Ayrie followed his lead and began picking at the fish, dipping it carefully in the sauce as she ate. It was just as delicious as the rest of the food had been, but by now she was truly getting full. As she began eating less and less her mind started wandering, first to her sheilds and then to the many questions she wanted to ask him.

She settled for studying him as he ate, her eyes drawn to the opening of his robe at his chest. There she could see the line of more markings like the ones on his arm. As she filled up she stretched out on the pillows, leaning back on her arms lengthwise beside the table. She didn't notice because she was looking at him, but the hem of her skirt had slid up higher on her thighs as she did so, and a small birthmark shaped like a lantern was visible just above her knee.