Incredibly, the damaged door had been jammed hastily back in place.
“We need Ungula to pull from the other side while we push. Do you think you can communicate that to her?”
“I’ll try,” said Zingara.
The voice inside responding seemed young and lively.
“I don’t think she’s here but somebody inside wants to help,” said Zingara.
“OK. On three.”
The door came out laboriously.
A new face greeted them. A familiar faded old dress hung off her shoulders draping a youthful breast. It was the transformed Ungula.
“Stop drooling, husband-to-be. This is my sister. Help me find her some decent clothes.”
Yew was transfixed. He experienced the most unusual sensation from Ungula’s eye contact. Zingara thought he was lusting after Ungula’s youthful body. But, this was something magical or like mental telepathy.
Zingara watched with mounting envy as Yew stood motionless before Ungula.
“Ungula is my combat name and my birth name. It means talon just like your battle name means sorrow,” she spoke, “My spiritual name is Anchor.” She stuck out a hand and Yew awkwardly shook it in greeting.
“Hello,” said Yew staring, dumbfounded.
“Yew excuse me please, notice my sister, your fiancee, Zingara. She is obviously getting angry at your inexplicable inadequacy to get me some decent clothes. She thinks you desire touching me in forbidden ways,” said Anchor while motioning a suggestive military hand sign to give emphasis.
Yew looked over at Zingara dumbfounded. “Where did she learn that signal?” he quizzed while squinting. Zingara was steaming and would explode in a tirade any minute.
“Zin, it’s not her body. Really. I can’t believe this. It’s as if her mind is linking up and on fire to me. It’s like mind reading. You know, extrasensory. How did she learn so much so fast?”
“Humph! No wonder they locked Beauty up in here with a curse. She turns men’s minds to jelly. What woman can compete with that?”