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Especially our current acco at an awesome boutique hotel named after Winston Churchill We didn’t have the presidential suite--that went to Luke and Griffin But we did have a really cute roorand stairway that seeely tall bookcases on the ground floor, and then the walls were covered in pictures on the higher floors

It also had a large lawn in front, perfect for weapons practice, and an adorable little s hut, complete with a telephone into the bar, for people to enjoy a cigar I think even Churchill, hi hut or sex hut?ood bouts of nookie in case ere, indeed, killed

Hush, I told it We have to practice

To be honest, the practice felt good I’d been pretty sedentary, for me, for a while, so the workout was needed It also felt like I was bonding with the labrys, in a weird way The more time I spent with it, the , and even weirder to think I cared whether an inanimate object liked ht back, an e

"Good You can stop now"

I broughtout a crick in my neck as I waited for more instructions

"We’ve done lots of blade work, which is important But remember your weapon has more than just the blade It has the haft," and with this, Anyan ca ht below my own "And it has the butt of the haft Both are important, as offensive and defensive weapons"

Soon I orking on another set of drills, these focused on teaching me to use the haft of the ax to block an attack, and the butt as a pu the wind out of Stuart, back in Rockabill, with a swift punch to the stoer, badder ene

After a dozen rounds of that exercise, I ell and truly sweaty When Anyan called it quits, I vanished the labrys with a pained grunt, holding out hest to heal He ca reat, Jane You move well"

"Thanks But I think the ax helps me, to be honest"

"I think it does too You’re way better than you should be But all that ood You want a beer?"

"Huh?" I asked, still focused on his compliments

"Do you want a beer?"

"Um, sure," I said

Anyan looked around tous, and then he carefully pulled his gla in the middle of the front lawn of the hotel, but we’d been under a heavy glamour so no passersby could see When ere all revealed, he headed in to the hotel I gave one last long, full body stretch, then walked over to one of the tables set out on a s into the bar I took a seat, leaning back with a contented sigh The sun wasn’t too strong, but it felt good onon a rock afterup the warer and a pint of water I gratefully sucked down the water, and then started in on the pint

We clinked glasses, and I sighed contentedly as I raised the drink to ht," Anyan said

"I know," I said, archly, giving hihty s to that crowd"

I shrugged "Oh, that I was all right Blondie got everyone together, and everything"

"But still, you were great"

"Thanks But…"