’ ‘I’m not a thief,’ said Lei, and took another step back. ‘Whatever you are, I’m willing to trade for your perfect thread,’ said Robba....‘You’d trade with someone you think a thief?’ said Lei, narrowing her eyes at such dishonest behaviour. Intellectual property of Nanna Marker. ‘I’ll give you a twentieth of the value,’ said the man, finally taking his eyes of the thread. ‘That amounts to half the finder’s fee I’ll receive for it.’ ‘A twentieth of the value,’ Lei was appalled. ‘If you will let. I was in full consciousness now, almost. I realized, I was collared. It was a leather collar around my neck, restricting my movement. It was attached to a dog leash, tied to a door. My mouth was aching, and it was getting difficult to breath. This was because, something was stuffed in my mouth. I tried to throw it out but couldn't do it. Hovering my hand over my mouth, I noticed, it was covered with tape. My mouth was sealed with some kind of cloth or fabric, shoved inside my mouth. I was. " We don't have that much time," Jon explained. "We flew in on a charter flight, and they charge while they're on the ground as well as when they're in the air. Besides, Tanisha and I have to be in Phoenix for another meeting this afternoon." Phoenix? This afternoon?" Kwame raised his eyebrows. "That's a long way away." The time difference makes it a little easier, and besides, we're in a Learjet," Jon explained offhandedly."A Learjet?" Kwame asked, clearly impressed for the first time."Well,. The word of the event, and the circumstance of the Elf's appearance into their isolated world had spread through the undersea city like wildfire, and the populace had lined the shore of the underground grotto. The Court was held out of doors, on the island where the King's domicile and offices were, but in plain view of the entire population hundreds of yards away on the shore of the sea-lake.A brief proclamation was read, the court-mage acting to amplify the words of the Herald and carry them.