It was a long time before either of them could form a sentence.
They lay tangled in the ruined silk, breathing like two people who had run a very long way, her head on his chest, one of his hands spread across her back as though he were afraid she might drift away.
The silver gauze fluttered around them. Outside, one of the castle's old night-larks began to sing, and stopped, as if embarrassed.
"Well," Salviana said at last, in a small, dazed voice.
"Well," Alaric agreed.
"I didn't know it would be like that."
"Nor did I." He turned his head, and in the candlelight his eyes were wide and soft and utterly bewildered. "Fiery. It was my first time."
She lifted her head and stared at him. Then she started to laugh. "Mine too, you fool."
"I know. I mean, I thought so. I am not certain I did well. You seemed to be in pain and I don't think you enjoyed it."
"It's a new experience; it felt like an intrusion. I was panicking beautifully." she admitted.
