"Aphrodite blushed with a tinge of anger a moment. "I had a visitor earlier, our father's wife." Athena's eyes narrowed as she searched her sister for...anything or one controlling her."Hera!" Athena hissed. "What did that pathetic bitch want?" Aphrodite nodded, though she had backed away a bit at Athena's venom."She proposed an end to the hostilities between all of us." Aphrodite told her sister.A smirk crossed Athena's face as she stared at her sister. "Oh, this should be rich. Again, all I can. With each strand he drew it tightly, until it lay closely within the substance of the stone blocks."Enough, do you think?" McAllister asked the stick.McAllister sensed approval from the talisman for what he did, but it seemed uncertain if the extent were enough."Well, then, go slowly," McAllister told it, silently.Time slowed for McAllister, as his stick began working a contest of wills. His perception returned to normal, though the room dimmed, and the familiar sense of cold permeating. Marie brought over coffee and cognac for the four of them. Marcel looked at Cindy with respect in his eyes. He said, "Madame, if you were to open a restaurant nearby, I would close up immediately. You're the finest chef I have ever encountered. How long have you and monsieur been married?"Cindy smiled and said, "We're not. I'm Dan's mistress. Besides, I know almost nothing about cooking. Actually, I'm a banker."Both of the Legrands' jaws dropped at her announcement. "A ... banker? You mean, you. You know the drill blackout of our location. A few small rockets for helicopters, and swift boats. Some heavy weapons for pirate protection.I’m sure the two of you know what we need better than I do. Please keep the mission on the down low. We don’t want anyone knowing about it, or about the preparations for it. Make the boat as small and inconspicuous as possible and still do the job,” was my demand.“We will find something. Give us a week,” Shepard said.“No, you have till Monday. That gives.