{\rtf1\adeflang1025\ansi\ansicpg1252\uc1\adeff31507\deff0\stshfdbch31506\stshfloch31506\stshfhich31506\stshfbi31507\deflang1033\deflangfe1033\themelang1033\themelangfe0\themelangcs0{\fonttbl{\f0\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\f2\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1{\*\panose 02070309020205020404}Courier New;} {\f34\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02040503050406030204}Cambria Math;}{\f37\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020f0502020204030204}Calibri;}{\f39\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset0\fprq1{\*\panose 020b0609020204030204}Consolas;} {\f40\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020a0402060406010301}Castellar;}{\f42\fbidi \fdecor\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 04020705040a02060702}Algerian;}{\flomajor\f31500\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;} {\fdbmajor\f31501\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\fhimajor\f31502\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020f0302020204030204}Calibri Light;} {\fbimajor\f31503\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\flominor\f31504\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;} {\fdbminor\f31505\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\fhiminor\f31506\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 020f0502020204030204}Calibri;} {\fbiminor\f31507\fbidi \froman\fcharset0\fprq2{\*\panose 02020603050405020304}Times New Roman;}{\f354\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;}{\f355\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;} {\f357\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\f358\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\f359\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);}{\f360\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);} {\f361\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\f362\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}{\f374\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 Courier New CE;}{\f375\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 Courier New Cyr;} {\f377\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 Courier New Greek;}{\f378\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 Courier New Tur;}{\f379\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset177\fprq1 Courier New (Hebrew);}{\f380\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset178\fprq1 Courier New (Arabic);} {\f381\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 Courier New Baltic;}{\f382\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset163\fprq1 Courier New (Vietnamese);}{\f694\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Cambria Math CE;}{\f695\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Cambria Math Cyr;} {\f697\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Cambria Math Greek;}{\f698\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Cambria Math Tur;}{\f701\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Cambria Math Baltic;}{\f702\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Cambria Math (Vietnamese);} {\f724\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Calibri CE;}{\f725\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Calibri Cyr;}{\f727\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Calibri Greek;}{\f728\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Calibri Tur;} {\f731\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Calibri Baltic;}{\f732\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset163\fprq2 Calibri (Vietnamese);}{\f744\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset238\fprq1 Consolas CE;}{\f745\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset204\fprq1 Consolas Cyr;} {\f747\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset161\fprq1 Consolas Greek;}{\f748\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset162\fprq1 Consolas Tur;}{\f751\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset186\fprq1 Consolas Baltic;}{\f752\fbidi \fmodern\fcharset163\fprq1 Consolas (Vietnamese);} {\flomajor\f31508\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;}{\flomajor\f31509\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\flomajor\f31511\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;} {\flomajor\f31512\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\flomajor\f31513\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);}{\flomajor\f31514\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);} {\flomajor\f31515\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\flomajor\f31516\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}{\fdbmajor\f31518\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;} {\fdbmajor\f31519\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\fdbmajor\f31521\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\fdbmajor\f31522\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;} {\fdbmajor\f31523\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);}{\fdbmajor\f31524\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);}{\fdbmajor\f31525\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;} {\fdbmajor\f31526\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}{\fhimajor\f31528\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Calibri Light CE;}{\fhimajor\f31529\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Calibri Light Cyr;} {\fhimajor\f31531\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Calibri Light Greek;}{\fhimajor\f31532\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Calibri Light Tur;}{\fhimajor\f31535\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Calibri Light Baltic;} {\fhimajor\f31536\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset163\fprq2 Calibri Light (Vietnamese);}{\fbimajor\f31538\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;}{\fbimajor\f31539\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;} {\fbimajor\f31541\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\fbimajor\f31542\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\fbimajor\f31543\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);} {\fbimajor\f31544\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);}{\fbimajor\f31545\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\fbimajor\f31546\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);} {\flominor\f31548\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;}{\flominor\f31549\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\flominor\f31551\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;} {\flominor\f31552\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\flominor\f31553\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);}{\flominor\f31554\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);} {\flominor\f31555\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\flominor\f31556\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}{\fdbminor\f31558\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;} {\fdbminor\f31559\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;}{\fdbminor\f31561\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\fdbminor\f31562\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;} {\fdbminor\f31563\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);}{\fdbminor\f31564\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);}{\fdbminor\f31565\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;} {\fdbminor\f31566\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}{\fhiminor\f31568\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset238\fprq2 Calibri CE;}{\fhiminor\f31569\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset204\fprq2 Calibri Cyr;} {\fhiminor\f31571\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset161\fprq2 Calibri Greek;}{\fhiminor\f31572\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset162\fprq2 Calibri Tur;}{\fhiminor\f31575\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset186\fprq2 Calibri Baltic;} {\fhiminor\f31576\fbidi \fswiss\fcharset163\fprq2 Calibri (Vietnamese);}{\fbiminor\f31578\fbidi \froman\fcharset238\fprq2 Times New Roman CE;}{\fbiminor\f31579\fbidi \froman\fcharset204\fprq2 Times New Roman Cyr;} {\fbiminor\f31581\fbidi \froman\fcharset161\fprq2 Times New Roman Greek;}{\fbiminor\f31582\fbidi \froman\fcharset162\fprq2 Times New Roman Tur;}{\fbiminor\f31583\fbidi \froman\fcharset177\fprq2 Times New Roman (Hebrew);} {\fbiminor\f31584\fbidi \froman\fcharset178\fprq2 Times New Roman (Arabic);}{\fbiminor\f31585\fbidi \froman\fcharset186\fprq2 Times New Roman Baltic;}{\fbiminor\f31586\fbidi \froman\fcharset163\fprq2 Times New Roman (Vietnamese);}} {\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green255\blue255;\red0\green255\blue0;\red255\green0\blue255;\red255\green0\blue0;\red255\green255\blue0;\red255\green255\blue255;\red0\green0\blue128;\red0\green128\blue128;\red0\green128\blue0; \red128\green0\blue128;\red128\green0\blue0;\red128\green128\blue0;\red128\green128\blue128;\red192\green192\blue192;\chyperlink\ctint255\cshade255\red5\green99\blue193;}{\*\defchp \f31506\fs22 }{\*\defpap \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1 \widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 }\noqfpromote {\stylesheet{\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af31507\afs22\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \f31506\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \snext0 \sqformat \spriority0 Normal;}{\*\cs10 \additive \ssemihidden \sunhideused \spriority1 Default Paragraph Font;}{\* \ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\trcbpat1\trcfpat1\tblind0\tblindtype3\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1 \widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af31507\afs22\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \f31506\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \snext11 \ssemihidden \sunhideused Normal Table;}{ \s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs21\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \f39\fs21\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext15 \slink16 \sunhideused \styrsid11286054 Plain Text;}{\*\cs16 \additive \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs21 \ltrch\fcs0 \f39\fs21 \sbasedon10 \slink15 \slocked \styrsid11286054 Plain Text Char;}{\*\cs17 \additive \rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \ul\cf17 \sbasedon10 \sunhideused \styrsid11286054 Hyperlink;}}{\*\rsidtbl \rsid1654704\rsid4719683\rsid5054965\rsid11286054\rsid12853448}{\mmathPr\mmathFont34\mbrkBin0\mbrkBinSub0\msmallFrac0\mdispDef1\mlMargin0\mrMargin0\mdefJc1\mwrapIndent1440\mintLim0 \mnaryLim1}{\info{\author Yeho B}{\operator Yeho B}{\creatim\yr2014\mo2\dy28\hr1\min35}{\revtim\yr2014\mo2\dy28\hr1\min35}{\version2}{\edmins1}{\nofpages29}{\nofwords7075}{\nofchars40330}{\nofcharsws47311}{\vern57435}}{\*\xmlnstbl {\xmlns1 http://schemas. microsoft.com/office/word/2003/wordml}}\paperw12240\paperh15840\margl1501\margr1502\margt1440\margb1440\gutter0\ltrsect \widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\trackmoves0\trackformatting1\donotembedsysfont1\relyonvml0\donotembedlingdata0\grfdocevents0\validatexml1\showplaceholdtext0\ignoremixedcontent0\saveinvalidxml0\showxmlerrors1\noxlattoyen \expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\formshade\horzdoc\dgmargin\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1501\dgvorigin1440\dghshow1\dgvshow1 \jexpand\viewkind1\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\splytwnine\ftnlytwnine\htmautsp\nolnhtadjtbl\useltbaln\alntblind\lytcalctblwd\lyttblrtgr\lnbrkrule\nobrkwrptbl\snaptogridincell\allowfieldendsel\wrppunct \asianbrkrule\rsidroot11286054\newtblstyruls\nogrowautofit\usenormstyforlist\noindnmbrts\felnbrelev\nocxsptable\indrlsweleven\noafcnsttbl\afelev\utinl\hwelev\spltpgpar\notcvasp\notbrkcnstfrctbl\notvatxbx\krnprsnet\cachedcolbal \nouicompat \fet0 {\*\wgrffmtfilter 2450}\nofeaturethrottle1\ilfomacatclnup0\ltrpar \sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid8525480\sftnbj {\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2 \pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \ltrpar\s15\qc \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs21\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \f39\fs21\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \f42\fs40\insrsid11286054\charrsid11286054 DarkFyre \par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f40\fs32\insrsid11286054 Chapter Twelve}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs32 \ltrch\fcs0 \f40\fs32\insrsid11286054\charrsid816042 \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \f40\fs40\insrsid11286054 *** \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054\charrsid6366893 All content of t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 his story is copyright \{2014}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054\charrsid6366893 \} by Returning_Writer_Guy and is my intellectual property. This is purely a work of fiction and fantasy and not based on any truthful events. No individuals were harmed as none of the ind ividuals in these stories exist. This story is not to be redistributed under any circumstances without my express written permission.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \par \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054\charrsid6366893 \par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \f40\fs40\insrsid11286054 ***}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2\afs40 \ltrch\fcs0 \f40\fs40\insrsid11286054\charrsid9061446 \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 The next morning was mild, if not as clear and sunny as the day before. Clouds hung in a haze over the sky, drab and dreary and promising cold and snow to come, but all in all it was a favorable day for the middle of a Dale winter. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \tab Rael was sitting against a wall in an alley mouth , studying the grand building across the street. He was on the opposite end of Trelling\rquote s Rest, right in the heart of the Palace District, watching the Hall of Valor, home and seat of power for the Knight Brotherh ood of DarkFyre Dale. He knew the hall well, had spent near his whole adolescence in those sweeping halls, making his home beside the bravest men in the kingdom. He had trained, studied, learned, grown, and become a man in the Hall, and finally taken his vows as a Knight and protector of the realm. He hadn\rquote t seen the Hall in a number of years, hadn\rquote t even visited it upon his return Home. Seeing it never failed to stir memories, sweet and b itter alike. \par \tab He wouldn\rquote t chance walking into the Hall openly as Lord IronWing. There could be eyes, even here. But he knew other ways into the Hall, secret ways he\rquote d discovered as a boy. He\rquote d try the great tree around the e astern side of the compound. It\rquote s strong, gnarled branches overhung the tall and sturdy iron fence surrounding the Hall . That yard was rarely patrolled and he could easily slip into the Hall from there. Once inside, he would make his way to the Lord Commander\rquote s office. If anyone happened upon him along the way\'85well, he would deal with it, somehow. \par \tab The Nobleman stood, rested one hand on the short sword he had concealed under his cloak, and made his way slowly across the road in a meandering, lackadaisical fashion, as if he were just another beggar on the street wandering no place in particular. \par \tab As he was about half way to the Hall, the guards opened the front gate to let a rider through and out onto the street. The older man sat his horse well, tall and proud of bearing. Rael looked at hi m from under his low-pulled hood, and gave a start of recognition when he saw the Knight\rquote s raiment of red on gray, the colors of house Cador. \par \tab \'93Galin?\'94 he said as loud as he dared. \par \tab His old friend pulled up short upon hearing his name. His horse danced restlessly as Galin stared down at him, his eyes narrowed at what he probably thought was some common back alley rat all bundled in rags and grime. \par \tab \'93What are you doing here? I thought I ordered you to stay at camp and command until I returned!\'94 Rael hissed. \par \tab Galin\rquote s eyes went wide with recognition. He sputtered half a dozen curses under his breath before finally growling, \'93What am }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 I }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 doing here? What are }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 you }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 doing here? }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054\charrsid7345540 You}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 fool! You stupid, stupid boy!\'94 \par \tab Rael hesitated, giving his friend a perplexed look. He\rquote d expected Galin to be surprised, yes, and the Knight was always sour when met with surprises. But this felt different. Wrong. Galin had an air of frustrated panic about him. It wasn \rquote t like the old veteran at all. \par \tab \'93I came to speak with Commander Dern. Some terrible things have happened, and I need his help.\'94 \par \tab \'93His }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 help}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 ?\'94 Galin gaped incredulously. He leaned forward in his saddle so that he was face to face with Rael, and said through his grimace, \'93You\rquote re an even bigger fool than I thought. We can\rquote t talk here or they\rquote re going to have your head on a pike, and mine too! Forget Dern. Come to my holdings here in town, at sundown. Come through the back, and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 don\rquote t be seen}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 !\'94 \par \tab Before Rael could ask him what this was all about, Galin raised his voice to shout in clear, carrying tones, \'93No, I\rquote ve not got bread nor alms for you, you sodding mangy cur!\'94 \par \tab He pulled his boot from his stirrup, and kicked Rael forcefully in the chest. Rael stumbled almost to the ground, stunned, and Galin turned in his saddle to shout to the guards, \'93Get this trash back into the gutter where it belongs!\'94 \par \tab Galin rode off, kicking his horse hard and sending it surging down the road. Rael looked up to see the guards at the gate walking toward him at a pace that suggested they\rquote d rather do just abo ut anything but go chasing after a beggar. Rael levered himself to his feet and went stumbling off back into the alleyways in a respectable impersonation of a drunken hobble. \par \tab Once out of sight, Rael cursed softly and made his way back toward the Siren of The Lake. He didn\rquote t understand what was going on. Why was Galin back in Trelling\rquote s Rest, and why was he acting so strangely? And what had he meant, \lquote they\rquote would have their heads on pikes? Did he mean his hunters? And if so, how did he know about them in the first place? \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 The thought even flickered through his mind that Galin could be leading him into some kind of trap. But he dismissed it; he\rquote d known Galin too long, too well. The old Knight had been his friend and mentor through his entire adolescence, and close friends with his father before that. No. Galin was gruff and surly and crass. He drank too much, went whoring too often, and had a love for slaying an enemy that at times bordered on reckless and unhealthy. But he held firm to his own sense of honor, and his loyalty was above question. \par Wasn\rquote t it? \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \par *** \par \par \tab Silmaria was bored. Even though she recognized, somewhere in the back of her mind, that Lord Rael was right to be cautious and careful, the rest of her felt smothered and trapped and stifled by his ove rprotectiveness. She felt pretty certain that the murderous group coming after them knew nothing about her. And she was capable and competent. She could go out, or at the very least down into the common room, and she\rquote d be fine. She could take care of herself. \par \tab So why, she asked herself not for the first time as she sprawled across the room\rquote s only spacious bed, did she do as he bid? What was stopping her? \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 Fear. As much as she felt confident that she wasn \rquote t being searched for, even the possibility was enough to give her pause. Her last encounter with the assassins had been enough to convince her she didn\rquote t want to encounter the men again, ever, and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 certainly}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 not without Lord Rael\rquote s sword arm near at hand. But for all that, more than fear of the murderers tracking them kept her cooped up in the small room. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \tab It was hard for her to admit, but Silmaria was obeying Rael because not obeying him was a fearful notion as well. Oh, she didn\rquote t think he would hurt her, but she knew he would be angry with her if she defied him. And, somehow, that notion didn \rquote t set well with her. She was uncomfortable with the thought of him being angry with her, and it was even worse because she was sure if he were to become angry, she\rquote d respond in kind. And then she\rquote d say something stupid and thoughtless in the heat of the moment, like she always did. \par \tab And then he\rquote d start hating her. She was sure of it. She\rquote d already pushed her luck and his patience far enough with her spectacular little meltdown in the forest a few nights ago. She\rquote d known, even as all the hurt and pain and anguish spilled like so much venom from her lips, that she was going too far. The Nobleman could decide at any moment she wasn\rquote t worth all this grief and difficulty. How easy it would have been just then for the man to tu rn his back on her, withdraw all his help and protection, and leave her stranded and scared out in the middle of the woods, hunted and hungry and alone! She knew it, even as she accused and blamed him and cursed him and beat on him, and he had taken all of it and not said a word. \par \tab They hadn\rquote t spoken about her behavior. Part of her was relieved; he hadn\rquote t seemed changed one bit toward her. Indeed, if anything he was speaking with her more than ever. She fervently hoped with all she was that he had attributed the whole thing to an overwrought woman too full of grief to think straight. \par \tab Yet, for all that, the incident weighed on her heavily, and she dreaded what would happen if she pushed his tolerance too far. \par \tab The stubborn, willful part of her interjected, then. So what? So what if she pissed him off? What she had said hadn\rquote t been }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 entirely}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 without merit, and even if he became enraged and tossed her aside in his anger, so what? She }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 was}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 capable, and she could take care of herself. It would be hard and ugly, but if she were on her own, she would survive. \par \tab Silmaria rolled over onto her side, tangling the sheets around her. Yes, she would survive. Alone. And that more than anything, that notion of being alone, terrified her. Not because she couldn\rquote t take care of herself. But because she was already so much more alone than she\rquote d ever been before. All her life, Silmaria had imagined herself alone. Isolated and shunned by many of those around her, because no one understood her. Because she was a Gnari, a Demi-Human. Because she was different. But that hadn\rquote t been \lquote alone\rquote . She\rquote d still had friends, people who cared about her , no matter what she was, no matter if she were different. She saw so clearly now just how much she had taken those people for granted. \par \tab And now they were gone. \par \tab Rael was all she had left. He was the only remnant of her life, now lost. It had been a good life, really. And Lord Rael was all that remained of it that hadn\rquote t been snatched away. Despite all, despite how she struggled with conflicting feeli ngs about him and even now found it almost impossible to understand him, she could at least admit he was a good man. And he was trying his best, for both of them. She couldn\rquote t take that for granted, not now. \par \tab The Gnari woman reached out and grabbed one of the pillows and clutched it to her chest as she fought off feelings of fear and loss and loneliness. She buried her face into the pillow and took a deep breath, and was startled to find she keenly recognized Rael\rquote s scent. Her sensitive nose took the smell of him in, earthy tones of sweat and leather and steel and a mild, pleasant masculine musk. \par \tab The smell recalled distinct memories of lying beside him last night. He\rquote d tried being a gentleman and sleeping on the floor, but Silmaria\rquote s stubbornness had won ou t. She insisted on the impracticality of him sleeping uncomfortably on the floor, arguing how much he needed to rest well for once during these dangerous days. Her final insistence that if he didn\rquote t come sleep up in the bed, neither would she at last brought the man, grumbling but relenting, to lay down in the bed where he promptly and soundly fell into a sleep the dead would envy. \par \tab Sleep had been more elusive for her. Lying beside him, Silmaria had watched the dark, large shape of him in the night beside h er, her sensitive eyes able to pick the details of him out in the night. His face was relaxed in sleep, some of the lines of care and worry smoothed on his face so he looked young and almost at peace. She lay there just so, not-quite touching him, with th e warmth of his body heat chasing away the night chill and the scent of him surrounding her comfortingly. She felt just as she had that night in the forest. Raw, exposed, yet protected and safe. \par \tab Silmaria pressed her face into the pillow and inhaled Lord Rael\rquote s scent once more, and remembered the warmth and strength of his powerful arms around her as she cried into his chest. \par \tab Before she was even fully conscious of it, the Gnari woman was pressing her firm thighs together, her hips tilting and wiggling as s he clenched her muscles tight. The heated pressure in her loins came unannounced and quickly took on the desperate, almost painful ache of the Stirring. \par \tab \'93Not now,\'94 Silmaria groaned softly, biting her thick lower lip as she squeezed her thighs together again, feeling her sex becoming wet and heated already. Her mind flitted to the sight of Lord Rael, bared from the waist up, the taut, strong muscle that corded his shoulders and chest, his toned and powerful arms. The traceries of scars and the huge, jagg ed one crossing along the fair white flesh of his chest and abdominals\'85 \par \tab The memory did nothing but send her wanton desires soaring. Part of Silmaria hated herself for the lurid thoughts centering on the Knight, and she wasn\rquote t sure why. She\rquote d certainly nev er had qualms with her avid and wicked imagination in the past, no matter who it chose to wander with. \par \tab The stirring took hold of her and she trembled as the overwhelming }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 need}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 made every inch of her flesh long to be touched, to be tasted, bitten, scratched, pinched, slapped, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 anything}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 to stimulate her raw never endings. \par \tab Silmaria quickly shimmied out of her dress and ran her hands along her body, letting her own slender fingers trace along the lush curves of her flesh. Her touch played along her flat belly and up to the ripe swell of her breasts. She cupped them, hard, her fingers playing along the sensitive, heavy orbs. She bit back a soft moan as she found her nipples already stiff and thick and demanding attention. Gladly, she gave it, rolling the pink nubs between her fingers before giving them a firm pinch. \par \tab }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 Gods, please\'85 let this be enough,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 she silently prayed. \par \tab As one hand remained at her heaving, generous breasts, pulling and plucking and twisting her nipples roughly, her other hand slinked its way sensually down her body. When she cupped her puffy cunt, her sticky arousal was already flowing in a thick and liberal dribble of juices. She let her knowing fingers glide along her slit, teasing at the pink, glossy flesh between her engorged l ips for a few moments before firmly plunging two into her desperately clenching hole. Silmaria moaned, her hips immediately bucking and thrusting upward to take her fingers in deeper. Her pussy squeezed tight and wet around those thrusting, tunneling digits. \par \tab It wasn\rquote t long before Silmaria was bucking and gyrating, grunting and groaning in concentration as she fingered her slippery sex, her fingers working in as deeply as she could. Her other hand was between her widely splayed thighs as well, working her clit hard as her tits bounced with the swaying of her lithe, curving body. Her ears laid flat atop her head and her tail lashed about as she energetically pleasured herself, building a light sweat beading along her short, velvety pelt. \par \tab The Gnari girl rolled onto her belly, her back arched, ass raised with her bosom crushed into the bed. She jammed a third finger into her yearning cunthole while she pinched and pulled at her clit. Her sticky, thick juices glistened and ran do wn her trembling inner thighs while her fingers plunged in and out of her clutching tunnel. \par \tab Her first orgasm shook her to the core, her whole body going taut as she came. Silmaria buried her face into the pillow, screaming into it as her cunt exploded and all the nerves in her body came alive with white hot fire. She pinched her clit, hard, and the pain lanced into her belly in a way that made the orgasm that much more intense and fulfilling. In that moment, no matter how hard she tried not to, in her head Lord Rael was behind her, fucking her, using her like the wicked whore she was. \par \tab The very thought made her sob into her pillow. This is how it would be. He would fuck her just like this, behind her with her head shoved into a pillow as he treated her like his own personal fucktoy, because that\rquote s exactly what she was. She loved it, and it filled her with a shame she couldn\rquote t explain and didn\rquote t understand. She loathed that feeling even as she fucking loved it, too, and that twisted duality made her launch uncontrollably into a second even more intense orgasm. \par \tab An uncertain number of orgasms later and it still wasn\rquote t enough. Silmaria needed more. In a moment of desperation, she tugged her sticky, wet fingers from her sodden, dribbling pussy and slid them between the r ound, meaty cheeks of her deliciously toned ass. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 She pressed two fingers against her tight, pink asshole and quickly, roughly worked the slippery digits past her twitching pucker and into the gripping heat of her bowels. She shrieked into her pillow as she pumped her asshole fast and hard. She was already in too much of a frenzy to be patient, and the pain of the rough penetration only added to her wicked pleasure anyway. With her free hand rubbing and pressing at her clit, Silmaria fingered her ass quickly and relentlessly until just a few moments later her body began to spasm and quiver in a powerful orgasm. Her head swam, light and fuzzy as her whole body jolted and writhed in orgasmic bliss. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \tab The trick, which she sometimes turned to when especially desperate, was fruitless. Her need was if anything, even greater. After another anal orgasm got her no further, Silmaria reluctantly pulled her fingers from her asshole, leaving the muscles there wonderfully sore and aching. She had half a mind to abuse it further, because it did feel so very wonderful and carnally pleasurable, but it just was not getting the maddening itch of her Stirring under control. \par \tab As Silmaria began to miserably consider having to descend down to the common room in search of someone to tend her needs, her eyes fell on the bundle of her belongings placed neatly in the corner. Her gaze found the dagger Lord Rael had given her, still in its leather sheath, the hilt a simple crossguard at the foot of a long, smooth, hard iron grip with a heavy, polished, round iron pommel. \par \tab Silmaria didn\rquote t even hesitate. She snatched up the dagger, flipped onto her back, and splayed her athletic legs wide open. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \'93Oh, fuck,\'94 she whimpered as she pressed that hard, heavy knob of the dagger\rquote s pommel to her drooling slit. It was cold and unforgiving and she didn\rquote t care. She gripped the dagger firmly and pressed inward, spreading her hot slit wide around that round iron head and then shoving forward, working the dagger hilt into her desperately stretching sex. She was so wet it slid in with little trouble, a nd after giving herself just a moment to enjoy the fullness, the unyielding hardness and cold bite of the iron hilt, Silmaria began to drive and thrust the dagger hilt deeply in and out of her quivering, gripping sex. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \tab The dagger was uncomfortable and rigid and rough inside her tender sex, and exactly what she needed. Silmaria yelped and squealed and screamed, turning her head to press it into the pillow once more, inhaling Rael\rquote s scent and envisioning him over her, pinning her down to the bed and pounding into her as hard and vigorous as the iron shaft of the dagger. She bucked and swayed, her hips arching up off the bed as she fucked herself, reveling in her wickedn ess and shame. \par \tab \'93Yes\'85yes, fuck yes! Gods, please\'85please\'85!\'94 she cried into her pillow, and with one last, desperate thrust of the dagger deep into her widely stretched sex, she violently orgasmed, her back bowing up off the bed. Her belly clenched until it hurt, a deep, throbbing, vibrating ache coming from her core. Her limbs shook and her toes curled, and she was nothing but a twitching, out of control thing, her body playing out its own viciously beauti ful release while she became just a passenger along for the intense and painfully pleasurable ride. \par \tab Silmaria had no idea how long she lay there, panting and dazed and hardly even connected to her body, floating along on a haze of bliss and endorphins. All she knew was, one moment she was gone, dead to the world, a nd the next there came three firm knocks on the door. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 And she was laying naked and covered in sweat with the hilt of a dagger stuck up her greedy little cunt. \par \'93Who is it?\'94 Silmaria shouted, her voice breaking on her panic. \par \'93Rael, son of Edwin.\'94 \par The dagger went spinning carelessly across the room, hurled away like it was about to burn her. Silmaria paid no mind where it landed as she scrambled up from the bed, got tangled in the sheets, and went sprawling ass first to the floor. \par \'93Shit, shit, shit balls!\'94 The Gnari girl cursed quietly as she struggled with the sheets twined around her ankles, all her usual grace and poise gone as her cheeks burned with raging heat. \'93Hang on!\'94 \par When she answered the door, she was panting, flushed, covered in sweat, her hair a mused, disheveled wreck, and her new dress he\rquote d just bought yesterday was a wrinkled up not-so-new looking mess. Lord Rael looked down at her with an utterly perplexed look. \par \'93I didn\rquote t think you were going to be back so soon,\'94 she said by way of explanation, then realized not only did that not explain anything, but he hadn\rquote t even asked a question, and it sounded about as utterly suspicious as she could get. \par Rael stepped into the room, hung up his cloak on the peg by the door, and sat on the corner of the bed. \'93Plans changed.\'94 \par \'93Oh?\'94 Silmaria asked, trying to sound nonchalant and turning away from him to fidget with some of their supplies on the room\rquote s solitary tiny table, arr anging them even though they were already perfectly fine, then putting everything back in their original places again. She didn\rquote t care; any excuse to keep him from seeing her face while she struggled to compose herself seemed a fine idea at this point. \par \'93I never made it in to see Commander Dern,\'94 Rael explained. \'93I ran into an old friend. Galin Cador, second son of his house, though he\rquote s pretty much given up all right of inheritance to his nephew.\'94 \par Silmaria took a deep breath, then another. She turned to face him at last, and it was all she could do to keep her face neutrally interested as she wrestled with the potent mix of lingering arousal and shame. Her eyes wanted to roam along the Nobleman, to drink him in as a parched man drinks in fresh water. It took an immense force of will to keep her eyes on his face, and even that only helped so much. \par \'93So is that a good thing, or a bad thing?\'94 \par \'93I\rquote m not sure,\'94 Rael shrugged, and he seemed blessedly too lost in thought to notice her fidgeting and awkward posture. \'93Ordinarily, I\rquote d say it\rquote s a good thing. I trust him, and he\rquote s a loyal ally and friend. But he \rquote s behaving\'85oddly. Not like himself at all. And he shouldn\rquote t be in the city.\'94 \par \'93Why wouldn\rquote t he be?\'94 she asked. \par He turned his eyes to her, and for a moment she was utterly pinned by the strange beauty of them. \'93Because I left him in command at the FrostFall war camp when I left.\'94 \par \'93Oh,\'94 Silmaria said, and to her relief as she warmed to the conversation, her nerves started to settle somewhat. \'93What is he doing back in the city, then?\'94 \par \'93I didn\rquote t get a chance to find out. He called me a fool, warned me away from Commander Dern, and told me to meet him at his holdings here in the city before riding off like all the minions of the underworld were on his heels.\'94 \par \'93That\rquote s just a bit cryptic, don\rquote t you think?\'94 she asked as she fidgeted with her hair to try and get it back into some semblance of neatness. \par \'93It is, especially for him. He\rquote s not a man for skirting around issues or ambiguous messages,\'94 Rael agreed. Then, as if noting all over again her disheveled appearance, asked, \'93Are you sure you\rquote re okay?\'94 \par \'93I\rquote m fine,\'94 she hastily replied, adding, \'93Do you think you can trust him?\'94 \par \'93I\rquote m much more inclined to trust him than Dern,\'94 Rael replied, effectively distracted. \'93And if he\rquote s warning me away from the man, I\rquote m inclined to listen, even if his behavior is strange.\'94 \par \'93Wasn\rquote t he one of your subordinates?\'94 She asked with an arch of her brow. \par \'93Yes.\'94 \par \'93And you trust him more than the Lord Knight Commander?\'94 \par Rael chuckled softly and shook his head. \'93I see where it seems backwards. But experience has told me, Dern isn\rquote t overly fond of me, while Galin has proven himself loyal time and again in the past. So yes. Given the choice, I\rquote d take my chances with Galin over Dern any day.\'94 \par Silmaria perched on the edge of the bed, smoothed out her skirts, and gave a thoughtful frown. \'93I don\rquote t like it. Something feels wrong in all this.\'94 \par Rael nodded slowly. \'93I know. I don\rquote t like it, either. But I don\rquote t see where I have much choice. I have to go talk to him and see where the cards lie. There\rquote s things in motion I don\rquote t understand, and it seems that he has some answers.\'94 \par \'93I don\rquote t understand any of this, really,\'94 she pointed out irritably. Her conflicting emotions at last took a back seat to something that had been rubbing her wrong for quite a while. \'93I think it\rquote s past time you told me what the hell it is I\rquote ve gotten involved in. I\rquote ve been hunted, attacked, killed someone to save my life, had my home and my friends taken away from me, and been chased through the countryside. And I have no idea what for. Tell me, Lord Rael. What the hells are you mixed up in? What am }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 I }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 mixed up?\'94 \par Rael\rquote s silver gaze studied her, and for an uncomfortable moment, she thought he wasn\rquote t going to answer. Then he reached up and slowly stroked his coppery beard as he said, \'93I owe you that much. I\rquote m afraid I have more questions than answers right now. But\'85what I know, I\rquote ll tell you. It\rquote s the least I can do after all this.\'94 \par \'93Thank you,\'94 Silmaria nodded, and pulled her legs up to sit cross legged across from him on the bed, her hands folded in her lap as she waited, listening. \par \'93The long and short of it is, in the middle of a battle with the Haruke, at the warfront, someone tried to assassinate me.\'94 \par \'93Someone from the Haruke?\'94 she asked in confusion. \par \'93No,\'94 he shook his head. \'93It wasn\rquote t the Haruke. The Haruke have no real concept of assassins. An assassin would be far too indirect and dishonorable to them. There\rquote s no glory, n o battle, no proving, and those things are the heart and soul of Haruke warriors. No. This was an assassination attempt from some other faction. I still haven\rquote t found out who the assassins are, or who they work for. \par \'93In any case, they botched it. The whole thing was brought to my attention by one of my subordinates. The means taken were unusual, disturbing, and quite serious. Like none I\rquote d seen before. The circumstances around the attempt were unique enough for me to take notice and believe that the assassins would try again, and wouldn\rquote t relent until I was buried.\'94 \par \'93I don\rquote t understand. What did they do that was so strange?\'94 \par Rael explained the circumstances around the arrow, and the strange spell ensorcelled to it. \par \'93That\rquote s why you\rquote ve been doing all this research into magic and spell work,\'94 Silmaria mused softly. \par \'93Exactly,\'94 Rael nodded. \'93It\rquote s one of the main reasons I decided to return home. I knew if I stayed in the war camp, they\rquote d just wait for their chance to strike again. It would be easy; they knew exactly where I\rquote d be. \par \'93So I left, as quietly as I could, and came back home in the hopes they wouldn\rquote t discover where I\rquote d gone until I found more information,\'94 he explained. \'93All I had to go on was the arrow and that spell. I\rquote d hoped, uniq ue and strange as the spell was, if I could find some information on it I could use that lead to discover who the assassins were and then deal with them. I\rquote ve had no luck. And the rest\'85well. You know what came after that.\'94 \par \'93So we know nothing about them, then,\'94 Silmaria said somberly. \par \'93No,\'94 Rael admitted, clenching his jaw in what she recognized as a subtle tell of frustration. \'93But one way or the other, I\rquote m going to find out.\'94 \par \'93How many of them could there be?\'94 she wondered aloud as she wrung her hands distractedly. \'93We\rquote ve already killed\'85what? A dozen? More? I\rquote ve never heard of men like them. Especially working in a group like they are. How can this kind of thing be happening?\'94 \par \'93There are many evils in the world,\'94 Rael replied, and that was all the explanation he could offer. \par \'93There has to be some information on that spell. Surely someone somewhere knows of it, or something in the writings you\rquote ve gone through through makes some mention of it,\'94 Silmaria insisted. \par \'93Nothing I\rquote ve read has spoken of the spell. There\rquote s few enough mentions of dark arts and black magic sorcery made in most tomes on magic to begin with, and nothing about that spell in particular,\'94 Rael replied. \par \'93I did find someone who seemed to know something. An old sorcerer, or so he claimed. He ran a shop of\'85 magical oddities. I showed him the arrow. He definitely recognized the runes, and when he did, he became terrified and wouldn\rquote t say another word to me. After they attacked the Manor the first time, I went back to press the man for more information. He was gone when I arrived.\'94 \par \'93Gone? Gone like dead?\'94 \par \'93Gone like vanished,\'94 Rael clarified. \'93Every sign of him and his shop was erased. Like they\rquote d never been.\'94 \par Her ears flicked as she looked thoughtful. \'93Do you think he ran away?\'94 \par \'93I don\rquote t know,\'94 Rael shrugged his broad shoulders. \'93But I suspect something more sinister at work.\'94 \par \'93You don\rquote t think\'85 the assassins\'85\'94 \par \'93Normally, I\rquote d say there\rquote s no way the two could be linked,\'94 he said in a rumbling voice. \'93I don\rquote t see how the assassins could know about my visit. But, now? I don\rquote t know anymore. I\rquote ve no idea what they\rquote re capable of\'85 and at this point I\rquote m more inclined to lean on the side of caution and say they\rquote re capable of anything.\'94 \par Silmaria let out a soft sigh. Her tail lashed out to the front of her body, wrapping around her waist. She reached down and distractedly smoothed the sleek fur along it. \'93What do we do now?\'94 \par \'93Now, I go meet with Galin to see what news he has for me, and we go from there.\'94 \par Silmaria turned her eyes up to him, bright, vivid greens the color of fresh leaves startling against her slitted feline pupils. Some emotion flickered there, hiding behind her tough exterior. \'93You better not get yourself killed while you\rquote re off trying to find your answers,\'94 she said at last in a no-nonsense tone. \'93If you leave me all alone in this place, I\rquote ll never forgive you.\'94 \par Rael met her eyes and nodded, his face somber and grave. \'93I\rquote ll come back for you. I promise.\'94 \par \'93Good,\'94 Silmaria nodded, and seemed to relax somewhat. She even ventured a smile at him. \'93Now can we go eat? I\rquote m starved. So much that I should get the double portion this time.\'94 \par The Nobleman laughed, and they left to see what the common room had to offer. \par *** \par \par \'93What the hell is going on?\'94 Rael asked brusquely. \par \'93Well a fine evenin\rquote to you, too, and don\rquote t you look well tonight?\'94 Galin said with a glare as he stepped aside and allowed his Captain to enter his home. \par Rael stepped through the back door and into the small, empty kitchens at the back of Galin\rquote s modest estate. The old Knight\rquote s holding in the city wasn\rquote t half the size of IronWing Manor, but then House Caldor was a minor H ouse of even lower standings than his own, and this wasn\rquote t even the House\rquote s main estate, but rather Galin\rquote s own private little Manor. Galin would say it was given to him so the family didn\rquote t have to bother with him, but Rael suspected it was rather the other way around. \par The kitchen was dimly lit by a single torch in the wall and the glowing coals that remained of the cooking fire in the little kitchen\rquote s lone brick oven. In truth, Rael was a bit surprised to find Galin himself answering h is knock instead of a servant, but Galin had few enough servants left here to tend the upkeep of the diminutive Manor. Now, as Galin sat down at the small, battered kitchen table and it became evident that he intended for them to have their meeting here instead of a sitting room or some other more comfortable room, Rael\rquote s surprise turned to annoyance. \par \'93Drop the sarcasm and bluster, old man. I\rquote ve no time for either. I\rquote ve far too many questions and not nearly enough answers, so out with it. What\rquote s going on? Why are you here?\'94 \par \'93Sit down already, and stop giving me that look,\'94 Galin grumbled as he waved toward the empty cedar wood chair sitting opposite his own. \'93And you may as well give up on any of the usual \lquote my Lord\rquote or \lquote Sir\rquote garbage. If you\rquote ve no time for levity, I\rquote ve no time for pomp or circumstance.\'94 \par \'93Just as well with me,\'94 Rael returned. He reluctantly took his seat, and shifted his chair so he kept the door in his peripheral vision. His hand rested on the hilt of the short sword at his waist. If Galin noticed, he made no comment. \par \'93Why here?\'94 Rael asked. \par \'93Because it\rquote s quieter and less likely to have bloody ears nearby than my sitting room or study. I have few enough servants, but those I have I wouldn\rquote t trust with the knife to shave my whiskers.\'94 \par \'93You never shave your whiskers,\'94 Rael pointed out with an arched brow. \par \'93Who\rquote s playin\rquote at sarcasm now?\'94 Galin snapped irritably. \par Rael leaned back in his chair and regarded the grizzled soldier closely. \'93Tell me what you know.\'94 \par Galin made a face and slowly shook his head. \'93Damned little enough. I know you\rquote re a wanted man, for one. The price on your head would be enough to make the King himself wince.\'94 \par Rael shook his head slowly. His jaw clenched and his face turned grim. \'93And what have I done to earn this dubious little honor?\'94 \par \'93What haven\rquote t you done would be the better question,\'94 Galin returned. \'93Arson, theft, destruction of property, murder, abandonment of duty, treason against the Crown\'85the list got too sodding long for me to follow. Basically, they\rquote re saying you turned traitor when you left the camp, and the mess over at your estates was all your own doing.\'94 \par Rael\rquote s face twisted harshly as he cursed for a brief moment, before reining his temper in and saying simply, \'93Lies, the lot of it.\'94 \par \'93Course it is,\'94 Galin scoffed, as if the very notion were laughable. \'93But speaking out otherwise is a quick way to a short life at this point. I no more than began to express an inkling of doubt, and now I\rquote ve been suspended from duty and taken from the front. Indefinitely.\'94 \par \'93That\rquote s ridiculous! What in the name of the gods is going on?\'94 Rael growled. \par \'93I was counting on you answering that bloody question,\'94 Galin said as he scratched absently at the scar creasing his face. \'93Seems you\rquote ve done something to royally piss Dern off.\'94 \par \'93Dern?\'94 Rael asked, surprised. \'93What\rquote s Dern got to do with all this?\'94 \par \'93Near as I can tell, all the accusations and orders about needing your head on a pike is coming directly from him,\'94 Galin explained. \'93And it was him ordered me put on leave. Bastard refused to meet with me this morning, and his man said if I left my estate before they sent for me again, I\rquote d be investigated for treason my ownself.\'94 \par \'93Gods be damned,\'94 Rael cursed as he ran his fingers through his thick, tangled copper hair in frustration. \par \'93You mind telling me just what in the name of Ceradi\rquote s holy tits you\rquote ve managed to get yourself into?\'94 \par Rael stared at the weathered, scarred face that he knew so well, searching for any sign of duplicity. \'93The more you know, the worse it will be for you if they turn their attention your way.\'94 \par \'93I\rquote m already fucked if they look at me twice as it is. Out with it. Now.\'94 \par Rael folded his heavy hands on the table between them, took a deep breath, and told him. \par \'93Damn all,\'94 Galin swore quietly. He leaned back in his seat, his hands folded across his middle as he rocked gently in his chair, thinking. \'93And this Gnari girl\'85this Silmaria. You think she can be trusted?\'94 \par \'93She was probably closer to my father than I ever was,\'94 Rael asserted. \'93And she\rquote s had all she\rquote s ever known stripped away. She has more reason than I to hate these men. I trust her.\'94 \par \'93Well. Might be it\rquote s a moot point, anyway,\'94 Galin harrumphed. \par \'93Why do you say that?\'94 \par Galin leaned in closer and rubbed his hands together in a gesture Rael recognized as nervousness. \'93You\rquote ve got to leave, Rael.\'94 \par \'93Leave? Leave how, exactly?\'94 Rael asked with the rising feeling that he wasn\rquote t going to like this. \par \'93Leave Trelling\rquote s Rest. Leave the Dale. Hell, leave the North entirely,\'94 Galin stated, then quickly held his hands up to ward off Rael\rquote s protests as he plowed on, \'93Think about it, lad. You\rquote re a hunted man. In more ways than one. Might be these assassins of yours are in league with Dern, or be controlling him, or be him who bought them to begin with. And might be the two have nothing at all to do with o ne another. Does it even matter? The assassins are hunting you, the Knighthood is hunting you, and the guard, and it damn well might as well be everyone in the Kingdom! You can\rquote t stay here. Your disguises and skulking about are only going to keep you under their notice for so long. You stay anywhere in the North, you\rquote re going to get yourself found sooner than later, and someone\rquote ll have your head on a pike, mark me. \'94 \par Rael listened with a mix of impatience and begrudging agreement. As much as he was loath to admit it, Galin was right. \par \'93I can\rquote t just run,\'94 he said angrily, clinging to the last of his stubbornness. \'93What kind of life is that? And what of justice for all those that have suffered and died of these madmen? For me? I cannot let these murderers go unpunished. \'94 \par \'93And neither should you,\'94 Galin agreed, gruffly, \'93But you won\rquote t be punishing anyone unless you figure out who these bastards are in the first place, and you won\rquote t find any answers here in the Dale that don\rquote t come at the end of a blade.\'94 \par Rael lean back in his chair with a pensive look, his eyes turned to the dying coals. Galin, for once, was silent, letting the young Noble think. When Rael at last spoke, his voice was calm and level once again. \'93Where would you go?\'94 \par Galin thought long before replying, \'93You\rquote re familiar with the Ondarian Federation, yes?\'94 \par \'93I am,\'94 Rael nodded. \'93They\rquote re a group of allied city-states to the south. They\rquote re spread across The Weeping Lands, situated between the Johake Grasslands to the northwest, the Reach to the east, and the Ashlands to the fa r south. What of them?\'94 \par \'93There\rquote s a place in the Federation. A great hall of learning called the Kahrthen Library. It\rquote s vast, and many scholars, sages, scribes and other men of learning congregate there to pursue ancient mysteries, secret lost knowledge\'85 and w hatever other pile of complete horse shit those types go jabbering on about.\'94 \par \'93The name is familiar, vaguely,\'94 Rael said thoughtfully. \'93You think I can find answers there?\'94 \par Galin shrugged. \'93Could be. Could not be. But the Ondarian Federation\rquote s neutral ground. They keep themselves removed from the politics and power games of their neighbors , and we all leave them alone because the Federation is pretty much smack dab in the middle of the continent, so they\rquote re about the most vital trading hub there is. The Kahrthen Library is known throughout the land for its stores of knowledge, and best of all, no one there\rquote s likely to want to kill you. It\rquote s the best thought I\rquote ve got.\'94 \par \'93It\rquote s a good plan. But dangerous,\'94 Rael mused. He rose to his feet and began to pace as he thought aloud. \'93It\rquote ll be a long jo urney. South and out of Dale lands. Then looping southeast to skirt around the Johake Grasslands, following the edge of the Reach to avoid the Haruke. Then on to The Weeping Lands and the Ondarian Federation. It\rquote s a long way.\'94 \par \'93Good,\'94 Galin returned. \'93The farther away from here you are, the better, at least until you\rquote ve figured out what all this is about.\'94 \par Rael looked at his friend closely. \'93Come with me.\'94 \par \'93Pah! Not bloody likely,\'94 Galin said with a wry grin. \'93There\rquote ll be no tromping off on a grand adventure for this old soldier. I don\rquote t have that many leagues and miles left in me. Besides, supposing I were to up and disappear, it wouldn\rquote t take long for someone to get wind of it and put two and two together. They\rquote re pretty convinced you\rquote re in Trelling\rquote s Rest, hiding out somewhere . Let them keep thinking that for as long as possible, and you\rquote ll have that much more of a lead on any pursuit. If I went with you, that lead would be blown. Besides, here I can keep my eyes and ears open for changes while I do some digging of my own. Not to mention I can keep an eye on that Gnari friend of yours.\'94 \par Rael frozen with an expression of confusion. \'93What do you mean?\'94 \par Galin gave him a withering look. \'93Don\rquote t be stupid, lad. The girl can\rquote t go with you. She can\rquote t possibly make that kind of journey. On the road trailing after your heels is no place for a woman. She\rquote ll slow you down and get herself killed, more than like. Best you leave her here. I can look after her and keep her safe.\'94 \par He was right, of course. \par Only why then did it feel so wrong, to even think of leaving Silmaria behind? She would be safer, yes. The journey would be arduous and full of danger and hardship. He could spare her all of that. He recognized the wisdom and kindness in Galin\rquote s offer. Even though very idea left a sour taste in his mouth and a hard lump in his gut, he had to do right by her. In an otherwise impossible situation, this might be his one chance. \par \'93You\rquote re right,\'94 he relented at last. \par \'93Good man,\'94 Galin replied. He rose and took the nearby torch from the wall, and nodded to him. \'93Come on, then, let\rquote s see what supplies and provisions we can get for you. You\rquote ll be needing them for the long road ahead, an d thanks to our arse faced \lquote Lord Commander\rquote , I won\rquote t be leaving the sodding house anytime soon.\'94 \par \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 *** \par \par \tab \'93Who is it?\'94 \par \tab \'93Rael, son of Edwin.\'94 \par \tab Silmaria opened the door to let him in, glaring at him as she rubbed sleep from her eyes. It was the middle of the night, and she\rquote d fallen asleep almost an hour ago, waiting for him to return. \'93You\rquote re an ass. My Lord. I was worried sick.\'94 \par \tab \'93I\rquote m sorry,\'94 he said softly. Silmaria blinked and looked at him again. Something was off about him. Something different. There was a palpable air of sullenness about him. \par \tab \'93What happened? Why were you gone so long?\'94 she asked, unnerved by his reserved demeanor. Her annoyance was quickly being replaced by uncertainty. \par \tab \'93Galin and I discussed many things,\'94 he explained, stepping deeper into the room. He stood there, staring down at her, his eyes glinting silver pools in the dim light of a few low burning candles. His face was set, determined, but clearly unhappy. \'93He insisted it\rquote s not safe to stay in the city. In all of the Dale, really. And, after thinking about it and talking it over, I agree with him.\'94 \par \tab Silmaria swallowed softly, suddenly full of nervousness. \'93So what does that mean?\'94 \par \tab \'93It means,\'94 Rael scrubbed an agitated hand through his thick copper locks. \'93That I have to leave here. I\rquote m traveling south, away from DarkFyre Dale, to a place far out of the assassins reach. Somewhere I can knowledge I seek . Somewhere someone or something can tell me who these people are, so I can bring them to justice. I don\rquote t have any other sensible choice at this point.\'94 \par \tab Silmaria listened with a growing queasy, aching feeling in the pit of her stomach. \'93\lquote We\rquote , you mean. \lquote We\rquote are leaving. Right?\'94 \par \tab Rael stared down at her for a long moment. He had a heavy pack slung on his back, full of supplies. He was serious. But then, he so often was. \par \tab The Nobleman stepped forward and reached down to take her delicate hands into his much larger ones. She could feel callouses on his fingers and palms, built from years of gripping the sword. It was only the second time he\rquote d ever taken her hand in his. It felt good, but she didn\rquote t want this, didn\rquote t want to hear what she knew he would say. She pulled her hands away. \par \tab \'93I can\rquote t take you,\'94 he said softly, and she could see the reluctance and the pain in his eyes and that only made it worse. \'93It\rquote s going to be a long journey. A very dangerous, very hard one. I can\rquote t put you through that. \'94 \par \tab She vehemently shook her head. There were tears in her eyes, then they were spilling down her face. Damn him! Damn him for doing this to her! \par \tab \'93I\rquote ll be okay. I\rquote m strong. I can make it. I won\rquote t slow you down, I promise I won\rquote t,\'94 she said, immediately hating the pathetic pleading sound of her own voice, but completely unable to stop it. \par \tab \'93It\rquote s not about slowing me down,\'94 Rael told her. \'93It\rquote s just too dangerous. Traveling across the Dale in the winter and braving the passes will be bad enough. But then the wilds along the rest of the journey, too? And I may very well be hunted every step of the way. I can\rquote t put you through that. I won\rquote t. I\rquote ll leave you with Galin. He\rquote s a good man, if a bit rough around the edges. He\rquote ll make sure you\rquote re well cared for. He gave me his word.\'94 \par \tab \'93I don\rquote t care about his word!\'94 Silmaria protested heatedly. She stared up at him, her face caught between a look of desperate pleading and a biting glare. Damn him all over again for being so tall, that she had to crane her head back so, just to meet his eyes! \'93I want to go with you. We\rquote ve gotten this far together. I can keep up! I can help!\'94 \par \tab \'93Silmaria\'85 I can\rquote t,\'94 he said, and his voice was heavy indeed. \'93I\rquote m responsible for all of this. For the House burning, and putting you through all this danger. For all of your friends and family dying. All those good people \'85it\rquote s all my fault. You were right about that. It\rquote s too much, Silmaria. I }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 won\rquote t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 let you be yet more blood on my hands.\'94 \par \tab Silmaria glared up at him, her hands balled into fists as she seethed with defiance until she was physically shaking with it. Then all at once, her resolve and anger crumbled, and her shakes became barely restrained sobs. Her lower lip trembled. She leapt forward unexpectedly and pressed herself against him, her small hands gripping the front of his wool shirt as she pressed her face into his chest. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \'93I don\rquote t care about what happened before! I don\rquote t blame you. Not anymore. Don\rquote t you understand? You\rquote re all I have left! All I have left of him! Of my life. Of anything that makes any sense! Please. Do whatever you must, go wherever you must, only take me with you,\'94 she cried. \'93Don\rquote t leave me behind. You promised! Please\'85please don\rquote t leave me alone. You promised.\'94 \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \tab Rael stared at her as she sobbed quietly against him , utterly torn. Every scrap of logic in him said he must leave her. H e had no choice. She would be in more danger than he could imagine if she stayed with him. With Galin, she would be safe, stable, well cared for and be able to start moving on with her life. It was the best thing, for both of them, to part ways now. He }{ \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 knew}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 that! \par \tab Yet, as he stared down at her, pressed in close, her tear streaked face pressed to his broad chest\'85 \par \tab The Nobleman wrapped the small girl in his arms, pulling her in closer to squeeze her tight as he muttered crossly into her ear, \'93Damn you, and all stubborn, thick skulled, iron willed women everywhere.\'94 \par \par *** \par \par \tab \'93Message for you, my Lord,\'94 Said Galin\rquote s Manservant, Leon, in a voice that spoke of boredom, resigned patience and quite-a-lot-of-better-things-to-do, thank you. \par \tab Galin looked up from the old tome he\rquote d been pouring over. Or, at least appeared to be pouring over. It was a collection of old customs and rituals practiced by followers of the old gods in ages gone by, the closest thing he had in his study to writings on magic. It had been a gift from Edwin many years ago, back when his dear departed friend had gone through that all too brief phase of trying to encourage Galin to become learned, or educated, or some such sodding nonsense. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 He was keenly reminded, now, why he\rquote d never bothered trying to read it in the first place. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \tab \'93Hand it over, then,\'94 Galin grumbled. He slammed the book shut, not bothering to mark his page since he honestly couldn\rquote t remember the last five to seven pages he\rquote d read in the first place. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 The folded up message was a sheet of low quality parchment folded up and held shut with a dollop of blue wax with no seal or insignia to speak of. He flicked the paper open and glanced inside. \par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \tab In Rael\rquote s neat, tight hand, was the simple message: }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \i\f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 The Cat is with me. She wouldn\rquote t stop mewling when I tried to go. \par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054 \tab Galin sighed, crumbled the note into a ball, and tossed it into the nearby fire. \par \tab \'93Well, bollocks.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f0\fs24\insrsid11286054\charrsid10641126 \par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af31507\afs22\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \f31506\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af31507 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid8802324 \par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\sl480\slmult1\widctlpar\wrapdefault\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11286054 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af31507 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid11286054 *** \par \par Bollocks, indeed. \par \par Please send all questions, comments, and critiques to }{\field{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \af31507 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid11286054 HYPERLINK "mailto:familiarstranger86@gmail.com" }}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \af31507 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs17\ul\cf17\insrsid11286054\charrsid6030056 familiarstranger86@gmail.com}}}\sectd \ltrsect\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid8525480\sftnbj {\rtlch\fcs1 \af31507 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid11286054 \par \par }{\*\themedata 504b030414000600080000002100e9de0fbfff0000001c020000130000005b436f6e74656e745f54797065735d2e786d6cac91cb4ec3301045f748fc83e52d4a 9cb2400825e982c78ec7a27cc0c8992416c9d8b2a755fbf74cd25442a820166c2cd933f79e3be372bd1f07b5c3989ca74aaff2422b24eb1b475da5df374fd9ad 5689811a183c61a50f98f4babebc2837878049899a52a57be670674cb23d8e90721f90a4d2fa3802cb35762680fd800ecd7551dc18eb899138e3c943d7e503b6 b01d583deee5f99824e290b4ba3f364eac4a430883b3c092d4eca8f946c916422ecab927f52ea42b89a1cd59c254f919b0e85e6535d135a8de20f20b8c12c3b0 0c895fcf6720192de6bf3b9e89ecdbd6596cbcdd8eb28e7c365ecc4ec1ff1460f53fe813d3cc7f5b7f020000ffff0300504b030414000600080000002100a5d6 a7e7c0000000360100000b0000005f72656c732f2e72656c73848fcf6ac3300c87ef85bd83d17d51d2c31825762fa590432fa37d00e1287f68221bdb1bebdb4f c7060abb0884a4eff7a93dfeae8bf9e194e720169aaa06c3e2433fcb68e1763dbf7f82c985a4a725085b787086a37bdbb55fbc50d1a33ccd311ba548b6309512 0f88d94fbc52ae4264d1c910d24a45db3462247fa791715fd71f989e19e0364cd3f51652d73760ae8fa8c9ffb3c330cc9e4fc17faf2ce545046e37944c69e462 a1a82fe353bd90a865aad41ed0b5b8f9d6fd010000ffff0300504b0304140006000800000021006b799616830000008a0000001c0000007468656d652f746865 6d652f7468656d654d616e616765722e786d6c0ccc4d0ac3201040e17da17790d93763bb284562b2cbaebbf600439c1a41c7a0d29fdbd7e5e38337cedf14d59b 4b0d592c9c070d8a65cd2e88b7f07c2ca71ba8da481cc52c6ce1c715e6e97818c9b48d13df49c873517d23d59085adb5dd20d6b52bd521ef2cdd5eb9246a3d8b 4757e8d3f729e245eb2b260a0238fd010000ffff0300504b030414000600080000002100aa5225dfc60600008b1a0000160000007468656d652f7468656d652f 7468656d65312e786d6cec595d8bdb46147d2ff43f08bd3bfe92fcb1c41b6cd9ceb6d94d42eca4e4716c8fadc98e344633de8d0981923c160aa569e943037deb 43691b48a02fe9afd936a54d217fa17746b63c638fbb9b2585a5640d8b343af7ce997bafce1d4997afdc8fa87384134e58dc708b970aae83e3211b9178d2706f f7bbb99aeb7081e211a22cc60d778eb97b65f7c30f2ea31d11e2083b601ff31dd4704321a63bf93c1fc230e297d814c7706dcc920809384d26f951828ec16f44 f3a542a1928f10895d274611b8bd311e932176fad2a5bbbb74dea1701a0b2e078634e949d7d8b050d8d1615122f89c0734718e106db830cf881df7f17de13a14 7101171a6e41fdb9f9ddcb79b4b330a2628bad66d7557f0bbb85c1e8b0a4e64c26836c52cff3bd4a33f3af00546ce23ad54ea553c9fc29001a0e61a52917dda7 dfaab7dafe02ab81d2438bef76b55d2e1a78cd7f798373d3973f03af40a97f6f03dfed06104503af4029dedfc07b5eb51478065e81527c65035f2d34db5ed5c0 2b5048497cb8812ef89572b05c6d061933ba6785d77daf5b2d2d9caf50500d5975c929c62c16db6a2d42f758d2058004522448ec88f9148fd110aa3840940c12 e2ec93490885374531e3305c2815ba8532fc973f4f1da988a01d8c346bc90b98f08d21c9c7e1c3844c45c3fd18bcba1ae4cdcb1fdfbc7cee9c3c7a71f2e89793 c78f4f1efd9c3a32acf6503cd1ad5e7fffc5df4f3f75fe7afeddeb275fd9f15cc7fffed367bffdfaa51d082b5d85e0d5d7cffe78f1ecd5379ffff9c3130bbc99 a0810eef930873e73a3e766eb10816a6426032c783e4ed2cfa2122ba45339e701423398bc57f478406fafa1c5164c1b5b019c13b09488c0d787576cf20dc0b93 9920168fd7c2c8001e30465b2cb146e19a9c4b0b737f164fec9327331d770ba123dbdc018a8dfc766653d05662731984d8a07993a258a0098eb170e4357688b1 6575770931e27a408609e36c2c9cbbc46921620d499f0c8c6a5a19ed9108f232b711847c1bb139b8e3b418b5adba8d8f4c24dc15885ac8f73135c27815cd048a 6c2efb28a27ac0f791086d247bf364a8e33a5c40a6279832a733c29cdb6c6e24b05e2de9d7405eec693fa0f3c84426821cda7cee23c674649b1d06218aa6366c 8fc4a18efd881f428922e7261336f80133ef10790e7940f1d674df21d848f7e96a701b9455a7b42a107965965872791533a37e7b733a4658490d08bfa1e71189 4f15f73559f7ff5b5907217df5ed53cbaa2eaaa0371362bda3f6d6647c1b6e5dbc03968cc8c5d7ee369ac53731dc2e9b0decbd74bf976ef77f2fdddbeee7772f d82b8d06f9965bc574abae36eed1d67dfb9850da13738af7b9daba73e84ca32e0c4a3bf5cc8ab3e7b8690887f24e86090cdc2441cac64998f88488b017a229ec ef8bae7432e10bd713ee4c19876dbf1ab6fa96783a8b0ed8287d5c2d16e5a3692a1e1c89d578c1cfc6e15143a4e84a75f50896b9576c27ea51794940dabe0d09 6d329344d942a2ba1c9441520fe610340b09b5b277c2a26e615193ee97a9da6001d4b2acc0d6c9810d57c3f53d30012378a242148f649ed2542fb3ab92f92e33 bd2d984605c03e625901ab4cd725d7adcb93ab4b4bed0c99364868e566925091513d8c87688417d52947cf42e36d735d5fa5d4a02743a1e683d25ad1a8d6fe8d c579730d76ebda40635d2968ec1c37dc4ad9879219a269c31dc3633f1c4653a81d2eb7bc884ee0ddd95024e90d7f1e6599265cb4110fd3802bd149d520220227 0e2551c395cbcfd24063a5218a5bb104827061c9d541562e1a3948ba99643c1ee3a1d0d3ae8dc848a7a7a0f0a95658af2af3f383a5259b41ba7be1e8d819d059 720b4189f9d5a20ce0887078fb534ca33922f03a3313b255fdad35a685eceaef13550da5e3884e43b4e828ba98a77025e5191d7596c5403b5bac1902aa8564d1 080713d960f5a01add34eb1a2987ad5df7742319394d34573dd35015d935ed2a66ccb06c036bb13c5f93d7582d430c9aa677f854bad725b7bed4bab57d42d625 20e059fc2c5df70c0d41a3b69acca026196fcab0d4ecc5a8d93b960b3c85da599a84a6fa95a5dbb5b8653dc23a1d0c9eabf383dd7ad5c2d078b9af549156df3d f44f136c700fc4a30d2f81675470954af8f09020d810f5d49e24950db845ee8bc5ad0147ce2c210df741c16f7a41c90f72859adfc97965af90abf9cd72aee9fb e562c72f16daadd243682c228c8a7efacda50bafa2e87cf1e5458d6f7c7d89966fdb2e0d599467eaeb4a5e11575f5f8aa5ed5f5f1c02a2f3a052ead6cbf55625 572f37bb39afddaae5ea41a5956b57826abbdb0efc5abdfbd0758e14d86b9603afd2a9e52ac520c8799582a45fabe7aa5ea9d4f4aacd5ac76b3e5c6c6360e5a9 7c2c6201e155bc76ff010000ffff0300504b0304140006000800000021000dd1909fb60000001b010000270000007468656d652f7468656d652f5f72656c732f 7468656d654d616e616765722e786d6c2e72656c73848f4d0ac2301484f78277086f6fd3ba109126dd88d0add40384e4350d363f2451eced0dae2c082e8761be 9969bb979dc9136332de3168aa1a083ae995719ac16db8ec8e4052164e89d93b64b060828e6f37ed1567914b284d262452282e3198720e274a939cd08a54f980 ae38a38f56e422a3a641c8bbd048f7757da0f19b017cc524bd62107bd5001996509affb3fd381a89672f1f165dfe514173d9850528a2c6cce0239baa4c04ca5b babac4df000000ffff0300504b01022d0014000600080000002100e9de0fbfff0000001c0200001300000000000000000000000000000000005b436f6e74656e 745f54797065735d2e786d6c504b01022d0014000600080000002100a5d6a7e7c0000000360100000b00000000000000000000000000300100005f72656c732f 2e72656c73504b01022d00140006000800000021006b799616830000008a0000001c00000000000000000000000000190200007468656d652f7468656d652f74 68656d654d616e616765722e786d6c504b01022d0014000600080000002100aa5225dfc60600008b1a00001600000000000000000000000000d6020000746865 6d652f7468656d652f7468656d65312e786d6c504b01022d00140006000800000021000dd1909fb60000001b0100002700000000000000000000000000d00900007468656d652f7468656d652f5f72656c732f7468656d654d616e616765722e786d6c2e72656c73504b050600000000050005005d010000cb0a00000000} {\*\colorschememapping 3c3f786d6c2076657273696f6e3d22312e302220656e636f64696e673d225554462d3822207374616e64616c6f6e653d22796573223f3e0d0a3c613a636c724d 617020786d6c6e733a613d22687474703a2f2f736368656d61732e6f70656e786d6c666f726d6174732e6f72672f64726177696e676d6c2f323030362f6d6169 6e22206267313d226c743122207478313d22646b3122206267323d226c743222207478323d22646b322220616363656e74313d22616363656e74312220616363 656e74323d22616363656e74322220616363656e74333d22616363656e74332220616363656e74343d22616363656e74342220616363656e74353d22616363656e74352220616363656e74363d22616363656e74362220686c696e6b3d22686c696e6b2220666f6c486c696e6b3d22666f6c486c696e6b222f3e} {\*\latentstyles\lsdstimax371\lsdlockeddef0\lsdsemihiddendef0\lsdunhideuseddef0\lsdqformatdef0\lsdprioritydef99{\lsdlockedexcept \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority0 \lsdlocked0 Normal;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 1; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 4; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 5;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 6;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 7; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 8;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority9 \lsdlocked0 heading 9;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 1; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 5; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 6;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 7;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 8;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index 9; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 3; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 5;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 6; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 7;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 8;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 toc 9;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Normal Indent; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 footnote text;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 annotation text;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 header;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 footer; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 index heading;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority35 \lsdlocked0 caption;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 table of figures; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 envelope address;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 envelope return;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 footnote reference;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 annotation reference; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 line number;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 page number;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 endnote reference;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 endnote text; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 table of authorities;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 macro;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 toa heading;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Bullet;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Number;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List 3; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List 5;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Bullet 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Bullet 3; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Bullet 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Bullet 5;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Number 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Number 3; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Number 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Number 5;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority10 \lsdlocked0 Title;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Closing; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Signature;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority1 \lsdlocked0 Default Paragraph Font;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Body Text;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Body Text Indent; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Continue;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Continue 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Continue 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Continue 4; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 List Continue 5;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Message Header;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority11 \lsdlocked0 Subtitle;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Salutation; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Date;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Body Text First Indent;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Body Text First Indent 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Note Heading; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Body Text 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Body Text 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Body Text Indent 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Body Text Indent 3; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Block Text;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Hyperlink;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 FollowedHyperlink;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority22 \lsdlocked0 Strong; \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority20 \lsdlocked0 Emphasis;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Document Map;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Plain Text;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 E-mail Signature; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Top of Form;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Bottom of Form;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Normal (Web);\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Acronym; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Address;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Cite;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Code;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Definition; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Keyboard;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Preformatted;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Sample;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Typewriter; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 HTML Variable;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Normal Table;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 annotation subject;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 No List; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Outline List 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Outline List 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Outline List 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Simple 1; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Simple 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Simple 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Classic 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Classic 2; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Classic 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Classic 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Colorful 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Colorful 2; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Colorful 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Columns 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Columns 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Columns 3; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Columns 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Columns 5;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid 2; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid 5;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid 6; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid 7;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid 8;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table List 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table List 2; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table List 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table List 4;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table List 5;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table List 6; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table List 7;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table List 8;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table 3D effects 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table 3D effects 2; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table 3D effects 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Contemporary;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Elegant;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Professional; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Subtle 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Subtle 2;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Web 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Web 2; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Web 3;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Balloon Text;\lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 Table Grid;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdlocked0 Table Theme;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdlocked0 Placeholder Text; \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority1 \lsdlocked0 No Spacing;\lsdpriority60 \lsdlocked0 Light Shading;\lsdpriority61 \lsdlocked0 Light List;\lsdpriority62 \lsdlocked0 Light Grid;\lsdpriority63 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 1;\lsdpriority64 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 2; \lsdpriority65 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 1;\lsdpriority66 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 2;\lsdpriority67 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 1;\lsdpriority68 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 2;\lsdpriority69 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 3;\lsdpriority70 \lsdlocked0 Dark List; \lsdpriority71 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Shading;\lsdpriority72 \lsdlocked0 Colorful List;\lsdpriority73 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Grid;\lsdpriority60 \lsdlocked0 Light Shading Accent 1;\lsdpriority61 \lsdlocked0 Light List Accent 1; \lsdpriority62 \lsdlocked0 Light Grid Accent 1;\lsdpriority63 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 1 Accent 1;\lsdpriority64 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 2 Accent 1;\lsdpriority65 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 1 Accent 1;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdlocked0 Revision; \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority34 \lsdlocked0 List Paragraph;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority29 \lsdlocked0 Quote;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority30 \lsdlocked0 Intense Quote;\lsdpriority66 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 2 Accent 1;\lsdpriority67 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 1 Accent 1; \lsdpriority68 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 2 Accent 1;\lsdpriority69 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 3 Accent 1;\lsdpriority70 \lsdlocked0 Dark List Accent 1;\lsdpriority71 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Shading Accent 1;\lsdpriority72 \lsdlocked0 Colorful List Accent 1; \lsdpriority73 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Grid Accent 1;\lsdpriority60 \lsdlocked0 Light Shading Accent 2;\lsdpriority61 \lsdlocked0 Light List Accent 2;\lsdpriority62 \lsdlocked0 Light Grid Accent 2;\lsdpriority63 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 1 Accent 2; \lsdpriority64 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 2 Accent 2;\lsdpriority65 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 1 Accent 2;\lsdpriority66 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 2 Accent 2;\lsdpriority67 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 1 Accent 2;\lsdpriority68 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 2 Accent 2; \lsdpriority69 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 3 Accent 2;\lsdpriority70 \lsdlocked0 Dark List Accent 2;\lsdpriority71 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Shading Accent 2;\lsdpriority72 \lsdlocked0 Colorful List Accent 2;\lsdpriority73 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Grid Accent 2; \lsdpriority60 \lsdlocked0 Light Shading Accent 3;\lsdpriority61 \lsdlocked0 Light List Accent 3;\lsdpriority62 \lsdlocked0 Light Grid Accent 3;\lsdpriority63 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 1 Accent 3;\lsdpriority64 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 2 Accent 3; \lsdpriority65 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 1 Accent 3;\lsdpriority66 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 2 Accent 3;\lsdpriority67 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 1 Accent 3;\lsdpriority68 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 2 Accent 3;\lsdpriority69 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 3 Accent 3; \lsdpriority70 \lsdlocked0 Dark List Accent 3;\lsdpriority71 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Shading Accent 3;\lsdpriority72 \lsdlocked0 Colorful List Accent 3;\lsdpriority73 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Grid Accent 3;\lsdpriority60 \lsdlocked0 Light Shading Accent 4; \lsdpriority61 \lsdlocked0 Light List Accent 4;\lsdpriority62 \lsdlocked0 Light Grid Accent 4;\lsdpriority63 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 1 Accent 4;\lsdpriority64 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 2 Accent 4;\lsdpriority65 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 1 Accent 4; \lsdpriority66 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 2 Accent 4;\lsdpriority67 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 1 Accent 4;\lsdpriority68 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 2 Accent 4;\lsdpriority69 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 3 Accent 4;\lsdpriority70 \lsdlocked0 Dark List Accent 4; \lsdpriority71 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Shading Accent 4;\lsdpriority72 \lsdlocked0 Colorful List Accent 4;\lsdpriority73 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Grid Accent 4;\lsdpriority60 \lsdlocked0 Light Shading Accent 5;\lsdpriority61 \lsdlocked0 Light List Accent 5; \lsdpriority62 \lsdlocked0 Light Grid Accent 5;\lsdpriority63 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 1 Accent 5;\lsdpriority64 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 2 Accent 5;\lsdpriority65 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 1 Accent 5;\lsdpriority66 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 2 Accent 5; \lsdpriority67 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 1 Accent 5;\lsdpriority68 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 2 Accent 5;\lsdpriority69 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 3 Accent 5;\lsdpriority70 \lsdlocked0 Dark List Accent 5;\lsdpriority71 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Shading Accent 5; \lsdpriority72 \lsdlocked0 Colorful List Accent 5;\lsdpriority73 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Grid Accent 5;\lsdpriority60 \lsdlocked0 Light Shading Accent 6;\lsdpriority61 \lsdlocked0 Light List Accent 6;\lsdpriority62 \lsdlocked0 Light Grid Accent 6; \lsdpriority63 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 1 Accent 6;\lsdpriority64 \lsdlocked0 Medium Shading 2 Accent 6;\lsdpriority65 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 1 Accent 6;\lsdpriority66 \lsdlocked0 Medium List 2 Accent 6; \lsdpriority67 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 1 Accent 6;\lsdpriority68 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 2 Accent 6;\lsdpriority69 \lsdlocked0 Medium Grid 3 Accent 6;\lsdpriority70 \lsdlocked0 Dark List Accent 6;\lsdpriority71 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Shading Accent 6; \lsdpriority72 \lsdlocked0 Colorful List Accent 6;\lsdpriority73 \lsdlocked0 Colorful Grid Accent 6;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority19 \lsdlocked0 Subtle Emphasis;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority21 \lsdlocked0 Intense Emphasis; \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority31 \lsdlocked0 Subtle Reference;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority32 \lsdlocked0 Intense Reference;\lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority33 \lsdlocked0 Book Title;\lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdpriority37 \lsdlocked0 Bibliography; \lsdsemihidden1 \lsdunhideused1 \lsdqformat1 \lsdpriority39 \lsdlocked0 TOC Heading;\lsdpriority41 \lsdlocked0 Plain Table 1;\lsdpriority42 \lsdlocked0 Plain Table 2;\lsdpriority43 \lsdlocked0 Plain Table 3;\lsdpriority44 \lsdlocked0 Plain Table 4; \lsdpriority45 \lsdlocked0 Plain Table 5;\lsdpriority40 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table Light;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 1 Light;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 2;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 3;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 4; \lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 5 Dark;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 6 Colorful;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 7 Colorful;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 2 Accent 1; \lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 3 Accent 1;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 4 Accent 1;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1; \lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 2 Accent 2;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 3 Accent 2; \lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 4 Accent 2;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2; \lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 2 Accent 3;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 3 Accent 3;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 4 Accent 3; \lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4; \lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 2 Accent 4;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 3 Accent 4;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 4 Accent 4;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4; \lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 2 Accent 5; \lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 3 Accent 5;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 4 Accent 5;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5; \lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 2 Accent 6;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 3 Accent 6; \lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 4 Accent 6;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6; \lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 List Table 1 Light;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 List Table 2;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 List Table 3;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 List Table 4;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 List Table 5 Dark; \lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 List Table 6 Colorful;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 List Table 7 Colorful;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 List Table 1 Light Accent 1;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 List Table 2 Accent 1;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 List Table 3 Accent 1; \lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 List Table 4 Accent 1;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 List Table 5 Dark Accent 1;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1; \lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 List Table 1 Light Accent 2;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 List Table 2 Accent 2;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 List Table 3 Accent 2;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 List Table 4 Accent 2; \lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 List Table 5 Dark Accent 2;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 List Table 1 Light Accent 3; \lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 List Table 2 Accent 3;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 List Table 3 Accent 3;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 List Table 4 Accent 3;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 List Table 5 Dark Accent 3; \lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 List Table 1 Light Accent 4;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 List Table 2 Accent 4; \lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 List Table 3 Accent 4;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 List Table 4 Accent 4;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 List Table 5 Dark Accent 4;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4; \lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4;\lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 List Table 1 Light Accent 5;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 List Table 2 Accent 5;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 List Table 3 Accent 5; \lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 List Table 4 Accent 5;\lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 List Table 5 Dark Accent 5;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5; \lsdpriority46 \lsdlocked0 List Table 1 Light Accent 6;\lsdpriority47 \lsdlocked0 List Table 2 Accent 6;\lsdpriority48 \lsdlocked0 List Table 3 Accent 6;\lsdpriority49 \lsdlocked0 List Table 4 Accent 6; \lsdpriority50 \lsdlocked0 List Table 5 Dark Accent 6;\lsdpriority51 \lsdlocked0 List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6;\lsdpriority52 \lsdlocked0 List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6;}}{\*\datastore 010500000200000018000000 4d73786d6c322e534158584d4c5265616465722e362e3000000000000000000000060000 d0cf11e0a1b11ae1000000000000000000000000000000003e000300feff090006000000000000000000000001000000010000000000000000100000feffffff00000000feffffff0000000000000000ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff fffffffffffffffffdfffffffeffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff52006f006f007400200045006e00740072007900000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000016000500ffffffffffffffffffffffff0c6ad98892f1d411a65f0040963251e50000000000000000000000005026 e35b6834cf01feffffff00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000ffffffffffffffffffffffff00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000ffffffffffffffffffffffff0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000ffffffffffffffffffffffff000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000105000000000000}}