My hair had been braided into many dozen thin strands, each sparkling with tiny threaded gems.The meal was at a restaurant but we might as well have b...en eating alone. It was on the top floor of the tallest building in Londrail, a fifteen story commercial building. It might not have been much by Manhattan standards but here there was nothing else close to the same height — the only building of similar scale in the entire city was the Palace, with its ornimental towers rather than anything. Would you mind if weasked you a couple of questions that have something to do with Mary'sresearch?" Well now that sounds more social. Patrick, go get the pitcher oflemonade out of the fridge and some glasses. Go on boy it's not likeshe's going to disappear. We'll just sit and get to know each other,woman to woman, so to speak." She smiled as she waved Pat to the frontdoor."Miss McLaughlin, I hate being formal except at council meetings may Icall you Mary Sue or Mary?" she said bluntly."Yes. ..its the weekend and theres no school on monday." "Sure sweetie, you can do whatever you want to, but...just leave him plugged for a while....I sort of made a deposit in there...if you know what I mean" "Just say it Daddy...you fucked him!!" I just stared at her and felt the pride inside me. She was just like her mother....and I was glad we kept no secrets between us. On the padded table...was number 3306......I never knew his name, the number was his auction ID, and that was all. ‘Ye two, go get the men from my birlinn and bring them intae the keep.’ MacRae ordered two men at the door. They bowed and left quickly to follow the order given. James put his hand on Malcolm’s shoulder and led him to the fire. He stood warming himself and looked at Malcolm, a look of sorrow sweeping over him and a loss of his ability to command being evident. ‘Malcolm, I know this is hard on ye tae deal wi’, but I ha’e talk tae ye. Get a hold of yerself, man and listen tae what I ha’e tae.