He had not noticed in the rush, but now that things had settled down, he could see that three of the four women—everyone except Fanny—were in a sorry state. Xio had it worst. The rain had soaked her clothes through again, and all the rolling she had done to dodge attacks had left her covered in mud.

*They really do need to change. It'll be awful if they catch a chill and get