Amanda had already gone up in the lift and I sighed as I followed. I pushed the bags into the lift and went up to the marshals quarters floor. I found... the temporary quarters door open and walked in and let the bags go. Amanda appeared from the hall and grinned as she helped me take the carrier off, “Now you can go play.”I stuck my tongue out before I turned to go to the marshals offices. I glanced at the two marshals as I walked towards the commander’s office. She glanced up when I stepped in. Gentlemen, you may proceed. The judge walked away and her bailiff took a seat on a bench in the noontime sun, waiting to watch the spectacle to come (and to enforce the rules if he felt like it). Three men, brothers, stepped onto the stocks plinth and walked around her, regarding her like a piece of meat. All three brothers were influential and powerful in the town and probably were the main conspirators behind her predicament. She was thankful for the small blessing that the stocks held her. “Sugar, before you say anything, I just want you to know that I think you boys did a wonderful job putting that story together ... It is what it is, and you shouldn’t feel a bit ashamed about it ... Like I said,” she continued, “hearing it straight from you Dad’s mouth is something I look forward to every time. It never fails to light a fire...”“Well, I’m sure Dad has been reaping the benefits of that, eh...” I retorted. “Have you tried your hand at being a contributing editor at all?” I. I changed into my bathing suit and went in and sat down, waiting for the rocks to warm up. A few minutes later they had, and I ladled extra water onto them, in the hopes the steam would improve my mood and how I felt.About five minutes later, the door opened and Suzana came in.“What is it with you and the extra steam? I know you weren’t drinking last night!”“No, but I didn’t sleep well.”“Why?”“Thinking about the last year and what it will be like at home. It’s been such a good year and even.