I worked, at the time, nearly ninety miles away, and she knew that once gone to work, I was not likely to appear any time soon. What she did not plan ...or was that I would leave as though going to work, and hide out nearby, only to return well before expected. I found a place for breakfast and after an appropriate ninety-minute wait, called the house, ostensibly to ask some inane question, while in reality setting the stage for my unexpectedly early return. I told her I was at work; I bitched. "General Emerson reporting as ordered, Ma'am." Have a seat, General," Gabrielle stood to shake his hand. She noticed the three stars on his shoulders. He waited for her to sit first then sat down across in an erect manner. "Do you have family, General?" Yes, Madam President. A wife of twenty-eight years, two sons who are now done with their education, married, and serving as junior officers as we speak. I consider myself fortunate to have a wife and boys. Nothing could be better as far as. ”I looked at the elf anew in appreciation. “You’re crafty.” I looked back at Aedan. “We’d need to make a pyre, find a body to burn, and maybe fake Velanna having a fit and leaving. We could send her to Soldier’s Peak for now – I’m sure Avernus would be more than happy to meet someone else like me – and then send her on from there.”“To where, though? She can’t stay at the Keep; we’re all going to relocate there eventually.” Alistair rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. “Too many people. Once you said his lovemust wait its turnYou wanted fame insteadI guess that’s your concernWe live and learnAnd love is gone,ballerina, goneSo on with your career,you can’t afford abackward glanceDance on and on and onA thousand people herehave come to see the showAs ‘round and ‘round you goSo ballerina, danceDance, Dance DANCE!I knew John was right for this, as he hit that final note easily. Our audience and the remaining singers were quite impressed.“You were on the right track with what I saw.