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His brother sighed. "We need them, Ryziel."

He looked to his brother with alarm, who nodded at him. "Go on. Choose."

Ryziel didn't argue this time, even though he knew he was supposed to be taking care of his father's business. He looked back, and the only women now before him to choose were the human women, those he recognized seeing in the mines. His eyes fell over each until they stopped on one hooded figure bowing low, hiding her hands under her shawl.

"This one," Ryziel said, without even thinking. He had to have her. He didn't need to see her face to know it was his Aly. He came up beside her and gestured down to her. "I want this one."

His brother's eyes narrowed. "That one? Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Take her, then."

Ryziel bent to pick her up, but she pulled from his grasp. A whimper escaped her, her body shaking. She hugged herself, hiding from him still. He tried to pull her to him again, but she merely turned away.

"Pity," his brother said, sighing again. "Some things just aren't enough."

Before Ryziel could ask what he meant, the night swallowed him and everything around him until all he could hear was the cries of a woman far away.

The cries turned into a hum next to him. Ryziel opened his eyes, and Aly's face came into view. He was about to ask her if she was hurt, but then the dream faded into nothing more than a shadow of a memory, and he could see plainly that she was fine. It was only a dream.

He watched her curiously as she wrote something in what looked like a small journal, her eyes drifting over the page in deep concentration. When they lifted to glance over at him, she gave him a look of surprise, then a timid little smile.

"Ah, I didn't realize you were awake," she said, seemingly embarrassed, and set down her writing tool.

"I only just woke." He lifted himself slowly on his elbows and peered down at the journal in her hands. "What were you writing there?"

She chewed on her lip and he thought it rather cute. "I wasn't writing."

"Oh?"

She hesitated for a moment, as if she was afraid to show him then lowered her hand so that he could see.

It was drawing, a rather good one, and it was of...

"You drew this?" he said with surprise. She merely nodded and let him take the journal from her hands. He studied his portrait more clearly, astonished by the accuracy of how she had depicted him, lying on his side across the bed. He flipped through the other pages and found many more drawings of him, all in different angles or poses, some just of his head or his eyes. He glanced back at her and saw she had gone red in the face.

"I might have gotten a little carried away," she said timidly, curling a lock of hair back behind her ear. He thought that cute also.

Ryziel shook his head dismissively. "You have a gift. These are very good."

"Thank you."

"You’re almost out of pages, though," he said as he shut the journal and handed it to her. "I'll have to get you a new one when we get home."

Aly set the journal away in her pack. "Are there many artists there?"

"Some. Most talent comes from jewel-craft and clothing. Others are commissioned in architecture. But I could see many silions paying good credits for a drawn portrait, especially with an eye for realism like yourself."

"You think so?" She smiled.

"I do."

Her fingers made little circles on the bed. "I can't wait to see it. Nihl, I mean. I bet it's beautiful."

He took her circling hand and brought it to his mouth. "It is. And you will fit within it perfectly."

They laid together for a moment longer until Ryziel deemed it necessary for them to at least dress and start packing her things. It was still early, and she wouldn't have to return above just yet, but, while the minerals were still being converted within the tanks, he and Nar needed to start preparing the ship and all the possessions that would be stowed on board.