On a bookshelf, I fingered a picture frame, looking at the smiling couple embracing each other on some beach in some country. There was a knock on the... door. I slipped the picture into a drawer. Jenn usually had a calm but vibrant smile. It was one of her many attractive qualities. It was the same with the way she said “Hello”, a quick sample of her voice, gentle with an unexpectedly charming boyish lilt to it. Standing at my door, there was no smile, no “Hello” from her. She wasn't upset,. "Don't worry," Dent said with a smile. "They get over it quickly. Believe me, I know." Sosho pouted slightly and slapped him lightly one the arm. "See, I told you," he said and he drew her in for a hug. She stopped her pretend pouting long enough to give him a kiss."Don, how many of those things did you bring?" Dent asked."I started with twelve, so I have ten left." Maybe I can make a suggestion this time," Vel piped in. "Bind the guards to yourself. You're going to need strong and very loyal. But I suspect one of his lovers may have done him in."I shook my head."They buried him out there, at sea I mean, full honors. I learned a month or so later. I've written his family, sending copies of the papers, and asking for my widow's share of his inheritance. Have not heard a single word. except for a recent note from a local solicitor saying they did not believe that the marriage had been consummated."She laughed briefly. "I wonder how they knew," she said. "Then along came this one,. Now for the next stage of the plan."Thornbreak knew his window of opportunity would be small, so he had had his gear ready to go for some time. He had four remounts as he planned to ride the horses hard all the way to the Village. His return trip would be easier as he had a teleport disk as part of his gear. It was a limited use device, once used, it would be drained and just be a paperweight where he left it. His plan was simple, grab the girl, drop the disk and step on it and be back at his.