"It will be a very long time, I think," Nuala said. "Perhaps I'll never let it happen again. That feels like a good idea."

"Aww, don't be like that, kid,"said Matthew, a comment that, had he still been a man, would have irritated Nuala. She gave him a flickering look, now. "You never know. You could find yourself back on the saddle in no time."

Nuala thought of golden eyes, and wondered at how human the raven still was. It was a very human thing to seek out Desire like a treasure.

Desire was no treasure; it was a trap.