“I’m sorry, my lady,” said Geric, rubbing his arm. “But I failed to force an apology out of the offending goose.”

“I, Geric-Sinath of Gerhard, declare that you're beautiful and you're perfect and I'll slay any man who tries to take you from my side. Goose girl, may I kiss you?”

“Does anyone smell roasting meat?' said Razo, 'Oh, wait, it's just Geric's face.”

“Geric," she called.He turned back around."What kind of flowers were they?""I don't rightly know," he said. He made faltering gestures with his hands, forming their size and shape from the air. "They were yellow, and smallish, and had lots of petals.""Thank you," she said. "They were beautiful.”

“...'Goose girl, may I kiss you?' She answered by... kissing him first.”

“This morning, Tegus welcomed me again with an arm clasp and cheek touch. I wasn't startled this time, and I breathed in at his neck. How can I describe the scent of his skin? He smells something like cinnamon-- brown and dry and sweet and warm. Ancestors, is it wrong for me to imagine laying my head on his chest and closing my eyes and breathing in his smell?”

“I was sorry to lose it, and if you make me another one, I promise not to get taken captive by bandits and have to use it to save my life.”