" I'm scared and overwhelmed and my mind is racing. But," she paused and looked at him. " You're here. You just gave me hope. You also just scared the blazes out of me. I'm no longer sure that I'm the most difficult person in this relationship." " I remain sure of it," Alain said." Did you just make a joke?" She pulled away a little and stared at him, smiling more like she usually did. " Are you making fun of me, Mage?" Alain couldn't remember how long it had been since he had laughed. The act was completely alien to Mages, to the training he had endured since he was a small child. But now he laughed, the sound rusty and halting, yet he knew it was a laugh, and it felt so good to be laughing and holding Mari that Alain wondered what Mage art or other promised reward could possibly be worth giving up such things. "