"Physically and mentally drained. Satisfied, with a job successfully completed. But well aware that it could easily have all gone very badly. Lucky. You were feeling lucky to be alive. But too damn tired to enjoy it." - "That's amazing." she said. Her eyes were wide. "How did you read all that?" - "I told you: it's exactly what I was feeling. That was why I felt a ... kinship with you. Then I healed you - that always creates a bond. It works both ways, in case you're wondering. I will always be grateful to Pamna." Aressine blushed. She swept her hair back. For the first time, I realized that she had an exceptionally long neck. Swan-like. I felt the urge to kiss her neck, her throat ... - "And Pamna told you that I was interested in you." she said. - "Don't make too much of that, Aressine. Yes, if I hear that a woman is interested in me, I'm curious ... But if she's ugly as sin, it isn't enough that she likes me. Or, if she'

 Aressine took off her boots, and then undid her belt. Still with her back to me, she slid her pants down, and stood there naked, with her back to me. Her ass was fine, but it was the twin dimples in her lower back, just above her buttocks, which made me smile. Lovely.   She surprised me by turning around to face me. I had expected her to be more modest, more tentative. But Aressine seemed prepared to let me gaze my fill at her naked body.   And what a body.   Her neck was quite long, and only stood out the more because of her powerful shoulders. Her breasts were perfectly proportional, and beautifully shaped. Her stomach rippled with muscle - something I was not accustomed to, on a woman.   She did cover her sex with her hands, but I could admire her well-toned legs. They were strong, but still shapely. Aressine watched me as I ran my eyes over her body, much as she had run her hands over mine. She could tell that I was happy with what I saw.   - "You

 - "I get it. I get it!" Nobody does snarky like an eleven year-old street rat. Especially the female variety. But just for a moment there, I think that Denya understood how worried I was.  "Alright." she conceded. "I'll spread the word."  - "Thank you." I passed her some money. If she and her brother stayed off the streets, they wouldn't have any income.  Then I went to meet Teeshay.  This was going to take careful handling. Since I had last seen her, yesterday, she had sent me into an ambush, which I had avoided by using my telekinesis spell. Had I been stupid enough to knock on the door, blunderbuss-boy would have blown my head off.  Then, that very evening, the same killers had interrupted my tryst with Aressine. Thank goodness she'd been there; I wouldn't have been able to handle all four attackers.  I had to guess at how much of that Teeshay knew. Well, how much Syrava knew. Not for the first time, I wondered why she disliked me so intensely.

Easier said than done: we were still awake hours later, no closer to knowing what to do about Syrava. That was one reason why I changed the subject.- "Taliesine?"- "Yes?"- "Have you ever had an apprentice?"- "Once. It was an error on both our parts, which ended badly."- Have you ever considered taking another? Or possibly tutoring someone?"Taliesine raised a single eyebrow. "Who, Ken? You obviously have a specific person in mind. I have no interest in training one of your paramours, no matter how much financial inducement you offer."- "Paramours? No - she's only 11."- "Eww, Ken!" said Kima.- "No. No! She's not my girlfriend. Her name is Denya. She's a street kid. Part-time thief. She works for me, sometimes - she's the best tracker I've got. Bright, quick-witted, observant ..."- "Why her?" asked Taliesine.- "I worry about her. I want to help her .

- "We've met." said the dark-skinned, dark-eyed asshole that I'd encountered at the Eagle - when he claimed that I was sitting at his table. He'd shaved his head for the occasion. His voice was just as cold, just as expressionless as the first time I'd heard it. "I remember Master Ken." he said. "I remember him very well." Had we been meeting outdoors, I would've been reaching for my pistols. They wouldn't dare to try anything at a party, in a crowd - would they? Pirate Lord Rymogo extricated me from what might have become an awkward situation. She threw an arm around my shoulder, and shouted in my ear. - "Ken! I was looking for you!" Then she pretended to catch sight of Jerian's party. "Jerian." she said, coolly. - "Rymogo." he answered, equally cool. "You know my wife, Cremyne." Then he had to introduce the rest of his party. They were - understandably - much more polite to old Rymogo than they'd been