He screamed. “WHY?!” He managed. “How long have you worked for Lord Ternias?” I asked. His scream waned, and I waited for him to catch his bre...th. Across the room, the naked man spat blood, his nose broken, his youthful body dangling in the plated arms of two guards. Finally, Glendian found his voice. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I turned to Elena, who stood slack jawed in the threshold. “Did you know?”“You think I know anything?!” She demanded. “Hmm, almost, Dear. Next time put. Luisa stood with him, and he reflected over the events of the past two days.The Geneva Naval Service had ceased to exist. Every warship had been destroyed, with the loss of most of their crews. Barely a hundred survivors had been rescued by the Crippen’s shuttles, who’d come boldly into the battle area. If a single Terran warship had transited, they would have been helpless targets.The Terran corvette and one of its escorting scouts had survived the encounter with the remaining Genevan scouts,. I slowed when we walked past what had been the master's cottage. Helen whispered and suddenly magic swirled and wild flowers grew up and out of the ash until it was covered and hidden.I squeezed her hand before we started walking again. At the next town I bought bread and cheese and blankets. It was beginning to get dark when we stopped in an orchard. I spread the blankets under a large apple tree and undressed. Helen grinned as she pulled her robe off. I smiled and pulled her to the side where. I had her sit and do meditation. Seeing that was not working, I knelt behind her to massage her shoulders. She slowly relaxed as I soothed the tension in her. I, on the other hand, felt my excitement mount. “Forget your opponents for now. Visualize yourself, your moves, and your reactions. Don’t think win or lose. Think of the dance; make them submit to your tempo,” I told her. She calmed down then turned and smiled at me, “Thank you, sensei, I will.” My heart rose to my throat at her smile. I.