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Clementine sighed and sat down on the bench by the docks. A light breeze swept past her in a slow, regular pattern as if the sea itself was breathing. The air was redolent with the scent of the sea, a metallic, salty tang combined with a faint aquatic odor that wasn't unpleasant at all. It wasn't like the fishy offal reeks that emanated from Muriel's shop, across the road from her and Babette. High above in the night sky the stars glistened as if they had been freshly washed and Clementine's eyes half closed as she stared up into the heavens. Ohhh, it was said by sages that each of those tiny, twinkling stars was a sun as big or larger than the World's own. Imagine how many suns, how many other worlds. How very tiny and insignificant she felt as she stared into the depths of space.

The moon rose, enormous and glowing white far off on the horizon. A pale, rippled path spread across the waters and Clementine thought she might even walk the moonpath over the waves and wondered where it might take her. Surely there would be new things to see, new people to meet. She sighed and thought of her life here in Jhelom. It could be so marvelous if only Mandek would get his nose out of his books and actually see her for who she was. He was very particular, frugal, paid attention to every detail and as a result, his business flourished and she thought he liked her but he would hardly say two words to her. Damita told her that Mandek was besotted with her but Clementine somehow doubted it. He couldn't look her in the eye and hardly say two coherent words together whereas he would laugh and joke with Damita with ease. But then, during the invasion by those nasty lizard people, he had run to her shop to see how she was, not Damita's. Oh, it was just so confusing.

Far off she saw a sail, full of nightwind, carrying a ship over the smooth sea. A motion caught her eye and she saw another traveling as well. The passed each other without a sound and continued on their separate destinations, their wakes gleaming and crossed in the pale light.

Mandek poured another shot and tossed it back. She had walked right by his place again. Yes, she had hesitated but she didn't come in, she kept on going. He stared out the glass window and wondered what she was doing at the docks. The thought that she might be meeting another man made him want to throw the whole bottle of Granpa Ranar's XXX hooch across the room. Mandek paused for a moment and carefully sealed the bottle with a cork and put it safely under the bar. That stuff was too good to waste. If he could only talk to Clementine and tell her how he felt, but hadn't he made it obvious during the invasion? He was beside himself with worry when the hissing hordes filled the streets and yet he had gone out into the danger to make sure she was safe. But his tongue seemed to stop functioning when he looked at her. Well, no wonder since she was the most beautiful thing the Creator had ever made. Damita and Babette both had told him to just talk to her and say how he felt but what if she laughed at him? He wasn't a big, strong adventurer, just a tavern keeper.

The ocean breeze blew gently through Jhelom, sending promises of the sea to all. The stars overhead wheeled slowly through the skies and the moon traced a graceful arc overhead. Clementine walked slowly back to her home alongside the shore. She paused behind the tavern and looked at it, knowing that Mandek was probably long asleep. She'd peek in but there were no windows back here and that was hardly polite. She sighed and a tear of loneliness slid down her cheek, illumined in silver tracery by the moonlight.

Mandek stared at the full shot glass, watching the play of light in the depths of the amber liquid, his mind far away from this room. His heart ached and she filled his mind. He wondered if she was still at the docks but surely not, it was so late. The single candle guttered as it reached the bottom and fragments of shadow flickered over the mahogany bar. He reached out and snuffed it with two fingers, poured the shot out and went to bed.