The breeze tangled into her luxurious curls, making me jealous of its invisible fingers.

Our people, our land, and our entire way of life was at stake, and if I had to give my own life for this mission, I would.

You may have had some fun running with us when you were a girl, or slinging stones and climbing trees, but you are not a man —

I growled like the rabid dog I'd become.

All night, I'd snatched glances at Tirvah across the room as she hovered in the shadows, head down and posture subservient as she played her role, moving around the table with such silent steps that none of the others seemed to even notice she was there until I'd pointed her out. But the woman standing before me now, practically vibrating with fury and looking as if she might even yet pull out those knives and slit my throat, was no cowering shadow. She was magnificent.

Mourning the loss of the sweet smile she'd given me before I'd tripped over my own tongue, I followed after her with muddy feet and a thorny tangle coiled inside my gut.

She was a meek servant during the day, all subservient and silent feet, and a stern-faced warrior facing off with me and stealing my bed at night.

I'd noticed her brown eyes before now, but in the direct sunlight they reminded me of pools of rich date honey, sweet and warm. And I knew if I sank into them I'd never be free of their pull.

The consequences of our foolish decisions are always made clearer when we look backward on the path we've traveled.