It was nearlyhidden behind Charlie's mop of curly black hair. "Huh, it does look a bitmystical."Henry shook his head in disbelief, "It looks a bit gi...ly. God, Charlie,aren't you gullible."Well, come on now, Charlie's always been a little effete, don't youremember? Always interested in astrology and all that kind of thing."Charlie flushed a little red and took a sip of his beer, careful not todrip any down the front of his designer cashmere cardigan. Manicurednails tapped on the glass. “Yes, yes. That is my name! And ... and you are Mint, my little sister!”“By the gods, thank you, David,” Mint spoke to me, tears in her eyes as several of the gang came in to see what the fuss was and to look in amazement at Tinoq, whom they all plainly recognised.“My privilege and honour,” I nodded.“And now we get Cass here into the recruitment centre with no one knowing she was there, as we agreed.”“Thank you, Mint.”“No need for thanks. I reckon I personally still owe you big time.”Mint was. Our next plane is almost boarding."Aunt Sabrine was thanking the stewardess when Anika dragged me over to them. "We thought she might have gotten lost," my aunt was saying."Oh, no. I think one of my girls promised to take her on to the next plane and forgot about her. She's a good kid. She was waiting by her seat patiently. Have a nice flight. Bye, dear!" The stewardess waved to me, heading in the opposite direction as we were walking.Aunt Sabrine hugged me. "I am glad your dad let you come,. He was not the first Tarran King to do so, but, he might very well be the last. His trusted friend and general of his armies dead, on a faraway battlefield, at the hands of their enemies; his betrothed missing for more than a week and presumed dead; and worse, his advisors counseling him to stop all hostilities and negotiate the withdrawal, and ultimately the surrender, of his armies. He thought back and tried to see where his advisors had failed him, never thinking for a moment that it was he.