I led Thick away from the main door. We approached the mothershouse from behind, past the stone walls and hedges that confined the sheep. Around the corner of a shed, the Prince was

waiting for us near some bushes beside the privies. He shifted restlessly as he watched us approach, and I sensed his impatience. I lifted a silent hand to him to gesture to him to join us in the concealment of the hedge. Then:

Don't come to me. Stand still. No, hide. Or go away.

I halted, confused by the Prince's sudden command. And then I saw what had rattled him. Elliania wore a cloak over her nightgown as she leaned out from the door and glanced around. I barely had time to put a hand on Thick's chest and urge him back out of sight behind the hedge-line. The little man angrily slapped my hand from his chest. 'I heard him,' he complained to me as I shushed him in vain.

We have to be very quiet, Thick. The Prince doesn't want Elliania to know we are here.

Why not?

He just doesn't, that's all. We need just to hide here and be very quiet. I crouched down on the earth behind the hedge and patted the ground by me invitingly. Thick, hunched in the greyness, scowled down at me. I longed simply to take him home but I was sure Elliania would hear his shuffling tread if we tried to leave. It was better to wait. Surely she wouldn't be long. She probably only needed to use the back house. I peered around the trunks of the hedge through a gap in the branches. Come join us here before she sees you, I Skill-suggested to the Prince.

No. She's seen me. Go away. I'll talk to you later. Then, disbelieving, I felt him raise his Skill-walls against me. He had grown stronger. It was by the Wit that I sensed him, poised and quivering in her steady-eyed regard as she came to him in the dusky light of^ a sun that scraped along the edge of the horizon, refusing to set.

I felt a lurch of dismay as I saw how swiftly she went to him and how close she stood to him in the dimness. This was not the first time these two had met clandestinely. I wanted to turn my eyes away and yet I stared avidly, peering at them through the bushes. Her words barely reached me. 'I heard the door open and close, and when I looked out of the window, I saw you waiting here.'

'I couldn't sleep.' He reached out as if to take her hands, but then dropped his hands back to his sides. I felt more than saw the sharp glance he sent my direction.

Go away. I'll speak to you tomorrow. His Skill-sending was tight and small. I doubted that even Thick was aware of it. Royal command was in his tone. He expected me to obey him.

I cant. You know this is dangerous. Send her back to her room, Dutiful.

I had no sense that he had received my thought. He had closed himself off to focus only on the girl. Behind me, Thick stood up, yawning and gaping. 'I'm going back,' he announced sleepily.

Sshh. No. We have to stay here and be very quiet. Don't talk out loud. I peered at the young couple anxiously, but if Elliania had heard Thick, she gave no sign. I wondered uneasily where Peottre was, and what he would do to Dutiful if he found them together like this.

Thick sighed heavily. He crouched back down, and then sat flat on the ground. This is stupid. 1 want to go back to bed.

Elliania glanced down at Dutiful's hands at his side, and then, cocking her head, looked up at his face. 'So. Who arc you waiting for?' Her eyes narrowed. 'Lestra? Did she invite you to meet her here?'

A very odd smile appeared on Dutiful's face. Was he pleased that he had pricked her to jealousy? He spoke more softly than she did, but I could watch his lips form the words. 'Lestra? Why would I wait by moonlight for Lestra?'

'There is no moon tonight,' Elliania pointed out sharply. 'And as for why Lestra, why, because she would willingly give you her body to use as you wished. More for the sake of spiting me than because she found you handsome.'

He crossed his arms on his chest. I wondered if he did so to hold in his satisfaction or to keep from taking her in his arms. She was slender as a willow, and her night braids fell to her hips. 1 could almost smell the warmth of her rising up to him. 'So. Do you think she rinds me handsome?'

'Who knows? She likes odd things. She has a cat with a crooked tail and too many toes. She thinks it's pretty.' She shrugged. 'But she would tell you that you were handsome, simply to win you.'

'Would she? But perhaps I don't want Lestra to win me. She is pretty, but perhaps I don't want Lestra at all,' he suggested to her.

All the night held its breath as she looked up at him. I saw the rise and fall of her breasts as she took a deeper breath, daring herself. 'Then what do you want?' she asked, soft as a breeze-He didn't try to take her in his arms. I think she would have resisted that. Instead, he freed one hand from his crossed arms and with the tip of one finger, lifted her chin. He leaned forward, bending down to take the kiss he stole from her. Stole? But she did not flee. Instead, she rose on her toes as only their mouths touched in the soft dimness.

I felt a lecherous old man, sprawled in the darkness of the hedge, spying on them. I knew he plunged himself into danger, that they both took foolish chances, but my heart leapt at the thought that my lad might know love as well as an arranged marriage. When their kiss finally broke, I hoped he would send her back to her bedchamber. I wanted him to have this moment, but I also knew that I'd have to intervene if it looked as if their experiment was going to venture past a kiss. I cringed at the thought, but steeled myself to the necessity of it.

With dread, I heard her breathless question. 'A kiss. That was all you wanted?'

'It is all I'll take now,' he countered. His chest was rising and falling as if he'd run a race. Til wait until I've earned more to take more.'

An uncertain smile crossed her face. 'You need not earn it if I choose to give myself to you.'

'But . . . you said you would not be my wife until I brought you the dragon's head.'

'In my land, a woman gives herself where she will. It is different from being married. Or a wife, as you call it. Once a girl is a woman, she can-take whatever man she wishes into her bedskins. It does not mean she is wed to each of them.' She glanced aside and added carefully, 'You would be my first. Some consider that more special than to he vowed to one another. It would not make me your wife, of course. I will not be wife or wedded to you until you have brought the dragon's head here, to my mothershouse.'

'I would like you to be my first, as well,' Dutiful said carefully. Then, as if uttering the words were as difficult as dragging a tree up by the roots, he added, 'But not now. Not until I've done what I've said I'd do.'

She was shocked, but not that he would keep his promise. 'Your first? Truly? You've known no woman yet?'

It took him a long moment to admit it. 'It is the custom of my land, though not all follow it. To wait until we are wed.' He spoke stiffly, as if fearing she would mock him for his chastity.

'I would like to be your first,' she admitted. She stepped closer to htm, and this time his arms settled around her. She melted her body against him as his mouth found hers.

My Wit made me aware of Peottre before they were. Engrossed as they were, I doubt either of them would have been aware of a herd of sheep passing around them, but I came to my feet as I saw the old warrior step around the corner of the mothershouse. His sword was on his hip and his eyes were dangerous. 'Elliania.'

She leapt out of Dutiful's embrace. One guilty hand wiped her mouth as if to conceal the kiss she had taken. I give Dutiful full credit that he stood his ground. He swung his head to look steadily at Peottre. There was nothing of remorse or disgrace in his stance, nor anything of boyishness. He looked like a man interrupted while kissing a woman who belonged to him. I held my breath, wondering if I would better or worsen the situation by stepping into plain view.