The Transporter delivered Annabel on a rise near the ocean. Her first breath, filled with scents found only near the sea, reminded her of Tronderia. Listening, she heard breaking water on the shore, a now-familiar sound that she'd first heard less than two weeks ago.

Her natural inclination was to linger here, to walk onto the sandy beach with her face turned toward the breezes that were blowing her long, silken hair out behind her. Instead, Annabel reached into her cloak and withdrew the Locator. Opening its top, she held the small device in front of her. All of the lights around its face were white except one. That one, glowing blue, indicated Jason was somewhere to her right. Looking that way, she saw a town's outline in the distance.

Annabel hoped that was her final destination as she turned and started walking in its direction. Not being familiar with this land, she had her eyes and ears fully tuned to her surroundings. It looked to be early morning, judging by the sun's position. If she were lucky, Jason would still be abed, tired from the previous day.

Looking curiously around, Annabel was pleased to see the various birds along the shore. Many soared in the air or waddled along the beach. Some were swimming in the waters offshore. She remembered the questions she'd had about the different species when she was on Tronderia. Maybe now she'd be able to learn the names of at least a few of them.

Annabel had only walked for about ten minutes when she saw three men coming towards her on foot. One of them was pointing in her direction. Not feeling comfortable about meeting three strangers here in a land she didn't know, Annabel adjusted her hearing so she could hear their words.

"...cape that's she's wearing. It'd make a mighty nice gift for my missus."

"Ahhh, forget your missus. I'm bettin' there'd be some good money in sellin' it to the right merchant in town. Then you could get somethin' more fittin' for your missus that somebody else wouldn' try to filch off'n her."

"I'm bettin' she's got other valuables, too. Anybody's got a cape like that'n's got other things worth a bit, as well."

Not today, thought Annabel. I don't have time to mess with the likes of you... Could these be land pirates, I wonder? Do they have pistols? No matter. Force equals mass times acceleration, eh Jason? She looked to the sides of the road and saw hundreds of rocks and small pebbles. Smiling grimly, Annabel kept walking as the men drew nearer. Finally, when they were only a few feet away from her, they all stopped.

"Good day, Miss," the first of them began. Without waiting longer, Annabel sought out three pebbles lying by the side of the road closest to where the men were standing. Finding ones she thought were about the right size, she calmly stood facing them as she used her magic to pick them up and then hurl them at the backs of the men's heads. They fell almost simultaneously.

"Good day to you, too." Annabel walked around them and picked up her three weapons. She glanced at the stones before placing them into a pocket. Annabel then turned the first would-be robber over onto his back. "Phew!" She held her breath as the first wave of stench hit her. "Didn't anybody tell you about soap and water?" She resolutely went about the task of patting the man down, searching for hidden weapons. She found only a knife with a rusty blade and broken handle. Finished with him, she thoroughly searched the other two men.

Her search of the three turned up four knives, a small club about twice as thick as her wand, and some type of metal wrapped in the end of a leather thong. Taking a look around, she decided the best place for the weapons was far out in the sea. Using her magic, she bound the items together and then hoisted them up. Accelerating the bundle toward the sea, she watched as it got smaller and smaller. When she let go at last, the items were so far out they had become only a tiny speck in the distance.

Annabel took one last look at the men before continuing her journey. They'll wonder for a very long time about who hit them from behind and stole their weapons, she thought. Good. She decided her compassion for all living things was being modified to a compassion for most living things.

As she got closer to the town, traffic picked up. There were people on horseback, farmers in wagons, and average folk on foot. Most smiled in greeting as they passed. She encountered no others with an air of menace about them.

It had taken just over an hour to reach the town. Now that she had arrived, Annabel realized it was much larger than she had thought. It was also more expansive than any town in Noordan. Annabel paused just inside its boundaries to look around and experience the different scents assaulting her delicate nostrils. Some of the smells were very aromatic and the aroma of baking bread was intoxicating.

Looking about, Annabel realized that she was faced with a problem. She hadn't checked the Locator since she had been alone out on the road, but now she was in a town with scores of people about. How could she sneak a peak at the Locator without drawing attention to herself? She looked around, wanting to find a suitable spot she could withdraw to for privacy when her attention was caught by a man on the walkway. He had just pulled a Locator out of his pocket in plain view of everyone!

It was attached to a gold chain long enough that he was able to hold it out in front of him at elbow's length. Casually enough, he flipped open the Locator's top and glanced at it, then shook his head. Mumbling under his breath, he turned and looked up and down the street before snapping the top shut and replacing the Locator in his pocket. Annabel watched the people around him, but no one else seemed to have paid the least attention to his actions!

Emboldened by seeing this, Annabel removed her Locator and casually held it in front of her as she opened its top. Observing people around her, she discovered they had no interest whatsoever in her action! Smiling with renewed confidence, Annabel looked at the Locator and saw that the blue light now showed Jason to be somewhere behind her and to the left.

Closing the top, Annabel returned the Locator to her pocket as she turned and searched for a street that would take her in the right direction. Seeing the man with the Locator, and then people's lack of interest in hers, she now had another question for Jason. I hope I can remember them all, she thought as she started down Lombard Street.

Annabel walked slowly, looking at the buildings to the left and right, wondering if Jason was in one of them. Suddenly she stopped. Leaving out the door of... the Lombard Street Hotel... was Jason. He was wearing the same clothes she'd seen him in yesterday, which helped her recognize him, for he was looking down and she could not see his face. Her heart beating excitedly, Annabel called out and rushed toward him.

Jason, wondering where he could rent a horse, suddenly had the most indescribable feeling of joy as he heard his name called. Looking up, he saw a sight he had never thought to see again. Beautiful fawn-colored hair streaming behind the most beautiful woman he had ever known. "Annabel!" He hurried down the steps toward her.

Meeting in the middle of the street, they embraced and held each other tightly as people all around smiled at the young couple. After several moments passed during which Jason believed his heart would explode, Annabel pulled back. There were tears in her eyes as she looked into his. "You have some serious questions to answer."

Tears were now in the corners of his eyes, as well. "Gladly. But not just yet." He looked around. "We need more privacy than this. I was about to find a horse to rent so that I could travel to my parents' home. I would love to have you go there with me. I've met your family and hope you want to meet mine. If you do, we can rent a carriage to ride out in."

He reached out and brushed away tears flowing down her cheeks. "Annabel, I truly am sorry. I ask now, before we go further, that you accept my apology and forgive me for my unforgivable behavior."

She turned the edges of her mouth up in what almost became a smile. "Forgive the unforgivable..." Shaking her head, she had to chuckle. "Your people have some of the oddest sayings I've ever heard." She cocked her head at him. "I would like to meet your family..."

Then her tone turned serious. "I don't know if I should, or can, forgive you. You hurt me very deeply, and that's something we'll talk about. But, as you said, not here. Let's find that carriage."

She placed her arm in his as they walked down the street. "Do you think we could find a bakery? I need something to eat and some morning rolls would taste really good right now."

Jason patted her arm. "I know of a wonderful bakery right down this street and then around the corner." He fell silent for a moment. "Come to think of it, I haven't eaten since Khristyne brought me that food basket yesterday. I do believe I'm hungry enough to eat a horse."

"Jason! What a disgusting thought! You people really are barbarians, you know. Speaking of which, tell me why people here..."

The end.