We stood up and we kissed and hugged. Nora’s eyes had filled with tears of joy. My heart was singing. Cal told me the good news and I threw myself ...t him nearly knocking him over I was so excited. I kissed him deeply and with tears in my eyes. I told him he could move in with me while we looked for a bigger place. My apartment was a little one bedroom studio. I went back to my hotel to pack up my things to move in with Nora. This was to be the start of a new life for both of us and it all. As I strokedher hair she could feel the softness of the material and, since it was new,the distinctive aroma would fill her nostrils. Slowly her body started to relaxand the trembling stopped. I reached in my bag and pulled out the leather helmet. She was already gaggedand blindfolded but that was not sufficient for me. I fitted her chin in thelower part and then pulled and stretched it up over her head making sure thetwo metal rimmed holes were lined up under her nose. Moving around to. The cafe was beautiful with reddish stone walls, exposed wooden ceiling beams and antique-style tables. It was long and narrow and had a wine bar at the center with a few stools. The sunlight streamed through the large front windows.We were taken in to a table in a quiet corner. I pulled out her chair for her and sat across."Thank you," she said. "You are very polite." I was taught to treat a lady properly," I replied. "It's very important, you know."She smiled as the server approached and we. The site was cleared of everyone and the men were looking for weapons. All their caches of spears and dorlichis were still hidden and were shortly rounded up and stowed along side the bodies. Eight bows were found that hadn’t been broken during the massacre, giving them some distance in their ability to fight. A cache of targes was found, but all the swords and other blades were gone. They gathered what was left of the food, as well as skins of water, looking around one last time for anything.