As soon as Faia was out of earshot, Medwind turned her attention back to Nokar. “I can give you almost forever, old man,” she whispered.
He smiled weakly. “Dear love of mine.” He reached out with difficulty and patted her hand. “I wish that were true.”
She leaned closer and stared earnestly into his eyes. “It is true, Nokar. The vha’attaye don’t die.”
“They don’t live, either. If I were vha’attaye, I couldn’t smell—the sweet smell of your hair—or taste your salty kisses—or roll over in the bed at night and—squeeze your very fine breasts.” He gave her another gentle smile. “I’ve lived long, Medwind. Those are—my principle pleasures now.”
“But I don’t want to lose you.”
“Life is like that, Medwind. Eventually, we lose—everything we love. What you must do is—love many things—so the process takes longer.” The old man attempted a wheezy chuckle that became an ugly cough.
She leaned over and kissed him firmly on the lips. Her tears mingled with her kisses. “Get some sleep, old man,” she said. “I don’t want to find someone else to love today.”
-Nokar and Medwind (Bones of the Past)
