" The words of the auburn haired woman echoed through her mind as a new and horrifying sight entered Asiara's vision. Her camp was burning.Breaking in...o a run, she did her best to make sense of what was happening, even though at her current distance she could see very little. Many of the tents were ablaze, and, even from afar, she could hear shouts and the clamor of battle.As she drew nearer, she could see that the camp was under attack. The Maurial army was upon them!Pushing thoughts of. She told me that one of her friends from Virginia was coming into town and she wanted to spend some time with her. I could not deny her request. She had worked hard, and she deserved a day off. So I granted her request and was rewarded with a smile. I did not realize how much I had gotten used to having Beth around the office. Nothing went right. Luckily it was Friday, and there was nothing pending. First off, the copier ate a report that I had prepared for a meeting the following week. Then I. " British?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow."Of course, of course. His uncle's in the House of Lords." My, my," I said, trying to look impressed. "Is this his career, the army?" Perhaps." She tasted a small cake. "He had several children from his first marriage, two boys in the army now. One's out in India." Think of that," I said as our legs touched, accidentally perhaps, my knee between hers."In fact, I've not had time to meet many people, he's been so busy."I slid my hand up her stockinged thigh. He wasn't sure if it was because he knew he couldn't get himself drunk enough to do what he had to do, or because he was afraid that if he was drunk enough he would be able to say the words and give Alicia over to the keeper of the dead. Alicia also was not drinking tonight, probably because, as hostess, she needed to keep her mind clear to supervise the party.Midnight was fast approaching. Estevan and Alicia were the only two people there who were not seriously drunk and disheveled. They.