The women were beside themselves with laughter. And they told of Chester's failures to achieve what he thought was the perfect chili and ranch beans. ...hen the laughter died down, the women headed back inside.The men sat there making small talk and John told me about the farm. It was, Chester said, five sections of land. Chester had discussed crop rotation and many other ideas to help make it more productive. John asked. "Do you know anything more about that than Chester does?" I was a warrior. The boys then announced a surprise, they were taking therest of the day off, and wanted us to come with them back to Mark'stownhouse. They promised dinner and a movie if we decided to go withthem. I was feeling slightly buzzed from the wine and both of us readilyagreed. We met them back at the townhouse, where they opened anotherbottle of wine and we all sat down to talk. Jeff complimented me on myoutfit and said he always loved it when a woman wore boots and a leatherskirt....it made her both. "Everyone I ask seems to give me conflicting information." A little," the soldier replied, moving his head and shoulders in a sort of half shrug, half nod. "And the only reason I know anything at all is that I was in the castle on guard duty during one of the assassination attempts. There I was, minding my own business, when this little bearded man pops out of nowhere right in front of me and tells me to follow him. Scared the crap out of me, he did."Daphne gasped in amazement. "What did you. It all seems so pointless. The weeks of planning, all for nothing. I don't even know why I bother to keep this record that none will profit by.October 1My dearest Jonathan arrived today, and while the circumstances saddened us both, I feel so much better knowing he is here. The sun also returned to brighten my room. I no longer hope for recovery. I cannot help but feel the end is close. Yet somehow, today that seems more a blessed relief than tragic end. My only wish is that I come to my end.