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a prize, shown off like a trophy.
    “Next
time something silly is going to go down,” started Heather, “I’ll be sure to
fill you in.  No need for you to panic and all.  Dad just didn’t
think you would sleep very well if you knew that there were people watching the
place.”
    Chloë
offered a feeble laugh, “He was right, of course.  I would have just laid
there staring at the ceiling until it was all over.  I’m just glad none of
them had guns.”
    Heather
laughed, “Well actually two of the three that came in my window had guns, as
did the three outside watching.  Gavin took care of the ones outside. One
of the guys fell out of my window backwards and the other guy got whacked over
his head with his own weapon.  They were professionals, just not very good
ones.  Okay, that and Gavin and Dad just thoroughly outclassed them all.”
    Chloë
was taken aback at the comments of firearms, but it was Heather’s cavalier
attitude that blew her away, “I saw you go toe-to-claw with those three outside
your door.  And your father just stood there.  Um, that’s a little
creepy.”
    Heather
just laughed, “If Father thought I was in danger he never would have allowed
it.”
    “They
were a head taller than you and easily half again heavier!”
    “Yeah,
and they stunk!  You saw them go down.  No trouble at all.  Not
very often I get a chance to spar at full speed and power; that’s why Dad let
me take them.”
    “‘Let
you?’ as in you asked?” asked Chloë.
    “Well,
yeah, I had to ask. Dad wouldn’t just throw me into a situation like
that.  I don’t know, I was just kinda upset about everything you’d been
through and wanted to do my part to help.”
    Chloë
laughed with fine tears being held in check. “I’m deeply honored and flattered
that you wanted to help me.  Just please, don’t put yourself at risk on my
account.”
    “Why
not?” fired back Heather with the closest to serious expression Chloë had ever
seen on her.  “I thought that is what friends are for?  Besides, like
I said, if Dad thought I was in real danger he wouldn’t have let me
fight them.”
    Chloë
hugged Heather, “Thank you, but I still hold you were being silly…”
    “Me,
silly?” beamed Heather.  “What are the odds of that?  Come on, let’s
get the rest of the way to the town and see what Maggie wants.”

5            
     
     
     
    Heather
knocked on the door outside of the mayor’s office.  Their trip to town had
been pleasant enough, but now was the time for seriousness. 
    “Come
in,” called the mayor.
    The
pair swiftly entered the room and closed the door behind them.  Chloë
stood there trying not to look nervous, but she could tell her fur was already
starting to crawl.
    Maggie,
the mayor, did her best not to laugh as she looked up, “Oh my word,
Chloë!  Calm down!  You look like you have got static worse than a
mid-winter’s day.  Sit!  Both of you.  Relax, Chloë. 
Things are fine.”
    Chloë
clumsily found her way to a chair.  She was slightly relieved at the
mayor’s reassurances, but doubt still hung in the air.  “You wished to see
me?”
    “Yes. 
The nine men who were brought in last night were able to confirm the delicate
nature of your situation.  Indeed, the Altshea Consul here in town was
outraged, not just at those men’s action, but the situation that you were
in.  We have already gotten confirmations from the five Altshea
prefectures and two cantons that border the Highlands that they are ready to
legally defend you should those back at your home decide to press the
issue.  The consul is with the escort taking those nine men back to
Altshea territories and I’m sure he will want to meet you when he returns to
reinforce the commitment the Altshea government has to protecting you.”
     Chloë
finally started to relax, “That is wonderful to hear, ma’am.  Although I
confess I’m still deeply embarrassed that I put the Stratford family in
jeopardy