“Aren’t you taking this a little far?” I asked, talking as low as I could. Secrecy apparently wasn’t an issue with her, as she didn’t attemp... to hide her voice at all.“Nah, I gotta make sure no one goes after my big brother.” She said, snuggling against my shoulder. I sighed, looking around the room; we were in the back, out of sight of practically everyone, which was probably a good thing in this case. Shortly after this, the teacher came in and took attendance, gave us the “welcome back”. "Why didn't you tell me about your daughters on the phone?" Bill asked.Linda looked down and blushed before hesitantly answering. "I was afraid you wouldn't hire me, or wouldn't even give me a chance." Well, I advertised for a house keeper and cook in return for pay with room and board. I was only planning on feeding one mouth," Bill said gruffly."We don't eat much." Susan said, in a quiet but defiant little voice.Bill glanced at the girls and saw their big eyes as they gazed at this big, rough. Talon went to one knee ceremonially and held out his empty hands in the traditional greeting of peace when entering a neighbouring city. ‘Be welcome children of the Phoenix,’ Intoned an elder woman in green. ‘We bring greeting from the Great Lord Zhou and our clan leaders,’ Talon said formally handing over a scroll and stepping back to his place at the forefront of the thirteen. The woman briefly scanned the scroll and looked up. ‘We thank you for heeding our summons and give you a short time. Feel like I could sleep a week.’ Turning to open the door, Maya squealed in pain, clutching her arm. ‘You okay?’ Andrew asked. ‘Yeah. No. Shit! I haven’t worked that hard in years. My whole body feels like… like… I have broken glass in my veins instead of blood.’ Andrew cringed. He DID have an active imagination, after all. ‘Let’s get you upstairs and to that ibuprofen.’ Once inside, Maya shrugged off her coat and the sweatshirt over it. For a brief second or two, the shirt underneath pulled.