Ethereal music filled the Snuggery courtyard, the sounds of an endless sky. The children walked off gallantly, each one with their head held high, their eyes shining, the invisible star on their brows marking them out as gracious fairy druids.

As they disappeared into the house, their path of sparkling stardust melted back into the ground. Yoor let his own ears grow round again, covered up by his silvery hair.

Torly came to kiss his cheek. Her voice was soft. "That was beautiful, my swan. These children will remember for a long time to come that they are precious and magical."

Yoor's eyes held a deep smile. He bowed to Torly with a flourish. "Here I am, at your service: the magician of your dreams, ready to bewitch your heart and to enchant your senses. To capture you with my charms, and gift you with a golden sun living on in your soul forever more."

Torly laughed. She kissed him again. "Yoor. You truly are in love with yourself, aren't you?"

"I am indeed." Yoor raised a graceful hand of shimmering blue. "And shouldn't I be?" He swirled around her like a dancer. "I am ravishing, surely? And even if I were not: There are other good reasons to hold myself dear. For I tend to love others as much as I love myself. So the higher that level, the better for everyone, isn't it? I really ought to cherish myself with all my might."

Torly cocked her head.

Yoor traced his finger along the line of her cheek. "I could worry about vanity, of course," he conceded. "But I much prefer not to." There was a glint in his eye. "I'd rather choose to laugh and dance, to shout out loud, without restraint, of my own beauty and of the beauty of the world. We can all be wonderful in it together, can't we? So why would I hold back. Why wouldn't I love myself as much as I possibly can?"

Yoor pulled Torly close again, swaying her to a melody that now drifted around his body like perfume. "And you too," he murmured. "And the wind, and the sky, and the moon."

Torly gave a gentle laugh and danced him on across the courtyard.

On the far end, Cahuan had remained standing on the threshold of the Snuggery. Her magical lantern let a trace of gold ripple out over her skin, which had otherwise turned a deep moss green with the coming of night.

"Just look at her, for example," Yoor marveled. "All beauty, outside and in."

Moving with the fluid artlessness and natural poise of her full, round body, Cahuan stepped down into the courtyard.

"Yes. I was drawn to her from the very first day." Torly glided on, leaning into the music. "But we will be leaving in a few days," Torly reminded both herself and Yoor. "Do not nourish any dreams in your heart."

"I like nourishing dreams in my heart," Yoor replied plaintively. "And who would not do so at the sight of her? She simply radiates grace, blessing everyone in her surroundings. The children. Lhut. Truly, I find that more and more, I am including Lhut in my worship as well."

"Yoor!" Torly chortled. "Are you actually falling in love with everybody you meet?"

"I have a big heart," Yoor replied weightily.

"You do." Torly kissed his nose. "And you are a big flirt."

Yoor pouted. "If I were, I surely would be smothered in kisses from a host of people at all times. But I am not, as you can see. In fact, half the people I adore never even get to know about my passion."

"Yes. And the other half end up in bed with you, don't they?"

Yoor's lip twitched. He gently ran a finger down Torly's neck. "Wild rumors, feverish imagination," he murmured. "In truth, I come to lie with no more people than you."

Torly winked at him. Her dark brown eyes were full of light, of a smile born from deep within her soul. "Go spread your love, my swan. It is what you are born for."

Yoor raised her fingertips to his lips.

"Yes. It is what we are all born for."