Yet strange as this world was, with all its many faults there was still love and joy like none she'd ever known. And at some point she would have come here regardless, working the will of the Earth Mother for a short season. She would die then, for her soul belonged to the Earth Mother. Without knowing it, Anest had saved her from that doom as well. It occurred to her that not all change was a bad thing. Even if she'd had the choice to do otherwise now, she couldn't imagine her
life without Anest. Without his love. She turned over and snuggled closer to him, pressing her face against his warm skin.
"Hey!" he said with a laugh, "your nose is cold."
"I've never been cold before," came her muffled reply. "I hate it."
He pulled the blankets up over her head, smiling. She was wrapped around him as though starved for warmth. "How's that?"
"M'm-m-m-m."
She woke in a panic a few hours later. She was alone.
"Anest?"
"One moment!" With relief, she heard him coming down the hall. Opening the door, he came in and set down the basin he had been carrying. "Come, I've made us a bath."