BAD WINE CRAPPY CHOCOLATE

CHAPTER TWO-5

"My friend," Max continued. "I think a lot of Cybil. But anyone who gets into power will be beholden to the people who helped put them there. Even the queen of the territory can only stay on the throne if the people in the shadows permit her to remain there. Cybil will become part of the system. Foster isn't afraid of her."
Cori thought to herself, they have a queen? Then she let out a yawn. Though the conversation interested her greatly, fatigue and a second cup of wine had taken their toll.
"Shooting the breeze with my old friend made me forget about my other guest. Are you ready to hit the sack?"
"I could use some sleep," Cori conceded.
"Follow me."
After saying goodnight to Brandon, she followed Max to a room with a large window that
revealed only the night's pitch darkness. There was a large bed with a fluffy quilt on it.
"This is where I usually sleep. You're welcome to it."
"Oh, no, I couldn't take your room. Anyplace with a cot would be fine. How about the room
across the hall?"
"You can sleep there if you like. But my bed is much more comfortable. And I promise not to
join you."
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm so tired I could sleep on a rock," Cori said. "There's no reason for
you to give up your bed."
"None except chivalry, my lady."
She finally acquiesced, after another glance at the bed made it too tempting to resist. Cori thanked
Max and closed the door before collapsing on the quilt. She fell asleep instantly. Max rejoined Brandon.

"I was thinking that I would never have wound up being in this business if not for your sister," Max said when he rejoined his friend. "She was always pointing out how the common people were getting screwed. I didn't want to be one of them."
Brandon laughed.
"You were getting into trouble long before you met Cybil."
"I can't deny that," Bardy said with a broad grin. "But she definitely had something to do with me
becoming a renegade."
"So how did you wind up living in such a godforsaken place?"
"The powers that be made it clear that my activities would be tolerated if I kept a low profile. I
figured that living here would make me just about invisible. Who's the woman? She's a very pretty lady." "A friend of mine. Where did you get the limp?"
"I'd like to say it happened during a fight to the death with a man twice my size. But really, I got
it caught in a door," Max said with a laugh. "So how did you ever get accused of being a thief? The Brandon Cane I knew wouldn't take a bar of gold that he found lying in the road."
"Which should tell you how true the accusation is. I'm no thief," Brandon said indignantly. "I'm just a scientist who has to act like one to protect my sister. So how did you wind up in this business? The Max Bardy I knew wouldn't hurt a fly."
"I like flies. It's people that piss me off. How can I help you?"
"I have to see my sister. But I don't want to bring Cori with me. Could you take care of her?" "Absolutely."
"She doesn't know that I'm leaving without her. I didn't want to tell her because Cori can be very
headstrong. She'll want to come with me, so you might have your hands full." Max gave him a devilish look.
"She's strictly hands off," Brandon told him.
"Of course, of course."
"I'd also like to leave the Mises here, in case I get into trouble on the road."

"Why are they called that?"
"It stands for Magnetic Intensity Searcher."
"Follow me," Max said.
He led Brandon to the back of the building. There was a small storage room there, with two men
standing in front of the door. They had sharp spears and a grim look about them. The sentries stepped aside for Bardy. There were a series of shelves containing leather pouches. Max cleared an area on one shelf, placed the satchel with the Mises there, and covered it with several other pouches.