"I want to talk with you a little later," Sam told me. I figured it had to be about Ellen."Any time, Sam. We're just out visiting. If we're not at our...wagon, just come find us."Sam nodded and said he'd better get back and help Becky tar their wagon."So, how are you doing, Ab?" I asked."I'm doing okay. I'm going to disappear and have me some private time in a little bit. How are you doing, Mrs. Calvin?" Please don't call me that, Mr. Smith. I'm Lettie Tackett now. You can call me Lettie.". ”“So, then when I’m giving back during the ritual, I’m really giving it back?” I asked.“Yes,” she said. “It’s something about the act of taking all their power and then giving it back that forges the bond.” She waved at me. “You figured out how to do it, but as everyone has said, it’s only the most experienced Magi who understand the ritual.”I nodded and didn’t feel quite so cocky about having figured out the spell. “Any idea who they’ll get to replace Lord Fanelli?” I asked.She shrugged. “Each. If you wish to abstain then your vote is no, so move to the left, please. Vote,” she concluded.Darcy watched with interest. This was more like what he had hoped would happen at the mountain. It was those in Dog form that intrigued him. It was damn near unanimous as far as they were concerned. He guessed that Shelly had hit something in them when she mentioned Speeder’s frustration.The women were more evenly split. He noticed a lot of the older people and Dogs went to the left. He also. I gave her my business card as I left.Sure enough, the next day, an email arrived in my inbox. 'Nice to meet you last night'. We then swapped private numbers and began texting which culminated in her asking what I was doing that evening. I should pick her up after work she suggested. Absolutely, I said.I parked outside her work and waited for her to arrive, thoughts running round my mind about whether this girl was as hot as I'd recalled. I got my answer moments later when she appeared from her.