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"I beg your pardon"

Up on the lawn outside of Heaven&039;s castle, Nigel looked across the linen-draped table and nodded at a Royal Doulton plate "I should like the scones, please"

"That is not what you said" Colin sat back in his dainty chair, his black eyebron over eyes that were full of curses

Their two dining companions - well, three if you counted the Irish wolfhound - stopped in midsipor sniff, in Tarquin&039;s case Nonetheless, Bertie delivered the plate in question, his fair face full of compassion, as was his way

Suffice it to say, however, that no lorious the pastry on the bone china was, tea was ruined

"Nigel, what the hell have you done"

"I shall thank you to not address me in that tone, Colin"

"And you can pop off with the etiquette What do you el broke open his fresh currant scone, and breathed in the waft of sweet steam that rose up Indeed, they did not require sustenance, but to deprive oneself of this pleasure on a technicality was absurd

Byron pushed his rose-colored glasses up higher on his nose "I am sure he had his reasons, did you not"

Unlike Colin, as a hardheaded bull, the other tould el chose to impart Bertie, with his soft heart, and Byron, with his eternal optimism, were more delicate creatures than that other one, capable of de the virtues of restraint and patience in abundance

Colin, however, would perhaps inquire but oncethe tabletop

So naturally, Nigel took his time with his butter knife

And naturally, one could feel the heat from the other side of the table sure as flael What has transpired"

He replied only after his first bite had been chewed thoroughly "I believe we have discussed the other side&039;s predilection forhow shall one put itthe creative readjustment of reality - "

"She&039;s a cheater and a whoring liar," Colin spat

"Must you be so blunt" Nigel put the scone down, his appetite gone "And ain that we, too, have broken the rules? Our hands are likewise unclean, old friend, and - "

" &039;Tis but a patch on what she hath wrought - "

"You shall desist the interruptions Now"

The pair of the silenceto the point where Nigel kneell he would be sleeping alone this night - and that was ?" Nigel patronized

Colin opened his mouth, then shut it with a clap

"Good Now, as I was saying, the Creator are of the transgressions - on both sides" Nigel tested the te, that it was perfect "But I acknowledged our derelions and the fact that it is hardly fair of us to des of Devina that we are not prepared to honor as well"

"Her nature is as it always has been," Bertie said quietly "She cannot help who and what she is Surely the Maker knew this froel took more of his tea "There was no surprise at any of it In fact, I received the iel chose his words carefully, as one should never speak for the Creator of all things good and evil "I almost believe it was all expected Her violations Our attempt to provide aid to Jim in the form of Adrian and Edward All of it"

"And the outcome of your query is?" Colin barked

"Unknown as of this moment The Maker did impart news of the , I was infor Jim and Edward and Adrian"

"Oh, they ht," Bertie murmured

"Since when?" Colin deel placed his china cup precisely in its saucer "It just happened, evidently"

Colin&039;s brows tightened once again which"What transpired?"

"The Creator did not say, and it is not my place to inquire" And hoished he could iel&039;s heart "But it is clear Jim is on his own"

Which was a disastrous course The savior was strong, but had no experience in the ways of this ancient war He was now a sitting pheasant to that demon&039;s proverbial bird-shot

"But I do believe the Maker is going to take action," Nigel concluded

"Against us?" Colin asked

"We shall wait and see"

There was nothing to proues, no faith to install in the to the Maker for consideration, the matter was out of one&039;s hands, and there was no way of predicting how the do down there," Colin announced "Heron can&039;t be alone"

Why can everyone not adhere to the rules, Nigel thought Just once

As he picked up his teacup and held it with his pinkie extended, he realized anew that if there was one thing that could be depended upon, it was Colin&039;s passion: For all that he was the intellectual anitional control naught but a hard-won overlay covering his true constitution

"Nothing to say, Nigel?" Colin charged bitterly "No, &039;oh, no, you el focused on the castle that loomed in the near distance, and when he finally spoke, it was in a low voice that, co from another, he would have terame I would ask that you consider the action I just took - it would be foolish to follow it up - immediately - with precisely the kind of violation I presented for the Creator&039;s redress"

"Conservatism is the cousin of cowardice I say, if the Creator has known all along of Devina&039;s infringeainst her back in round one That nothing has been done speaks to a condoning stance, and we should therefore be proactive in this instance" The archangel tossed his napkin onto the table "You are not so powerful as you think, Nigel Or do you believe yourself so important that only after you approached a response would be el found his and all bodies: Jioing rogue The de amok

The last round had been lost, and there was little hope for this current one

"If you all will kindly excuse me" With care, he pressed his linen napkin to hisit neatly beside his plate, he rose to his feet "I believe I have done enough entreating with logic and you shall do what you will I can only ask you to be cognizant of the larger implications" He shook his head at his old friend "I expected to battle with the de horns with the savior or the likes of you at the same time"