LIAB Text 28 - Revision history

No one in particular: Link pruning

2011-03-30T00:37:43Z

Link pruning

152.131.9.69 at 20:12, 29 March 2011

2011-03-29T20:12:46Z

SteveMB at 13:53, 30 July 2010

2010-07-30T13:53:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 30 July 2010
Line 42:		Line 42:
	"What do you think he was doing?" Ansom looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.		"What do you think he was doing?" Ansom looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.

-	"He's a Thinkamancer, right? Kind of? I guess." Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you shouldn't say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. "I don't know what he is. But he does Thinkamancy. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me."	+	"He's a [[Thinkamancy\|Thinkamancer]], right? Kind of? I guess." Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you shouldn't say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. "I don't know what he is. But he does Thinkamancy. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me."

	Ansom looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.		Ansom looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.

-	She cleared her throat. "Natural [[Thinkamancy]]," she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the megalo's body tugged at his ears.	+	She cleared her throat. "Natural Thinkamancy," she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the megalo's body tugged at his ears.

	Jillian rolled her eyes. "Love, you idiot."		Jillian rolled her eyes. "Love, you idiot."

SteveMB at 13:53, 30 July 2010

2010-07-30T13:53:12Z

69.17.66.89: Created page with '{{pager int|Text 28|LIAB}} They had their first argument two hexes upriver from the bridge. It was about the word “rescue,” and it ended with Ansom riding upside down for a w...'

2010-07-30T11:16:31Z

Created page with '{{pager int|Text 28|LIAB}} They had their first argument two hexes upriver from the bridge. It was about the word “rescue,” and it ended with Ansom riding upside down for a w...'

New page

{{pager int|Text 28|LIAB}}
They had their first argument two hexes upriver from the bridge. It was about the word “rescue,” and it ended with Ansom riding upside down for a while.

The megalogwiff could shift a prisoner around within its huge gummy body. It might do this of its own will, or at the order of its rider. Jillian chose to fly on for a while with Ansom’s reddening head poking out from the underbelly of her enormous mount. If he had anything further to declare from down there, it would be mercifully muffled.

It failed as much of a punishment, though. Immediately after that, the stack passed through three hexes of rain showers. Ansom was dangling below, but he was dry. The group hunkered in their saddle-perches. Duncan read her look, and knew to fly close and shut up. The formation stayed tight.

Eventually, they flew out from under the clouds and entered a sunny hex. Clear of enemy units. Jillian sighed through her nose.

What was she doing? Receding away at her back was the battle she had come so far to fight. And at such a huge risk! But...

Was that really the battle she had come to fight? She felt like she had already fought her part of it.

And she won, right? She walked away from Wanda. And she took Ansom back from her. That was the right move. It was.

Disband it, it was!

So what if he didn’t feel “rescued?” And he was loyal to Wanda. So what? She knew that. So flippin’ what! It didn’t mean he was a mindless drone, like Jetstone always claimed. Ansom was no Uncroaked. She could tell. He was still Ansom. He still had his mind.

And if that mind was under Wanda’s power, then he could be forgiven. He should be pitied, in fact. She had been there herself, many times. Wanda was a force.

Yeah, well. So was Queen Jillian of Faq. She stomped her mount’s rubbery armor plate. “Get him up here!”

There was a bit of yaw in their flight as the mount shimmied Ansom’s body around the side. His stoic, unamused face rotated around toward her, as he was squeezed and kneaded up over the beast’s yellow horizon. His head was all that protruded from the megalogwiff’s body, and the beast slid it up and under an armor plate in front of her perch.

The Prince (ex-Prince?) stared up at her. His jaw and lower lip were set like the prow of a galleon. His stubborn blue eyes held her gaze. Disband him for still being so handsome, anyway.

“I want to tell you something,” she said. The wind in her face was stern and chilly, and she matched her tone to it. “You had a price on your head. You know that?”

“Of course I had,” said Ansom. “Is there a kingdom which doesn’t stand against us?”

She shook her head. “Not a kingdom. Charlie,” said Jillian. “The price on your head was probably a kingdom, though.”

Ansom scowled. “I don’t understand.”

She told him about Sammy, and what her exchange with him had meant, just before Ansom felled him. “I didn’t come here to dust you. And I didn’t intend to let it happen, if I could help it. Charlie...I guess had other ideas. But he doesn’t usually like to get directly involved in fights unless someone hires him. So I’m trying to figure out what he did to Haggar to lean on them, and why.”

Pinned in the gummy niche below the armor plating, Ansom’s head made a weak side-to-side motion. “I cannot imagine.”

“I can,” said Jillian. “And if it’s what I think, then I don’t know if I can keep doing any kind of business with him.” She glanced over at Vanna, riding the megalo to her right. She couldn’t afford to keep a caster on her own right now, but she would still need Vanna around to work on turning Ansom. She really couldn’t break ties with Charlie, not while he was footing the bill for her. Maybe after she sacked some of Stanley’s cities she would have some leeway. But then, she’d also have a Royal heir’s upkeep soon. A daughter or son...

“What do you think he was doing?” Ansom looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.

“He’s a Thinkamancer, right? Kind of? I guess.” Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you shouldn’t say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. “I don’t know what he is. But he does Thinkamancy. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me.”

Ansom looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.

She cleared her throat. “Natural Thinkamancy,” she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the megalo’s body tugged at his ears.

Jillian rolled her eyes. “Love, you idiot.”

“Oh,” said Ansom.

“Yeah, ‘oh,’” she snapped. “He reads minds, and he’s a weasel. I wouldn’t put it past him. ...What?”

Ansom’s brow was wrinkled. He looked at her almost sadly.

“I was that much-- I was that severe a tactical distraction?”

Jillian looked at him for a long moment, not knowing what to say.

“Here we are, aren’t we?” she said at last.

He had no reply. She looked out at the distant hills and took in a deep breath of cold, clean air. She let it out slowly, through puffed cheeks. “You need to go below again. I’m gonna call Charlie.”

[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB|Text 28]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:37, 30 March 2011
Line 2:		Line 2:
	They had their first argument two [[hex]]es upriver from the bridge. It was about the word "rescue," and it ended with [[Ansom]] riding upside down for a while.		They had their first argument two [[hex]]es upriver from the bridge. It was about the word "rescue," and it ended with [[Ansom]] riding upside down for a while.

-	The [[megalogwiff]] could shift a prisoner around within its huge gummy body. It might do this of its own will, or at the order of its rider. [[~~Jillian Zamussels\|~~Jillian]] chose to fly on for a while with Ansom's reddening head poking out from the underbelly of her enormous [[mount]]. If he had anything further to declare from down there, it would be mercifully muffled.	+	The [[megalogwiff]] could shift a prisoner around within its huge gummy body. It might do this of its own will, or at the order of its rider. [[Jillian]] chose to fly on for a while with Ansom's reddening head poking out from the underbelly of her enormous [[mount]]. If he had anything further to declare from down there, it would be mercifully muffled.

	It failed as much of a punishment, though. Immediately after that, the [[stack]] passed through three hexes of [[weather\|rain showers]]. Ansom was dangling below, but he was dry. The group hunkered in their saddle-perches. [[Duncan Scone\|Duncan]] read her look, and knew to fly close and shut up. The formation stayed tight.		It failed as much of a punishment, though. Immediately after that, the [[stack]] passed through three hexes of [[weather\|rain showers]]. Ansom was dangling below, but he was dry. The group hunkered in their saddle-perches. [[Duncan Scone\|Duncan]] read her look, and knew to fly close and shut up. The formation stayed tight.
Line 16:		Line 16:
	[[Disband]] it, it was!		[[Disband]] it, it was!

-	So what if he didn't feel "rescued?" And he was [[loyalty\|loyal]] to Wanda. So what? She knew that. So flippin' what! It didn't mean he was a mindless drone, like [[Jetstone]] always claimed. Ansom was no [[Uncroaked]]. She could tell. He was still [[Ansom]]. He still had his mind.	+	So what if he didn't feel "rescued?" And he was [[loyalty\|loyal]] to Wanda. So what? She knew that. So flippin' what! It didn't mean he was a mindless drone, like [[Jetstone]] always claimed. Ansom was no [[Uncroaked]]. She could tell. He was still Ansom. He still had his mind.

	And if that mind was under Wanda's power, then he could be forgiven. He should be ''pitied'', in fact. She had been there herself, many times. Wanda was a force.		And if that mind was under Wanda's power, then he could be forgiven. He should be ''pitied'', in fact. She had been there herself, many times. Wanda was a force.
Line 34:		Line 34:
	Ansom scowled. "I don't understand."		Ansom scowled. "I don't understand."

-	She told him about [[Sammy]], and what her exchange with him had meant, just before Ansom felled him. "I didn't come here to dust you. And I didn't intend to let it happen, if I could help it. [[Charlie]]...I guess had other ideas. But he doesn't usually like to get directly involved in fights unless someone hires him. So I'm trying to figure out what he did to [[Haggar]] to lean on them, and why."	+	She told him about [[Sammy]], and what her exchange with him had meant, just before Ansom felled him. "I didn't come here to dust you. And I didn't intend to let it happen, if I could help it. Charlie...I guess had other ideas. But he doesn't usually like to get directly involved in fights unless someone hires him. So I'm trying to figure out what he did to [[Haggar]] to lean on them, and why."

-	Pinned in the gummy niche below the armor plating, [[Ansom]]'s head made a weak side-to-side motion. "I cannot imagine."	+	Pinned in the gummy niche below the armor plating, Ansom's head made a weak side-to-side motion. "I cannot imagine."

-	"I can," said [[Jillian]]. "And if it's what I think, then I don't know if I can keep doing any kind of business with him." She glanced over at [[Vanna]], riding the megalo to her right. She couldn't afford to keep a caster on her own right now, but she would still need Vanna around to work on turning [[Ansom]]. She really ''couldn't'' break ties with Charlie, not while he was footing the bill for her. Maybe after she sacked some of [[Stanley]]'s [[cities]] she would have some leeway. But then, she'd also have a [[Royal heir]]'s upkeep soon. A daughter or son...	+	"I can," said Jillian. "And if it's what I think, then I don't know if I can keep doing any kind of business with him." She glanced over at [[Vanna]], riding the megalo to her right. She couldn't afford to keep a caster on her own right now, but she would still need Vanna around to work on turning Ansom. She really ''couldn't'' break ties with Charlie, not while he was footing the bill for her. Maybe after she sacked some of [[Stanley]]'s [[cities]] she would have some leeway. But then, she'd also have a [[Royal heir]]'s upkeep soon. A daughter or son...

-	"What do you think he was doing?" [[Ansom]] looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.	+	"What do you think he was doing?" Ansom looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.

-	"He's a [[Thinkamancer]], right? Kind of? I guess." Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you shouldn't say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. "I don't know what he is. But he does [[Thinkamancy]]. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me."	+	"He's a [[Thinkamancer]], right? Kind of? I guess." Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you shouldn't say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. "I don't know what he is. But he does Thinkamancy. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me."

-	[[Ansom]] looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.	+	Ansom looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.

	She cleared her throat. "[[Natural Thinkamancy]]," she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the megalo's body tugged at his ears.		She cleared her throat. "[[Natural Thinkamancy]]," she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the megalo's body tugged at his ears.
Line 54:		Line 54:
	"Yeah, 'oh,'" she snapped. "He reads minds, and he's a weasel. I wouldn't put it past him. ...What?"		"Yeah, 'oh,'" she snapped. "He reads minds, and he's a weasel. I wouldn't put it past him. ...What?"

-	[[Ansom]]'s brow was wrinkled. He looked at her almost sadly.	+	Ansom's brow was wrinkled. He looked at her almost sadly.

	"I was that much-- I was that severe a tactical distraction?"		"I was that much-- I was that severe a tactical distraction?"
Line 62:		Line 62:
	"Here we are, aren't we?" she said at last.		"Here we are, aren't we?" she said at last.

-	He had no reply. She looked out at the distant hills and took in a deep breath of cold, clean air. She let it out slowly, through puffed cheeks. "You need to go below again. I'm gonna call [[Charlie]]."	+	He had no reply. She looked out at the distant hills and took in a deep breath of cold, clean air. She let it out slowly, through puffed cheeks. "You need to go below again. I'm gonna call Charlie."

	[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB\|Text 28]]		[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB\|Text 28]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:12, 29 March 2011
Line 16:		Line 16:
	[[Disband]] it, it was!		[[Disband]] it, it was!

-	So what if he didn't feel "rescued?" And he was [[loyalty\|loyal]] to Wanda. So what? She knew that. So flippin' what! It didn't mean he was a mindless drone, like [[Jetstone]] always claimed. Ansom was no [[Uncroaked]]. She could tell. He was still Ansom. He still had his mind.	+	So what if he didn't feel "rescued?" And he was [[loyalty\|loyal]] to Wanda. So what? She knew that. So flippin' what! It didn't mean he was a mindless drone, like [[Jetstone]] always claimed. Ansom was no [[Uncroaked]]. She could tell. He was still [[Ansom]]. He still had his mind.

	And if that mind was under Wanda's power, then he could be forgiven. He should be ''pitied'', in fact. She had been there herself, many times. Wanda was a force.		And if that mind was under Wanda's power, then he could be forgiven. He should be ''pitied'', in fact. She had been there herself, many times. Wanda was a force.
Line 24:		Line 24:
	There was a bit of yaw in their flight as the mount shimmied Ansom's body around the side. His stoic, unamused face rotated around toward her, as he was squeezed and kneaded up over the beast's yellow horizon. His head was all that protruded from the megalogwiff's body, and the beast slid it up and under an armor plate in front of her perch.		There was a bit of yaw in their flight as the mount shimmied Ansom's body around the side. His stoic, unamused face rotated around toward her, as he was squeezed and kneaded up over the beast's yellow horizon. His head was all that protruded from the megalogwiff's body, and the beast slid it up and under an armor plate in front of her perch.

-	The Prince (ex-Prince?) stared up at her. His jaw and lower lip were set like the prow of a galleon. His stubborn blue eyes held her gaze. Disband him for still being so handsome, anyway.	+	The [[Prince]] (ex-Prince?) stared up at her. His jaw and lower lip were set like the prow of a galleon. His stubborn blue eyes held her gaze. Disband him for still being so handsome, anyway.

	"I want to tell you something," she said. The wind in her face was stern and chilly, and she matched her tone to it. "You had a price on your head. You know that?"		"I want to tell you something," she said. The wind in her face was stern and chilly, and she matched her tone to it. "You had a price on your head. You know that?"
Line 34:		Line 34:
	Ansom scowled. "I don't understand."		Ansom scowled. "I don't understand."

-	She told him about [[Sammy]], and what her exchange with him had meant, just before Ansom felled him. "I didn't come here to dust you. And I didn't intend to let it happen, if I could help it. Charlie...I guess had other ideas. But he doesn't usually like to get directly involved in fights unless someone hires him. So I'm trying to figure out what he did to Haggar to lean on them, and why."	+	She told him about [[Sammy]], and what her exchange with him had meant, just before Ansom felled him. "I didn't come here to dust you. And I didn't intend to let it happen, if I could help it. [[Charlie]]...I guess had other ideas. But he doesn't usually like to get directly involved in fights unless someone hires him. So I'm trying to figure out what he did to [[Haggar]] to lean on them, and why."

-	Pinned in the gummy niche below the armor plating, Ansom's head made a weak side-to-side motion. "I cannot imagine."	+	Pinned in the gummy niche below the armor plating, [[Ansom]]'s head made a weak side-to-side motion. "I cannot imagine."

-	"I can," said Jillian. "And if it's what I think, then I don't know if I can keep doing any kind of business with him." She glanced over at Vanna, riding the megalo to her right. She couldn't afford to keep a caster on her own right now, but she would still need Vanna around to work on turning Ansom. She really ''couldn't'' break ties with Charlie, not while he was footing the bill for her. Maybe after she sacked some of Stanley's cities she would have some leeway. But then, she'd also have a Royal heir's upkeep soon. A daughter or son...	+	"I can," said [[Jillian]]. "And if it's what I think, then I don't know if I can keep doing any kind of business with him." She glanced over at [[Vanna]], riding the megalo to her right. She couldn't afford to keep a caster on her own right now, but she would still need Vanna around to work on turning [[Ansom]]. She really ''couldn't'' break ties with Charlie, not while he was footing the bill for her. Maybe after she sacked some of [[Stanley]]'s [[cities]] she would have some leeway. But then, she'd also have a [[Royal heir]]'s upkeep soon. A daughter or son...

-	"What do you think he was doing?" Ansom looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.	+	"What do you think he was doing?" [[Ansom]] looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.

-	"He's a [[~~Thinkamancy\|~~Thinkamancer]], right? Kind of? I guess." Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you shouldn't say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. "I don't know what he is. But he does Thinkamancy. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me."	+	"He's a [[Thinkamancer]], right? Kind of? I guess." Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you shouldn't say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. "I don't know what he is. But he does [[Thinkamancy]]. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me."

-	Ansom looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.	+	[[Ansom]] looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.

-	She cleared her throat. "Natural Thinkamancy," she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the megalo's body tugged at his ears.	+	She cleared her throat. "[[Natural Thinkamancy]]," she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the megalo's body tugged at his ears.

	Jillian rolled her eyes. "Love, you idiot."		Jillian rolled her eyes. "Love, you idiot."
Line 54:		Line 54:
	"Yeah, 'oh,'" she snapped. "He reads minds, and he's a weasel. I wouldn't put it past him. ...What?"		"Yeah, 'oh,'" she snapped. "He reads minds, and he's a weasel. I wouldn't put it past him. ...What?"

-	Ansom's brow was wrinkled. He looked at her almost sadly.	+	[[Ansom]]'s brow was wrinkled. He looked at her almost sadly.

	"I was that much-- I was that severe a tactical distraction?"		"I was that much-- I was that severe a tactical distraction?"
Line 62:		Line 62:
	"Here we are, aren't we?" she said at last.		"Here we are, aren't we?" she said at last.

-	He had no reply. She looked out at the distant hills and took in a deep breath of cold, clean air. She let it out slowly, through puffed cheeks. "You need to go below again. I'm gonna call Charlie."	+	He had no reply. She looked out at the distant hills and took in a deep breath of cold, clean air. She let it out slowly, through puffed cheeks. "You need to go below again. I'm gonna call [[Charlie]]."

	[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB\|Text 28]]		[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB\|Text 28]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 30 July 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{pager int\|Text 28\|LIAB}}		{{pager int\|Text 28\|LIAB}}
-	They had their first argument two ~~hexes~~ upriver from the bridge. It was about the word ~~“rescue~~,” and it ended with Ansom riding upside down for a while.	+	They had their first argument two [[hex]]es upriver from the bridge. It was about the word "rescue," and it ended with [[Ansom]] riding upside down for a while.

-	The megalogwiff could shift a prisoner around within its huge gummy body. It might do this of its own will, or at the order of its rider. Jillian chose to fly on for a while with ~~Ansom’s~~ reddening head poking out from the underbelly of her enormous mount. If he had anything further to declare from down there, it would be mercifully muffled.	+	The [[megalogwiff]] could shift a prisoner around within its huge gummy body. It might do this of its own will, or at the order of its rider. [[Jillian Zamussels\|Jillian]] chose to fly on for a while with Ansom's reddening head poking out from the underbelly of her enormous [[mount]]. If he had anything further to declare from down there, it would be mercifully muffled.

-	It failed as much of a punishment, though. Immediately after that, the stack passed through three hexes of rain showers. Ansom was dangling below, but he was dry. The group hunkered in their saddle-perches. Duncan read her look, and knew to fly close and shut up. The formation stayed tight.	+	It failed as much of a punishment, though. Immediately after that, the [[stack]] passed through three hexes of [[weather\|rain showers]]. Ansom was dangling below, but he was dry. The group hunkered in their saddle-perches. [[Duncan Scone\|Duncan]] read her look, and knew to fly close and shut up. The formation stayed tight.

-	Eventually, they flew out from under the clouds and entered a sunny hex. Clear of enemy ~~units~~. Jillian sighed through her nose.	+	Eventually, they flew out from under the clouds and entered a sunny hex. Clear of enemy [[unit]]s. Jillian sighed through her nose.

-	What was she doing? Receding away at her back was the battle she had come so far to fight. And at such a huge risk! But...	+	What was she ''doing''? Receding away at her back was the battle she had come so far to fight. And at such a huge risk! But...

	Was that really the battle she had come to fight? She felt like she had already fought her part of it.		Was that really the battle she had come to fight? She felt like she had already fought her part of it.

-	And she won, right? She walked away from Wanda. And she took Ansom back from her. That was the right move. It was.	+	And she won, right? She walked away from [[Wanda Firebaugh\|Wanda]]. And she took Ansom back from her. That was the right move. It was.

-	Disband it, it was!	+	[[Disband]] it, it was!

-	So what if he ~~didn’t~~ feel ~~“rescued~~?” And he was loyal to Wanda. So what? She knew that. So ~~flippin’~~ what! It ~~didn’t~~ mean he was a mindless drone, like Jetstone always claimed. Ansom was no Uncroaked. She could tell. He was still Ansom. He still had his mind.	+	So what if he didn't feel "rescued?" And he was [[loyalty\|loyal]] to Wanda. So what? She knew that. So flippin' what! It didn't mean he was a mindless drone, like [[Jetstone]] always claimed. Ansom was no [[Uncroaked]]. She could tell. He was still Ansom. He still had his mind.

-	And if that mind was under ~~Wanda’s~~ power, then he could be forgiven. He should be pitied, in fact. She had been there herself, many times. Wanda was a force.	+	And if that mind was under Wanda's power, then he could be forgiven. He should be ''pitied'', in fact. She had been there herself, many times. Wanda was a force.

-	Yeah, well. So was Queen Jillian of Faq. She stomped her ~~mount’s~~ rubbery armor plate. ~~“Get~~ him up here!”	+	Yeah, well. So was [[Queen]] Jillian of [[Faq]]. She stomped her mount's rubbery armor plate. "Get him up here!"

-	There was a bit of yaw in their flight as the mount shimmied ~~Ansom’s~~ body around the side. His stoic, unamused face rotated around toward her, as he was squeezed and kneaded up over the ~~beast’s~~ yellow horizon. His head was all that protruded from the ~~megalogwiff’s~~ body, and the beast slid it up and under an armor plate in front of her perch.	+	There was a bit of yaw in their flight as the mount shimmied Ansom's body around the side. His stoic, unamused face rotated around toward her, as he was squeezed and kneaded up over the beast's yellow horizon. His head was all that protruded from the megalogwiff's body, and the beast slid it up and under an armor plate in front of her perch.

	The Prince (ex-Prince?) stared up at her. His jaw and lower lip were set like the prow of a galleon. His stubborn blue eyes held her gaze. Disband him for still being so handsome, anyway.		The Prince (ex-Prince?) stared up at her. His jaw and lower lip were set like the prow of a galleon. His stubborn blue eyes held her gaze. Disband him for still being so handsome, anyway.

-	“I want to tell you something,” she said. The wind in her face was stern and chilly, and she matched her tone to it. ~~“You~~ had a price on your head. You know that?”	+	"I want to tell you something," she said. The wind in her face was stern and chilly, and she matched her tone to it. "You had a price on your head. You know that?"

-	~~“Of~~ course I had,” said Ansom. ~~“Is~~ there a kingdom which ~~doesn’t~~ stand against us?”	+	"Of course I had," said Ansom. "Is there a kingdom which ''doesn't'' stand against [[Toolism\|us]]?"

-	She shook her head. ~~“Not~~ a kingdom. Charlie,” said Jillian. ~~“The~~ price on your head was probably a kingdom, though.”	+	She shook her head. "Not a kingdom. [[Charlie]]," said Jillian. "The price on your head ''was'' probably a kingdom, though."

-	Ansom scowled. ~~“I don’t~~ understand.”	+	Ansom scowled. "I don't understand."

-	She told him about Sammy, and what her exchange with him had meant, just before Ansom felled him. ~~“I didn’t~~ come here to dust you. And I ~~didn’t~~ intend to let it happen, if I could help it. Charlie...I guess had other ideas. But he ~~doesn’t~~ usually like to get directly involved in fights unless someone hires him. So ~~I’m~~ trying to figure out what he did to Haggar to lean on them, and why.”	+	She told him about [[Sammy]], and what her exchange with him had meant, just before Ansom felled him. "I didn't come here to dust you. And I didn't intend to let it happen, if I could help it. Charlie...I guess had other ideas. But he doesn't usually like to get directly involved in fights unless someone hires him. So I'm trying to figure out what he did to Haggar to lean on them, and why."

-	Pinned in the gummy niche below the armor plating, ~~Ansom’s~~ head made a weak side-to-side motion. “I cannot imagine.”	+	Pinned in the gummy niche below the armor plating, Ansom's head made a weak side-to-side motion. "I cannot imagine."

-	“I can,” said Jillian. ~~“And~~ if ~~it’s~~ what I think, then I ~~don’t~~ know if I can keep doing any kind of business with him.” She glanced over at Vanna, riding the megalo to her right. She ~~couldn’t~~ afford to keep a caster on her own right now, but she would still need Vanna around to work on turning Ansom. She really ~~couldn’t~~ break ties with Charlie, not while he was footing the bill for her. Maybe after she sacked some of ~~Stanley’s~~ cities she would have some leeway. But then, ~~she’d~~ also have a Royal ~~heir’s~~ upkeep soon. A daughter or son...	+	"I can," said Jillian. "And if it's what I think, then I don't know if I can keep doing any kind of business with him." She glanced over at Vanna, riding the megalo to her right. She couldn't afford to keep a caster on her own right now, but she would still need Vanna around to work on turning Ansom. She really ''couldn't'' break ties with Charlie, not while he was footing the bill for her. Maybe after she sacked some of Stanley's cities she would have some leeway. But then, she'd also have a Royal heir's upkeep soon. A daughter or son...

-	~~“What~~ do you think he was doing?” Ansom looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.	+	"What do you think he was doing?" Ansom looked no less rigid, but he seemed curious now.

-	~~“He’s~~ a Thinkamancer, right? Kind of? I guess.” Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you ~~shouldn’t~~ say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. ~~“I don’t~~ know what he is. But he does Thinkamancy. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me.”	+	"He's a Thinkamancer, right? Kind of? I guess." Jillian bit her lip. There were things you knew you shouldn't say, even as you felt the words coming out of your mouth. "I don't know what he is. But he does Thinkamancy. And I think he was trying to...remove a distraction. From me."

	Ansom looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.		Ansom looked at her without any indication he followed her line of thought.

-	She cleared her throat. ~~“Natural~~ Thinkamancy,” she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the ~~megalo’s~~ body tugged at his ears.	+	She cleared her throat. "Natural [[Thinkamancy]]," she said. He made another vain attempt to shake his head, the goo of the megalo's body tugged at his ears.

-	Jillian rolled her eyes. ~~“Love~~, you idiot.”	+	Jillian rolled her eyes. "Love, you idiot."

-	~~“Oh~~,” said Ansom.	+	"Oh," said Ansom.

-	~~“Yeah~~, ~~‘oh~~,’” she snapped. ~~“He~~ reads minds, and ~~he’s~~ a weasel. I ~~wouldn’t~~ put it past him. ...What?”	+	"Yeah, 'oh,'" she snapped. "He reads minds, and he's a weasel. I wouldn't put it past him. ...What?"

-	~~Ansom’s~~ brow was wrinkled. He looked at her almost sadly.	+	Ansom's brow was wrinkled. He looked at her almost sadly.

-	“I was that much-- I was that severe a tactical distraction?”	+	"I was that much-- I was that severe a tactical distraction?"

	Jillian looked at him for a long moment, not knowing what to say.		Jillian looked at him for a long moment, not knowing what to say.

-	~~“Here~~ we are, ~~aren’t~~ we?” she said at last.	+	"Here we are, aren't we?" she said at last.

-	He had no reply. She looked out at the distant hills and took in a deep breath of cold, clean air. She let it out slowly, through puffed cheeks. ~~“You~~ need to go below again. ~~I’m~~ gonna call Charlie.”	+	He had no reply. She looked out at the distant hills and took in a deep breath of cold, clean air. She let it out slowly, through puffed cheeks. "You need to go below again. I'm gonna call Charlie."

	[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB\|Text 28]]		[[Category:Page Annotation/LIAB\|Text 28]]