Anne was in her element as she prepared for the trip, ordering her underlings six ways at once. She felt like a glorious general. She briefly considered having a portrait commissioned of herself in a military tunic. Regretfully she pulled herself out of this fantasy and tried to listen to her secretary.

"Thank you, Marguerite, that will be fine," she said, cutting her off in the middle of a sentence. "Until you hear otherwise, just stay here and answer phones. I'll be leaving Tananda to feed you." Marguerite was capable enough but too long-winded, and inclined to worry. Anne had put up with her for almost a hundred years; perhaps it was time for a change. Too bad their employment drive hadn't been more successful.

The Corporation needed to build a bigger presence, she decided, before the unemployed of Rhy'din would seek them out. In the meantime, their focused recruitment was enough to handle the groundwork. She checked her cache of electronics for the third time: her cell phone and bluetooth connection, her top-of-the-line laptop, the batteries and international adapters, the magical interface which allowed direct connection to Marguerite's phone in Rhy'din.

Zia flew past with an armful of dresses. "Haute couture only, madame, or should I pack also some casual clothes?" The saucy Jamaican girl, recently recruited from Earth, knew she was Anne's favorite servant. She therefore interrupted Anne as she pleased, knowing that she would only be admired more for her cat-like audacity.

"Haute couture only, mon cherie," Anne said, smiling. "And remember to pack some stunning swimsuits. We have people to impress. When I'm not meeting with Earth-people I have my new employees to dazzle, non?" Zia ducked her head cheerfully, and went back to packing.

Anne sensed another mind approaching, and glanced back to see Chen Pan hurrying across the deck. He bowed to her formally, waiting to be addressed.

"My servant," she said to him in Chinese. He smiled, appreciating that she spoke to him in his own tongue. "What is in your mind?"

"My Lady, I must beg you again.... Let me come with you!" His lean face was earnest as a dog's. "I cannot stand to be parted from you for a whole week. My heart is heavy to think of you doing for yourself, without my assistance. Please, My Lady, I will serve you well!"

"Chen Pan," Anne replied, more gently than she felt. "We've discussed this. You must stay here. Marguerite will fall apart without supervision, Tananda loves you, we need a strong mind to look after things here." She drew him close, and said quietly, "And do not forget. I need you to deliver Viper's wares, which are late. You will need to take someone with you, for the look of the thing. Tananda likes acting, she might like to go."

Chen Pan hesitated, torn between obedience and his dread at being parted from Anne for a week. Anne spoke harshly: "You have duties, Chen Pan. See to the shipment!" Without another word, Chen Pan headed below-decks. The livestock, recently transferred from Earth, needed feeding and washing.

Anne was depressed from dealing with this. Why couldn't everyone just get on with their jobs, and not bring feelings in to complicate things? She decided to catch up with Zia and make sure the best possible gowns were packed. There was the silk gown that shimmered with sea-colors, and the bejewelled blue sheath that made her look like a mermaid.... Her mood was already improving.

Yes, she was the immortal boss of a ruthless Corporation. But she was also a woman, and she could think of nothing she would rather do than try on clothes. She wondered where Mary was. Playing dress-up was always more fun with good company, as was being undressed.

Alana too packed her work with her. But her tools of the trade stayed on her person at all times. The whip was on her belt. It was her weapon of choice. She carried the pistol in the shoulder holster under her arm but she never used it unless it was truely needed. Close range was a pain in the butt for her. She had bought the weapons when she got to Rhydin just a short time before. The gruesome training had also started at that time. She hadnt ever so much as raised a hand to anyone before she had come here. She was a bit nervous to be so combative now. As of late alana had been in more than her share of little quips.

As she looked about she called out to Marylynn. A ten year old elven child. Plain looking and a bit too long in the arms or legs. Alana had hired the child as a scribe. Seeing as she had no way of reading or writing herself. She was learning yes but there were things that needed doing now and not later and she spoke kindly as she directed the child.

"I need you to draft a letter about the plans we went over and I will look it over as soon as I get back alright?"

Marylyns eyes shone with a sense of importance and she nodded ferverously. Alana smiled and walked back to her trunk. She would lift one side again and begin dragging it to her destination. She was all happy and giddy like. As if partaking in a bold new adventure. Which in a sense...She was.

Mary was at first having a tough time with the idea of this vacation. Leaving at such a time; why did this article have to come out just now? As she so often did she went down to the glen as it was the last place that her friend had been seen and looked out across the lake hoping it would yield her some answer.

How could they write such a heartless article? It didn?t matter anyway; she wasn?t going to let anyone else keep hurting her. Him being gone was bad enough without her letting people who didn?t care and what they said keep getting to her. After some time of standing there, but shedding no tears today, she finally left while the sun was still up. Mary had been blessed by being able to walk in the sun and before it fell behind that horizon she was going to get some things done. She had made her vow which was that she wouldn?t forget. This was not over.

She went to the market place and as she had on those few happy days she purchased a couple flowers, this time very exotic ones that she had never seen growing on earth. They were for the one that had seen her through everything and she meant to make sure that Anne had them on this last night in Rhydin. Their time here had not seen much of anything but grief and she wanted this night to be nothing but pleasure. She didn?t want to leave things here unfinished but she knew they needed this time together so bad. Ever since what happened she hadn?t given her love the time she deserved and Anne had been so understanding, so helpful, so perfect about everything. If it hadn?t been for her Mary would never have found her focus, and she would never have made it through this time?

So finally with gift of flowers she returned to her ship and came down to find her love in her lovely white flowing gown. Though simple she knew Anne enjoyed seeing the pure white on her, knew how it ever so slightly clung to her curves and how now with her skin getting a little color it looked even nicer. And of course the silver arm band Anne had given her looked so nice with it.

Stepping into their lavishly decorated chambers she saw Anne in, of course, one of her most incredible and stylish dresses. That took her breath away for a long moment while she could only smile and slowly draw the flowers from behind her back. Her love greeted her by closing the distance to them quicker then on could blink doing a turn a bout for her to show off the stunning new outfit without a word. Mary thought of saying many things but could only manage, ?My lady I am not one for words, and I could never find ones to describe what I am thinking now. I brought you flowers but they are unworthy of your beauty as well.? She displayed them before her and then set them down gently in case she should still want them. ?How am I to find a present worthy of you though?? At this last thought she embraced her tightly and gave her a passionate kiss that told of her longing.