Janice and I had fucked each other's brains out the prior summer. Before she had some corrective procedure and conceived her own c***d. No, it was two...summers earlier. I couldn't just abandon my friend and head off to the funeral -- that would mean Dave and Ashley would have to leave too. House rules. I called mom to say I just couldn't make the funeral, to give excuses for me.This was before cell phones. Several hours after receiving the call about Janice, I routinely checked my answering. I think so.”“Can you read?”She nodded.“Bring me pen and paper.”She nodded, leaving the room in a hurry. Cat watched her leave with a frown on her face.Hanna returned a few minutes later with pen and paper. I addressed a short letter to Vasha.Go to Curia. Tell her you have the boy and that you know the boy’s worth. Tell her you’ll kill the boy if she doesn’t leave Braka. Tell her Yayim will murder me if she uses her magic on the floating city, or if she tries to search for another hour. Have no. I’ll trade it for three bronze and the small shield you had in the corner. It’s got to be worth that in materials alone.”“Fine, but only to get rid of you. You’re exhausting.”The deal was struck and Noah and Tin set off with a much lighter wagon. The axe Noah had gotten was a large one, perfect for chopping both trees and monsters. The shield he now wore on his arm was only around the size of a dinner plate, but that worked for him. It was strong enough to block a slash from a sword and it. At some point he would have to practise on face to face people, but for now he used what minds came freely in the stream around him.He heated up some leftover pizza for supper and watched a movie before heading to bed early. The mind reading practice, while not physical, was still draining. He was lucky that he had to activate reading a mind rather than thoughts coming to him uncontrolled. Brian fell asleep quickly, again dreaming of Heather and the kiss she gave him last week.Monday morning.