To each their own, I guessed, but I would not want this wizard standing beside me in a conflict, that I knew. Still, I was an apprentice only, and it ...as not my place to look down on this wizard. I kept my opinions to myself."They tried to give us butchered meat," Labo complained when we were on the trail again."And it smelled funny," Kei added. "We refused it, saying we had eaten recently and were not hungry." Did it smell like spoiled meat, or something else?" I asked them."Something else,". Just remember that military men are strategists and heis probably planning on a way to get into your pants!" He'll fail mother. But maybe it'll be fun to let him try!" Just be a good girl honey. And remember you have no experience withboys, especially as a girl!"Turns out that Stan and I hit it off right away, and he drove the coolestcar. As a guy we had nothing in common, but as a girl I could see justhow attractive he is. We had a slice and drove around, then at home, heleaned in and kissed. I am not all that good really. Last night, just after we had made love and he had immediately sunk his way into sleep, I had not actually slumbered until about four this morning. Why, you might be imagining? I was still bothered about what he had mentioned the preceding night. That if we should have our first baby, they were going to snatch it away from us and cook and grill it alive while we watched. I am okay, Mason, I tell him a lie and hastily go into a faked-up mood of gladnesstrusting. And the battle between us sparked a civil war in my own body. I wanted what he wanted - there was no denying it. But I also knew it was wrong, and I knew I had to keep fighting."So, like I was saying," he continued in his maddeningly calm, deliberate voice. "I'm going to take my hand off your mouth, and you'll be able to holler if that's what you want to do. Mom and Dad could sleep through World War Three, but you screaming bloody murder might get them up in a few minutes. By the time .