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The early 2000s had seen its share of highs and lows, mostly economically, but the historians had reported the people of those ti computers, phones and televisions Obviously, with no electricity, Jade had never seen a TV in real life—not that there were production corams—and she’d never made a phone call or sent an email Even the famed Internet she’d read about ceased to exist at the advent of the series of wars

“Ah, the town crier strikes again,” Michael mused

Indeed, the old psychic Jinx was the one they counted on to spread the word, no h What news didn’t come froions, despite the threat of attack by rogue de’s alliance

Michael continued “Jinx isn’t one to dampen spirits, but his winter predictions always leave so to be desired”

“I don’t mind the snow,” Jade ad to refill it She pu and cracked the tap “All that fluffy white helps to counter the bleak gray and brighten up the village”

Just as the daily grind of serving drinks and chatting with the locals helped to take the edge off Jade’s jangled nerves over once again having been followed Though she didn’t allow herself the luxury of false security So waited for her outside the doors of the tavern

No deeneral of his arh a hu she’d never heard of happening—but the law didn’t exactly put Jade’sshe had a half-hour walk ho

“Did you see our shipment of merlot came in?” Michael asked He reached for one of the non-labeled wine bottles he recycled The dozen or so he stocked didn’t fill the two six-foot-tall recovered riddling racks o wood that he’d mounted on the wall behind the bar However, it was nice to see the bottles had finally been put to use again “Wanna sample it?”

“Sure” She preferred wine over beer, though the former was a rare treat because of the exorbitant prices Sothe wars and there weren’t enough experienced vintners or workers to fully revive them

Money was an issue as well As a rule, the hu was a way of life, not the exchange of funds for goods and services, with so to trade, so she needed the se Michael provided her

He pulled the cork on the lasses

“Here’s to your favorite season,” he said before tilting the ri noise she enjoyed hearing There were too few toasts to make in their lives, so even the e of pace “May we not freeze our asses off this year”

“Not like we’re going to run out of wood for our hearths anytie and there was also plenty of ground debris to gather

Jade sipped her wine, hoping it would relax her further But the glass Michael poured was all she’d allow herself Clearly, she needed to keep her wits about her

“Not bad, huh?” he asked as he gave her a casual grin