“It’s…it’s not a decision,” she said. “We were just kissing.”

In the darkness, with no touch joining them, he seemed very far away from her. “Just kissing?” he asked her. “Or just teasing?” He crossed his arms on his chest. She could barely see him in the dimness.

“I wasn’t teasing,” she said defensively. More quietly she added, “I wasn’t thinking about what we were doing.”

For a time, he was quiet. Her body still tingled from his touch. She thought of stepping closer to him, of letting him resume where he had left off. Perhaps he was thinking the same thing, for he suddenly said, “Thymara. Yes or no?”

She didn’t have to think about it. She forced herself to speak quickly before she could change her mind. “No, Tats. It’s still no.”

He turned and walked back to the bonfire, leaving her alone in the darkness.

Day the 3rd of the Gold Moon

Year the 6th of the Independent Alliance of Traders

From Detozi, Keeper of the Birds, Trehaug

To Erek, Keeper of the Birds, Bingtown

Enclosed, the formal invitation for all Rain Wild Traders and Bingtown Traders to attend the upcoming Harvest Festival Ball in the Rain Wild Traders’ Concourse at Trehaug. To be widely posted and to be duplicated and personally delivered to the Traders listed within.

Erek,