"Oh, I'm so happy to hear you wish that Stephie, and this time there won't be any more nasty wishes to get in the way!" *Stephie?* was Steve's last th...ught as the cloud of pink smoke that enveloped a disappearing Barbara enveloped him, too.--- Steve's thoughts were fuzzy - it seemed like every place there should have been a word of two syllables or more there was only a mental blank - but he knew what he felt; his bottom felt funny. Funny bad! She - *She?!?* - wanted to complain, but all that. The most important men in the village have profited greatly from the building of the wall; their support is a given. Some trouble makers may grumble secretly, but I have Gebhardt and his men, and a good eight or nine villagers, kin and friends, who are loyal. Lemdalen is secure for you, Lord." That is good tidings, Reeve. I wish ... Say, Brother, I am worried about my wife and my son. There is unrest in the town thanks to that infernal abbot who keeps preaching nonsense. When the Plague will. ”“There’s some aspect of that,” Xi continued, “but it’s a little more complicated. We’re still a ‘virgin species’, only exposed to the aids for a short time. The Tandorians experienced all the growth they can expect within a few centuries with them. Combined with their lack of initiative, they don’t stretch the limits of their abilities, even when necessary. Their aids became as complacent as they are, as they assume they can’t push them any farther than they have.”“Might some of it be age. I figured there was no sense in getting off of my knees and I waited to see if Jeremy or Parker would be next. It didn't take long before I felt a hand on my shoulder. There was Jeremy with a devilish smile on his face. His hand moved from my shoulder as he stepped in front me, his fingertips brushing my cheek and then lifting my chin up to look him in the eyes. I could tell Jeremy was going to be more "hands on" than Pete had been.I had been crushing on Jeremy a little bit since talking to him.