so, but then fatigue began to set in again and he wondered if he were being silly. Maybe these sand cacti were exceptionally rare, and he was doing the equivalent of keeping a constant watch out for dragons.
Then the cloth snagged on something, and the spear haft jerked backward in his hand. Jedra stopped with his foot still upraised, his pulse suddenly pounding. He slowly backed up a pace.
“Find one?” Kayan asked.
“I think so.” Jedra tugged the cloth free and waved the end of the spear around in a circle, and sure enough, it snagged again a foot or so away. Very carefully, he worked his way around in a half circle, sweeping out a clear path around the perimeter of the needle patch. This one was about eight or ten feet across, and once again there was nothing to indicate it was there except for the needles.
“Good work,” Kayan said.
“Thanks,” he said, pleased with himself.
“We are making progress of a sort,” said Kayan. “Now if we can just find that oasis the chief told us about, we might actually survive this little outing.”
* * *
They stopped for the night another mile or so farther west. It was getting truly cold now, and they were both so tired they could barely walk. The elves had not given them sleeping mats, so they simply picked a patch of sand that didn’t have anything growing on it—that was getting easier and easier the farther west they went—and settled down under the bright moon and stars to sleep.
Their knapsacks made lumpy pillows, and their robes were pitifully inadequate as blankets. Now that Jedra and Kayan weren’t exerting themselves, they began shivering almost immediately. Jedra inched closer to Kayan, but he was careful not to touch her, remembering her comment the first night they had slept side by side in the community tent.
After fifteen minutes or so, however, Kayan mindsent, This is ridiculous. Are we ever going to act like bondmates, or are we going to spend the whole night shivering a foot away from each other?
Jedra gulped, suddenly warm again. I—I didn’t want to—I mean, I do want to, but I was afraid you might—
Afraid I might what, bite? Jedra, I’m cold. You’re cold. Snuggle up behind me and put your arm around me.
He moved closer to her, but then couldn’t decide where to put his hands. Even wrapped in her robe, she was warm and soft everywhere he touched her. He finally settled for letting her use his left arm for a pillow and holding his right hand against her stomach. She laughed gently and said. There, that’s not so bad, is it?
That’s—that’s wonderful, he said. Warmer, too. He tried to slow his breathing again and fall asleep, but he was too conscious of Kayan in his arms.
After a couple more minutes, Kayan said, You’re tight as a bowstring. Relax.
I’d like to, he said, but I’ve never done this before.
Just what is it you think we’re doing?
Sleeping, Jedra said quickly. I’ve never slept with a woman in my arms before.
She turned her head back so she could look at him out of her right eye. You’re kidding. Never?
Embarrassed, and a little put out at her incredulous tone, Jedra said, I remember sharing a cot with my mother when I was very young, but she died when I was six.
Oh, said Kayan. She looked away again. A moment later she said, Then I guess it goes without saying that you’ve never…
No.
Oh, she said again. Well, it’s a little cold for that tonight, and it’s already been a busy day. Much as I’d like to show you what you’ve been missing, I think we’d be better off getting our sleep tonight.
That’s what I thought we were trying to do, Jedra said.
Kayan giggled softly. So we were. She turned her head back toward him again, farther than the first time, and before Jedra quite realized what was happening she had kissed him.
Her lips were soft and warm against his, warmer even than her skin beneath his hands. The kiss was over almost before he could respond, but the memory of it lingered even after she turned back around and settled her head down on his arm again.
Good night, she sent.
Yes, it is, he replied automatically.
* * *
The moon was halfway across the sky when Jedra woke. He belatedly realized that one of them should have stayed up to keep watch, but with that thought came the equally strong realization that neither of them could have