Thurga asked slyly.“Eventually,” Olivia replied straight-faced. “They had to beat me back with a stick, but they did manage to pull him away, the six of them.” “Such a handsome, handsome male,” Rumm sighed. “When I see him in the baths, I could just cry, thinking of that fine body wasted on a human.”“Believe me, sisters, no part of him is ever wasted.”“His loincloth,” murmured Thurga, and giggled.“Evil little frog,” Crugunn said, shaking her head. “How I wish things were not as they are.”“You’re not the only one,” Karen muttered.“So!” Crugunn began brightly. “You are Murgull’s apprentice.”Thurga offered Olivia one of her shy smiles, but Rumm looked alarmed.“That’s true,” Olivia said. “I can’t begin to say how surprised I was.”“She does tend to trap one into doing things,” Crugunn agreed. “But if you ask me, she should have taken an apprentice years ago. And all respect to you, Olivia, but I don’t know how I feel about having a human for a healer.”“You know,”
