Annette could see the concern in her face mirrored by that of Tirseng. Would this truly be a wondrous place, or just another prison?

They quietly followed Mallory down into the valley, and Annette was amazed by what she saw. The well-placed dwellings seemed to house people of every description. Children played in the streets and swung from their mother's hips, men were returning from the fields and orchards, their pockets and baskets full of treasures for their families. She shrugged off the seemingly ever-present royal guards as shell-shock, a figment of dread from of her life outside the valley.

Mallory led them to the far edge of the village, and to a low mud-brick dwelling. He announced that until their audience with Prince Monatek, the pair could reside with him. The three settled in quietly, but the days of living in the open air called to the woman, and as the sun began it's descent, she excused herself to take a walk. When she returned, she found Bierce, Tirseng, and Mallory seated outside the low house. She sat herself, well upwind of Bierce's dung pipe, and looked out on the silent sunset with these men. They sat well over an hour when Bierce and Tirseng eventually excused themselves and bid their good-nights, leaving George and Annette to watch the stars in their path across the heavens. Mallory, seeming to read her mind, slowly peeled and orange and offered half to her.
"Merci....It will be an early day tomorrow, non?" she finally asked "We will have to prepare for the trip?"
"Hmm? Oh yes... I know of a few men in the village that will be able to accompany me in the search..."
"Que dites-vous? You mean 'we', n'est pas?" her voice hardened as she continued, "I am going as well..."
Mallory did little to hide his amazement at the mere suggestion. "Dear woman, that is no place for..
"Arrêtez! There will be no talk like this! I made it down that mountain, I can make it up again. If you do not allow me, I will go on my own."

Mallory saw there was no use arguing. As he looked at Annette, her jaw set in defiance, he fondly remembered the same look on the face of his Ruth, many, many years ago. He wondered to himself if his children had that same iron will. It was a hideous pairing, really, an obstinate woman and a reckless man, it was a wonder the children had lived at all. He left his thoughts and once again focused on the woman at his side.
He shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands in mock surrender, "Oui, Mademoiselle. Do you always treat your servants so badly?"
His attempt at humor was lost on Annette. She finished her small meal in silence, then went to bed with a quiet prayer for a dreamless sleep.

Mallory and Tirseng woke to the most glorious of smells. Annette had risen well before dawn, raiding George's larder, and prepared a morning feast. As they ate, the sleepy looks left their faces, and the men talked more and more excitedly about their assault on the mountain. Mallory's voice had none of the lightness of the night before, he looked sternly at her when he told her in all things to follow Tirseng, and to do as she was told. Annette nodded in agreement. Soon, she would know for certain, and the buzzards would either feast or go away. Soon after, the small group shouldered their packs and left the valley once again.