“She was sitting in a garden more beautiful than even her rampaging imagination could ever have conjured up, and she was being serenaded by trees.”

“The trees sang their approval. Ruith cocked an ear and listened to them for a moment or two, smiled faintly, then continued on his way toward her. Sarah felt her breath catch, again. She wondered if there would ever come a day when she could look at him and yawn.”

“Have you ever known there was something you needed to do, but found yourself dreading it with everything you were?" "Once or twice," he said."What did you do?"Runach looked at her steadily. "I did what needed to be done.""Was the price steep?""Very."Aisling clutched her own bow, wishing her task was nothing more than learning to place an arrow where she wanted it to land. "Did you ever want to run?" She whispered.He smiled, but it was a pained smile. "I'm not sure I want to answer that." "Do you think Heroes ever want to run...?""Only if they come from Neroche."She blinked, then smiled.”

“Ruith?"He looked at her with a smile. "Aye, my love?""Are you sure?"He looked at her, puzzled, for a moment, then apparently he realized what she was asking. "How could you ask?""Because when a gel wants something very badly, she tends to want to avoid breaking her heart over the false hope of having it."His breath caught. If she hadn't known better, she would have thought he was blinking rapidly from something besides the smoke the passageway.”

“He walked down the passageway with her and cursed silently. Obviously, he'd grossly overestimated his appeal. Perhaps he should have taken her at her word at Gobhann when she reminded him that she had no use for mages. Perhaps he should have realized sooner that she - ...had reached behind his back and taken his hand.”

“(Background: Morgan is a female warrior looking for a fight. Adhémar is your garden variety male.)A man near the door leered at her. Adhémar immediately stepped in front of her, but Morgan pushed him aside. She looked at the man and smiled pleasantly. Ah, something to take her mind off her coming journey."Did you say something?" she asked."Aye," he said, "I asked it you were occupied tonight, but I can see you have a collection of lads here to keep you busy—"Adhémar apparently couldn't control his chivalry. He took the man by the front of the shirt and threw him out the door. The man crawled to his feet and started bellowing. Adhémar planted his fist into the man's face.The stranger slumped to the ground, senseless. Morgan glared at Adhémar."You owe me a brawl," she said."What?" he asked incredulously."A brawl," Morgan said. "And it had best be a good one.""With me?" he asked, blinking in surprise."I'd prefer someone with more skill, that I might not sleep through it, but you'll do."Paien laughed out loud and pulled him away."Adhémar, my friend, you cannot win this one. Next time, allow Morgan her little pleasures. She cannot help the attention her face attracts, and thus she has opportunities to teach ignorant men manners. In truth, it is a service she offers, bettering our kind wherever she goes.”

“Say me aye," he whispered against her mouth. "Say me aye." How could she say anything else?”