She found out. It was fascinating to watch. Even from the oblique angle of view down here she could see his expression grow so inward it might have been a trance. For a moment, she wondered if levitation were a Lakewalker magical skill, for he seemed about to rise off the bed.

“Are you all right?” she asked anxiously, when his body stopped shuddering. “Your forehead got all wrinkled up funny there for a minute, when your, um, back curved up like that.”

His hand waved while he regained his breath; his eyes stayed squeezed shut, but finally opened again. “Sorry, what? Sorry. Was waiting for all those white sparks on the insides of my eyelids to finish exploding. That wasn’t something to miss.”

“Does that often happen?”

“No. No, indeed.”

“Are you all right?” she repeated.

His grin lit his face like a streak of fire. “All right? I think I’m downright astounding.” From an angle of attack that would seem to allow, at best, a wallow, he lunged up and wrapped both arms around her, and dragged her back down to his chest, heedless of the mess they’d made. It was his turn to kiss her face all over. Laughter turned to accidental touching, to—

“Dag, you’re ticklish.”

“No, I’m not. Or only in certain aiee!” When he got his breath back, he added, “You’re fiendish, Spark. I like that in a woman. Gods. I haven’t laughed this much in…I can’t remember.”

“I like how you giggle.”

“I was not giggling. That would be undignified in a man of my years.”

“What was that noise, then?”

“Chortling. Yes, definitely. Chortling.”

“Well,” she decided, “it looks good on you. Everything looks good on you.” She sat up on her elbow and let her gaze travel the long route down his body and back. “Nothing looks good on you, too. It’s most unfair.”

“Oh, as if you aren’t sitting there looking, looking…”

“What?” she breathed, sinking back into his grip.

“Naked. Edible. Beautiful. Like spring rain and star fire.”

He drew her in again; their kisses grew longer, lazier. Sleepier. He made a great effort, and reached out and turned off the lamp. Soft summer-night air stirred the curtains. He flung the sheet up and let it settle over them. She cuddled into his arm, pressing her ear to his chest, and closed her eyes.

To the ends of the world, she thought, melting into deeper darkness.

12

Dag spent the radiant summer dawn proving beyond doubt to Fawn that her last night’s first-in-a-lifetime experience needn’t be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When they woke from the ensuing sated nap, it was midmorning. Dag seriously considered the merits of lying low till the patrols had taken their planned departure, but unexpectedly sharp hunger drove both him and Fawn to rise, wash, dress, and go see if breakfast was still to be had downstairs.