It leaves her too stunned even to blush. Were all his questions leading to this? She should not have answered so boldly, perhaps. Aeriel is not wholly a fool; she knows other women pursue him, knows that some have gained a little ground-- knows most of all that there is precious little ground to gain, that Oriencor does not let him stray far. He has never tried to stray far, to the best of her knowledge.

But she hesitates a moment before she pulls away, because he is beautiful, because he has surprised her in too many ways already, and she wonders what he would say if she said no.

"You have a seige and a banishment to attend," she reminds him instead.