Some people out there might have said that Harry Dresden has a little too much backbone. Harry Dresden was one of those people. A little less backbone might have saved him a lot of trouble in the past, and maybe another half hour of sleep this morning.

"Okay." He figured he'd stayed sitting long enough for the order to get up to considered suitably dismissed. Clapping his hands on his knees he stood, giving the older Mage an entirely insincere smile. "Well, you can go ahead and tell the Mage Council that I'm just all aquiver with fright and we can all get back to ignoring each other, and maybe get some breakfast. Or lunch. Or both."

He started toward where his coat hung from a hook by the door then paused for a moment, thoughtfully, then his eyebrows raised and he gave a little nod.

"Lunkfast."