>>2747429[Ashore – Part 12]
After a long, agonizing moment... Ami reached out and tapped the woman's left hand, which was on Ami's right. Then with a pointedly drawn out pause, the woman smiled back at her, and unfurled her grip, revealing a plain black pawn. “Ah, I suppose you'll be going second... a shame. Well, then, time is a wasting...”
A pleasant giggle escaped her opponent as Ami tried to keep from letting her tension quicken. It was just one move. She could manage... couldn't she?
The woman wasted no time making her move. Those painted nails of hers reached out, and moved her center pawn two spaces forward, giving her several offensive possibilities.
Ami had been risky before, but... she had been *on* the board, not controlling it. Then when she was about to reach out and respond in kind, a soft, pleasant voice echoed in her ears.
'I can be of help, my dear.'
It was clearly a masculine voice, none other than that of the male half of the unknown couple, whose gentle tone made her skin tingle. It was so... entrancing...
Ami looked over to the woman, as if expecting a response to those remarks, but she seemed calm as ever.
'Pay her no mind. She can't hear me, so you would do well not to react. But I assure you, I would far more enjoy seeing my dear wife brought down a notch or two than to see you become another plaything in her... menagerie. So then, I offer my aid... do as I tell you, and your victory is assured, along with your freedom.'
Ami hesitated, and the voice fell quiet, as if awaiting her choice. He sounded so sincere, but... their kind were known tricksters, such was common sense.
Was she better off trusting her own instincts? Or letting the man aid her? She had to decide fast.
**What should Ami do?**
[A] Accept the aid and do exactly as he says, she needs all the help she can get.
Move on her own and completely ignore his advice, there has to be a catch. 