D'Artagnan held her shoulders, tugging her up for just one more sweet kiss. Then he bent his head and took the little sugar cloud in his mouth, smiling at Constance as he looked into her eyes. "That's wonderful," he said, only half in regards to the candy.

"I was reading the rules to the game. It's like field training, but without any harm from real fire. Only paint." Gently, he wound a lock of her hair around his finger. "I imagine you'd have to get a hat, if you went in" he teased. "Unless you want to try a new color."

But there was no hurry. He withdrew his hand from her hair and settled one on her shoulder instead. "The twisting ones there are thrilling too. You go so high and so fast its like flying. Terrifying, a little, but wonderful."