It was Joren’s, from a talk they’d once had on the palace wall. “You’d make a fine wife for one of those big fellows - Cleon, for instance. You could settle down and raise young giants.” Kel stiffened. Cleon released her instantly. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “You have to say if I push too hard. I’ve just been thinking about this for such a long time - “ “You have?” Kel asked shakily. “Remember the night you took me to your room to give me a letter for Mindelan, since your brother and I were going that way?” Cleon grinned. “I wanted to kiss you then, but your maid and her friend were there.” “Oh,” Kel whispered. I sound stupid, she thought, furious with herself for saying doltish things and for blinking at him like a thunderstruck deer. I had plenty to say to that Groten swine, she thought. Lerant, too. Cleon kissed her again. “Kel?”
