" Marluxion stood up, "I also will be with you." Marti'en nodded "just do not interfere." Trink stood up also "you can't leave me behind, I wanna get ...y say so in too yea know." - Phoebe was flung off the bed, she turned snarling as she saw the two dragons, the elf and the old one, her two minions cowered on the bed, afraid to move. "You have caused enough damage in this life, Phoebe, I am here to finish it." said Marti'en calmly. Phoebe sneered at the old woman, "your old, your tired, you days. He’ll remember that.”“So now what?”“He has a longer reach. Stay right at that distance. When he moves to throw his probing strike, step in and jab him quickly in the sternum. That will put you up a point and he’ll have to attack. He won’t expect YOU to attack immediately, which is what you will do.”“But...”“You’re showing him you’re defending with that first move, so when you immediately attack, it will surprise him and you’ll score. You’ll be up 2-0. Then you just wait for him to make his. ‘Well it looks like I’ll be staying for awhile. I guess I’ll just have to make myself a nuisance as far as Virginia is concerned.’ ‘Sir, she’s given me an out-building on the farm. It’s where Lizzy and I are going to live after we’re married, but it’s currently too small for the two of us. You could live there and help me expand it while the ship is in for repairs. That way you’ll always be close to her and bound to see her often.’ ‘Will she allow that? It is her farm.’ ‘But that house is mine.. " No! Prepare to meet your doom."This was met not with a wail of terror but a snort of laughter. I was having trouble controlling myself from laughing too at this ridiculous pantomime.I gave her a light but noisy smack on her right buttock.She shrieked, but quite quietly.I repeated on her left buttock."Mercy!" she cried."Quiet!"Another noisy but slightly harder smack to her right cheek.A grunt.Same to the left.Another grunt.Two more of the same to each cheek.Utter silence but the hint of a.