The sea roared in his ears, and he shivered at the touch of the clammy air as he stepped onto the beach. He could barely see anything until a flickeri...g torch appeared at the far north end, mounted against an outcropping of rock which rose and became a high ridge beyond the end of the beach.He followed the light until he came to a tiny pier, a weatherbeaten old schooner anchored beside it. Several men sat around a fading campfire outside of a crumbling shack. As Mandas approached, one of the. Kelly took a sip of her coffee and sighed."This is just about the only thing I miss about being married to you," Kelly said. "Mike fixes the best cup of coffee I've ever tasted. No, that's not right. Mike's Dad fixed the best cup of coffee I've ever tasted. Mike is a close second, though." Mom, do you want to see my room?" Kasey asked."Do you mind, Mike?" Kelly asked."You put away the whips and chains didn't you, Kasey?" I asked. "Oh wait, I was beating Mark with those this evening so they're. ” Sophia fanned her face. “Mother, my sister, and I stayed a month in the Saltspray Palace as guests of the Doge. We had such lovely apartments. The sea breeze kept them cool.” Sophia sighed. “Faoril, you command the elements, conjure a breeze and keep us cool.”“And drain poor Thrak and Chaun dry?” Faoril laughed. “It would be fun, but we’ll need my magic ready to be used if Incessae shows up.”“Yes, yes.” Sophia shook her head.“Did you see the vault?” Angela asked.“I did. The Doge’s very. "You guys aren't starting without us, are you?" Kylie calls down the hallway. We break the kiss and I look Kristina in the eyes. "I'm going to do everything I can to make this very special for you," I promise her. "I believe you," she says, smiling demurely and standing up. "Kristina," I stand next to her and put my hands on her shoulders. "I'm not looking for a new girlfriend. I don't want you to get the wrong idea and get hurt." I was hoping you wouldn't get the wrong idea and get hurt,.