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~~((The 7th Anniversary Special -- page 18 of 24?!))~~
He also remembered grabbing a mirror during the worm fight, but sadly, Hector had no idea what happened to it. He must've dropped it at some point in all the confusion. He didn't recall having it during the rather bumpy "flight" back to Warrenhold from Rathmore's Gate, so he figured that it probably hadn't even made the trip back to Atreya in the first place.

"If they are getting close to their target," said Horatio, "then I would like to give the boys more time. Perhaps another week, and then we can reassess their progress. If it seems as if they have hit a wall, then I will recall them."

Evangelina Stroud folded her arms. "Like Mevox said, it is your decision. If you truly have faith in that silly little frat party of yours, then so be it."

Hector remembered the Lady Stroud being one of the two most vocal opponents to sending the Blackburn triplets to Vantalay. And her stance had not been without justification, either. Those three dudes had been... an interesting bunch, to say the least.

'Well, "faith" may be a strong word for it,' said Sentsia, 'but if nothing else, I think this is a good opportunity for them to prove themselves. When it comes down to it, they are reliable.'

"For their own sake, let us hope so," said Zeff. He'd been the other opponent.

Horatio nodded. "It's settled, then. The Ridgemark team will stay on task for one more week." He breathed a long breath and settled deeper into his chair. "Which means that they cannot be assigned to the Sair team."

Grumbles of acknowledgment rolled across the conference table, and the discussion returned to exactly the same place it had been before Hector interrupted.

After a while, Hector began to have trouble keeping his eyes open. It seemed like the heads were going to keep discussing this well into the morning, if they had to.

Not having anything else to say, Hector decided to leave them to it. He wasn't about to argue with whoever they ultimately chose for the job, anyway.