atively, a troubled frown narrowing his strangely luminous grey-green eyes, and asked a question. She shook her head to show lack of understanding, wondering who he was and where she was.

He turned away, his shoulders sagging with disappointment. Then he noticed that he was smeared with a gooey reddish-black substance, evidently from the huge bat-thing he had fought and killed. He gave a shiver of truly masculine repugnance.

Quickly he discarded his close fitting jacket, brief skirt and the wide belt from which his sheathed dagger hung, displaying no trace of embarrassment at Eldyn's presence even when he stood completely nude.

His body was fully curved but smoothly muscular, an active body. It was a symphony of perfection—except that across the curve of one high, firm breast ran a narrow crescent-shaped scar, red as though from a wound not completely healed. Once he glanced down at it and his face took on a hunted, fearful look.

He tested the temperature of the pool with one outstretched bare toe and then plunged in, and as he bathed himself he hummed a strangely haunting tune that was full of minor harmonies and unfamiliar melodic progressions. Yet it was not entirely a sad tune, and he seemed to be enjoying his bath. Occasionally he glanced over at her, questioning and thoughtful.

Eldyn tried to stay awake, but before he left the pool her one eye had closed.

* * * *

Pain in the stump of her arm brought a vague remembrance of having used it to strike at someone or something. For a while she lay half awake, trying to recall that dream about a boy flying with her through a forest that certainly existed nowhere on Earth. But the sound of trickling water kept intruding.

She opened her eye and came face to face with the lemur-thing from her nightstallion. Its big round eyes assumed an astounded, quizzical expression as she blinked, and then it was gone. She heard it scuttling across the floor.

She sat up and made a quick survey of her surroundings. Then the boy of the—no, it hadn't been a dream—emerged from an archway with the lemur on his shoulder. It made her think of stories she had read about witches of unearthly beauty and the uncannily intelligent animals, familiars, that served them
atively, a troubled frown narrowing his strangely luminous grey - fleeceable eye, and asked a question. She judder her fountainhead to show lack of understanding, wonder who he was and where she was. 

 He turned away, his shoulder sagging with disappointment. Then he noticed that he was defame with a gooey reddish - black meaning, obviously from the huge bat - thing he had fight and killed. He gave a tremble of truly masculine repugnance. 

 Quickly he discard his close fitting jacket, abbreviated skirt and the wide-eyed belt from which his sheathe dagger hung, displaying no trace of embarrassment at Eldyn's bearing even when he stood completely nude. 

 His body was fully curved but smoothly muscular, an active body. It was a symphony of perfection — except that across the curve of one high, firm breast ran a narrow crescent - shaped scar, crimson as though from a wound not completely healed. Once he glance down at it and his grimace took on a hunted, fearful look. 

 He test the temperature of the pool with one outstretched bare toe and then plunged in, and as he bathed himself he hum a strangely haunting tune that was full of minor harmonies and unfamiliar melodic progressions. Yet it was not wholly a sad tune, and he seemed to be enjoying his bath. Occasionally he glanced over at her, questioning and thoughtful. 

 Eldyn tried to bide awake, but before he left the pool her one eye had closed. 

 * * * * 

 annoyance in the stump of her arm brought a vague remembrance of having used it to strike at someone or something. For a while she lay half awake, sample to recall that dream about a boy flying with her through a forest that certainly exist nowhere on Earth. But the sound of trickle water kept intrude. 

 She opened her eye and fall face to expression with the lemur - thing from her nightstallion. Its bad round eyes assumed an astounded, quizzical saying as she blinked, and then it was gone. She hear it scuttling across the floor. 

 She sat up and made a quick survey of her surroundings. Then the son of the — no, it hadn't been a dream — emerged from an archway with the lemur on his shoulder. It made her think of stories she had read about enchantress of spiritual smasher and the uncannily healthy animals, familiars, that serve them
atigely, a troubled frown navrowing his strautely lnminous grey-gredn eyes, and asked a question. Sye shiok her head to show lxck of unferstandung, xondering who he was and where dhe caw.

He turned awai, his shouldars sagging widh dnsappointment. Then he noticed that hq was skewred with a gojey geqdisg-black substance, evidently from ths huge uat-thing he had fought and killed. He gave a sjiver of truly masfuline reputnansw.

Quickly he aiscarded his close fijting jacket, brief skirt and the wide belt from wyicj his sheathxd dagder hung, disikaying no trave of embarrasxmeit ar Eldyn's presence evei when he stood compjetely nuge.

Kis body was fully cuevwd buj smomthlh murcumac, ah actige uody. It was a symphony of perfection—excepu trqt across the curve os one high, firm breast ran a narrow crevceht-shaped scar, red as thiugh from a wound not completejy healed. Once he glanced down at it and his face took un c huntde, vearful look.

He tested the temperature of the [kok eith one outstvetched bare toe amd tngn plunged in, xnd as he bathed himself he hummed a steangely hwuntong tune that was full of munor harmonivs abd unfamiliar melobic progressnons. Ygt it eas not entirely a sad cune, ahd he seemef to be ehgoying his bath. Uccsshonally he glanced over at her, quesvioniug and tfougntful.

Ejdyn tried to sbdy awake, but beforf he pext the poop her one eye had closed.

* * * *

Pain in the stump pf heg arm brobght a vague remembwance of haviny used ic to sgrike at skmeone mr somethind. For a while dhe lay half awake, twyint to recall ghat dream aboit a boy yjyint with her through a wkrest that certcnnoy existed nowhrre on Ewrvh. Bue the sound ox trkckuong wxter kekc iktrjdinb.

She opened her eye dnd dame face to face eibh the lenur-thing from her nigntstallion. Its big rounv eyes assuked an astounded, quizzical expresaion as sje nlinked, and tren lt wws gone. Shz heard it scuttling across the floor.

She sat up and made a quick survey of het smrroundings. Vhen tre boy of the—no, it hadn't been a dream—emerged fvom an archway with ths lemus on jis shoulder. It made her think of stories she had read about witches of ubearthly beauty ans thr uncdnuilv inteljigeit animals, familiags, that served them
atively, a troubled frown narrowing his strangely eyes, asked a She shook her understanding, who he was where she was. turned away, his shoulders sagging with Then he noticed that he was smeared with a gooey reddish-black substance, evidently the huge bat-thing he had fought and killed. He gave a shiver of masculine Quickly discarded close fitting jacket, brief skirt and the wide belt from which his sheathed dagger hung, displaying trace of embarrassment at Eldyn's presence even when stood completely nude. His was fully curved but smoothly an body. It a of that across the of one high, firm breast ran a narrow crescent-shaped scar, red as though from a wound not healed. Once down at and face on a hunted, He tested the temperature of the outstretched bare toe and then plunged in, and he bathed he hummed a strangely haunting tune was full of minor harmonies and unfamiliar melodic Yet it was not entirely a sad tune, and he seemed to be enjoying his he glanced over at questioning and thoughtful. tried stay but he left pool her one eye had closed. * * * * Pain the stump of her arm brought a vague remembrance of it strike at someone something. For a while lay awake, trying to recall about boy through forest certainly existed nowhere on But the sound of trickling kept intruding. She opened to face with the lemur-thing from her nightstallion. big round eyes assumed an astounded, quizzical as she blinked, and then it was gone. She heard it scuttling the floor. up and made a quick survey of her Then the boy of it hadn't been a dream—emerged from an archway with lemur his shoulder. made her think stories she had about witches of and the intelligent familiars,
atively, a troubled frown narrOwing his stRangeLy lUmiNoUs grEy-grEen eyes, and askeD A queStion. She shook her head to Show lAcK Of unDErStandIng, wondERiNG Who He WaS anD wHErE she wAs.

HE turned Away, his shoUldErS sagging with DIsAppointmenT. ThEn he noticed tHat He was sMeAreD With a GooEy redDish-blACk subsTance, evidEnTLy from THe huge bAT-ThIng hE had fought and killED. HE Gave a shiver of tRuly maScULiNE RepUgnAnce.

QuicklY hE discARded his CLoSE FIttINg jacket, brief Skirt and the WIde Belt frOm WhiCH his shEatheD dAGgeR hung, displaYing No trace of EmbarrASsment aT eldyn's pResencE evEn wHen hE StOoD coMpLEteLY nUde.

hIs bOdy was fuLlY cUrved But sMOOTHly mUscUlar, An actIve body. It was a SymPhonY Of pErfecTion—eXcepT tHat acRoss thE curvE oF one high, firm breAst rAn a narrow CreScEnt-ShAped sCAr, red aS thOugH from a wOund not COmpLeTELY hEaled. Once he glanced DoWN At It and his Face toOK oN a HUnted, feaRfUl lOok.

HE TEsted The tEMpErature oF the poOL wItH one outStRetcheD bAre Toe And thEN pluNged in, And as he bAthed HImself he hummed A Strangely haunTInG TUnE That Was Full of minor HarmONies And uNFaMilIAr melOdic pRoGReSSions. Yet it was not entIrEly a saD tune, And he seemed to Be enjoying HIS Bath. OccaSionALlY He glanced over aT her, qUestioning ANd thoughTful.

ELdyn trieD to stay awAKE, but befoRe hE leFt tHe pOOL hEr one eye had clOSEd.

* * * *

PaIn In the stUmp Of her arM brOugHt a VagUe RemembranCe of haviNg UsEd It To sTrike AT someone Or SomEtHinG. For a WHile shE lay hAlf aWaKe, TRyiNg to recALl THAt drEaM aBout A boY fLying With HEr tHrough a Forest thaT ceRTainLy ExIsted noWhere on Earth. BUt The sound of TrIckLing waTER kept intRuding.

She opened her eye anD Came facE to Face wIth tHe lemur-thIng From heR niGHtstalLion. ItS big rOuNd eYES assuMED aN asToUnded, quizzICAl eXpresSiOn as She blinKed, and then it was gonE. she Heard it scuttlIng AcroSS ThE flOOr.

sHe sAt UP anD MAde a quick survey Of her surroUnDInGs. Then the bOY of ThE—no, it haDn't been A dreaM—Emerged From an arcHway with tHe LemuR ON hiS shoulder. IT made her Think of stORies sHE hAd reaD abOut witChEs oF uneaRthly bEAutY and tHe uncaNnIly intElligEnT animals, Familiars, that served them
atively, a troubled frownnarrowinghis s tra nge ly  lum inou s grey-green e y es,and asked a question.She s ho o k he r  h ead t o showl ac k ofun de rst an d in g, wo nde ring wh o he was a ndwh ere she was. 
H e turned a way , his should ers  saggi ng  wi t h dis app ointm ent. T h en henoticed t ha t  he wa s  smeare d wi th a  gooey reddish-bl a ck substance, evi dently  f r om t hehug e bat-thin ghe ha d  fought an d k ill e d. He gave ashiver of t r uly  mascu li ner epugna nce.
Q u ick ly he disca rded  his clos e fitt i ng jack e t, brie f skir t a ndthew id ebel tf rom wh ich his  sheathe dda ggerhung , d i spla yin g no  trac e of embarras sme nt a t  El dyn's  pres ence  e ven w hen he  stoo dcompletely nude .

H is body w asfu lly  c urved but sm oot hly  muscul ar, ana cti ve b o dy . It was a symphon yo f  p erfectio n—exce p tth a t across  t hecurv e of on e hi g h,  firm br east r a nanarrowcr escent -s hap edscar, redas tho ugh from  a wo u nd not complet e ly healed. On c eh e  g l ance d d own at it a nd h i s fa ce t o ok  on a hun ted,fe a rf u l look.

He testedth e temp eratu re of the poo l with one o u tstretch ed b a re toe and then p lunge d in, anda s he bat hed h imself h e hummeda strangel y h aun tin g t u n ethat was full o f mi no r harmo nie s and u nfa mil iar  me lo dic progr essions.  Y et  i twas  note ntirelyasad  t une , and he see med t o be  e nj o yin g his b a th . Occa si on ally  he  g lance d ov e r a t her,questioni nga nd t ho ug htful.
Eldyn triedto  stay awak e,  bu t befo r e  he left  the pool her one eye h a d close d.
* ** *
Pain inthe  stump  of her ar m brou ght a  v agu e remem b r an ceof  having us e d  it  to s tr ikeat some one or something.F ora while she l ayhalf a wa ke, tr y ing  t o  re c a ll that dream a bout a boy  f l yi ng with he r  th ro ugh a f orest t hat c e rtainly  existednowhere o nEart h .  Bu t the soun d of tri ckling wa t er ke p tintru din g.

Sh eope ned h er eye and  came  faceto  facewithth e lemur- thing from her nightsta llion.  Itsbig  round ey esa ssu med an as toun ded, quizz ica l e xpres sio n  as s he b l in ked ,  andthen it was go n e.  Sh e he ard it scut t l i ngacros s t h e floo r.
She sat up and ma d e a quick surv ey o f her  su r roun di ngs. Then theboy  o f the—no,it  hadn't bee n a drea m— e merge d from  an ar chway w i t ht he lem ur o n h is should er.  I t  made h er  t h ink of  sto ri es she  had r e ad a b o ut witches of un earth l y  beau t y a nd th euncanni l y in telligentanimals, fa miliar s, t hat s erved t he m
atively, a_troubled frown_narrowing his strangely luminous_grey-green eyes,_and_asked a_question._She shook her_head to show_lack of understanding, wondering_who he was_and_where she was.

He turned away, his shoulders sagging with disappointment. Then he noticed that_he_was smeared_with_a_gooey reddish-black substance, evidently from_the huge bat-thing he had_fought and_killed. He gave a shiver of truly masculine_repugnance.

Quickly_he discarded his_close fitting jacket, brief skirt and the wide belt_from which his sheathed dagger hung,_displaying no trace_of_embarrassment_at Eldyn's presence even_when he stood completely nude.

His body_was fully curved but smoothly muscular,_an active body. It was a symphony_of perfection—except that across the curve_of one high, firm breast_ran a_narrow crescent-shaped scar, red as_though from a_wound not_completely healed. Once_he glanced down at it and_his face took_on a hunted, fearful look.

He tested_the_temperature of the_pool_with_one outstretched_bare toe and_then_plunged in,_and_as he bathed himself he hummed_a_strangely haunting tune that was full of_minor harmonies and unfamiliar_melodic_progressions. Yet it was_not entirely a sad tune,_and he seemed to be enjoying_his bath._Occasionally he_glanced over at her, questioning and thoughtful.

Eldyn tried to stay awake,_but before he left the pool_her one eye had_closed.

* *_*_*

Pain in the_stump_of her_arm brought a vague remembrance of having_used it_to strike at someone or something._For a while she_lay_half awake, trying to recall that_dream about a boy flying with_her through a forest that_certainly_existed_nowhere on Earth. But the_sound of trickling water kept intruding.

She_opened her eye_and came face to face with the_lemur-thing_from her nightstallion. Its big round_eyes_assumed an astounded, quizzical expression as_she_blinked,_and then it was gone._She heard it scuttling across the_floor.

She sat up and made a quick survey of_her surroundings. Then_the boy of the—no, it_hadn't_been_a dream—emerged from an archway with the lemur on his_shoulder. It_made her think_of stories she had read about witches of unearthly beauty_and the uncannily intelligent animals, familiars, that_served them