The Queen's Blade Prequel II - God Touched (13 page)

His tone was
venomous, and she flinched. Evidently this was a subject too
delicate for her to bring up right now, and she filed it away for
the future, nodding. “I am. Especially since I rutted with all
those men for your sake.”

“
Thank the gods the baby isn't mine too. My fault, I
mean.”

She tilted her
head. “He might be. You were unconscious for a long time after I
found you in the gutter.”

He stared at
her, then snorted. “Impossible.”

“
How so?”

“
I... you can't do that to a man.”

“
How would you know?”

“
I'm a man.”

Lilu giggled.
“What of it?”

“
I'd know something like that.”

“
And yet you don't.” She leant forward. “It is possible. You'd
know if you weren't an innocent.”

“
If I'm an innocent, I can't be his father.”

“
So you admit that you are. Innocent, I mean.”

He sighed.
“I'm not, but the fact that you think I am means you didn't ravish
me in my sleep.”

Lilu frowned,
cursing herself for bringing up the innocent bit. “I know you're
lying. The way you were blushing when I was naked could only mean
you're a virgin.”

“
Will you stop it?”

“
I'm just talking.”

“
Too damned much,” he said. “Get that damned baby off my bed; I
want to go to sleep.”

Lilu retrieved
her son and curled up on the mat. Blade removed the towel and
climbed into his bed in his shorts. Evidently he had donned them
before emerging from the alcove, and she knew the reason for his
extreme prudishness. There was much fun to be had from his
ignorance, and she intended to make the most of it. Perhaps she
would succeed in making him laugh, something she longed to see him
do. His blushing innocence delighted her, and endeared him to her
even more.

Chapter Seven

Splashing woke
Lilu, and she sat up with a start, the events of the previous night
returning in a rush. She ached in many places, and winced when she
stretched. She smiled at Endel, who smiled back, and she picked him
up to feed him, contemplating the curtained alcove from behind
which the splashing came. Blade, apparently, was having yet another
bath. She wondered if he was scrubbing his mouth with soap. When
Endel fell asleep, she rose and crept to the alcove.

Thrusting
aside the curtain, she grinned at the assassin, who whipped around
to frown at her. She approached the tub, amused when he covered
himself and glared.

“
Get out.”

“
Why? I've seen naked men before, you know.”

“
So you said, but I like my privacy.”

Lilu leant on
the edge of the tub and dangled her fingers in the water. “Why
don't I join you?”

“
No.”

“
I could wash your back. In fact, that's an excellent idea.”
She picked up a soft scrubbing brush from his arsenal of cloths,
sponges, oils and soaps and went behind him. Blade moved around the
tub away from her, and she put her hands on her hips.

“
Why don't you want me to wash your back? You'll enjoy it. I
could rub oil on it too. It's very soothing. In fact, I could buy
some nice skin oils and rub you all over. It's relaxing and
enjoyable.”

“
No.”

“
Don't be such a prude.”

“
Why must you hound me?” He averted his face, his cheeks
flushed, to her delight.

“
Because you're so shy. It's funny.”

“
Not for me.”

Lilu giggled
and dashed around the tub, getting behind him. She gripped his
shoulder and wielded the brush in circular strokes. He slipped from
her grasp to move away again, and she leant on the tub with a
sigh.

“
What are you so afraid of? That you'll enjoy it? Do you think
I'm going to try to ravish you or something? Do you think I
could?”

“
No. Just stop it.”

“
Tell me why, then.” She leant into the tub and used the brush
on her arm, smiling. “Mmmmmm. Nice. See, it doesn't
hurt.”

Blade snorted,
almost smiling as he turned his head away again, his cheeks pink.
His loose hair framed his face and hung about his shoulders, a few
damp tendrils straggling across his brow. Lilu studied him,
marvelling at his extreme youth and naiveté.

“
Well, if you're going to keep running away, I'll just have to
come in and get you.” She began to untie the sheet that was hitched
under her arms.

Blade cast her
a horrified glance, his brows knitting. “No! I swear, Lilu, don't
make me hurt you.”

“
Would you?”

“
I don't want to. Leave me alone!” His voice rose to a
shout.

She retied the
sheet and leant on the tub again. “Someone did something terrible
to you, didn't they? You can tell me, you know. I've had terrible
things done to me too.”

“
You're a woman.”

“
Oh, so it's allowed?”

“
I didn't say that. It just happens a lot.”

“
But not to a man. Especially a killer like you,
right?”

He nodded.
“Right.”

“
But it wasn't a woman who hurt you, so what are you so afraid
of?” She sighed. “I can help you with your shyness and blushing. If
you get used to a few things with me, you'll be able to handle
other girls better. I can teach you a lot.”

“
I can handle women fine.”

She snorted.
“No you can't. Look at you, all cringing and bashful because you're
naked in the tub. How will it be, for the great Invisible Assassin
to be unnerved by a mere woman when you're trying to assassinate
someone one day?”

“
I won't be unnerved.”

“
Yet I unnerve you. Why are you blushing then?”

He shot her a
chilly glance. “I don't perform assassinations in the nude.”

“
Ah, no, that's not it. You were blushing up a storm yesterday
while I was giving birth.”

“
Will you stop talking about blushing!”

“
Why? Does it embarrass you? It's perfectly natural for a
virgin boy.”

“
I'm not a virgin boy!”

She leant
forward. “Oh yes you are. And one day, perhaps, your innocence will
kill you.”

“
How do you figure that?”

“
All right, let's say you're sent to kill a man, and you sneak
into his room and find him asleep in his bed. His young, beautiful
wife or concubine is with him, naked. She wakes as you approach the
bed, and she's about to scream and bring the whole house full of
guards down on you. What do you do?”

“
Silence her.”

“
How?”

He raised a
hand and crooked a finger at her. “Come here and I'll show
you.”

A pang of
something akin to fear went through her, but it was more like
intense desire at the cool invitation in his eyes. Clearly he had
no problem when the tricks of his trade were involved. Curious, she
walked around the tub. His invitation and sudden change of attitude
had the unexpected effect of bringing her close to him. She knelt
beside the tub at his side and met his eyes.

“
Show me then.”

Blade reached
out and ran his fingers down her throat, making her tremble at his
gossamer touch, then they slid upwards again under her jaw, leaving
wet trails on her skin. His hand stopped and tightened.

Lilu woke on
the floor, cold and stiff. Endel screamed on the mat before the
dead hearth, and she staggered over to scoop him up. The room was
cold and empty. What had she done? Had she, in her playfulness,
driven Blade away forever? She cursed her stupidity while she
rocked her son. It seemed as if she had been senseless for
time-glasses, but perhaps it was only Blade's absence that made the
place seem so empty. Bereft, like him. Yet he did not have the
names he wanted, so he had to come back. Now she was glad she had
not told him the previous night. She still had a slight hold on
him.

When Endel
finished his feed, Lilu lighted the fire, washed her dress in the
tepid bath water and hung it up to dry. After she swept the floor
and wiped the tables, she went through the cupboards and put
together a meal of bread, cheese, smoked meat and wine. The
assassin lived in a poor area, but he bought the best of
everything. She ate until her stomach could hold no more, then sat
before the fire with a cup of wine, wondering when Blade would
return.

When the door
rattled two time-glasses later, her heart leapt and pounded, making
her a little queasy. Blade entered and slammed it behind him,
tossing a bundle on the bed before shucking his jacket. Lilu
vacated his chair and curled up on the floor, and he sank into it,
contemplating her.

“
I'm glad you're back,” she murmured. “Where did you
go?”

“
None of your business.”

“
Right.”

He dug in his
pocket and held out his hand, in which a pile of goldens glinted.
She stared at them, dry-mouthed. He withdrew it and held one
up.

“
The names. A golden for each one.”

“
What did you do to me?”

He lowered the
coin, looking puzzled. “What do you mean?”

“
I woke up on the floor.”

“
Oh. Right. You asked me to show you how I would silence a
woman without killing her. That's how.”

“
Magic?”

“
No. A simple trick. Shall I demonstrate again?”

She shivered.
“No.”

He held up the
coin once more. “Give me a name.”

“
Vorn.”

“
That had better not be a lie. What does he look
like?”

“
I don't know.”

He frowned.
“Lilu...”

“
I only know their names because one of them told me. I wasn't
introduced. I know what they look like too, but I can't put the
names to the faces. Except Benaar and Jobal, and you killed
Benaar.”

“
Tell me about Jobal.”

“
He's big, hairy. He has long brown hair and a plaited beard.
Brown eyes, and a scar, here.” She touched her shoulder. “It looks
like an old stab wound.”

“
Good.” He nodded and held out the coin. “That will
do.”

Lilu took it
and tucked it between her breasts, since she had no pockets or
pouches. He watched her with a frown, shaking his head.

“
Go and fetch the bundle on the bed.”

Lilu rose and
brought it to him, and he tore it open while she settled on the
mat. He pulled out a length of dull blue material with white
ribbing and tossed it into her lap. Lilu stared at it, fingering
the soft cloth. A new dress. She had never owned a new dress. At
home, she had lived in her sisters' hand-me-downs, and in the
brothels the keeper had supplied second-hand clothes. Her eyes
filled with tears as she held the material to her face and inhaled
its clean, fresh scent. When she glanced up at Blade, she found him
watching her with a frown.

“
Tears, for a dress?”

“
A new one. I've never had a new one before.”

He sighed,
rubbing his brow. “Put it on.”

Lilu jumped up
and stripped off the sheet, and he cursed, looking away while she
pulled the garment over her head. Tugging it into place, she
twirled. It was a little tight over her stomach, but that would
soon disappear. She bounced with joy, giggling, then pounced on him
and twined her arms around his neck.

Blade tried to
shove her away. “Get off me, Lilu!”

She leant
back, her hands locked behind his neck, and gazed into his wintry
eyes. “I'm not going to kiss you, don't worry,” she said. “Unless
you want me to.”

“
I don't.” He averted his face, glaring across the
room.

“
What is it now? I'm not smelly anymore.”

“
I told you not to touch me.”

“
But you need to be touched. Everybody does.” She stroked his
cheek.

He jerked his
head away, and she identified the reaction not as an angry twitch,
but a flinch, for he blinked at the same time.

Her breath
caught. “Blade... who hit you so hard?”

“
None of your damned -”

“
Business. Yeah. But someone did. The Cotti, I'd say. Am I
right?”

His lips
compressed into a grim line. Sealed forever, she guessed, and
raised a finger to trace them. This time he did not recoil, so his
sensitive area was his cheeks. She filed the information away for
the future, fighting the urge to kiss him. Her face throbbed, and
her lips, she knew, were puffy and scabbed. She touched them,
sadness invading her, and her eyes overflowed.

He watched
her, his expression shuttered. “Why do you want to touch me so
much?”

“
You're so beautiful and... pure.”

He rolled his
eyes with a snort.

“
No, really,” she said. “You are. Deny it all you want, I know
the truth. You have no... taint. No... lust.”

“
That must be new for you.”

“
Oh no, many men have spurned me as ugly. Some beat me for it
too. You've never hurt a woman, I can tell. Not on
purpose.”

“
Why would I?”

“
Some men enjoy beating a weaker person, especially a woman.
But you know that, don't you?”