Shadows stretched in a long thin bars across short springy grass still damp from the morning's dewfall.  Aleytys snapped the wrinkled sheet open, doubled it and spread it over the grass, then collapsed cross-legged in the middle of the pale yellow rectangle.  She shivered and rubbed her knees, the slight chill in the early morning air magnified by the excitement that churned her blood.  She moved restlessly, plucked at the shoulder straps on the rose chiffon falling in soft careless waves around her legs.  As a leaf rustled and a six-winged insect zzedded past her ear, her body jerked, shivered.  A purposeful crackle snapped her head around.  Burash pushed through the circle of giant bamboo and pines shutting her into the clearing.

Eagerly, Aleytys jumped to her feet and stood, fists clenched, heart throbbing, blood rushing so fast her body was bathed in a layer of cold sweat.  Flushing then paling in rapid alternation she began to tumble into the too-familiar confusion as the damper sent waves of itch agonizing across her back.

Burash caught her as her knees sagged.  Leaning against him she sucked in a deep breath, then another and another, disciplining herself to the smooth deep inhalations, making them longer and longer, slower and slower, not-thinking not-feeling until, shaking with reaction, her body colder, a dull feeling at the base of her stomach, she pushed away from him and lowered herself cautiously to the sheet, jerking trembling lips into a momentary smile for him.

Burash settled beside her and held out the knife.  "Be careful with this, Leyta."  He cupped his free hand behind her bead, his fingers warm and comforting on her neck.  "What are you going to do with it?"

Aleytys pushed the knife down so that it rested on his thigh beside his open hand.  "Keep that a minute."  She closed her eyes.  Rider, she thought into the blackness, remember your promise, remember, remember....

"Leyta?"

"Never mind.  What do you know of me, Burash?"

Letting the knife slide off his legs onto the sheet, he brushed a knuckle gently over the twitching muscle at the corner of her mouth.  "Why, Leyta?"

"I have some... some uncomfortable gifts, uncomfortable for anyone wanting to control my actions."

"So?"

"I need you to do something.  No."  She held out her hand, not letting him answer.  "There's... oh god... I don't know..."  She wiped at her face, reached toward him, pulled her hand back.  "I need you to do something for me.  If you want... if you're willing to do it."

"Yes?"  His voice was quiet, full of affection.  Supported by this unspoken commitment Aleytys felt the febrile over-stimulation of her nerves flow away until she was calm and relaxed, able to speak with precision and detachment.