“Oh hell, I missed one,” Orabelle says, and I yelp as the last clothespin under my arm comes off. Relief washes the sting away. I bury my face against my arm and start to laugh even as tears leak from the corner of my eyes. It’s backwards, but it’s not the first time I’ve cracked up after evocation, and I doubt it’ll be the last. Arlon’s fingers are gentle as they stroke through my hair. “Are you alright, Dominai?” It’s an unstoppable, aching kind of laugh. It takes a moment, but I finally manage to get out one weak little word. “Ow.”
