Chapter 1: Uneasiness
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Merine was doubtful.
	After being herded into one of the few remaining houses in
Kohlingen, the townspeople heard the two leaders speak.  Merine had been
very surprised and hurt when she had learnt that  one of her own
childhood friends, Sascha, was one the head honchos.
	<How could she?> she thought, tears in her eyes.  <Sascha used to
be gentle... not to mention sensible.  It must be that horrid man, Afkek.
Who knows what he could've done with her, with all that technology he
had?  I have to help her.>
	Up to the point Sascha burst out crying, Merine had been deep in
thought and regret.  She snapped to attention.  She felt uncomfortable
when they started speaking of rebuilding the town again.  In fact, Merine
felt uncomfortable with the whole thing.
	<Wouldn't it have been cheaper to come, warn us and spend much
needed money on troops to attack Figaro, rather than to barge in, destroy
the town and then warn us?>
	Murmurs of approval went throughout the crowd.
	"That Sascha, I always knew she would come out successful."
	"No you didn't.  But I always had faith in her.  I told her the
night before she left, 'Go child, and show the Kohlingen spirit!'"
	The squabble raged on between the two old ladies, at least until
the crowd started cheering.  They had to give up; it was too noisy.
	Despite the happiness of the once angered crowd, Merine still
felt uneasy.  But there was this force in the back of her mind, pushing
her to realize that they told the truth.  That if she went with them, she
would view triumph. But the conscious part of Merine's mind was stronger;
she continued being queasy.

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	In the charred ruins of her house, Merine had found some items
that had survived the menacing fire.  Among the items she found included
her fire proof safe, much burnt armor and, to Merine's relief, her
mother's sword. Other than the few thousand gold in the safe, these were
all the remaining Mersens' possessions.