this and more, much more! But – ”
Goldmoon lowered her head, her voice caught in her
throat. She hadn’t realized how hard this would be to
confess. Maybe she wouldn’t tell him! Maybe she should let
him continue to think of her as a goddess. She had her
pride, after all. … Suddenly, the feeling of peace began to
seep from her. Her love for Riverwind turned into a knot of
anger and resentment.
Riverwind, sensing her growing coldness, began to
draw away from her. . . .
THAT WHICH HINDERS LOVING!
“Don’t! Please don’t leave me!” she cried, clinging to
him in panic.
“I won’t!” he whispered, holding her close. “Not if you
want me! Tell me,” he added wistfully. “Did your mother
say there was a way for us, even though you are a
goddess?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Goldmoon
said, ashamed. “I’m NOT a goddess. I am mortal.” Half
teasing, yet half fearful, she glanced at him through her long
lashes. “Can you love an ordinary woman, one who is not a
goddess?”
“You – ordinary?” he repeated, his breath coming faster.
“You could never be ordinary,” he said solemnly.
Sinking into his arms, Goldmoon longed to remain
there, wrapped in this blessed happiness forever. But a
thought caused her to raise her head and look up at him.
“My mother told me that she is not a goddess, nor are any of
our ancestors. The true gods are the ones Wanderer taught
your family to believe in. I sacrificed the dagger as part of a
test so that I might one day become a priestess of the Great
Healer, one of the ancient goddesses whose temple this
once was. But when I sacrifice my pride and return to the
village and tell them what I have learned, denying the old
ways, I will be ridiculed. I will be Chieftain’s Daughter no
longer.”
Riverwind smiled down at her. “You will always be
Chieftain’s Daughter,” he said, smoothing the golden hair.
“That is not something that depends on false gods, it is
something within you. Even if you had not been
Arrowthorn’s child, you would be a leader. And someday, I
know, you will lead people to the true gods. That is
something to be proud of. It is only your pride in false
things that you need to sacrifice.”
Goldmoon entwined her fingers in his hair and pulled
his head down so his face was within her reach. The lantern
light made his eyes sparkle red, and a grin fluttered across
his lips just before their mouths met.
The shepherd’s tenderness eased her worries about the
future. As Riverwind caressed her lips with his own, he
kneaded away all the tension in her shoulders with his
fingers.
They both whispered, “I love you,” simultaneously.
Goldmoon laughed, and Riverwind smiled with a pleasure
the priestess had never imagined she could evoke in the
man. He put his arms about her shoulders and pulled her a
little closer. But Goldmoon was tired of respectful, delicate
embraces. She pressed against his warrior’s body and
wrapped her arms about his waist to keep him from pulling
away.
Without witnesses to inhibit him, he let the passion of his
kiss match her own. All the while, his hands slid her long
hair up and down her back, against the silky fabric of her
robe. Goldmoon wanted to bring him the same sensual
pleasure he gave her, but his armor covered him like a shell.
She wriggled one hand beneath the leather and then inside
his shirt, where she could press her fingertips against his
back.
Riverwind straightened, and his head jerked up. A low
moan rumbled through his chest as Goldmoon ran her
fingers along his spine.
“You sound like a cat purring,” she teased.
Riverwind gave a little snarl like a wild cat. Though
she’d heard him use it in the battle with Hollow-sky, it
startled her now. Riverwind grinned at the look on her face,
then bent over and very lightly licked her behind the ear. He
drew her hands forward and flicked his tongue over both
palms.
Goldmoon shivered with delight. She caught the ends of