As she set about to tame yet another animal, Aeife’s thoughts drifted back to the night before. How could she have been so brazen, showing up unannounced at the door of a man who was virtually a stranger to her? What had possessed her? Why did she find him so compelling? Certainly they had known each other for some time, but not well, and he a married man. What had she been thinking? She was not some hussy who would go picking posies in another woman’s garden. Unbidden, the image of his rugged countenance drifted into her mind and unconsciously she sighed. What was wrong with her? She was no milk-faced maiden. But he had said he was estranged from the Queen of the Fae. Again she sighed.

She spoke soothing words to the hart and thought of her own heart walled off for so long. There had been no time for love or softness in her life. Trained as a battle mage, her time had been given to her studies in Moonglow and the hard tutelage of Tauros on the ways of weapons and war. Life was hard in Sosaria.

Perhaps it was the taming, the rapport with the beasts that had breached her hardened shell, but when she saw Tybalt that day in Minoc, she found herself inexorably drawn to him. He was so kind, his words like honeyed wine. Yet, there was about him an air of sadness, which lurked just under his pleasant demeanor. And he had invited her to visit, giving her a rune to his house.

So she had found herself knocking at his door, disturbing his peace and that of his guests. After the others had left, he had given her a tour of the premises and they had set upon the balcony and enjoyed the soft sea breezes with the tang of salt they brought. How she longed to touch him! Tamping down her desire, she prepared to make her adieus. Yet, she could not restrain herself. "A kiss," she asked? And he had complied, tipping her head up gently, he kissed her full upon the lips, tasting of smoke and cognac. She pushed back, for she knew if she did not leave now, she would not leave at all. Inhaling deeply, she willed herself to go. What a brazen hussy he must think her.