Thea and Sophia were making the rounds with a pot of tea and cups. Doc’s stomach rumbled and he broke breadWhen Andrew had completed a circle counte...-clockwise, he stopped in front of Doc and helped him to his feet.“Your staff,” the old man said, handing Doc the walking stick. Then he pulled Apollo up to his feet and embraced the boy. “It was very good. Go and travel safely.”Without a further word, Doc and Apollo shouldered their packs and left. Doc paused at the gate for a quizzical look at. An ornate table, the clawed feet scrolled and polished to a high sheen, dominated the room. A narrow velvet runner striped the flat tabletop, and the sturdy boards held up elegant, polished crystal. China plates of the finest quality held the markings of an feast - dabs of sauce, a neatly stripped chicken bone, a few crushed leaves of spinach. Flutes of champagne stood half full of pale liquid, but the drinks which held the attention of the two men sitting there were tumblers full of. I stopped her and returned her body to her temple last night."The lady needs protection from Steven because he kidnapped her from her home, and is pressuring her to marry him. If you know anything about him, you will understand why she is refusing to marry the evil bastard."Now in my position, what would you do?"I could see his ire increasing during my explanation. "I would do the same, my lord," he admitted."Good for you, lad. Now let us gather the horses and take your men back to Duke. He paid the money, inserted his hands into the slot, and the machine started to buzz and whirl. Fifteen seconds later he pulled out his hands and they were perfectly manicured.The next machine had a sign that read, "This machine provides a service men need when away from their wives, 50 cents."The salesman looked both ways, put fifty cents in the machine, unzipped his fly, and with some anticipation, stuck his manhood into the opening. When the machine started buzzing, the guy let out a shriek.