Five Hertz Of Separation (chapters 16-20 Of 62) free porn video

CHAPTER SIXTEEN Johnathyn had pushed the horses pretty hard and we'd picked up almost another entire day by the time we rolled into the outskirts of Dupreeville, a town less than a day's ride from Glory. The place is named after the head guy of the government. Seems like a big suck up move to me. Dierdra said Beckwith chose this town because it was big enough that a few extra people coming and going wouldn't attract attention and it was close enough to Glory to act as a base of operations. As we pull into the courtyard of the hotel, I'd say she made a good choice. It seems like a busy place, more business and trade than residential. Lots of places to gather together without sticking out like a sore thumb. There was a message waiting for us when we checked in. An address and time for a meeting. Dierdra and I managed to convince Johnathyn that this first meeting should just be us girls, that having a man there might cause problems with the sisterhood vibe. He eventually agreed to stay behind with Lee. Serves him right for all those meetings with Pegues without me. The meeting place turns out to be a dimly lit warehouse off the main road. As we walk towards it, I notice we pass the occasional woman, covered by a heavy cloak and hood, standing in the shadows of nearby buildings. They wait for us to pass, then pull further back into the darkness. I've seen at least three of them by the time Dierdra and I reach the side door of the building. Another hooded and cloaked figure steps out of the gloom. "I see you weren't followed." It was Beckwith. "Where is that husband of yours?" "Back at the hotel, with our daughter," I answer. She smirks and opens the door. We all enter and she locks it behind us. She then leads us along a winding path through all the boxes and barrels until we reach the main floor. She stops and throws her hood back. "We will meet here," she says. "Not exactly a silven glen, is it?" "Where are the others?" asks Dierdra. "Some are here, some are outside." "Waiting to see if it's a trap?" I ask. Beckwith glares at me. "Yes." I drop my cloak over a nearby barrel. "Good. I don't want to deal with idiots. Once they're sure we're legit, we can get this party started." Dierdra and I sit down in a couple of chairs while Beckwith lights a lantern, setting it high on a stack of boxes. Nothing happens for several minutes then four hooded women emerge from the surrounding barrels and boxes, each from a different direction, all converging on the opening where we sit. They stop and remove their hoods, as if on cue. We stand. "I am Alexia Thompson. Daughter of Jackie Thompson." "I am Dierdra Denson. You all know of me." The four look among themselves for a moment, then the tallest steps forward, silver blond hair in a tight bun. "I am Steinvild Bengsston." The next is short and dark skinned. If she was from my world, I'd say she was Italian. "My name is Emlilly Sousa." The third woman was of average height and appears to be younger than the other two, like around forty. "I am Sarah Finniss of the Western provinces." The last woman, slim with brown hair mixed with gray, spoke. "I would prefer to remain nameless for now. They say you are a Seventy Seven." "So I've been told." "You do not know for certain?" "I'm not from around here. In my land, heritage is less important. Are you asking for proof?" "We are." "I can assure you all," says Dierdra. "I have been with Alexia for several weeks. She is without a doubt a Seventy Seven." "That's okay, Dierdra. Doubting Thomas's. What do you want? A card trick? Rabbit from a top hat? Silk scarves from my sleeve?" Dierdra touches my arm. "Alexia, nothing too ... flashy. We are in a city. We cannot afford the attention." "Gotcha'. How about this?" A barrel the size of a fifty five gallon drum slowly lifts off the ground and floats up in the air. It is joined by a second and then a third. They move around in a circle while tumbling end over end and spinning on their axis. I keep them going for about thirty seconds and then put each one back where it came from. "Impressive," says the unknown witch. "It's a start," adds Beckwith. "I have seen her healing powers. They are like none I have witnessed before. She is powerful. More than Opulessa? Who can say? The question is, do we wish to join forces and take control of this land?" I shake my head. "That's not the question, Beckwith. The question is do you want freedom from oppression? Freedom from this government or any future government? Do you want equality for all, men and women? Do you want a future for your children and their children that includes better education, better health and a better way of life? Because if you aren't, I'm not interested. This is about individual rights and how the government can protect them. I don't know how much you've been told about me but I'm not from this world. My family was killed on the orders of the leaders of your world and they will pay for that. At first I was only interested in vengeance but now, I am concerned with what is left after my vengeance. I want to leave a better world behind when I return to my world. Let me make this point clear. I am not staying after this is done. I'm going home. You'll run your own world but I will not help a group of female despots replace a group of male despots. There has got to be fundamental change or I'm not part of this. The short version is I'm not here to talk you into helping me. You're here to talk me into helping you." I'm sure that's not what they were planning on hearing but I want them to know I'm serious but that I've got terms. Bengsston waves the other four closer to her and they huddle, talking quietly among themselves. While they talk, Dierdra sidles next to me. "It would have been better to get them on our side first before making demands." "I didn't make any demands. I'm willing to do this but only if it will create real change. If they aren't interested in what I have in mind, I'll need to either find someone who is or drop the whole thing. We don't have much time left. Better to find out now than later. If Beckwith wasn't upfront with them, not my problem." "But you want this to work. You want to be the creator of change. This is a difficult concept for them, for anyone in this world. I have been with you for much longer than they have. I have gotten used to the ideas. I agree with you now but was not certain about it early on." "What are you saying, Dierdra?" "Tread lightly, if you can. Ultimately, we all want the same thing." "If they do, we can do business." The five of them continue to talk for several minutes then they break the huddle. "What if we say no?" asks Beckwith. "I'll probably go through with whatever Pegues and his people have in mind, as long as I get my man, let the chips fall with the rest of it." "And if we say yes?" asks Bengsston. "We start to plan on how we're going to either use or remove your Queen." "She's not my Queen," Beckwith grumbles. "You do not have a plan already?" "I have the framework of a plan. The details depend on our resources and further information." "What kind of further information?" asks Sousa. "How do witches actually fight?" * * * *** * * * *** * * * Alexia still refuses to allow me to accompany her and Dierdra to their meetings with the other witches. There are ten of them now and they've moved to a farmhouse on the outskirts of town. Alexia says it is to avoid attention when they do training. I am not comfortable about them being alone this close to Glory. There are many more members of the Queen's Guard in the area, sometimes led by people from Alexia's world. They are armed with the other world guns. I have to admit that I feel more comfortable knowing that we have two of those guns well hidden in our wagon. Both Alexia and I have fired a few shots with the guns. They are very impressive but, I still prefer my own gun if I need to kill something at a long distance. It is almost dawn of the fifth day since we arrived at Dupreeville and I am getting more anxious with each passing minute. I told Leeanna when I put her to bed that her mother would be home soon but that was cycles ago. I feel so powerless. Even if I knew exactly where they were meeting, I couldn't leave Leeanna to go search for them and I certainly couldn't take her with me. There is nothing I can do but doing nothing is driving me mad. The quiet of the night is interrupted by the sound of a key in the lock of the door to our room. I rush over and throw it open. There stands Alexia, eyes wide open, looking shocked, supporting Dierdra who is leaning against her. "Where have you two been?!" I hiss, not wanting to wake Leeanna. "It is almost dawn!" They limp into the room, quietly shutting the door behind them. "We know what time it is, Johnathyn. Dierdra's not moving very well so it took awhile to get back." "What happened? Did you encounter Guardsmen?" "No. I got a little ... upset at practice tonight." "YOU did this?" "It was an accident, okay?" "I am not hurt badly" Dierdra sighs. "How did this happen, Alexia?" "Look, I don't want to get into this right now." She points at Leeanna still asleep on a pad on the floor in the corner of the room. "I don't want to wake her up." "We can use my room," says Dierdra. "What if she wakes up and no one's here? She'd freak out." "I am sure that she won't wake for a few more hours ..." "Too late," Leeanna mumbles, opening her eyes and turning her head towards us. "I'm up." Alexia helps Dierdra sit on the end of the bed and hurries over to Leeanna, reaching down, gently sweeping her hair from her eyes. "I'm sorry Lee. It's late. I'm late. I didn't want to wake you." Leeanna sits up, rubbing her eyes. "Where were you? I was worried." "I know, I'm sorry. If this world had phones I'd have called. We had a little accident, that's all." Dierdra sits back on the bed, groaning lightly, propping her leg on a nearby chair. "Accident? You broke my leg." "I didn't mean to. I fixed it, didn't I? Beckwith shouldn't have hit me when my back turned. I'd called time out!" "She did not understand what 'time out' meant!" "The hell she didn't! That BIT ..." Alexia glances over at Leeanna "woman has had it in for me from the start! Just because she's all jealous about my boob ..." another glance at Leeanna "the way I look is no excuse. I don't have to put up with her ... stuff!" I raise my hands chest high, palms out. "Let us all calm down. We do not want someone to report us to the innkeeper. What happened?" They both start to speak but I extend my arms towards them. "Alexia?" She throws just the slightest smile at Dierdra then she turns towards me. "The other girls were in two groups of five. Britanna, Emlilly, Leila, Sarah and Silva were one group and Bellah, Olga, Pamela, Dierdra and Beckwith were the other." "Why two groups?" "Because they're stronger as a group. That's probably where the idea of a coven came from. Get a bunch of witches together and their power is multiplied." "Why a group of five?" "We started out as teams of two, then three, four and now five. We want to gradually get the groups stronger until it's all of them versus me, so it's more like Opulessa." I look over at Dierdra, who is slowly rubbing her leg. "Is that possible? Can you match Opulessa?" "No, we cannot. We can get close, but one powerful witch will almost always beat a group of less powerful witches." "Almost always?" Perhaps, if we can find enough witches, Alexia will not need to risk her life for a world that is not hers. "We would need to be ... it is hard to explain. More ... connected. Thinking and acting as one instead of a group of individuals. Just being together increases the amount of magic available for all of us to use but, no matter how much magic there is, a Forty Five or a Fifty Two can only tap so much. A single Seventy Seven is more effective than a group of Fifty Twos unless they concentrate so hard that they are practically one person and, even then, it would likely not be enough." Alexia interrupts. "Hey, who's telling this story? Anyway, we'd been at it for almost two hours, taking breaks now and then to cool off." "To cool off?" "Yeah. It gets pretty hot when a bunch of us get together and start tossing shots of magic back and forth. That's probably how the stories about groups of naked witches started." I quickly peek at Leeanna, who has been listening to us talk. Her eyes are wide open in shock, as is her mouth. "You're all NAKED?! Outside?! In the WOODS?!" she gasps. Alexia blushes a light rose. "We didn't start out that way. Emlilly was the first to take off her blouse and Pamela was the first with her skirt. One thing led to another. It really works for the best. It's easier to clean up after practice without bringing a change of clothes." Leeanna starts to laugh. "No wonder you won't let Father come with you!" She blushes an even deeper red. "There is that. Most of the other girls weren't comfortable with a man being present even without the naked thing. That came later. Though the ones who had seen him didn't complain about it." "What do you mean?" I ask. She smiles at me. "You know. What with those arms and that chest. Your All-American good looks. Most of the girls think I'm getting the better end of the stick. So to speak. When I told them the marriage thing was just a dodge, the interest level shot way up." Now it is my turn to feel warm in the face. I hope it does not show. "You were telling us about the fight." "Uhh yeah, I was. We'd been mixing it up." She looks over at Dierdra. "And I was sandbagging, not wanting to hurt anyone. The two groups had been throwing whatever they could at me, taking turns so each one could get some time at the higher power levels and I could practice blocking, but I'd occasionally toss one back, but I'd warn them it was coming. No surprises. Beckwith was leading one group and I'd just hit her good, no worse than they'd done me all day or I'd done them before ... not much worse. Anyway, we were trying to keep about fifty feet apart and we'd gotten too close. I signaled for a time out." She put the palm of one outstretched hand on the tips of the fingers of the other outstretched hand. "I even said 'time out'. I was walking back to the original mark and then BAM, I get one square in the back! Knocks me into a damn mud puddle! I've got mud in my eyes, in my nose, my mouth ... everywhere. And I do mean everywhere!" "She did not understand," says Dierdra. "She meant no harm." "She was laughing her ass off! No one else was laughing." "We were all afraid of what you might do. We were right." "What did she do?" I ask. "She threw a tree at us." "It wasn't a tree! It was just a log," Alexia protested. "That was still rooted in the ground and was at least twice the length of the wagon" Dierdra replied. "You tore it out of the ground and threw it right at all of us!" "Okay, so it was a big log. I was pissed. If I hadn't been still on guard, she might have killed me! She's been on my ass from day one and we both know why." "Why is that?" I ask. "DUH? She's jealous! Look at me then look at her. Us running around all naked just makes it worse." Alexia stands in front of me, hands on her hips. "Watching my firm breasts, my tight butt, lean legs and arms. Nothing jiggling that isn't supposed to. She can't stand it. Just think about it, Johnathyn." With her standing so close to me, eyes blazing, dark hair loose but full, smelling of ... I do not know what but it is burned into my memory, I can think of nothing else. The image of her, naked, in the woods, in all her glory, fills my mind. Somehow, she seems to become more beautiful every day. I do not know how. I never see her doing anything more to care for her appearance than simple soap and water but her loveliness is undeniable. It makes me very ... uncomfortable. I hear a snapping sound. "Hey! Johnathyn? Wake up." It is Alexia, leaning down in front of me, snapping her fingers near my face. I can see deep into her bodice, smell her intoxicating scent. "Yes ... yes, jealousy. I understand." "Where were you?" "I was thinking about what you said, Alexia. I agree, she might be jealous of you. Most women would be." She snorts. "There's no doubt about it. I can see it in her eyes." "So how is it that Dierdra's leg was broken?" "Yeah. That. Well ... when I threw the log ..." "Tree," corrects Dierdra. "Fine. Tree. Everyone moved out of the way. Dierdra slipped and it just barely hit her." "Breaking my leg in three places." "I fixed it, didn't I? Besides, I've apologized like a hundred times. I also took care of that old damaged cartilage in your knee. You'll be better than new." "So, I should thank you?" "Look, take it up with Beckwith, okay? For the last time, and I do mean the LAST time, I'm sorry I didn't control my temper better when I was blindsided. You knew the job was dangerous when you took it." "I suppose I did. Apology accepted." I am glad to see that they are letting bygones be bygones. "You are making progress then?" "Yeah, quite a bit. The girls are getting into it." "The power is intoxicating, almost addictive," says Dierdra. "None of us have ever experienced anything like it before. Always in the past we have avoided one another. We talked, we communicated but we rarely met face to face. All to avoid attention. But now, with so many of us in one place... the magic is just hanging in the air, waiting to be embraced. Things that were so difficult before are simple now. New powers appear daily. Some of us can actually fly!" Alexia smiles. "I taught 'em that one. Beckwith hasn't gotten the hang of it yet. Another reason she hates me." "She doesn't hate you, Alexia," says Dierdra. "You both have strong personalities. She was the unofficial leader, if you will, of our small group before you arrived. She was also the one who worked with the other groups. She has done quite a lot to get us where we are today. A little appreciation could go a long way to ease tensions." "Dierdra could have something there, Alexia. You do have a strong personality. Very strong. Extremely strong. There have been times that ..." "I get it. I'm a bitch. A prima donna bitch." I sigh. She can be so sensitive on occasion. Half the time I do not even know what she's talking about. What is a 'prima donna'? "No one is saying you are ..." a quick look confirms Leeanna is still listening. Attentively. "... one of those but a little graciousness can go a long way." "That goes both ways, Johnathyn." "Yes, but you can be the bigger ..." she glares at me. "Ahhh, better woman. You are a Seventy Seven after all." She grabs a towel from a hanger on the wall. "I'll think about it while I'm in the little girl's room." She throws the towel over her shoulder and walks out, closing the door behind her. I shake my head. "I think we have a very large wolf by the tail, Dierdra." Leeanna grunts lightly. "You are just now finding that out, Father? Where have you been the last few months?" CHAPTER SEVENTEEN We arrived in Glory just a few hours late. It really is different from all the other towns we have seen since I got here so many weeks ago. The smell, for one thing. The place is full of horses and oxen. They use ox for the extra big wagons. Oxen also leave behind extra large piles of crap. The horses make their contributions too. As do the thousands of people. There's no sewer system that I can see so the waste gets moved by hand. When it gets moved at all. Maybe it's just the part of the city we're in but I haven't seen anything other than third world conditions so far. Disease has got to be rampant.. If you can ignore the smell and get your eyes looking up, out of the mucky streets, things change. The buildings are much larger, four and five stories. What passes for a skyscraper on this world. I'd love to show them the Empire State Building. Still, it's impressive. Glory is clearly the biggest city I've seen since crossing over. We've been in steady traffic for over thirty minutes and aren't that close to where we're headed. Leeanna is sitting between Johnathyn and I, all squeezed onto the driving bench. She has her arm wrapped around my waist and I've got an arm around her shoulder. She hasn't stopped pointing and talking since we crossed the border. There was an actual fence and a gate, first one we've seen the entire trip. It wasn't a Berlin Wall or anything. No razor wire, no chain link fence but it was clearly a barrier and we had to sign in. Give our names and state our business. Thankfully, we didn't need a pass or official papers. Once past the gate, we joined the gradually growing throng headed for downtown Glory. I'm happy to be traveling by wagon than on foot like a lot of those poor wretches. Leeanna smiles at me, gripping my right hand. "What do you think?" she asks. "It's certainly big." "Not Glory, Mother. This." She grasps the gold ring on my right index finger between her thumb and forefinger. Johnathyn had surprised me last night. He came to me just before bed time. "Alexia ... I do not know about the customs of your world but, on our world, husbands and wives exchange rings on the first anniversary of their wedding. Our papers say we were married a year ago today. I know they are not correct but anyone checking them will expect to see a ring on both your hand and mine." He reaches into his pocket and removes a small cloth bag, which he opens and upends over the palm of his left hand. Two gold bands fall out, one larger than the other. "I say this only because this is our custom and if we are supposed to be married ..." "Then we need to look the part. I get it. No problem. When did you get these?" He looks a little sheepish. "Dupreeville. Leeanna had to remind me, I'd forgotten all about them." I reach out and carefully pick up the smaller ring from his palm. "Then I guess I have her to thank for my first piece of jewelry. How much?" "I cannot say. It is not right to talk about such things." "Well you ought to get Pegues or his people to pay for them. There's no reason you should be out the money." "No. It is my pleasure." "Surely the revolution can pop for a couple of rings." "I insist. I am your husband." "If you say so." I start to slip the ring over my finger. "No! I must do it!" I stop. "What's the big deal? It's just a cover anyway. Who's to know?" "Please, Alexia, allow me?" He looks so earnest. What's the harm? I hand him the ring then extend my right hand, fingers spread. He gently takes my hand and slowly slides the ring onto my right index finger, easing past the knuckle until it reaches the base of the finger. I've never been a fan of rings. I had a class ring when in high school but it was a pain in the ass, always banging on things. I was almost happy when an old girlfriend claimed she "lost" it and couldn't return it when we broke up. She probably pawned the darn thing. Good riddance to both of 'em. This ring felt different. It was sized right for one thing, not gripping the finger tightly but also not spinning around loosely. Wonder how he managed that? It was comfortable, not pressing against any of the other fingers. It felt nice. I held out my left hand, palm up. "My turn." "It is not necessary for you to ..." "Hey. When in Rome." "You have said that before. What does it mean?" "It's a saying on my world. 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.'" "Where is this 'Rome'?" "That doesn't matter. What it means is that if you are in a place, follow the customs of those around you. Does the wife put the husband's ring on his finger?" "Yes, but you do not need to ..." "Hand it over, hubby." He smiles, dropping the other ring in the palm of my left hand as he releases my right hand. He then holds out his right hand. It's really big. Lots bigger than mine, bigger than mine was back home. When I look at the ring, there's no way it's getting past his knuckle but I try it anyway. As soon as it reaches, the ring slowly eases up and over the knuckle, almost as if the metal stretched and returned to shape. When the ring rests at the base of his finger, the fit appears to be the same as mine. Perfect. "Johnathyn, are these things magic?" "Not that I know. I purchased them from a reputable store." "Huh. Whatever. They seem to fit. Are there any other wedding anniversary traditions I need to know about?" The question seems to embarrass him. "No. None that apply to ... uhh ... our situation." "Oh come on, tell me all about it. Who knows? I may say 'Yes.'" He just stands there, blushing and growing less comfortable by the second. "No, there is nothing. We can't ... I couldn't ask you ... we aren't actually ..." "Are you sure there's nothing we can do to celebrate our anniversary?" "I'm certain." He hurried away. I shouldn't have teased him like that. He gave up a lot, risked a lot to get us to this point. He's as good a man as I have ever known. I should have told him that. Lee pulls on my finger. "What about the ring?" I look over at Johnathyn. "It's great. I'm honored to wear it. No woman has ever had a better husband than your father." "Reeaallly?" she squeals. "Really." She hugs me tighter. Johnathyn turns his head to look at me, raising his eyebrows in an unasked question. I look him square in the face. "Yes, Johnathyn. Really." * * * *** * * * *** * * * I have waited a long time for this day. Pegues and his witch arrive in Goshen tonight. Patron Miller has called some of the group to meet with her, to determine if she is up to the task. It is fortunate that I have earned his trust and am included. The meeting is being held in the secret room in his barn. There are four other men besides Patron Miller present, one being Bickle Rholls. I recognize the other three but still do not know their names. No matter. As long as the timing of the future raid is good, we can capture most of the rebels regardless of who they are. There is the faint ringing of a bell, bringing all of us to attention. The bell is the guard's signal that someone friendly approaches. This should be them. There is nothing but silence then footsteps can be heard, initially light but then heavy. The door to the room slides open, revealing Pegues, still dressed in a dusty riding cloak. He obviously took no time to make himself presentable. As Pegues enters the room another man steps to the door, a man so large that he has to turn sideways to squeeze past the narrow door frame. The man is dressed as a common laborer and is almost too big for the room. Once he is clear of the door, I can see the third person, a woman wearing a hooded cloak, the hood over her head hanging low, covering all but her chin from my view. Pegues takes a moment to knock the dust off his cloak, momentarily filling the air with the dirt before some hidden device pulls clean air into the small room. "Patron, ... gentlemen ... I give you Alexia Thompson, our friend from the other side." Patron Miller manages to keep from smiling at the mention of her name but others do not. The witch does not say anything. "Thank you, Pegues," says Miller. "And who is this large man by your side?" "This is Johnathyn Tyber, the man responsible for bringing Alexia to us safe and unharmed." "Thank you for your help, Mr. Tyber. Such loyalty will be handsomely rewarded. Your part in this affair has come to an end. You are excused." The man just stands there, as if he had not heard Patron Miller politely tell him to leave. Patron Miller coughs lightly. "Perhaps you did not hear me, Mr. Tyber. You may leave us. Now." "He heard you," says the witch, throwing back her hood, revealing a mass of black, full bodied, slightly curling hair, piercing dark eyes, radiant skin, plump blood red lips and shockingly white teeth. "He stays." "And why is that?" huffs Patron Miller. She gives all of us a tight smile that does not extend to her eyes. "Because he is the only person in this room that I trust and, if things go wrong, is the only one who could stop me from killing you all." Patron Miller is taken aback by her words. "You do not trust Miran Pegues?" "I know Miran Pegues. Does anymore need be said?" OH MY! The entire room looks towards Pegues but he does not even react to the insult, he just continues to inspect his cloak for dust, leaving it to Patron Miller to answer. "Uhhh Miran Pegues is a loyal friend to me and our cause. He has brought you here at great risk to himself." "His mother probably loves him too but I don't care about that or your endorsement of his character. I was tricked into coming to your world and am anxious to return to my own. At first, only one thing kept me here, vengeance for the death of my family. Now I want more than vengeance. I want change." "As do we." The witch's smile became more of a sneer. "What kind of change?" "What you told Pegues. Equality for men and women. Fairness for all. An end to corruption. A government that protects its people not one that exploits them." "You talk a good game. Exactly how do you plan to do it?" Patron Miller shakes his head. "No one but I knows the entire plan. It is our protection against spies." "Buddy, if you've got spies in this room right now, you're in big trouble already. Same if they can't keep a secret. We can help each other but unless you've got another Seventy Seven witch in your pocket, I'm in a pretty good bargaining position. If you don't trust these guys, then there's no reason for me to trust your group." "You have no choice but to work for us. We control the device that can send you home." "Interesting point. How'd you come to have that little toy in the first place? I'm guessing that the Consortium wasn't handing them out like Cracker Jack prizes. Where'd you get yours?" "Do you agree to do as I say? If not, you may leave now." She grabs both her hands and holds them against her chest. "Oh dear! Oh my! What shall I do?! I'm just a poor little witch with no place left to go! Wait ... I know what to do. I'll just march over to that secure compound run by the Winthrop Group and introduce myself as the new witch they've been searching for, the one who's giving them so much concern. All they have to do is send me home, problem solved. Of course, I tell them all about you and your friends." Patron Miller is shocked. "How do you know about ..." "We've been traveling all over this part of world the last three months, talking to people who've been farther than we have. That kind of place stands out in a world like this. Back in my world, not so much. They brought their approach to security with them. It's the logical place for them to keep their transport device, probably bigger than the one used by Pegues." "They could kill you instead of sending you home." "They could try. They'd regret it. A lot." Patron Miller sits back in his chair, hands in his lap. "The men from your world first sent several people here on what they called 'recon missions' before contacting us. One of those men did not return to your world. After they made their presence known, we offered to search for him. He had been sent to my state. My people found what was left of the body near the Agrina Falls, he was killed by wolves. After a very long search, they decided that he had lost his device in the water and it had been swept over the falls." "But that's not what happened, did it?" "No. That was not what happened. My people found it when they found the body and delivered it to me. Pegues was able to gain the confidence of one of their technical people and learned how to operate the device." Alexia scowls. "Miran is good at gaining confidences." "One of my many useful skills," says Pegues. Patron Miller continues. "Thus, he became our witch finder. You know the rest." "I know what happened but not what your plans are." This is a golden opportunity for me. If the witch can persuade Patron Miller to reveal his complete plans to all of us tonight, she will accomplish what I could not. I know bits and pieces but not everything. A report on the complete plans will set me in great stead with the First Minister. I notice that I am not the only one leaning forward, anticipating Patron Miller's reply. "I will keep my own company about my plans." "It is not 'my plans' but 'our plans', Patron," says Rholls. "We are all risking our lives, every man here and many others. I, for one, would like to know exactly how you intend to accomplish our objectives." "As would I," says another man. "We are too close to the date of execution to remain in the dark any longer," says a third. "We all must work together and we should not be blind in doing so." Patron Miller turns towards me. "What say you, Schicalli?" Do I join with the others or side with Patron Miller? He will likely be forced to reveal his plans under the pressure of the others so there is no harm in supporting Miller. "I remain your humble servant, Patron, and trust you implicitly. What ever course you choose will certainly be the correct one. What I object to is our acceptance of Pegues word as to the capabilities of this ... woman." I saw one man lean over and whisper to another, distinctly hearing the phrase "lap wolf". So be it. What they forget is that a lap wolf can still bite and is already quite close to the throat. The witch turns her attention to me, that tight smile returning to her lips but again skipping her eyes. "Go on," she says. "You come here, making demands of us, when we have no evidence to judge ..." She casually extends an arm towards me from beneath her cloak, her hand grasping an invisible object. "... for ourselves if ... if ... you ... uughh ..." I can't speak, can't breathe. Something has grabbed my throat and is slowly squeezing the breath from me. I try to stand but am held in place, unable to protest in any way but cough and gag. Things start to go gray around me when the witch leans in towards me, her hand still outstretched. "I find your lack of faith disturbing," she growls in a deeper voice than before. "Release him!" Patron Miller demands. "As you wish," she replies. Suddenly, the pressure on my throat is gone. I gasp for air as the gray haze around me lifts. The witch fixes me with a stare so I think it best to remain silent. For now. Patron Miller stands, his hands on the table, leaning forward. "As it appears that I am outvoted, I will tell you all what you wish to know, but I must caution you that the information must not leave this room! Spies are everywhere. Many who have come before us have either died or disappeared and we are all aware of the rumors about their fates. I do not wish to join them in the grave ... or the Queen's stables." I feel a shudder pass through the room. There's not a man here who hasn't heard the rumors. When this is done, most of them will likely have a chance to personally discover the truth. "The plan is to attack during the Queen's birthday celebrations, probably towards the end, once security has grown a little lax, used to the larger crowds." He extends his hand towards the unknown man on my left. "Babitch Lappan is to recruit the men we need." The man jumps up from his seat. "PATRON! We were to remain anonymous!" "Not if you wish to know MY secrets, Lappan! If it is honesty you want, it is honesty you get! No more secrets among friends, eh? Not so pleasant now, is it? Lappan is to find the additional men. Rholls, the inside information. Jeremiah Merkel is tasked with finding transportation, Barton Schicalli the guns and Daneel Ahlivar is in charge of communications." Each man reluctantly raised his hand as he was identified. This could not be going better for me. Several new names added to my list of traitors. "Communications?" asks the witch. "I ... I ... have a large flock of homing pigeons," Ahlivar replies. "Homing pigeons. And I suppose that transportation means ..." "A stable," says Merkel, "one of the largest in this state. Plus wagons and surreys." "Wonderful. Pigeons and horses. I can't wait to hear about the guns. Schicalli, is it?" Everyone is now looking at me. This has been a sore point in the plan up to now. The weapons of our world are no match for those from the other side. Our only choice is to steal what we need but that will not be easy. I have been delaying my assignment to give me a chance to identify more traitors but Patron Miller has been pressuring me of late. "Yes, Barton Schicalli. We will need to acquire otherworld guns and bullets. This may be the most difficult part of the plan. We will need to take them from the Queen's Guard. Raids on some local outposts should get us what we need." "It can also get you dead." "Some sacrifices may need to be made," I solemnly state. "I see. So you're leading these raids then, Mr. Schicalli?" "Me? No. We have other more qualified men for that job." The witch looks around the room, frowning deeply. "Men more qualified to make a sacrifice. Is that it?" "We all have our roles to play," says Patron Miller, thankfully drawing the witch's attention from me. "So what is MY role, Patron Miller?" "We have people on the inside of the Palace which will allow us to get our men and guns inside the walls without a fight. Once inside, you will challenge and defeat Opulessa. While that is happening, our men will capture First minister Dupree and his supporters. Ours will be a small group but large enough to overcome the Winthrop Group guards." "What about the Queen's Guard? Aren't there a lot of them?" "Yes, but they are not in the Palace, they are outside." "What keeps them from coming inside?" "We will strike quickly. By the time they know what is happening, we will be done." "And if I don't win?" "We all have confidence in your abilities. Pegues has given us glowing reports." She turns her attention to Pegues. "Glowing reports, eh. Who am I to argue with Miran Pegues? Assuming everything breaks our way and it all happens just the way you describe, what happens next?" "What do you mean?" "The Queen is dead. You've got the old government under lock and key. What keeps the Queen's Guard and other people from the old government from storming in, releasing your prisoners and putting us all in a dungeon somewhere?" "You will. You can protect us all." "For awhile but I'm not staying very long when this is over. What happens when I leave?" "I am certain by then that the people will see the wisdom of supporting me as the new First Minister." She stares intently at Patron Miller for several seconds. I think I see sweat forming on his high forehead before a small smile creeps across her face. "You're probably right. What does it matter to me? I'll be home by then, right?" He nods his head. "Yes, you will have returned home." "If you're wrong, it'll be your problem, not mine." He keeps nodding. "Exactly! It is not your concern." The relief is clear in his voice. "Sounds like a plan, though raiding for guns is a serious mistake." "What do you mean?" I demand. "It's crazy. Draws way too much attention. The cops figure out someone's collecting powerful guns and they'll be on edge, prepared to move on the first sign of trouble. That and some of your guys get killed, or worse, captured. Someone might talk. All around too risky." She is endangering my role in the group. "What do you propose? Create them with magic?" "Hadn't thought of that. Let Pegues take care of it." "What can he do that I can't?" "I don't know. How do your legs look in a pair of heels? Mirantha wasn't bad looking for an old lady." "You aren't suggesting that I ... no man would ever consider ... it is an abomination!" "In my world, every weekend, there are at least sixty gun shows scattered across the country. Pegues takes his little magic wand, crosses over, buys whatever you need and brings it back. No one's the wiser and everyone lives to fight another day. You can't get military grade but it'll be just about half a step down and easier for your guys to handle." Looking around the room, I can see that several of the men are considering her suggestion. I need to put an end to this right now. "And where do we find the riches to purchase this trove of modern guns?" "I thought you guys were big muckety mucks around here." "Muckety mucks?" "Permit me to translate," says Pegues. "Important rich people. Yes, Alexia, some of our members are both important and rich, for this world, but they are not riches that are accepted by your world." "That's a bitch." She reaches into the pocket of her cloak. "I wasn't planning on bankrolling this operation but anything to get it over with." She removes her hand from the pocket and tosses something small to Pegues, who catches it then holds it up for all to see. It appears to be a coin. Pegues takes a closer look. "Wait ... is this ... by Zaphod's beard! How many of these do you have?!" "Forty. I keep them in my backpack. That worthless backpack you told me not to bring. Nothing makes life smoother when you go on the run than a bunch of Krugerands." "What is a Krugerand?" asks Patron Miller. "A gold coin, highly valued in the other world," answers Pegues. "You walk into a gun show and offer to pay with gold; you can get a hell of a deal from some of your more paranoid, end of the civilized world types," says the witch. "Is that enough to get what we need, Pegues?" "I believe it is, Patron Miller." "We've got two military grade rifles in the wagon with us. You can have them plus the extra clips and ammo. On the house." We all heard the story about her confrontation with the two men of the Queen's Guard. The guns confirm it. I am being eased out and losing control of the situation. "Is it wise to risk another trip to the other side, Patron?" "What risk, Schicalli?" "Pegues claimed that the last time he was in the other world, he was betrayed, that he was fortunate to return alive. Would he not be at risk should he return?" Pegues smiles broadly. "Schicalli, I am touched that you have such concern for my safety. Perhaps you would care to go in my place?" "NO! No one should go! We have been working on this plan for months and now this ... woman arrives and it all changes. We should follow the original plan as created by Patron Miller. It is our best chance for success and ..." Miller raises his hand. "Thank you Schicalli, but with the new resources graciously provided by Alexia, new and better options are available to us. If Pegues is willing ..." "I am, Patron." "Very good, Pegues. Then we shall proceed. How long do you think it will take?" "Two or three weeks, perhaps four if I have to attend several shows to obtain all that we need." "Is it true that any man can obtain such guns?" "It is true, Patron," answers Pegues. "You come from a strange land, Alexia." * * * *** * * * *** * * * We left as soon as the meeting was finished. Pegues stopped Alexia before we left, asking to see the coins she had told them about. He seemed to doubt her word. I assured him that the coins did exist, that I had seen them myself. She had sown them into the straps of her pack. For some reason, he felt the need to see them with his own eyes. Alexia invited him to come to our room in the morning. We had another stop to make before returning to the inn. Alexia sat next to me as we slowly drove the wagon back toward Dupreeville, the road lit by a half moon and our pair of hooded lanterns. We were returning for a meeting with the other witches. Alexia had been silent since her talk with Pegues. I try to get her talking. "So, what do you think?" "I think I'm wasting my 'A' material on you guys. No common cultural touch points." "Do not be so certain ... Darth Vader." She laughsd. "Johnathyn! Wicked! You DID see the movie." "How could I not? You and Leeanna must have watched 'Star Wars' ten times since we started out. It was hard to avoid." "I know. Sorry. You know how she loves it." "You or her?" "Well, maybe she just likes it. 'Star Wars' is just geek Nirvana. If a guy doesn't know at least twenty 'Star Wars' references, he's got no geek cred whatsoever." "Perhaps but I was referring to what was said at the meeting. What do you think?" "I don't want to talk about it. Not yet." I'm insulted! "You do not wish to know my opinion?" "I do. More than anything. I've also got questions for you but I don't want to influence what you think. I know what I believe but I could be wrong. When we get to the coven, I want to lay it all out, just as they told us. You listen and make sure I don't miss anything or add anything we weren't told. I want the other girls to hear exactly what we did. I'll give them a few additional facts and then I want to know what everyone thinks. Most importantly, I want to know what you think but not yet. Give the whole thing some thought. Do you think it could work? How bloody would it be? Can they keep control assuming they get control? Think about that and anything else you believe to be important. When we get to the meeting, you tell me exactly what you believe. I may have missed something. I hope I have." She says nothing the rest of the time we are on the road except to point out hazards I missed seeing. The light is not very good but her vision is extraordinary. We finally reach the barn where the rest of the witches are waiting for us. They have prepared a hot meal of stew and fresh bread. Say what you will about witches but almost all of them know how to cook well. While we eat, Alexia relates the plan as told by Patron Miller, exactly as it was told to us, word for word. At the end, she turns to me. "Did I leave anything out, Johnathyn?" "No, it was all there." "Did I add anything?" "I do not believe so." "Good. Now my question. When was the last time there was a government on this world not backed by a powerful witch?" "That is hard to say. Opulessa has ruled for over Two Hundred years, longer than any of us has been alive." I answer. "Don't you guys have history books or manuscripts or scrolls or something? You've got that damn story about Zaphod, Jillian and Alexia out there. Didn't anybody write about history?" Dierdra speaks up. "To be fair, Alexia, that story is of much greater interest to the people than some dry subject like history." "I know. Porn is almost always the first to take advantage of new technology." "What is 'Porn'?" I ask. "Never mind, Johnathyn. Maybe later. Don't any one of you know the history of your world?" Emlilly Sousa stands. "I know some things. My family has a long lineage, mostly men. My relatives have had seats at the tables of power. Before Opulessa, there was a different witch who was Queen. She ruled for almost a hundred years herself. Opulessa defeated her. Before that was another witch Queen, and another and another and another, going back at least a thousand years. There were many powerful witches in those days and they often ruled over smaller queendoms but Opulessa overcame them all, uniting the smaller queendoms. As for the last time there was an area ruled by a government not backed by a strong witch, I could not say." Sousa sat back down and Alexia stood. "Safe to say, it's been awhile. Then there are a couple of things I'd like to add. Some of you already know this but I want everyone to be on the same page. Patron Miller's original plan was to bring my brother Terry to your world. My mother was to come with him. Terry would have been a Seventy Eight but, more importantly, he would have been willing to stay and rule. He would have loved nothing more. He was desperate to become a woman and this place would have been a dream come true for him. My mother would have loved being the parent of a Queen so she would have also stayed willingly. All that changed when they were killed. I got recruited to replace my brother and only agreed to stay until the people who killed my family pay for their crimes. After that happens in this world, I'm going home and making sure the same thing happens in my world. The people who did this will pay. Now, given all of that, and the plans of Patron Miller as laid out for me, here are the questions. Will it work, both short term and long term? What are the consequences for the people? If Miller's plan won't work, what does it need to work? How many First Ministers have there been in the recent past? Why does one First Minister replace another? Think about this on your own for awhile and then we'll talk again." Alexia turns and walks out of the barn, leaving the others to their thoughts. Despite what she asked, some of them began to talk among themselves. I wait awhile until their attention is elsewhere and slip out of the barn by a side door. Walking around the outside of the building, I soon find Alexia sitting on a bench by a stone well. I slowly stroll up to her. "They're talking together, aren't they?" she asks, not looking at me but towards the woods. "Yes. Did you expect otherwise?" "Not really. I wanted everyone's opinion, not just the loudest opinion." "You mean Beckwith's." "Hers for one. Dierdra can be pretty loud when she wants to though. I know what I think but I was hoping to see if anyone else agreed with me." She reaches down, picks up a handful of loose stones and drops one into the well. There is silence then a quiet "Plonk" that slowly fades away. "Patron Miller's plan ... why did they always say 'Patron Miller' and not just 'Miller'?" "It is a title of honor. He is the Patron of his district. The country is divided into districts, each run by one man appointed by the First Minister. That man is called 'Patron.'" "I get it. Well his plan was created by a man. Men don't think like women." She drops another stone into the well. "I'm not sure I still think like a man." "Why does that matter?" I ask. "It matters because I made a career out of solving puzzles, finding the weaknesses in systems. In order to do that, I had to get inside the heads of the people who built that system, figure out how they thought." "Only men made these systems?" "Mostly." "I thought men and women were equal were you came from." "They are but some professions have more men than most. Programmers tend to be men and even if there are women on the team, the male perspective dominates. I've never run into a system created by a strictly female group of programmers. That might have been interesting to see." "Why do you say you no longer think like a man?" She drops another stone in the well. "I think about things differently than before." She turns her head towards me. "About certain people too." "Could that simply be due to new experiences? Very few people have done what you have done." "Yeah, that's part of it but it's more than that ... I'm scared, Johnathyn." "That is only normal, Alexia." "Not for me it's not! I don't get scared. Sure, it happens on the short term, like with those mutant wolves of yours but it doesn't last. Now, I'm scared almost all the time. Am I doing the right thing? Should I do something else? Should I do it differently? Why do I feel the way I do? ... Should I do something about it?" "Everyone fears the unknown, Alexia." "I didn't ... at least not before coming here. I jumped into the unknown, attacked it. Now ..." "You hide your fear well." She smiles at me. "Thanks. I just don't know how much longer I can do it." "May I sit?" She scoots closer to the well, making space for me to sit next to her. I join her on the bench. "When I was a young man, I was a bit of a rounder." "A rounder? What's that?" "A scoundrel, a rascal, a rake. I drank too much, brawled too often over inconsequential things, chased women." "Did you catch them?" "Yes. Sometimes they caught me." "What did you do when you caught them?" "What men and women have done since time began." "Sounds interesting, tell me more." "That is not my point, Alexia. My point is that in all that time, I too was not afraid." "Well look at you! A big, muscle-bound stud out chasing tail. Who'd you have to fear?" "There were some who wished me harm." "Ha! I bet you were a dashing rogue!" My face grows warm. "Perhaps, but I did not know fear until I met Leeantha." She is shocked. "Your wife?!" "Yes." "Why did you marry her if you were afraid of her?" "You misunderstand. I did not fear her; I loved her with all my heart. Until I met her, I was alone, responsible for only myself but when we became husband and wife, I now was responsible for the both of us. I had something I treasured that I could lose or could be taken away from me. I was afraid of either possibility." "I see." "When Leeanna was born, it became even worse. This tiny, fragile creature was totally dependant upon me to provide for her." "I think your wife might have disagreed with you on that point." "In this world, they were both my responsibility. When Leeantha died shortly after giving birth, all my fears were realized." "Must have been rough." "It was, but I would not trade a single moment of my life with her or Leeanna for all the riches of your world." "So, what are you telling me?" "That it is easy to be fearless when you have nothing to lose. Have you discovered that you now have something to lose?" "I had something to lose, Mom and Terry, but I never thought about it happening until it did. I went straight to anger, skipping fear. After that, there wasn't anyone." "And now?" She sighs. "How did I get into this mess, Johnathyn?" "Willingly, I hope. You did not answer my question." "I know. Yes, I have something to lose, more than I've ever had before." "As do I. Shall we go see what your friends have to say?" CHAPTER EIGHTEEN "Patron Miller is a complete ninny." The others are in deep discussion when Johnathyn and I return to the barn. It really was too much to expect them to not talk to each other. My fears of Beckwith's dominance were confirmed. I'll deal with it. "Why is that, Beckwith?" "Ahh you're back. He's a ninny because there has never been a government without the backing of a strong witch." "We're planning almost the same thing. Our plan uses a council of witches. They will all be equal and majority rules. Frankly, I'd shoot for a democracy but this world isn't ready for that." "What is a democracy?" she asks. "Where people select their leaders by voting for them, who ever gets the most votes wins and every adult, man or woman, gets one vote each. The chosen leader gets a fixed number of years, two to four, before he or she must run again. Sometimes there are a limited number of times a person can keep a job. For example, the First Minister of my world is limited to two four year terms. After four years, he must be chosen again to keep his office and after eight years, he has to leave, no matter what the people want." "That sounds foolish." "Oh it gets worse. In addition to the first minister, there's two elected councils, one with one hundred people the other with over four hundred people. Any law has to get voted on by a majority of both councils and approved by the first minister before it goes into effect." "BOTH councils?" "Yep. Then someone may challenge it in the Courts and then a Judge will have to review it to make sure it's a legal law, then that Judge's decision could go to another Judge in a higher Court and then possibly to the top Court and get reviewed by nine Judges before the law goes into effect." "That sounds impossibly complex." "It is, and don't get me started talking about administrative agencies and bureaucracy. It's amazing anything ever gets done. We have a saying on my world about democracies." "What is that?" "That it's a terrible system of government except when compared to all other forms of government. What you have is a dictatorship and even if we win, it'll still be a dictatorship, just dictator by committee. It's a first step to a better world. I hope." "I do not understand," says Dierdra. "I thought you believed in something called Anarchy." "I still do, sort of, but your world isn't ready for that either. Don't worry, we'll get the bugs worked out as we go along. The question right now is about Patron Miller's plan. Beckwith says it won't work without a strong witch backing it. Who agrees with her? A show of hands." They all look back and forth among themselves until I raise my hand. They got the message and most of them raise their hands after Beckwith does. Dierdra was one of the few who didn't. "Why not, Dierdra?" I ask. "I would like to think that my people are smart enough to care for themselves without the watchful eye of some witch forcing them to do things against their will." "I'd like that too, Dierdra, but is that going to happen in the next few weeks? Months? Years? Be honest." She looks back and forth between me and the few others who had not raised their hands. "No" she said, reluctantly. "Not now. Too many would seek power by the use of force. It would be a disaster." "That is what we will do. Keep the peace," says Beckwith, a certain amount of smugness obvious in her voice. "You'll need to do better than that," I say. "Peace they can get from any well armed dictator. You'll have to give them a reason to support you, to believe in you, trust you. Without that, it's only a matter of time until someone comes along and kicks you all out." "They would not DARE!" Beckwith cries out. "They would and they will." Sarah Finniss stands up. "You are both right! Our people only know the power of a witch. Some chafe under the weight of that yoke, others do not." She glances at Beckwith. "It could be war." Great. These witches can't get along and they don't even have the taste of political power yet. "Which do you think Patron Miller is, a fool ... or a liar?" I ask. "Why do you ask that?" says Emlilly Sousa. "Apparently, he's a fool if he thinks his plan will work, the same for those who support him or he's a liar and he has another plan which involves a strong witch." "Where would he find such a witch?" asks Bengsston. "That's the $64,000 question, Steinvild," I reply. "I'm not staying here if I win and they all know that. Maybe they think they can bribe or blackmail me but I don't see how. If they've got another powerful witch hidden somewhere, why go through the hassle of getting me here? That only leaves one option." "By Zaphod's beard!" Johnathyn gasps. "They expect you to lose!" "Give that man a cookie. Yeah, they plan on me getting killed. In fact, if I win, it screws them up completely. Opulessa must survive. I'm just a diversion to keep her occupied for awhile." Sousa is surprised. "But surely Opulessa would take vengeance on anyone who attacked the First Minister." "Do not be certain of that," Beckwith growls. "I have a cousin who works in the Palace. A cook. She tells some amazing stories. Opulessa is loyal as long as it benefits her. The moment it doesn't, she does what is best for her. If Patron Miller can make a good argument and show her how she is better off with him than the First Minister, he's in and Dupree is out." "It may not be as simple as that," says Dierdra "but I have heard similar stories, enough to make me think that Alexia could be correct." "I'm right. It's the only explanation that makes sense. They need a strong witch to rule and Opulessa is the devil they know. She's been around long enough that she's more predictable than I am. They know her strengths and weaknesses. I keep her busy while they do what they need to do then they make the pitch after I go down. Miller and his people may be the only viable option available to her. Who knows for sure." "If you are right, what do we do?" asks Bengsston. "Exactly what we were going to do," replies Beckwith. "She's right about that," I add. "We stick with our plan and stay close to theirs. We don't let on that we've tumbled onto the truth. We act normally and keep our eyes peeled, learn everything we can. Beckwith, this cousin of yours, you guys all buddy buddy?" "We are close, if that is what you are asking." "Would she be willing to help us?" "Maybe. It depends on what you are asking her to do. She has children so I will not let you put her life at risk." "It's not that risky. Just a little recon work, that's all. When can I talk with her?" * * * *** * * * *** * * * I had started on my second bowl of disappointing soup when Schicalli walked through the door of the dingy inn. Late. As usual. He looks around the small room without recognizing me. A credit to my disguise as a common peasant. I'm certain he would have left had I not raised my hand and signaled for him to approach with a crook of my finger, which he did with an admirable sense of caution. "Excuse me," he began. "Do you want something ... is that you, Rachet?" "Yes. Sit down and order something before we draw someone's attention. I suggest the soup of the day." He quickly drops down into the seat across the table from me and waves the serving wench his way. After several minutes, there was a tepid bowl in front of him. He brought a spoonful to his lips and grimaces. "This is terrible!" he hisses. "I know." "Then why did you recommend it?" "You were late. I wasn't gong to be the only one suffering through a poor meal tonight. What do you have for the First Minister?" He pushes the bowl away from him but I push it back with a smile. "Keep eating. You want to blend in." Schicalli stares at me for a moment, picks up the spoon and slowly dips it below the grease floating on the surface. "What do you have for the First Minister?" I repeat. "Their witch has arrived." "Took her long enough. Is she powerful?" "She nearly crushed my throat without any effort." I think that I would have enjoyed seeing that. "Fool. You were supposed to stay in the background. What did you do to deserve such treatment?" "Nothing! Nothing at all! She was trying to change our plans and I simply objected." I shake my head. "You are a fool, Schicalli. What does it matter? We strike when we are ready." "It matters because I have been able to delay the attack until you are ready by not providing guns but that job has passed to another, thanks to their witch. The attack could come in the next few weeks." "First Minister Dupree will not be pleased. It was your job to keep these traitors under control." "My apologies to the almighty First Minister, Rachet. I have been risking my life these past few months to save his life. And yours." "Don't be an idiot, Schicalli. The traitors had no chance of success from the very beginning. You risked your life because the First Minister promised to generously reward you with a position in the government. It is the witch that is the threat. We need to control her." "Control?! Are you mad?! She has already killed two men with the merest flick of her hand. She must die before she kills countless others." "Schicalli, First Minister Dupree has not remained First Minister this long by wasting opportunities." "Nor have you remained as his secretary all these past years by accident, Rachet." "I serve my Master well." "And the Queen." "Yes, yes, the Queen. That goes without saying." "So what possible reason would Dupree have for not wanting this upstart witch dead?" "That is not your concern, Schicalli. Your job is to do as you are told and report to me so that I may report to the First Minister." "Of course. I understand. But one can't help but think about all the possibilities." "Thinking is a dangerous thing to do, Barton." "Dangerous for us all, Dilgar. It never t