Pit gazed down at Ravenna, who tipped her ears towards him and slackened her jaw in a half-laugh.

"You were chuckling," she said.

"Just remembering 'Our Ship Has Four Crew.' How gods-awful that story was."

"Ha! Ohh, yes, yes it was. Perhaps the worst I've read, and I've read, err...a few." Ravenna flattened her ears and looked guilty. Then she suddenly looked up at Pit. "So-are you happy with what you chose?" she asked in a breathless rush, shy again.

Pit ...