Chapter 53

　　I woke when Rivyn rose and groaned painfully as he made his way across to the area of the cave which served as a latrine to relieve himself. He came back and saw that I was awake.

　　“Do you need...?” he offered.

　　“No, lay down before you fall down, Rivyn,” I was concerned about him. He half fell into the nest-bed with me, his hair sliding over his face.

　　I stroked it back, and his lips curled. “It has been a while,” he said adjusting until he was wrapped around me and sighed contentedly. “Since I have fought hand to hand. I did not realise how out of practice I was.”

　　“Is that what you’ve been doing?” I asked him, appalled.

　　“Yes,” he was pleased, I realised. “The knowledge I sought, they taught me.”

　　“The book was about fighting?” I realised.

　　“Yes. Power comes in many forms, Siorin, not all of it is magic.”

　　“I think I prefer the books about magic,” I stroked my hands along his back, keeping my touch gentle. “You are less sore after reading a book.”