He looked older but it didn't matter, this was my court, thegame was over quickly 11 to 5. “damn girl you're good” he stated. “ How about anothe... game,say double or nothing?” he said, smiling at me. Soon I was up 100 dollars. I was unstoppable,after each game he would just smile and tell me nice game, but after a few more games hestopped and looked at me and said “Ok Mandy let's play one more, but let's make thisinteresting” as he pulled out 500 dollars, making my eyes light up. I knew he was. I’ve seen how you and Ilse interact. I’ll admit that I had my concerns on Christmas Eve, because everything seemed to be going very fast, but your relationship with her is a special one, one that I rarely saw in my lifetime.“I no longer have any concerns about you two. I know in my heart that you two will be fine. With your cousin, it was clear as daylight that things would end wrong, but not with you. You amaze me, Tom, you really do. I can see that you’ve done things I’ve never seen any of my. ”She had a guilty look of embarrassment on her face, and she looked down at the floor without comment.I went on; “Jess I still have very strong feelings for you, but I will not be accused of something and then not allowed a chance to refute the charges, even a murderer on trial gets that opportunity. Please just leave, I have a major headache.”Jess and her Mom turned around, Jess with tears in her eyes and they left.I just laid my head back on the pillow. Mom came in and looked at me with fire. He could only mount one hundred and fifty, fifty of those archers, but archers with an added surprise he hoped. In addition to that he had mustered around three hundred foot and had thought up some other tactics that he hoped might come in useful.He made one last, quick, tour of the building work at the various defensive sites and of his shipyard before giving last minute instructions for his guards to ensure his family was kept safe at all costs. He and Gabrain bid an emotional farewell to.