章 74: Chapter 74

The firelight licked at her skin like a lover and set her hair to glowing like embers. Omar itched to free it, comb it, and rebind it for her, as he'd done for his mother so many times as a boy, when her hands were too sore from working to do it herself.

There were other things he would have liked to do to Astira, if they were not completely impossible. But they were, and so he tucked the illicit daydreams deep into the recesses of his mind where they belonged. "Do you have a horse?"

Astira nodded awkwardly as she yawned. "Yes, I'll go get her now. She's not far." She stood before Omar could reply and slipped away like a shadow chased by the dark. Omar ate the last few bits of hare and cleaned up. He'd just started to set out his bedroll when she returned. After settling her horse, she carried her own bedroll over and laid it down right next to his. She deftly tied them together down the middle, then spread out their blankets.