She looked into her cup, turned around , and
started to walk off.
80 "I did not say I wanted you to leave," said Thundering Dove. "Why
should a man want an uncut stone, when he is offered a cut and polished
gem of exceptional value?"
81 Bay Blossom turned and faced him. her smile was one of confusion,
joy, and sorrow, all rolled into one. She walked back to Thundering
Dove, took the goblet from his hand, and sat it on the tray with her
own. Then, she took his hand and led him to the bed, blowing out the
lamp as she passed.
82 In the morning, when Thundering Dove woke he found her gone. He
rose, slipped on his sleeping robe, and found the door to her room
open. She was already dressed, and was fastening the straps on her leg
armor.
83 "You're a sound sleeper!" she remarked. "I knew you were tired, so I
let you rest a while. Your clothes and armor are on the bed. Do you
want your aide to help you?"
84 "I can dress myself," snapped Thundering Dove. He slipped off his
night clothes and began to dress. Her watching him didn't seem to
bother at all.
85 "There's two closets in this room," she continued, "do you want
to keep your things in here, or for appearance sake, do you want to
keep separate rooms?"
86 "My things," answered Thundering Dove, "will go where they belong.
And what is between us is our own business. Once we take this armor
off, we're just ordinary people. What we do once that door is
shut, is nobody else's business. Lords help the man OR woman that
thinks it is!"
87 "What shall I call you?" asked Bay Blossom.
88 "In public, my title, Warlock Commander. Do not even use my name.
But in private, any of those sweet little things you called me last
night!"