She … she didn’t answer when I’ve called.’ ‘She’s not answering mine or her mother’s either. Okay. Let me make some calls. But … keep ...our head up, okay? You’re a good guy.’ Great. The guy who’d been so intimidating when Valerie introduced them two years ago was now telling him there were other fish in the sea. That can’t be good. The good news, if the word ‘good’ applied here, was that Valerie’s dad was retired from the Highway Patrol, so if he really did ‘make some calls’, Valerie would be. Heraised the flask, as if to drink from it, and then, very quickly, splashedsome of the wine on each of the evil fairies.They screamed with fright and pain and tried to run for the door, but he blockedtheir way. He forced them into one of the corners and then tossed the restof the wine on them. More screams; then they were still. Carefully, he lookedthem over. They weren't dead--just unconscious. He got out some of the betterrope he'd found and tied their wrists behind them. Then he punctured. Following base protocol, Jorie concentrated on switching the FAD to autopilot, interrupting the conversation. They flew the rest of the way home in silence, listening to the raspy snores from the back seat.A soft knock on Jorie's door later that evening brought him to his feet. No one had come to his door in weeks and he was startled."It's open," he called out as he started picking up the datasheets that he had knocked off of his lap by accident.The door opened and Kita slipped in, immediately. With the special connection we shared I was somewhat able to sense the pain she was in. We hadn’t discussed the connection we had, nor had I talked to Bellcauniel about the ability to use magic without the Old Language. Most of the women had that ability, but it was usually in such a low level and low range that it wasn’t much used. Since Caladwen’s scans back in my old home I hadn’t really felt it. Of course, that could also mean that these sneaky Elves were just able to use it so carefully.