FaRtaL Chpt 24

==From a Ristar to a Lady - Chapter 24 -==
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===Chilling Revelations===
Codina Estate, Inman
Milligan PDZ, Woodbine Operational Area
27th April, 3061
1800 hours (1000 hrs on local 28 hr cycle)
“Lady Kalinska, welcome to the estate of Viscount Codina.” The maid bowed to her respectfully, her tone solemn. “I am Ginny, it is my pleasure to serve you. I will escort you to the tea party.”
The maid led her to an expansive garden, contained within a massive glass structure, keeping the plants warm even in Inman’s cold climate. Plants and flowers were all planted tastefully at various spots, creating an extremely pleasing aesthetic effect even to Anastasia’s untrained eye.
To say it was impressive was an understatement. Anastasia recalled that House Codina was one of the richest Viscounties on Inman, which explained why they were able to build and maintain such an extravagant garden. Even during a cold spell of weather, the flowers were still able to bloom, helped along by carefully located heat sources that provide warmth for the delicate plants.
“Oh, is that Lady Kalinska?”
Her attention was drawn to the sound of her name, a table of four ladies, with space enough around the table for a few more. The ladies seemed to be sniggering at her.
“What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’ve been invited?”
Another lady exclaimed behind a fan. “My goodness! That can’t be. Everybody knows that you and Lady Codina are not close by any means. A lady such as yourself would never be invited here.”
Round and round they went, giggling as they talked. “You’re not a child, so you wouldn’t come here unless you were lost. You must have an ulterior motive for coming here.”
“That’s right, because this event is accessible by invitation only.”
Anastasia smirked. “It’s just as you said. I was indeed invited here by Lady Codina.” She plastered on a pleasant smile.
“What?” said the lady who had exchanged words with her at the Feast of Bounty banquet. “But it looks like there isn’t a seat for you at the table.”
“That’s right. The only empty seat here is for Lady Codina. Don’t try to force yourself in, Lady Kalinska.” The ladies continued giggling.
Anastasia put on an exhausted smile. She did not even feel angry at their antics, since it was like trying to argue with a bunch of children.
It’s just as Madame Iris said. They would try to demoralize me first, then they will band together and insist I was never invited or won’t provide a seat. And even though it was obvious I was invited, they would try to put me in an awkward position.
She sighed. She also told me to give up trying to make friends.
But she had a purpose for coming here, and she was determined to stick it out.
“Well, that’s a bit strange,” she placed her letter of invitation on the table. “I received an invitation but it seems that a seat wasn’t prepared for me. There’s no way Lady Codina would do that on purpose.”
The ladies suddenly switched to soft whispers. “The seal of the Viscount…”
Anastasia pressed on blithely. “Anyway, it seems as though you ladies must be mistaken.”
“Oh my.” Somebody spoke behind her, along with the clacking of heels on the marble floor. “I’ve made a huge mistake. I should have prepared everything for you before you arrived.”
Anastasia turned around to see the blond woman that she had previously identified as the ringleader of this group of cackling noblewomen.
The woman, obviously Lady Codina, said, “You see, I noticed a crack in your chair so I asked for a new one to be brought in. Since this was your first time here, I wanted to create a pleasant experience for you. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Lady Codina curtseyed to her. “I am Lady Venice Codina. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
So this is Venice Codina. Anastasia thought, if Lady Codina was the one who instigated the incident during the banquet, then why did she invite me here and treat me with such courtesy?
“Please have a seat, Lady Kalinska.” Lady Codina sat down on her chair with a grace Anastasia did not think she could emulate even with ten years of practice. “Now that everybody’s gathered here, I’ll prepare the tea.”
Huh? Anastasia noticed she ended up sitting next to Lady Codina, and the other ladies were whispering.
“They’re sitting next to each other…”
“Lady Codina must have something else up her sleeve…”
Anastasia realised her chair was of the same design as Lady Codina’s, and clearly different from the other ladies. What is she trying to do? According to Madame Iris, she wouldn’t like me. Simply because Count Haynes bestowed the nickname of ‘White Lotus’ upon Anastasia even though she was only a Baron’s daughter, Anastasia became the target of jealous ladies of the aristocracy and often attacked by vicious rumours.
She looked at Lady Codina, who glanced back at her and smiled very sincerely.
All right, she is very beautiful too, Anastasia conceded. How can somebody who smiles like that to me hate me? She felt so out of her depth in the social world of the noblewomen. Can’t women just let go of their jealousy? What do they get out of it anyway? Back in the clans, they would just have it out in an informal Trial of Grievance, and settle it then, with little of this persistent sniping.
The attentive maids poured tea for the ladies, while the conversations started in earnest.
“It’s so nice to have a dress designer from Robinson these days.”
“Your earrings are so pretty. Where did you buy them?”
Ahh… it is starting now… Anastasia decided to just focus on drinking her tea and staying quiet. They will be bragging about themselves while trying to please one another. Madame Iris, you were right again. Such inane conversation… She took a sip of her tea and set down her teacup, just remembering to use her pinky finger to help cushion the teacup as she placed it on the saucer to minimise the clanking sound.
The conversation stopped for the barest of moments as the ladies stared at her. Then they were talking again.
“This tea is delicious!”
Giggle.
“It’s nice to enjoy it with flowers in a garden.”
Chatter.
Hmmm? Anastasia knew something just happened. Did they all look at me just now?
“I can tell you have great appreciation for tea, Lady Codina.” One of the ladies was obviously trying to gain Lady Codina’s favour with flattery.
“You’re too kind.”
Did I just imagine it? Anastasia thought to herself. The ladies, though devious, were not so wicked as to poison her tea. Although she did notice that they were all just holding their tea cups, not a single one had taken a sip yet, despite saying it was delicious and nice.
Let us see… Anastasia raised her tea cup slowly, and took another sip, this time taking note of what it tasted like. It was bitter, and Anastasia recognised the flavour. Karna Leaf Tea, at least something she was used to.
Her nonchalance sparked a visible reaction among the ladies, now whispering even more loudly and obviously.
“Oh my, how could she…!”
“Did she really drink it?”
“How can she…?”
What’s wrong with them? Did I do something wrong or rude? Anastasia was puzzled.
“Ginny, pour me some of that tea.” It seemed that Lady Codina had noticed the confusion. 
“Yes, my lady!” Ginny seemed a bit afraid, her hands trembled a bit as she poured the tea into Lady Codina’s teacup.
Anastasia tried to puzzle it out. Why is she asking the maid waiting on me? Is this some new form of harassment? Is she trying to expose my lack of knowledge about tea or something like that?
Lady Codina took a sip of the tea and choked on it almost immediately. She held one hand to her mouth, desperately trying to keep that small sip in without spitting it out or letting it dribble down to her fine dress. The maids immediately clustered around her in alarm. “My lady!”
Anastasia almost stood up from her chair. Is it poisoned?
Lady Codina choked and coughed for a few more moments, while the maids tried to attend to her. Meanwhile the ladies around the table fretted, and Anastasia could see guilt in their eyes.
So they did do something. But what?
“Please excuse me, that must have been a very unique kind of tea,” said Lady Codina after recovering her composure.
“No, it’s quite all right. It cannot be bad since it was tea you prepared especially for me.” Anastasia did notice Ginny trembling in a corner.
“Thank you for being so understanding.” Lady Codina gave a sideways glare at Ginny, leaving no doubt that there would be an investigation into the matter. “I’ll prepare some new tea for you right away.”
Anastasia looked down at her tea. So this tea was prepared to humiliate me somehow. And it seems they left Lady Codina in the dark as well. Was it supposed to be too disgusting to drink? It is just Karna Leaf Tea!
Then she felt like slapping herself. Karna Leaf Tea was a tea specifically brewed using the leaves of the Karna tree on Huntress. It was bitter, but could be very fragrant and delicious when certain insects, such as berry ants, were added. Not at all suited to the delicate palates of these noble ladies, and they would be horrified by the thought of adding insects to their tea. How did they get their hands on it?
She wouldn’t have minded drinking it. After all, she used to drink it often to keep herself awake when poring over paperwork for her Binary. But she could not be known as a lady with a strange mind and a strange sense of taste, her reputation was already controversial enough.
The incident was soon forgotten and the ladies went back to gossiping.
“Have you heard about Baron Haynes?”
“Oh, you mean that? Count Haynes suspended him from his duties and confined him to the manor!”
“I heard it’s already been a few days. Isn’t this the first time that His Excellency has impeded Baron Haynes’ work?”
“You’re right. I wonder how long it will last…”
He suspended and confined Renard Haynes? So… he did get some stick after all. But even then, that is just the most minor of punishments!
“My lady, are the desserts to your liking?” She was shaken out of her thoughts when Lady Codina spoke to her.
“Oh yes. Thank you for your concern.” Come to think of it, she was the only one eating with full bites. The other ladies only nibbled here and there at the food, obviously watching their caloric intake and its effect on their waistlines.
Yay to me for my intense workouts! Thought Anastasia smugly. Her appetite had grown, and her servants seemed happier about it compared to before, when they had worried about the original Anastasia’s weak constitution and lack of appetite.
Lady Codina continued to talk to her. “I’m sure His Excellency’s anger will subside soon. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Anastasia nodded in agreement. Although she was sorely tempted to say otherwise, but doing so would have put off the whole flow of the conversation, and even she knew better. She noticed that Lady Codina kept bringing her back into the conversation, so that she never felt left out. And she could not figure out why.
Why did you invite me here? What is your motive? Anastasia could not help but feel suspicious.
Lady Codina asked her, “The capital is a place where false rumours are easily spread, don’t you think?”
“Yes, there will always be rumours and talk whenever lots of people gather.”
Despite her fears, the tea party seemed to be going smoothly.
I wasn’t expecting to hear news of Renard Haynes here, although I am sure the comment about him was intended for me to hear. Anastasia considered the situation carefully. I think now I understand why noble ladies value these kinds of social gatherings. A noblewoman would be able to get more accurate information than from just the news if she stayed at home. By meeting like this, they are all able to exchange information.
Because for them, information is both an opportunity and a weapon.
A maid suddenly rushed up. “Lady Codina, I have something to tell you.” She whispered in Lady Codina’s ear. Anastasia noted the frown on Lady Codina’s face, it did not seem to be any good news.
“Everybody, I must beg your pardon.”
“What the matter?” asked the noblewoman who had talked to Anastasia at the Feast of Bounty banquet. Anastasia had found out her name was Selina Seydoux, the daughter of a landholding knight on Inman.
“My elder brother has just arrived with a guest. They both wish to come and give their greetings. Is that acceptable to all of you?”
“Oh my! Of course that’s okay!”
“I’m so excited to meet Sir Codina!”
The ladies started preening.
“Do I look good?”
“Is my bow straight?”
Anastasia kept an eye on Lady Codina though, and she did not look pleased at all, just sat there quietly in her seat, and Anastasia thought she might have been fuming with anger.
“I wonder who his guest is?”
“I can’t wait!”
“It’s sure to be somebody important!”
Anastasia could not help but notice Lady Codina’s hands squeezing the fabric of her dress.
As it turned out, Lady Codina’s elder brother Vince Codina was just a braggart, boasting of his exploits maintaining order in Innerman City. He was dressed in the uniform of the Trivet militia, but his rank and service tabs only meant he was a mere Leftenant in the infantry. It seemed the ignorant ladies were not aware of that though, and seemed easily impressed by his exploits.
“So anyway, thanks to my actions, the thief fell off the wall, and I smashed his head against it! He’s now working in the penal mines on Delacambre.”
“Oh, that’s terrible!”
Anastasia wondered if he had the guts to take on a Harvester unaugmented like she did. She was so bored by his bragging that she imagined him trying and getting squashed.
She was even more irritated by Pence Lamongue’s presence at the table. Who knew he was the guest? As he took a cultured sip of his tea, Anastasia seethed. When did he manage to be so comfortable with this sort of situation? What kind of coincidence is this?
Vince was still bragging, “Thanks to my vigilance, we captured the guy right away! Because you see, the stolen necklace was a family heirloom belonging to Sir Deschamps. It was a historical item gifted to his family by the First Prince in recognition of their military service…”
They said they were just stopping by to say hello. How long is this Sir Codina going to talk? She flicked her fork around a piece of cake before cutting a portion off, and looked at Lady Codina. It’s just pointless talk of his past exploits anyway… Besides, Lady Codina has barely said a word since they arrived.
The noblewoman was proactively leading the conversation before their arrival, but now she just sat there quietly sipping at her tea. As the host, it felt strange for her to take such a subdued role…
Lady Codina happened to glance in Anastasia’s direction, then turned away with a frustrated expression.
What’s going on? What has gotten into her all of a sudden? Anastasia was confused again while she stabbed the portion of cake with her fork. I guess she is done with the pretty smiles now. I really cannot figure her out.
Anastasia sighed as she opened her mouth to eat the piece of cake. She noted Pence was paying special attention to the other ladies around the table, looking at them appraisingly, even as he stayed quiet while Vince yammered on.
He did occasionally direct a sneer in her direction.
“Come to think of it, Sir Larouche also served on the front lines, right?” Lady Codina finally interjected gently, her question directed at Pence.
“Yes, I was involved in Operation Bulldog.”
Anastasia suppressed an unladylike snort. That was a clever way of putting it.
“What was it like, fighting the Smoke Jaguars?”
“Oh,” he smiled, “they were a bunch of fools. They had no concept of subtlety, all they knew was to charge forward and smash ahead. Taking care of them was a piece of cake like this one.” He used a fork to point to the cake on a plate in front of his seat to emphasize his point.
“Ahem!” Vince Codina cut in, “More importantly… if we return to my story about…”
“Sir Larouche, I have a question for you.” One of the ladies spoke up. Vince Codina looked chagrined that he was no longer the centre of attention.
Pence smiled obligingly. “Please go ahead, Lady Garcia.”
Jenia Garcia literally sparkled as she asked, “Did you bring back any souvenirs from the front?”
Lady Seydoux added, just as brightly, “That’s right! I heard you brought back a mech!”
It was at this moment that Anastasia felt like kicking herself for not noticing the obvious. These ladies were all daughters and not the first in line to inherit their family demesnes. As a result, it was part of their jobs to find a suitable partner who could strengthen their own house in the network of alliances that made up the nobility.
She supposed Pence was good looking enough, and young enough. He was decanted in 3024, so he was still only thirty-six years old, while the ladies in their group were all around twenty. A sixteen year age gap might have been too much in certain cultures, but Hanse Davion had a twenty-seven year age gap with his wife Melissa Steiner-Davion and nobody dared to say anything.
Pence also owned his own battlemech and was a landholding knight. As marriage prospects went, he was a catch, not a miss.
Nevertheless, she could not help but feel disgusted. Despite their attempted pranks on her earlier, she felt none of the young ladies deserved to be married to a traitorous scumbag like Pence Lamongue.
“In fairness, I brought back two mechs, not one.”
“Wow! That is so impressive!” The ladies literally squealed with excitement. Anastasia tried hard not to roll her eyes.
“Yes, one of the mechs is my own personal Banshee . I brought it with me from the frontlines.”
She already guessed from news reports that he used the same mech from when he was in the Jaguar’s Mists. His modified Banshee was a fearsome configuration that was equally adept in long range sniping or close combat.
“The other mech was taken from the Smoke Jaguars. And it’s pretty special. It was a gift to Count Haynes.”
“What’s so special about it?” One of the ladies asked.
“It was a Black Knight with clan technology. As far as I know, it’s the only one of its kind in the Inner Sphere.”
They tittered curiously, “Where is it now? Is it with you?”
“It was a gift to Count Haynes. If you ladies would like, I can get permission for you to view it at the palatial manor one day.”
Anastasia’s blood ran cold. Her Spirit Walker , ‘Saber Knight’! She had won possession of that mech from the Coyotes. She had fought a victorious Trial of Possession for the cache it was found in. That victory netted the clan several much needed omnimechs, and also earned her a nomination for the Trial of Bloodright. How did it end up being given to Count Haynes?
The ladies were excited, and chattering away merrily.
“I’m so happy!”
“Did we really just receive an invitation from Sir Larouche to the palatial manor?”
Pence smiled charmingly. “Beautiful ladies such as yourselves are always welcome.”
The ladies practically swooned at his honeyed words.
“We really didn’t expect an invitation since you rarely turn up at gatherings.”
“Haha,” he laughed, “I simply didn’t think I deserved to attend such events, considering my commoner background.”
“Oh my goodness, please don’t say such things. You’re nobility now!”
“That’s right, it doesn’t matter that you were a commoner once, or that you were a Lyran. Isn’t that right, Sir Codina?”
“That’s right. Sir Spencer Larouche is one of us now. The Count himself enfeoffed you.”
Pence smiled deprecatingly, “That means a lot. I’m so touched. I guess I didn’t have to make things so difficult for myself after all.”
Lady Seydoux said, “Yes, of course! By the way, who did that mech belong to?”
Anastasia’s blood ran even colder.
“Oh, just another foolish Smoke Jaguar.” Pence sounded almost dismissive. “But I don’t mind telling you more.”
“Please do!”
“It belonged to a female mechwarrior.” He revealed to gasps of surprise. “Her name was Avryl Showers, she was a Star Captain, if you can even believe it.” He shook his head mockingly.
“Oh, she had a bit of a reputation along the border.” He smirked at Anastasia. “The DCMS troopers called her ‘Black Lotus’. Sort of like you, Lady Kalinska.”
Anastasia raged inwardly, but plastered on a smile. “She was a clan mechwarrior. Hardly fair to compare us, Sir Larouche.”
Oblivious, he nodded, “Of course. My apologies. Anyway, she fought, she died, and that was it.”
The ladies in attendance nodded. “That’s why women shouldn’t meddle in things better left to men.”
“A female mechwarrior? How preposterous!”
Pence grinned, “In all fairness, my ladies, she was not the only one. Female mechwarriors are common outside of Inman, and some of them were legendary. We’ve all heard of the Black Widow Natasha Kerensky, and I’m sure there are many famous ones out there, like the fighters on Solaris.”
He added, “But I have to admit, it does seem better if women did as you all, living beautiful, delicate lives that are befitting of ladies such as yourselves.”
“You’re one to talk, Sir Larouche.” Anastasia could not take it any more, and decided to go on the attack. “Maybe you can share with us some of the details of your exploits in Operation Bulldog.“
“Oh, they’re not worth mentioning.” He parried deftly.
“Really? We can be the judge of that. Clan Smoke Jaguar could not have gone down so easily, not if the might of all the Successor States were needed. You must have some great stories to tell.” She smiled sweetly, but she knew he was not fooled in the least.
“True, it required the might of the new Star League, but the Smoke Jaguars folded faster than anybody thought. Paper Jaguar, would be a better term for them.”
“Then what about Avryl Showers? Did you fight against her?” Anastasia knew that he did not, but she was waiting for him to make a mistake.
“Oh no, not personally, I didn’t.” No, he only shot her in the back. “I do know some did. Viscount Rason crossed paths with her several times, in fact.”
That got a round of surprise from the ladies.
“He did?”
Another mused thoughtfully. “Viscount Rason never talked about his experiences in the war. Even though he was a war hero.”
Ignoring the byplay, Anastasia pressed on. “But for her to get a nickname like that… she must have some skills, right?”
“Well, truthfully she was quite formidable as a mechwarrior.” Pence looked a bit pained at that admission. “But as blinkered as the rest of her clan.”
“What do you mean?” asked Lady Codina.
“In short they were stupid. Fighting to restore the Star League? It always sounded silly to me. As though taking Terra itself means anything. Would the House Lords just buckle under and say, ‘Oh, you got Terra, so we’ll obey you’?” He shrugged. “And the Smoke Jaguars couldn’t even administer their territories competently. They spent so many resources trying to clamp on rebellions that their occupation was a net negative. And if they got even more worlds?”
Pence laughed. “They would have crumbled even faster.” He grinned mirthlessly, “The saddest part about it all was that many of their warriors still thought they were in the right, and Showers was one of the worst amongst them. Sure, she wasn’t involved in the slaughter of civilians, but she blindly trusted her leaders, and in the end she couldn’t even defend her own clan. Probably right up to the moment she died, she was in denial and still thought they could win.”
I could not defend my clan because you shot me in the back! Anastasia narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t the role of soldiers to fight to their last breath for their nation and their cause? If the Federated Commonwealth is near defeat against another foe, will you also turn around and betray it? Go back to the Lyran Alliance where you came from?”
The ladies gasped in shock.
“Oh my goodness!”
“Lady Kalinska! How can you speak like that about the future of the Federated Commonwealth?”
“I knew you had no manners, but I didn’t expect you to go this far!”
“Apologize immediately!”
Pence glowered at her. He knew she was probably still miffed about the incident on Altoona, but he would not know she actually knew about his sordid past. “Rest assured, the sun of the Federated Commonwealth will never set.”
Anastasia rebutted. “I’m sure Avryl Showers thought the same way about her clan. It goes without saying that every warrior and soldier swears service to their faction.” Except for those who hold to clan traditions and are taken as bondsmen, then adopted as abtakha , of course, though both herself and Pence were not supposed to know that. “Is any warrior a fool just because their cause is doomed? Don’t be so quick to insult their judgement and honor!”
Pence scoffed. “Lady Kalinska, do you know how many warriors on both sides died because of her stubbornness? If she had given up sooner, less lives would have been lost.”
Of course she knew. On Tanh Linh alone, her Binary slaughtered more than a regiment of conventional forces over a week of relentless, remorseless combat. She did not even want to think about the number of infantry she killed in her Spirit Walker, configured for anti-infantry work. Then there were the brutal battles on Caripare, Yamarovka…
Pence concluded firmly. “Avryl Showers should never have become a mechwarrior.”
“Sir Larouche!” interjected Vince Codina. “What do ladies know of such matters? Let’s put aside these old stories about a dead clan and move on to other things…”
“It seems you have no sense of honor, Sir Larouche.” Finn spoke up suddenly from his position behind Anastasia’s chair, shocking her with his presence.
“Co… Commander!” stammered Vince, springing to his feet.
Finn said, “The one you should be worried about greeting is behind me.”
“Greetings everybody!” Raymond Haynes popped up behind Finn, unbearably perky.
“Oh, Sir Haynes! What brings you here?” asked Jenia Garcia.
Raymond answered brightly, “Why, for a book, of course! There’s a book that you can only find in hardcover in the Viscount’s library, ‘Passion of a Rose’, so I have to find it! At first glance, it might seem to be just another romance novel, but really it’s a novel that…”
As he rambled on, seemingly oblivious, the ladies whispered amongst themselves.
Selina Seydoux commented softly, “They say Sir Haynes is quite the bookworm.”
“Yes, so I’ve heard. They say he only comes out when he’s looking for rare books… I guess the rumours were true.”
What is going on? Anastasia looked up at Finn, who was smiling slightly at her. Exactly why is Finn here? Is he smiling to just pretend for the sake of our engagement?
And there was one treacherous thought that almost short circuited her brain. And why do I feel so relieved?
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==Chapter Notes==
*; Chapter Note from the Author : I have a series of short notes regarding the battles between Avryl’s Jaguar’s Mists and Finn’s War Pigs. Maybe I’ll even turn it into something like the Fist and Falcon / Wolf and Blake / Sword and Dragon starterbooks. I have pilot profiles on Avryl’s Command Star and Pence Lamongue.The Inner Sphere units on Tanh Linh all proceeded to Kanowit in Wave 1 during Operation Bulldog, which presumably meant there was no mech garrison left behind. Avryl and her Jaguar’s Mists coincidentally hit Tanh Linh at the exact right timing to inflict horrendous casualties on the defenders before Finn arrived to chase them off.Why Finn and his company? Because his unit took so much damage on Bicester fighting off the Jaguar’s Mists raiding/spoiling attack before Bulldog they couldn’t accompany the rest of the 1st Davion Guards during the assault on Port Arthur. So Finn’s company was conveniently left behind on Bicester within two jumps of Tanh Linh to react. Afterwards his unit (the War Pigs) was specifically assigned to hunt down the Jaguar’s Mists, with battles on Caripare and Yamarovka.''Sources: The Dragon Roars scenario packKarna Leaf Tea appeared in the novel Freebirth, where many characters enjoyed it, some more than others (Horse was one of the few who hated it). As to how it got to Inman… the Smoke Jaguars in the OZ brought some of the native flora from Huntress to transplant in the Inner Sphere (everybody likes a small taste of home), so they have some supply. The enclave that moved to Delacambre hence had some, which they unwittingly sold to the naughty ladies, who bought it to play a prank on Anastasia, not knowing she actually liked it.
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Chapter 24