âThere was a whisper of silk, and Wil found himself face to face with the most stunning girl he had ever seen. She was small and delicate, in the manner of Amberle, but without the childlike innocence that marked the Elven girl. Thick, black hair tumbled in ringlets to her shoulders, framing eyes that were dark and secretive. Her face was beautiful, her features perfectly formed and immediately unforgettable. She was wearing high leather boots, dressed in pants and tunic of scarlet silk that failed to hide anything of the woman beneath. Bands of silver flashed on her wrists and neck.â
[âŠ]
âThen suddenly Eretria was there before him, dark and beautiful, her slender form clad all in scarlet silk. Her smile was dazzling as she reached for his hands and brought him to his feet. She pulled him into the midst of the dancers, broke from him for an instant, and twirled away in a flash or ribbons and trailing black hair.
[âŠ]
âMoments later he heard footsteps and turned to find Eretria approaching, her slim form another shadow in the evening dusk. She was dressed in high boots and leather riding clothes, a red silk scarf about her waist and another at her throat. Black hairtumbled down about her shoulders, loose and wind-blown. She smiled as she came up to him, her dark eyes twinkling mischievously.â
[âŠ]
âShe rose abruptly, her beautiful dark face angry and set.â
[âŠ]
âFor an instant, the Rover girlâs entire body seemed to go taut, her dark face flushing with emotions that struggled to break free. Yet she held them carefully in check, rising to her feet and staring down at him coldly.â
[âŠ.]
âEretria dropped next to him on the well wall, her dark face angry.â
[âŠ]
âOne brown hand came up hurriedly.â
[âŠ]
âThen Eretria appeared from out of nowhere, darting forward, her slender form a shadow of sudden movement that flashed between the Demon and the Valeman, one brown hand hurtling a fiery torch into the monsterâs face.â
[âŠ]
âBrown limbs slipped from beneath a diaphanous white gown that swirled about the Rover girl like smoke.â
[âŠ]
âShe nodded, her dark face expressionless, cold, and beautiful.â
[âŠ]
âWhen she glanced again at Wil, Eretriaâs dark face was uncertain.â
[âŠ]
âEretria leaned close and put her slim, dark arms about his neck.â
[âŠ]
âThen Eretria stepped forward, her dark face just inches from Wispâs.â
[âŠ]
âEretriaâs dark face was suddenly close before his own.â
[âŠ]
âHer dark face glanced away.â
[âŠ]
âThe Valeman felt himself being hoisted onto Genewenâs back, and Eretriaâs slim brown arms began fastening the harness straps tightly about him.â
[âŠ]
âHer long black hair shimmered in the sunlight as it curled down about her shoulders, and that dazzling smile broke over her dusky face as she caught sight of him.ââ
[âŠ]
âHe glanced over at her dark face, thinking fleetingly of all that she had done for him, all that she had risked for him.â