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Pandora blushed up to her hairline She went to the nearest target and began to jerk out arrows "Please don’t coet "You don’t like compliments?"

"No, they make me feel aard They never seem true"

"Perhaps they don’t seem true to you, but that doesn’this arrows into a leather quiver, Gabriel came to help collect hers

"In this case," Pandora said, "it’s definitely not true My laugh sounds like a serenading tree frog swinging on a rusty gate"

Gabriel smiled "Like silver wind chimes in a summer breeze"

"That’s not at all how it sounds," Pandora scoffed

"But that’s how it makes me feel" The inti the network of fine, taut nerves strung all through her

Refusing to look at him, Pandora fuet The shots had landed so deep and close that so of flax tows and shavings This target had been Gabriel’s, of course He’d released the arroith alold center every time

Pandora twisted the arrows carefully as she pulled the After extricating the last arrow and handing it to Gabriel, she began to reer-sheaths attached to flat straps, all leading to a band that buckled around her wrist

"You’re an excellentat the stiff little buckle

"Years of practice" Gabriel reached for the buckle and unfastened it for her

"And natural ability," Pandora said, refusing to let hi perfectly" She held still as he reached for her other aruard More hesitantly, she said, "I suppose people expect it of you"

"Not my family But the outside world--" Gabriel hesitated "People tend to notice her standard?" Pandora ventured "Because of your position and nalance, and she kneas reluctant to say anything that"I’ve found it’s better to be careful about revealing weaknesses"

"You have weaknesses?" Pandora asked in pretend surprise, only half-joking

"Many," Gabriel said with rueful euard away from her and dropped it into a side pouch of the quiver

They were standing so close that Pandora saw the tiny silver threads that striated the translucent blue depths of his eyes "Tellabout yourself," she said impulsively