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Another detail she noticed as they traveled was the increasing nuh the land Water flowed over beds of granite blocks, well-made smaller versions of the Ies San began to wonder if they were actually for irrigation at all, and if not, ere they for? Riding in the rear of the wagon, she was not able to ask Cade She would try to rees, but the road always rejoined it Canal traffic grew steadier the deeper they got into the Capital, and though she sawthe streets with their mechanicals, there were no more checkpoints than before She sank back into the straw and gazed at the clouds above As the afternoon wore on, they grew thicker, tinged with gray She could sht, but there was so the coast, and Corsa No--not Corsa, but Gossha, as the first few drops of an inco storm plunked down on their heads, they had to try a few different inns before they found one with space, much less an entire bunkhouse that Luke could reserve for the night Karigan pretended sickness as usual, with Cade supporting her all the way Once securely in the bunkhouse, they were i lost lovers separated by continents and the passing of years, instead of only by the length of a wagon and the passing of a day

Cade pulled away

"What is it?" Karigan asked

"I just want to check in with Luke for a an could question hione She decided then to make use of the bath tub hich this bunkhouse was equipped Even after she finished, however, Cade had not returned She paced for a while, sa spoonfuls of the stew that had been left for them Hers was lukewarm, and Cade’s would be cold before he returned She had too y to sit still, so she occupied herself by working through swordfighting forms She had no sword or staff, not even a brooh the motions anyway

She was in the middle of Aspen Leaf when Cade finally returned She froze

"Don’t stop," he said, closing the door quietly behind him

She continued the series of forun, and became more than mildly distracted when he came up behind her and wrapped his ar on her belly

"Don’t stop," he murmured into her ear when she hesitated

Thunder clapped and rain thruh the steps and patterns of the forms with her, the techniques of the swordmaster truly beca her waist and hips, and lower, till she could hardly bear it, aching with need

Using steps all his own, he led her into a different form of the dance, the storan lay contentedly in Cade’s arain as rain still pattered on the roof The bunkhouse interior sprang into relief with flashes of lightning, rumbles of thunder delayed by distance Cade’s thuiven her during Prince A Zachary’s throne

"What did you and Luke need to talk about?" she asked

"Hmm?"

"Earlier You said you had to talk to Luke"