Safely up in her own room within the Comfy Cottage, Kezia surveyed the
damage to her party dress and jacket, before tying her dressing gown around
her waist and heading down the hallway to the laundry room - she was pretty
sure the stains wouldn't come out, but soaking the garments overnight in
cold water would at least stop them from becoming even worse.  Thank
goodness she was dealing with synthetics!

As she ran the cold water into the sink, she wondered if she ought to leave
matters as they stood.  Suddenly that little voice started up again:  Uncle
may well approve of standing by your companions in war, but he'd certainly
seek... payback!  She considered the matter, and decided a little bit of
payback never hurt anyone.  Only what to do?...

Then she remembered Kyer was planning to 'borrow' Nick's priceless medieval
surcoat.  Well, two could play at that game!  Only, it wasn't smart to get
caught...

Returning to her room, she headed for the make up remover and as she did so,
she noticed the carrier bag beside her dressing table, bearing the legend
"Thornton's: Chocolate Heaven Since 1911".  She smiled in anticipation as
she sing-songed the phrase to herself, wondering which to choose first: the
Capucchino in White Chocolate, the Cherry in Dark Chocolate, or no.... her
personal favourite, the Vienna Butter Truffle, with two types of milk
chocolate.

Suddenly she stopped wiping off eyeshadow as inspiration struck!  War
currency!  That's why she'd bought so much of Thornton's Continental
Chocolate with her.... and it solved the question of how not to get caught!

Sneaking quietly down two flights of stairs, she snuck into the basement and
headed for the computer room, where she was soon into her trusty - and
untraceable - hotmail account, and sending off a cryptic message to Sara
Orel, Merc House Mother.

After breakfast (because by the time Kez got to bed, she could hardly say
"next morning"...), she casually commented that it really was past time she
went and checked her emails, or her Hotmail box would be overflowing.
Success, she'd had her contract accepted.  Just then, Kyer announced they
were going to the Loft - hastily, Kezia mailed details off to Sara,
suggesting that perhaps she could dress as a Ratpacker  - nothing like
getting the blame shifted elsewhere!