"Andreas the Scholar am I styled, sir!" I told the mayor, who then lashedout at me with his whip, leaving a weal on my face."What's your real name, bo...?" he cried."Andreas Matneyev, sir!" I shouted.Lashing out at my right shoulder, the mayor ripped apart the cloth of mydress, revealing the bull's head brand of my clan, the Matneyevs.Countess Bathory took one look at the brand and gasped in horror."The Matneyev brand!" she cried. "The brand on the shoulder of the gypsywho lured my baby sister. She refused me my pleasures. I doubted her truth at times, but whenever I did, she would fetch a letter as proof saying, “Now will you believe me?” She refused to say where her home had been, and what her real name was. I used to try to make out the postmark on her letters, but could not. They were negligent in those days in such matters, and postage was dear.And now I again asked if she had had any other but her husband and me; by all that was holy she declared she had not. “How came you to. Doreen nudged me again. After the graduation, we mingled and took pictures with the other grads before heading back to my house for the grad party. Of course, Paige got her party. I would have never said no, but I let her ‘earn’ the party anyway. We had her family, friends, and their families over. Everyone was having a good time. 30 minutes after we started the party, Rory showed up. He aroused the interest of several of the girls but Lauren was on him instantly. She dragged him off by the. A display of wealth would be counterproductive.When Emily came out of her quarters, Jessica was waiting for her. “Aunty Emily, you are booked on a surface ship that leaves in approximately an hour and a half. If we leave now, you can catch the station shuttle. They are holding it for you. But we need to hurry.”On her way to the docking bay, Emily strode head high and proud. People, both family, and crew made way for her as she swept through. Emily considered this a statement of the admiration.