As she stood there watching Jon halfway towards the kitchen now, she tried to remember where she had placed her phone in case she needed to call for h...lp. The adrenaline rush was slowing down from being in the heat of the moment but watching Jon in protective mode walking across the living room made her smile momentarily when she caught sight of his bare behind. Jon’s voice snapped her back to reality.“Come on out, I see you there,” Jon stopped as he was halfway to the kitchen, just at the edge. I’d like to talk about this story, and I didn’t want to do it in front of that pervert bartender. I have a coffee pot, some coffee, and I might even have a cookie or two to munch on if you want.’ I didn’t relax, but I did agree to go with him. The place wasn’t a dump, but neither was it the epitome of wealth and sophistication. It was homey, lived it, and could have used the services of a maid. He apologized for the mess, kicked a footstool into position at an armchair, and headed into the. No ... Listener!” He was screeching at the end of this rant.I remained calm. “There is now. Darkness rises when silence dies.”“She ... she said that? She said those words ... to you? Darkness rises when silence dies? But those are the words. The Binding Words. Written in the Keeping Tomes! The signal so I would know. Mother’s only way of talking to sweet Cicero!He began doing a mad jig about the room. Then ... it is true! She is back! Our Lady is back! She has chosen a Listener! She has chosen. “Turn your men around, return home, and tell your Baron that you failed to bring the slave home. Your presence in Morilian territory could be considered an act of war. We now know that the fifty so-called bandits who attacked the first caravan were Bajasanian troops, as were the hundred men the Baron led into our territory to stop the next caravan. Yours is the third incursion by Bajasanian troops in a short time, quite disturbing considering the secret plans to attack Mokoko when the next wet.