When finally, exhaustion overwhelmed everyone and they eventually dragged themselves off to their own beds filled with smiles and laughter and light, only Morika and I were left awake. Sitting beside the glowing embers of a still very hot fire, with Ursala in my arms soundly asleep and deep into her dreams, I watched the young and beautiful creature rise to her feet and step toward the fire. Kneeling on one knee, she used the long-sheathed blade of her dagger, which she always wore strapped around her waist, and coaxed the dying fire back into life. Small flames leapt up from the red glowing embers as she stood up, satisfied with her efforts. Turning, a look of caution and hesitation on her face, she looked in my direction.
“A most interesting night, monk. I never thought in my wildest dr
