… humbly asks you to accept his apologies! *sighs and bows deeply*

Welcome to this tranquil place, Ladies Aria, Rachana, Feiyan and Aiko. *bows again*
I see the (much more apt and observant) Lady Jia Li has seen to it that you are comfortable. *grateful smile* I’m so very pleased and honoured that you have come to visit my humble place, and apologise again for being such a terrible host.

Dear Senex, I actually found the solution to your clever clue-line and tried to compose an answer, but failed miserably and didn’t want to confront you with the embarrassing result. It’s a very clever poem which, once again, proves how talented you are! May I offer you some more chai? If you feel inclined to do so, Lady Rachana, would you please share the solution with us? *smiles* You were the first one to spot it, after all.

Thank you so much for the variety of delicious teas you have brought as a present, Lady Rachana. *smiles happily and bows* I just love Masala and Oolong and have to try Dragon Well and Golden Monkey yet, something which I am looking forward to. Indeed, there’s no need to have Tao-san pay for my bills any longer … if only it wasn’t so funny to see his face every time I do it. *winks*

You read the Dragonlance books too, Lady Jia Li? *grins* They were great, weren’t they? I liked the Chronicles very much and I simply loved the Legends. I’m not talking about the countless spin-offs by other authors, which were mostly quite horrible in my opinion. *shudders delicately* I’ve tried to recall who the Black Dragon Highlord was … the Red one was called Verminaard, Blue was Kitiara, White was Feal-Thas … do you think the Black Dragon Highlord might have been Fewmaster Toede? *giggles* I hope he wasn’t!

*chuckles* No, dear Tao-san, no Dragon Highlord would be such pleasant company or would be found in such a place (without the wish to destroy it at once, that is).

Ah, there’s no such place as a “pond of embarrassment” – and if there was, I would be the only one sitting in it with the water lapping up to my chin. :(