Ocean's Breath Plateau an oyster desires nothing, dear boy

she imagined what it might be like as a woman, to have a man fighting for her heart.
in this case her suitor was obvious but their opponent not so much, and for the first time nazli began to wonder about her origins—notably who her father was, if perhaps he might have lived at the palace as a fellahin like her mother, or was someone who had merely visited and been entertained.
it soured her stomach to think about, and quite suddenly too.

rodyn brought her back to the moment with his sympathy.
i am devoted to the gods, there is no greater calling.
but even as she voiced this, she felt a spark of yearning.