"Since we seem to be in a storytelling mood," Lily, the Ancient Queen, said. "Let me tell of a time when the great city we are in was on the surface."
"Thank you, my Queen," said Samha, who leaned back into his attendant, as if for back support.
"A tale from before the Convergence?" Laumva asked. She also settled back against her attendant, reclining on his lap as if he were a sofa.
Around Shin, everyone settled back, casually, on each other with little or no covering. 'They are very comfortable in their skin, I guess,' he thought. He was still facing Lily, and the more she talked, the more awkward he felt…. 'Was that her breath that whispered past my…'. He tried to think about cold mountain streams, falling in the snow, and mean drill sergeants. It took all of his considerable mental power, but he managed to contain himself.
