The attrition, devastation and casualty count of a single battle was truly appalling. Thousands would die in each minute. As often as not a captured s...ip was so damaged that it was no longer capable of continuing to travel across the vast distances of empty space. In fact, frequently the victors of such a battle would face not the slaughter and torture they’d already administered on the wretched survivors of the enemy vessel, but a long slow death as the life-support systems broke down. There. I signed all his papers and was thanked for being so courteous to his team. We shook hands with me telling him that he was welcome to stop back anytime.I asked Sally if she wanted to take a ride with me to check on Pete's progress with the fence. She said yes, so I told her to tell Myrna where we were going and that we would be back shortly. When we got outside, Tiny was just pulling into the driveway. He parked and climbed in the back seat of our truck. I took the long way around, because we. “When do we enter?”“Once we’re announced, husband.” Relix slipped her arm through the crook of his arm and nestled close to him. He drew himself up and pressed against her and Relix found another thing to appreciate: He was warm. Humans were delightfully exothermic! Who knew? Well, humans must have, but who cared what they thought? They were mage-blind.“Announcing the glorious Princess Relix Castrovel of the Third Talon of the Spinward Front of the Chromatic Arm of the Galaxy, Mistress of Fifty. ”“You’re seeing a sales candidate this morning, right?”“Yes. Someone who works with Wen at SPSS. I can’t imagine I’ll veto someone that Wen recommends, but you never know.”“I wasn’t aware you were still in touch with her.”“Occasionally. She’s married now, and we talk maybe once every three to four months. But it’s never more than just a quick conversation about how things are going at work.”“Whatever happened to Anna Wilson?”“Gerry couldn’t handle her being friends with an ex-boyfriend, and was.