The Grotto appeared to have been untouched by the tosis. Except for some downed branches from the trees, and a general over-all appearance of being untended for some time, the garden hadn’t changed much from a year ago. Rion told her people often left the walkway to take their own paths through the thick plant life. And many lovers found nooks and crannies where they could have intimate relations, virtually unseen by others who might pass by them unaware less than a foot away.
The area where she and Rion had made love had been near a tiny stream. Unerringly, he took her there now, finding his way without having to backtrack or search for it. She wondered if he recalled its location from memory, or if he’d returned here lately to find it again.
Dipping underneath an arch of bowed limbs,
