Mercedes Lackey - The Wizard of Karres

Goth came to join them. As she drew alongside, she slid her arm around Pausert's waist and hugged him tightly. He placed his large hand on her little one and gave it an affectionate squeeze. There was a time when the captain would have been a little surprised at how easily and naturally that movement came to both of them. But . . . no longer. Again, he found himself wishing that klatha could somehow be used to affect aging.

Threbus was smiling. "Time passes, Nephew. Trust me."

The smug expression on his face, combined with the serene look on Goth's, aroused Pausert's natural contrariness.

"Ha! You two know-it-alls! I remind you that you also predicted something very good would happen to Goth if she spent the next year in my company. So? What is it?"

Alas, Threbus still looked every bit as smug. And Goth's serenity seemed completely unfazed. She gave Pausert that sidelong glance he'd come to know so well.

"The year isn't up yet, Captain," she murmured.

Pausert tried to think of a suitable reply, but couldn't. Then he caught sight of a pair of slitty silver eyes. And then another. And another. And more.

"The cure may just be worse than the disease, Threbus," he said with a grin. "Here we go again!"