Honeyed Pasture [M] bargaining chip

It seemed that he would. Aureli needed no more convincing than this before he began laving her with attention — clearly, she knew what she was doing. Far be it from him to imagine some moral high ground and hold them both to it.

He was well accustomed to making these excuses, by now. Aureli had found over and over again that he was not a man without vices.

It was a long while before he spoke again. But, if allowed, he was happy enough to remain for more than a day — though not, perhaps, more than three or four. He had his vows, after all, and an apprentice to seek out. Perhaps, if they turned out to have the right temperament, he would even take on a student produced by this union.

"Where is the Burning Sea?" he asked her when they were not otherwise occupied. His voice was tired and hoarse, but he still seemed vital enough where he was stretched out nearby, languid and content.