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Da off his horse with ease Neon ease Thein hi—it had been a time of exuberant hunts, enthusiastic sports in the dayti fighter, thrusting about with the eagerness of youth

He found it just as he had rele The scent of blossoh clear air, of sweet oils, and the delicate earth, all combined, here where shallow steps lead up to the first of the entrances, and the first of the arcs of branches that led to the gardens

Now Daht, heady set of new desires that had had hi his horse to gallop ahead alone as he wished—as he so giddily wished

He tossed his reins to a servant, was told, ‘By the east fountain,’ and pushed his way past the branches of s, to a balconied garden where a figure stood, looking out On the horizon, the sea was a sudden open view, huge and blue

Da with a strand of blond hair, at the cool, pale li happiness, the speeding of his pulse Some part of hi, enjoyable anxiety of a new lover It was nice also to just look, to see hi observed, even as the familiar voice spoke in a precise, assured fashion

‘Tell ht away’

Daht ‘It’s not a servant’

Laurent turned

He was standing before the view The breeze that was playing with his hair was also playing with the heh, which was the fashion for young , perhaps a testament to his fussy skin that would not darken, only pink, then burn This blowy version of hi since—

—the Kingshts in the sa in it at Damen’s side, until it ith Damen’s blood

‘I atching the road’

‘Hello,’ said Damen

Behind Laurent the glie retinue would have been seen, but his not own approach, a single rider, a speck on a quicker route Laurent’s cheeks were slightly flushed, though it was not clear whether it was from summer heat or his admission

It ildly impractical to be here Laurent had not yet achieved his ascension, and Akielos had an unstable government, its kyroi and palace officials newly appointed after a purge of those who had involvement in Kastor’s treachery In the palace at Ios, they had snatched ether like illicit lovers, at sunset, at dusk, in the gardens, in the bedroos with Laurent sweetly above him It had felt at tiainst the seriousness of their days, the difficulty of those early decisions

It felt that way now ‘Hello,’ said Laurent, and Da at how close they had cootten how Remind me’

‘We’re here We can take our time,’ said Damen

‘Can you?’ said Laurent

‘It suits you,’ said Da the hem of Laurent’s chiton where it ran froonally to his chest

‘The mechanism’s simple’

Daold clasp at Laurent’s shoulder The white cotton would not slip off completely, but catch at his waist, where Da

They weren’t alone, of course A skeleton household had been sent ahead to open the palace for their arrival—to throw open doors, to place bedding, to put oil in la up wine froht fish into the kitchens—and presue of the gardens, it was as if the birdsong and the hum of cicadas were their only adjunct