similar,” he murmured.
Deana didn’t have the heart to tell him this was not a typical marketplace on earth. Not by a long shot.
They enjoyed themselves going through the various wares for sale. Deana spent some time looking through posters of old movies. Lorgin seemed fascinated by a wooden sculpture of an Ewok village. They slowly made their way up the aisles.
Deana had already met several of her friends, and they had agreed to meet for dinner later. Her friend Kristen seemed very curious about Lorgin. Kristen had always been too smart for her own good, Deana thought with a grin. She recalled how Kristen had tried pumping her for information on Lorgin. She couldn’t blame her, seeing as she had never mentioned Lorgin to her friend in the past during their marathon phone calls. She would have to be very careful tonight at dinner.
Lorgin stopped at a table displaying unusual jewelry, admiring a French barrette with little white and pink porcelain-like flowers on it. He carefully fingered the tiny blooms.
“This is very beautiful.” He observed Deana’s reaction to it.
“It is pretty.”
“The workmanship is so detailed. It must be very costly.”
Deana swung her gaze to him, observing his interest in the barrette. He doesn’t know it’s a cheap manufactured item.
“If I were home,” he continued, unaware of her scrutiny, “I would give this to you, Adeeann.” He gazed appealingly at her. “But I do not have plastic.”
Deana caved instantly under that sweet gaze. “I’ll lend you the money, but I expect you to pay it back.” She fished three dollars out of her pocket.
“No plastic?”
“Not for this.” She gave him the money.
He gave the dealer the money, then motioned for her to turn around, placing the barrette in her hair at the crown of her head. Deana suspected that he could live the rest of his life in kingly style on just one of the smaller stones in the hilt of the dagger he called the Cearix. She also suspected that he would part with his life before he allowed the knife to be desecrated in such a manner.
Lorgin surveyed his handiwork, pleased with the result.
“Thank you. It’s a beautiful gift, Lorgin. It was nice of you to think of me.”
His hand warmly cupped her face. “I would give you more, Adeeann, much more.”
Deana gazed into his beautiful eyes, feeling slightly disoriented. Yes, more …She blinked away her confusion. By God, he’s wearing me down! I can’t let this happen. No way can I let this happen. “L-let’s check out the art show.”
He smiled knowingly at her. “You lead; I will follow.” His arm swept in front of her. As she went ahead of him, he intoned in a voice too low for her to hear, “ For now. ”
The art show was wonderful. Lorgin really seemed to enjoy this portion of the convention. Several covers of popular books were showing, as well as additional original art work.
Lorgin stood before a particularly austere rendering of an alien landscape. The artist noticed his interest. “What do you think of it?” He asked Lorgin.
“It reminds me of Altarran Gaedre Two, in the Spheris sector. Have you been there?”
The artist grinned. “Occasionally.”
“A starkly beautiful place to view, but treacherous for the unaware.”
“Yes, I tried to capture that feeling on canvas.”
“You succeeded. Once, I was robbed of every croness I carried by a chaktan in the olde city.” Lorgin warmedto the memory. “I had imbibed too much, and I was completely disrobed. She took me—” He abruptly stopped as he remembered Deana’s presence. She seemed avidly interested in the tale. Too interested. He decided it was best not to continue the story.
The artist chuckled. “You must be one hell of a writer. Hey, I’m tired of standing around here; why don’t you let me buy you a beer?”
Lorgin turned to the artist. “Thank you, but I would not know what to do with a bear.”
“A beer, Lorgin,” Deana explained. “English is his second
Deana didn’t have the heart to tell him this was not a typical marketplace on earth. Not by a long shot.
They enjoyed themselves going through the various wares for sale. Deana spent some time looking through posters of old movies. Lorgin seemed fascinated by a wooden sculpture of an Ewok village. They slowly made their way up the aisles.
Deana had already met several of her friends, and they had agreed to meet for dinner later. Her friend Kristen seemed very curious about Lorgin. Kristen had always been too smart for her own good, Deana thought with a grin. She recalled how Kristen had tried pumping her for information on Lorgin. She couldn’t blame her, seeing as she had never mentioned Lorgin to her friend in the past during their marathon phone calls. She would have to be very careful tonight at dinner.
Lorgin stopped at a table displaying unusual jewelry, admiring a French barrette with little white and pink porcelain-like flowers on it. He carefully fingered the tiny blooms.
“This is very beautiful.” He observed Deana’s reaction to it.
“It is pretty.”
“The workmanship is so detailed. It must be very costly.”
Deana swung her gaze to him, observing his interest in the barrette. He doesn’t know it’s a cheap manufactured item.
“If I were home,” he continued, unaware of her scrutiny, “I would give this to you, Adeeann.” He gazed appealingly at her. “But I do not have plastic.”
Deana caved instantly under that sweet gaze. “I’ll lend you the money, but I expect you to pay it back.” She fished three dollars out of her pocket.
“No plastic?”
“Not for this.” She gave him the money.
He gave the dealer the money, then motioned for her to turn around, placing the barrette in her hair at the crown of her head. Deana suspected that he could live the rest of his life in kingly style on just one of the smaller stones in the hilt of the dagger he called the Cearix. She also suspected that he would part with his life before he allowed the knife to be desecrated in such a manner.
Lorgin surveyed his handiwork, pleased with the result.
“Thank you. It’s a beautiful gift, Lorgin. It was nice of you to think of me.”
His hand warmly cupped her face. “I would give you more, Adeeann, much more.”
Deana gazed into his beautiful eyes, feeling slightly disoriented. Yes, more …She blinked away her confusion. By God, he’s wearing me down! I can’t let this happen. No way can I let this happen. “L-let’s check out the art show.”
He smiled knowingly at her. “You lead; I will follow.” His arm swept in front of her. As she went ahead of him, he intoned in a voice too low for her to hear, “ For now. ”
The art show was wonderful. Lorgin really seemed to enjoy this portion of the convention. Several covers of popular books were showing, as well as additional original art work.
Lorgin stood before a particularly austere rendering of an alien landscape. The artist noticed his interest. “What do you think of it?” He asked Lorgin.
“It reminds me of Altarran Gaedre Two, in the Spheris sector. Have you been there?”
The artist grinned. “Occasionally.”
“A starkly beautiful place to view, but treacherous for the unaware.”
“Yes, I tried to capture that feeling on canvas.”
“You succeeded. Once, I was robbed of every croness I carried by a chaktan in the olde city.” Lorgin warmedto the memory. “I had imbibed too much, and I was completely disrobed. She took me—” He abruptly stopped as he remembered Deana’s presence. She seemed avidly interested in the tale. Too interested. He decided it was best not to continue the story.
The artist chuckled. “You must be one hell of a writer. Hey, I’m tired of standing around here; why don’t you let me buy you a beer?”
Lorgin turned to the artist. “Thank you, but I would not know what to do with a bear.”
“A beer, Lorgin,” Deana explained. “English is his second
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