...green as a newly unfurled spring leaf, looked into K's dark ones. Satisfied with what she saw, she smiled and her body softened against his, flesh against flesh.

Her voice, hushed as a whisper of summer breeze, rose to his ears like a subtle melody, the words in a tongue as ancient as the stars, known now to none but those who had been elsewhere.

"Dost thou not feel it, K? That thou hast left part of thyself within me? Here... can you feel it?" She took his hand and kissed the palm, then gently placed it over her heart.

"As thou hast done to me, little one," his deep voice surrounded her, wise and calm.

"Then it shall be, K. This thing between man and woman must not be long denied."

"When the time is right, Silki, we shall walk that road together," he replied and she could feel the length of him, the strength of him as he accepted the truth of her words.

She sighed then, the sweet breath parting her lips as she waited for K's kiss. The touch of his lips summoned her, beckoned her to that other place and she entwined herself within his spirit and around his body.

The timbre of the Magus' voice roughened with the knowledge of what would be. It was not to be now. "Dost thou not sense it, little one? The presence of another?"

She withdrew reluctantly, only the certain knowledge of what would be making their parting bearable. "Yes, K. I know that she is there. I would that she were not."

"Then come, precious one, it is time for thee to test thy wings. Do as I have instructed."

Silki could feel as he fixed his eyes on the intruder. He returned to her and his hand played gently over her heart. The great magician placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Go now, Silki," he bade her, becoming worldly once again. "'Tis time."