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“I am very excited to hear your call to service, but I believe we have servants here who would very much like for us to eat so they might clean up and find their rest. It is rather late, and I don’t want to take advantage of Angeline Falls’ hospitality.” I spoke with as much kindness and understanding as I could muster.

Just the mention of food had me starving. The fruit basket was nice, but I hadn’t had anything else to eat since morning.

“Oh, heavens, what time is it?” Halo asked in alarm.

“Her Majesty is right. It’s nearly ten in the evening,” Bindi said.

“Where does the time go? Please bring our meal,” Halo addressed the nervous little man who had accosted me.

“I think he’ll be very pleased we are eating,” I said as I took a seat next to Halo.

Gabrielle sat on Bindi’s other side as Halo and Bindi cleared their jumble of papers and maps.

“We have a game plan,” Bindi said with pride. “As soon as we get to Onyx Rah, we’re going to send out the call. I’ll train with the troops, and we