Cardinal Slavbulka the Not so Faint Hearted, the Third, licked his lips. "Dammit" the toad belched, trying to shake the pesky furry tail stuck to his tongue loose, the small animal it had belonged to was already being digested in the big toads belly. "I hate these goddamn tails, all the tasty ones have these goddamn tails!" The Cardinal grasped the small tail in an opulent ring encrusted hand and gave a hard yank, the tail came off and the toads tongue flipped back involuntarily, slapping the cardinal in his eye "Garmpfunk" he uttered, sliding his thick sticky tongue back into his mouth.
THUMP THUMP came a knock at the Cardinals door. "Who is it?" asked the Cardinal abruptly. A muffled response "T t t t ti ti ti's I, Thire, Waral, here with the prithoner". "With the WHAT?" yelled the toad. "Pri pri prithoner". The toad rolled his eyes, "the PRISONER, you IDIOT!", "Thath what I thaid, your highneth" came the reply "May w w w we enter?"
Waral loomed over Lustria, the big lizards long thin tongue slithered in and out of his mouth, licking the air very close to Lustria's mouth, "Im gu gu gu gu gunna eat you all up thexy...li li li li lick you li li li li like a lolly" Waral salivated as he spoke, well tried to speak. The lizard had speech impediments but made up for it with sheer brute intimidation. Not one for arguments or talk back, that suited the Cardinals needs perfectly.
"Yes yes Waral, bring her in." Said the Cardinal, Waral and Lustria entered the chamber.
The Cardinal looked up, one eye feeling slightly swollen, his gaze drifted down Lustria's body as she was being hauled into the room, chained. "Ah, how nice to see you, my dear." The Cardinal said. "Let me go!" Lustria demanded, "Oh no my dear Lustria, you have seen too much and I have big plans for you," Lustria opened her mouth to protest, the Cardinal raised his hand "SILENCE!" he went on, "You will have the greatest honour behest to some very special citizens, of my choosing of course, of this wondrous city!" the toad grinned as he spoke, "You will be going to the Inner Sanctum of the Vestal Virgins of Solitary Silence!".
"Thilenth" Waral echoed and stifled a giggle. The Cardinal flashed Waral a stern look to which Waral dropped his head as if shamed.
"What's more, Lustria" the toad paused to stand up, "Only I will be allowed to enter your Sanctum chamber, a privilege given to me, as the donatee of the virgin citizen, erm… that would be you," the toad pointed a fat finger at Lustria. He continued, "Such a great honour! For centuries this city has donated virgins to help do the good work, and it is of my opinion, dear Lustria, that a life of solitary and complete silence is perfect for you!"
