"HOPE!" she called to the kitchen, not slowing for the reply."What?" Hope appeared, butter-knife still in one hand, watching the fleeing figure depart...."No idea," Elspeth said. "Marcus sends Bri some weird text, and she's off like a rocket." Marcus sent you a text?" Hope put the knife down, frowning. "He doesn't normally use his mobile. Can I see?" Get your shoes on," Shawna blurted out as she returned, dragging a jumper over her head before Hope could get close to the phone."What's going. " Tankard explained as over a fire a metal branding iron heated. he looked down to the small wolf, "Are you sure you wish this. brands are not without pain."Clara nodded, "Yes." her head raised high, "I am sure. I wish to be treated as bovine, that means everything, even things that frighten or hurt me." Tankard nodded and held out his hand, "The ring you where given then."Clara's eyes moved to the ring on her finger, "It will not go to waste correct? the craftsmen ship is far to fair to be. "Probably," he said. "It's not a done deal, but we'd both have to go out of the way to pick up the pieces, and I'm not sure I want to. But it was this new job that touched it off and I don't think I'm sorry." How'd this come about, anyway?" You remember Scooter, don't you? Was my lead raftsman down on the Nanty a couple summers?" The gal with the cigars?" Jason grinned. "She'd be hard to forget. She was the one who got your tail lit on fire to do the trail, right?" That's her," Duane grinned.. Then, to protect his throat, a heavy steel gorget was bolted in place.He slid soft leather gloves on each hand, followed by steel, lobster-tail styled gauntlets. Finally, they lowered his bascinet helmet, with a conical top, made to deflect blows onto his head and bolted it to his armor. The second to last piece to be attached was his perforated visor which allowed him to breathe but had no opening large enough to allow a blade to penetrate. Once bolted closed, just before combat, the only.